Zac Gallen Doesn't Feel Behind in Spring Training
The D-backs lost 7-5 to the Texas Rangers in Surprise during a rainy spring day in Arizona. Zac Gallen made his first start of spring training, getting in two innings of work. While he gave up two runs on two hits, two walks, and two strikeouts, he was satisfied with the outing and the work he was able to get in today.
"I feel like I got some good work in, I feel like stuff I’ve been working on translated. Obviously it’s not in midseason form. It felt pretty solid for the most part......I told Gabi I just wanted to work on certain pitches to certain spots. There wasn’t really a lot of hard contact."
Gallen managed to work in all his pitches and was just focusing on trying to land them for strikes. The only at-bat that frustrated him was a walk to Evan Carter when he was up in the count 1-2.
There was no special significance for Gallen facing his World Series foe. In fact up until 3:00 P.M. yesterday he actually thought he was facing the Padres today. Explaining it to much laughter in the locker room afterwards Gallen said “Honestly until yesterday I had the scheduled all mixed up, …I said yeah I’m throwing in Peoria, and Merrill [Kelly] was like we don’t even play there. I was like, oh yeah that’s a good point.”
Due to a long first inning, pitching coach Brent Strom informed Gallen heading out for the second that he only had about 13-15 pitches left to throw. After two quick outs Gallen began with two straight breaking balls to Josh Smith before walking him. That's not normally the type of sequence he would look to throw. This is a good example of how a starter trying to prepare for the season works differently in spring training. Gallen did come back to strike out Marcus Semien swinging to end his outing on a high note.
It raised an eyebrow to some when Torey Lovullo laid out his plan to have Gallen and Kelly push out until this late to get in their first Cactus League games. While this was just Gallen’s first spring training game, he never actually stopped throwing altogether after the season ended, except for about a 10-day break. “My throwing progression has probably been a little longer, just more drawn out.…..just a little bit of a different building but not anything in the sense of being delayed.“
His past experiences in the different Spring Trainings over the years informed his altered approach this year. During the Covid season of 2020 he had more time to build up, and felt good. That fed the thought process of getting started early with his throwing program instead of shutting down and then having to play catch-up.
Gallen has thrown about five live bullpens during camp, and then a two-inning simulation game prior to getting into actual game action today. One of the key differences he said between a live bullpen and a game is when he's facing his own teammates he tells them what he's going to throw, and of course he doesn't do that during a game.
Slade Cecconi also pitched in this game. He tossed two scoreless innings, but then ran into trouble in the fifth, retiring just one batter, giving up three runs on five hits and a walk. He struck out three. Cecconi has a 7.11 ERA for spring training, and while spring ERA is not the main thing the team is looking at, it seems likely the gap has widened between him and the top two rotation candidates Tommy Henry and Ryne Nelson.
The D-backs starters did not generate much offense in the game, but Christian Walker, in his first game back in a week, doubled to start the 4th inning. He came out of the game for pinch runner Tristin English, who later scored. The rest of the starters were mostly out of the game by the 5th inning due to rain. English, who has been hitting the ball hard this spring, had two hits, including a double, and drove in two runs with a base hit during a three-run 9th inning.
The D-backs are back at Salt River Fields on Friday to face the Chicago Cubs. Merrill Kelly will take his first turn in a game as well. Game time is 1:10 P.M.
