UNC Baseball: Tar Heels in the Pros Update 6/2/2023

The UNC Baseball program has a few Tar Heels playing in Major League Baseball. How are your favorite former Diamond Heels performing in The Show?

The UNC Baseball program has seen some excellent performances from former players who began the season in the MLB and some outings from guys who have been called up recently and received a chance in The Show.

Zac Gallen – Zac Gallen is currently one of, if not the best, pitcher in the National League for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Gallen is 7-2 on the season with a 2.72 ERA and 82 strikeouts. Over his last ten appearances, he’s been even better than at the beginning of the season.

We’re only a third of the way through the MLB season, but according to ESPN’s Cy Young Predictor, he is the favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award. The Diamondbacks are currently tied with the Dodgers for first place in the NL West and for the best record in the National League. Gallen’s next start is projected to be Sunday, June 4 versus the Atlanta Braves at 3:10 PM ET.

Jacob Stallings – Stallings has played in 28 of Miami’s 57 games. He’s batting 0.148 for the Marlins, collecting 7 RBIs while currently splitting time at catcher with Nick Fortes. The Marlins are 29-28 and 4.5 games out of first place in the NL East.

Daniel Bard – Bard missed the start of the season when he took time away from baseball to focus on his anxiety. Since his return, he has made 14 appearances for the Colorado Rockies collecting 1 win over 15.2 innings. He has a 0.57 ERA and 11 strikeouts during his time out of the bullpen for the Rockies and has been a reliant reliever. The Rockies are 24-34 and in last place in the NL West, tied for the worse record in the National League.

Cooper Criswell – Criswell got called up in mid-May and made 4 appearances for the Tampa Bay Rays, recording a 1-2 win/loss record. He’s pitched in 15.1 innings during his time in the majors and has recorded a 6.46 ERA. Criswell picked up his lone win on May 26 versus the Dodgers. Following that performance, the Rays optioned Criswell back to Triple-A affiliate the Durham Bulls.  The Rays are currently the best team in baseball with a 40-18 record.

Trevor Kelley – Kelley is also another UNC baseball alum with the Tampa Bay Rays. He has made 8 appearances with the Rays, with two being starts. He has an 0-1 record and a 4.91 ERA. Most of his appearances are short, rather in relief or as an “opener” which the Rays love to use to start a game. Kelley’s last outing was on Tuesday, May 30 when he pitched 0.2 innings, gave up 2 hits, and no runs.

The Rays have moved Kelley back and forth from Triple-A affiliate Durham to the Major League club depending on their pitching needs.

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