Recording even one strikeout at the Major League level is an outstanding accomplishment.
Imagine being one of a select group of individuals who have struck out over 1,000 hitters!
Former UNC baseball star Zac Gallen joined that group on Monday night, recording his 1,000th career punchout. The now 29-year-old fooled Houston Astros second baseman Brice Matthews with an offspeed pitch to record the milestone strikeout.
Congrats to Zac Gallen on 1,000 career strikeouts 👏 pic.twitter.com/lrrtlsNRV7
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 22, 2025
Now in his seventh season in the big leagues, Gallen has developed a reputation as one of the best starting pitchers that the sport has to offer. Currently competing in the final year of his contract, it shouldn't surprise anyone that other Major League teams are expressing interest in trading for him before the upcoming trade deadline, as plenty of contenders could use another quality starter to throw into their rotation for the postseason run.
Even though the 2025 season hasn't gone as planned for the former Tar Heel, he's still a guy that teams believe can help them down the stretch. They aren't shying away from him due to his 7-11 record or 5.58 ERA, as he's a guy who can get back on track quickly, especially if he's thrown into a playoff hunt.
Gallen continues to add to his already impressive MLB career, as this milestone is another testament to his hard work and dedication to his craft. With plenty of baseball left in the tank, the hope is that the former UNC baseball star will continue to rack up strikeouts throughout the remainder of his career while helping his team (whoever that may be) win plenty of ball games down the road.