Zac Gallen Speaks on Starting Opening Day, D-backs Spending Money, and More

Jake Oliver | Mar 27, 2024

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen throws during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields / Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY

Zac Gallen is the Ace of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitching staff. He's getting his second start on Opening Day and joining an exclusive club of D-backs pitchers that have made more than one Opening Day start by becoming the 7th ever to do so. This off-season, Gallen partnered with Shamrock Farms and their Rockin' Protein drink which fits with his nickname being "The Milkman." Zac Gallen spoke about how it feels that D-backs ownership has spent so much money on improving the team this off-season, starting Opening Day again, goals for this season, and if the new timer changes have affected him, plus his advice for players after tough games. To allow Gallen to directly speak to everyone, his responses are being provided in full length and have been lightly edited. This was so Zac Gallen could have the chance to have his voice completely heard.

How does it feel having Ownership spend so much money to improve the team after last season?

"For sure, it's gratifying in both senses. It showed that we showed that we had a good product and we went out and did our job and we gave them something to invest in and feel like they could put some money into. Then at the same time, the ownership and front office held to their word that if we did give them a team that they felt was ready to succeed, ready to win now that they'd go out and spend some money and they held up their end of the bargain. So, on the reverse end now, we gotta go out and do our job and hold up our end of the bargain."

After a Cy Young caliber season, what are your own personal goals for this season?

"I think for me, the biggest thing is just going to be the consistency. I think the last two years that I've finished within the top five, I've had a first half in 22' that was okay, a little low to my standards, and the second half of 22' was really good, and then first half of last year was really good and then second half ran out of gas or whatever towards the end of the season there so I think to just be consistent. To be able to go out and pitch like I know I can for 30+ starts, however many I'm going to get this year, so for me, consistency is going to be a big thing, and just going out every fifth day and giving my team a chance to win. Put us in a position to win baseball games so I don't tend to look at the accolades and that type of stuff, obviously if you do your job, those tend to take care of themselves. I worry about things that I can control."

How does it feel to be the seventh pitcher to start Opening Day multiple times for the Arizona Diamondbacks?

"For sure, it's something that you get into pro ball, especially the Big Leagues, see all the teams, their "ace" starts on Opening Day so for me, I just was like I want to be in this spot where I've had a good enough career, a good enough season the years past that the organization, the manager have faith in me to start Opening Day so I'm honored to be able to take the ball again on Opening Day. It's something that I don't take lightly. Opening Day for baseball is a special day. It's almost like a national holiday if you ask me so I'm excited to be out there, hopefully get us off on a good foot. That and the day after the Super Bowl should be national holidays."

What do you do after difficult starts and what advice would you give other starters after a tough start?

"I think the big thing is baseball's a game of failure. Especially as a hitter and even pitchers, you can't go out there and throw a No-Hitter or Perfect Game every time you're out there. I think you just have to understand it starts before you even go out there to play. It's about the process, it's about the work you're putting in. If you feel you're fully prepared and only you will know if you're fully prepared and if you have a rough start you're able to look yourself in the mirror and go 'Okay, I did everything I could to get myself ready for this start and I went out and did what I could that day. Some days, you just don't have it. And I think that makes it a little bit easier to kind of put your head on the pillow at night and understand like okay I was prepared, I went out with a plan and the team I was facing came out with a better plan and then just be able to address I didn't make good pitches here or I didn't execute this or maybe I could do something a little bit different here, I think you'll be able to ride above the wave, on top of the wave a little bit easier and not get too up or down depending on success and failures."

The Timer went from 20 to 18 seconds with runners on base, have you noticed that to affect you at all in Spring Training so far?

"No, I haven't really noticed it, honestly. I felt like 20 seconds was perfect. I felt like the league and us on the competition committee came to a good agreement on 20 seconds so two seconds in the grand scheme of it, but there's definitely some studies that go into recovery in between pitches and injury. So, we'll see but I didn't really feel that much of a difference in the game so we'll see. Obviously, with Spring Training, it's a little bit less intense so we'll see when the real games start, obviously that 18 seconds is now with runners on base when the game does tend to speed up on you a little bit so we'll see how we manage that but so far, no problems here just yet."

Check out Part 1 of the interview, where Gallen talks about his new sponsorship, the NCAA tournament, and some of the things he did in the offseason.