Zac Gallen spent three seasons with the UNC baseball program between 2014 and 2016. After establishing himself as one of the best pitchers in the ACC, Gallen was selected in the third round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. He made his big league debut with the Miami Marlins in 2019 before being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks later that season.
In 2023, Gallen’s D-Backs had one of the most memorable seasons in franchise history, going from the lowest seed in the National League playoffs all the way to the World Series. Gallen himself also had a fine season, starting the All-Star Game for the National League and finishing in the top 5 in voting for the NL Cy Young Award for the second consecutive year.
Gallen spoke with Chapelboro’s Michael Koh in an exclusive interview to discuss his successes in the pros, lessons learned from Chapel Hill and just how far back his Carolina fandom goes. Check out highlights from the interview, which have been lightly edited for clarity, below!
Michael Koh: First of all, congratulations on an incredible 2023 season with the Diamondbacks. Looking back over it as a whole, what was your favorite or most memorable part of that whole ride?
Zac Gallen: I don’t know. I mean, the whole thing was so fun. To pick just one experience would definitely be tough. Even though we didn’t win the whole thing, the joy that the fans got to experience, fans coming up to me after the season was over and being very appreciative that we made it this far and we gave ’em something to cheer about, I think for me was probably my favorite part of the whole thing.
Koh: It must’ve been a thrill to be named an All-Star, and be named the starting pitcher for the NL in the All-Star Game. That must’ve been a pretty surreal moment, right?
Gallen: Yeah, for sure. You just think about being an All-Star. You don’t necessarily think about starting the game. I was just happy to be selected, just happy to be there. And then to get the honor to start the game was just kind of the icing on the cake. Something I’ll remember forever.
Zac Gallen was named to his first All-Star Game in 2023. He was the starting pitcher for the National League. (Image via Associated Press/Lindsey Wasson)
Koh: And when [American League MVP] Shohei [Ohtani] came up and you struck him out, was that a “pinch yourself” moment where you had to remind yourself that, “I just did that”?
Gallen: It was kind of funny because they were chanting Shohei’s name to “Come to Seattle.” And I joked, I was like, “Man, that was so nice. They want me to come to Seattle, but I’m not a free agent for a couple more years.” That stadium got pretty loud, louder than what I expected. It was a spot where I was thinking, “Maybe I’ll just walk him, see what happens.” I was gonna just throw him a fastball and [catcher] Sean Murphy called a curveball, and I’m like, “All right, I guess, let’s see what happens.” And clearly Shohei was in swing mode. I got away with making a pretty solid pitch there and getting him out.
Zac strikes out Ohtani for his first #AllStarGame strikeout. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/H7PkstCqF6
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 12, 2023
Koh: There are pictures of you wearing Carolina blue cleats on the mound. You wore Carolina shirts during some of your media availabilities during October. It seems like you’re really proud to represent Carolina whenever you get the chance.
Gallen: Yeah, I grew up a Carolina fan. Namely just because of Michael Jordan, and the baseball team was good when I started paying attention to college baseball. So the fandom definitely started before I even got to Carolina. So now, just being able to wear some nice clothes, have some ways to show my appreciation to the school and find some cool jerseys and t-shirts I can wear, is awesome. I like showing my fandom and my appreciation for my alma mater.
Koh: I assume that’s why you picked [jersey number] 23, because of the MJ thing, right?
Gallen: Yeah. I think I was No. 38 my freshman year, and I was supposed to be No. 2, so it was kind of a mix-up with the equipment manager. I wound up getting No. 38, so I was pretty displeased about that. And then No. 23 became open my sophomore year and I thought, what better place to wear No. 23 than Chapel Hill? So No. 23 stuck with me after that.
Koh: During the run through the playoffs, did you hear a lot from Coach [Scott] Forbes and Coach [Mike] Fox, just checking in on you?
Gallen: Coach Forbes and Coach Fox actually came to Game 1 of the World Series in Texas. So it was nice to have them come out and show support. I’d hear from them after starts. I hear from Coach Forbes and Coach Fox pretty regularly throughout the season. They’re pretty good about checking in and telling me they’re watching and congratulating me if I have a big start or a nice night. It’s really good to hear from them and keep in touch.
Koh: That must be pretty meaningful, especially with Coach Forbes. He’s pretty busy.
Gallen: Yeah, exactly. We both have the understanding that if he doesn’t get back to me right away or I don’t get back to him, we’re both busy. But we both definitely do our best. He shoots me a text, like I said, after maybe a good start or whatever, and I shoot him a text after they have a good weekend or they’re getting deep into the playoffs. I’m rooting them on and watching as much as I can. Our connection’s definitely pretty solid for sure.
Koh: What lessons did those guys, or anyone with the baseball program at Carolina, teach you about baseball or just about life, that you still lean on today?
Gallen: Both of those guys, Coach Fox and Coach Forbes, while I was there, they talked a lot about character, a lot about accountability. Those are two things that I felt like I came into Carolina with, but maybe my time at Carolina and being around them sharpened and heightened my sense of what those things really mean, and what they truly mean to further your career. It’s just something that’s stuck with me, and something I’ve been cognizant of since I left Carolina. But also, just the appreciation. Coach Fox being a [UNC] alumnus and Coach Forbes being there as long as he has. The deep appreciation for the program and for the people who make that program run, and being able to give back and things like that. I could go on for a while about what they’ve instilled in me. Those are the two big ones that I can think of.
Koh: Do you keep up pretty frequently with your old teammates from back then? If I’m not mistaken, you were teammates with Brian Miller on the Miami Marlins for a little bit, right?
Gallen: Brian and I never played together with the Marlins, but yes, we were in camp together, I think in 2019. And then J.B. Bukauskas and I were with the D-Backs for 2019-21. J.B. I still keep up with. Zach Rice is one of my good friends. I played at Carolina with John Stott, who was our bullpen catcher. Those are two of my best friends that I still talk to. Reilly Hovis was our closer. He’s a year ahead of me, so I still keep up with him pretty good. I just try and keep in contact with the guys as best I can. Michael Russell. The Carolina baseball alumni family, whatever you wanna call it, runs pretty deep. It’s always good to get back to Chapel Hill and link up with those guys and have a good time.
Koh: Does it make you laugh that a lot of people who aren’t as familiar with Carolina Baseball, their image of you in college is that interview on TV where the dudes are cutting up behind you?
Gallen: Yeah, that interview was definitely went viral for a while there. It seemed like each year baseball season was coming around, that video was gonna pop up. It was kind of shocking that a lot of guys I play with now are like, “I had no idea that was you! I didn’t even realize that!” So they watch it and they get a kick out of it, like, “That’s really you. I can’t believe it!” And I’m like, “Yeah, it’s me.” It is cool. Now I’m seeing it maybe once a year or twice a year, it would pop up, I get tagged in it or something like that. So it brings back memories.
Koh: In the piece that you wrote in the Players’ Tribune, you talked about your process of getting over the loss in the World Series. Did you lean on things that you did after tough losses in college?
Gallen: Yeah, I think I just grew up with that compartmentalization. I was able to just move on from tough losses. I mean, I’m super competitive, but I’m also understanding that in this game, sports and baseball specifically, you have to have a short memory, whether you’re successful or unsuccessful. Just maturity, just getting older, understanding that the ball’s not always gonna bounce the way you want it to. I just got lucky as a kid. I was able to, like I said, compartmentalize those, just kind of digest them. [The 2023 postseason] was probably the biggest unsuccessful part of my career. But there were still some things to be proud of. So I think that that helped being able to get over getting into the World Series and then just falling short. We had this miraculous run, something for the fans to be happy about, something for the fans to cheer about and bring the energy back to baseball in the city of Phoenix.
Koh: I asked you about your favorite part of 2023 with the D-Backs, but now I have to ask, what was your favorite memory from your playing career with the Diamond Heels?
Gallen: There’s a lot of good memories. I think even though we were unsuccessful while I was there in not getting to Omaha, really coming to the field every day, building a bond with a lot of those guys. Guys I’m still friends with to this day, guys I still have good laughs with. It’s always like we were just on campus when we catch up. But I do remember going to Charlotte, playing South Carolina, and I think it was my junior year. We took care of business pretty good. I think we wound up winning that game 15-0 or something like that. That’s a pretty good memory that sticks out. There’s a lot. I could go on, honestly, for another hour talking about good memories.
Koh: The Bosh isn’t a bad place to spend your college times, I guess.
Gallen: No, not at all. Chapel Hill, it’s a magical place. And I think people don’t realize that until they get there and until they experience it themselves. I’ve had numerous people that have gone to Chapel Hill and have either not gone to school there or have never been there, and then when they go, they tell me, “Wow, that place actually is awesome.” It’s a unique place for sure.
Zac Gallen pitched for Carolina for three seasons before being selected in the 2016 MLB Draft. (Image via WRAL)
Koh: Looking ahead to the 2024 season, the World Series only ended a couple months ago, but you report to camp in about a month. This is a really short offseason for you compared to other offseasons you’ve been in. How has that affected how you’ve tackled the winter and the offseason? Is it any different?
Gallen: Definitely a little different. This year, before the [2023] season even went the way it went, I decided that I was going to change up my throwing program a little bit in the offseason. Instead of taking a substantial amount of time off this year, I was just not gonna stop. So ironically, it’s the year that the season goes the longest. So I’m trying to balance that, give my body enough rest, because it’s the most innings I’ve thrown in my career by a good bit, but at the same time, still get ready for the year. I understand why they talk about having a World Series hangover. Your body doesn’t have enough time to really go through its full recovery like you’re used to. But I mean, it’s a privilege to be able to play this long and have to figure out this part of the season. So still trying to figure it out, still trying to build in some recovery, but also get ready for the season ahead.
Koh: Does it feel like your season, in effect, starts in a month? Or does it still feel like the World Series is just yesterday to you?
Gallen: I would say maybe this week is when it started to kick in. I’m starting to see more guys at Salt River [Fields, the Spring Training complex for the Diamondbacks]. So that’s signifying that the season’s starting and that Spring Training’s around the corner. But yeah, until maybe the last week of December, it felt like the World Series was just right here.
Koh: I have to ask, as someone who has never been to Phoenix, is there a big UNC alumni base out there that you have connected with?
Gallen: I don’t know. I wouldn’t say a huge base. I know one of Coach Fox’s former teammates lived out here. I’ve played golf with him a couple times, and he’s been great. But I don’t know if I’d say there’s a huge UNC alumni [base] that I’ve run into yet. I’m hoping that there’s one out there, and if they are out there, let me know and let’s get ’em out to a game and see what happens.
Featured image via Associated Press/Charles Rex Arbogast
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