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Miami Marlins UPDATED top 10 prospects for 2019

By Benjamin Chase

Billy the Marlin waves a marlins flag after the team beats the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at Marlins Park in Miami, Fla. (Sam Navarro/Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images)
Billy the Marlin waves a marlins flag after the team beats the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-2 on Tuesday, May 15, 2018 at Marlins Park in Miami, Fla. (Sam Navarro/Miami Herald/TNS via Getty Images) /
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Miami Marlins
LAKELAND, FL – MARCH 02: Zac Gallen #84 of the Miami Marlins pitches during the Spring Training game against the Detroit Tigers at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium on March 2, 2018 in Lakeland, Florida. The Tigers defeated the Marlins 8-3. (Photo by Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

7. Zac Gallen, RHP

Birthday: 8/3/1995 (23)
Acquired: Trade with St. Louis Cardinals, December 2017
Level(s): AAA New Orleans
Statistics: 8-9, 25 GS, 133 1/3 IP, 3.65 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 8.2% BB, 23.1% K

Taking one look at Zac Gallen‘s WHIP only from his season in the Pacific Coast League in 2018 would give you a skewed vision of what Gallen could really be for the Marlins, and that’s potentially one of the first positive returns on prospects gained in their tear-down deals of 2017-2018.

Originally a 3rd round selection by the St. Louis Cardinals out of the University of North Carolina, Gallen has moved quickly through the minor leagues, spending all of 2018 in AAA in just his second full minor league season.

Gallen did get hit in the air plenty in AAA in 2018, and he’ll need to utilize his two-seamer more to help with that going forward. Luckily, the pitch has seen its effectiveness tick up as Gallen’s velocity has ticked up as a pro, typically sitting in the 91-94 range and touching 95-96. He has excellent command of his fastball and change, and while he controls his curve well presently, his command of the pitch is still in progress.

There’s likely not a guy who will turn into a top of the rotation starter here, but thus far, Gallen’s simply eaten up quality innings at every level he’s been at. The Miami Marlins should give him a long look in the spring as a potential rotation member, and certainly, he should be an early call-up if the team finds itself with injury or ineffectiveness in the MLB rotation.

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