Former UNC baseball star scheduled to start on Opening Day for Arizona Diamondbacks

As anticipated, Zac Gallen has been named the Opening Day starting pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The former UNC baseball star will square off against the Colorado Rockies on March 28.

It’s Gallen's second straight Opening Day start but the first on his home field mound. Last season, the former Diamond Heel took the mound at Dodger Stadium to begin the 2023 campaign.

Gallen put together a tremendous 2023 season, finishing the year with a 17-9 record and a 3.47 ERA in 34 starts. He struck out 9.4 batters per nine innings and only allowed 22 home runs while striking out 220 en route to a third-place finish in NL Cy Young voting. He also got the nod to start the All-Star Game for the National League squad.

Taking the mound on Opening Day is a special honor, as Gallen will now have the opportunity to have done it twice so far in his big league career. The former Tar Heel hopes that he can build on last season's success as the Diamondbacks look to once again make major noise among Major League Baseball.

The last time Gallen took the mound in a meaningful game is one to remember, as the right-hander took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in Game 5 of the 2023 World Series against the Texas Rangers. Although the Diamondbacks fell short in the series, Gallen proved that he belongs in the conversation among the best pitchers in all of the sport.