Bishop Eustace grad, Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen has shot at NL Cy Young Award
The Major League Baseball season is rapidly coming to a close.
The regular season will end after the final game on Oct. 1. The playoffs will begin and the final World Series game will be played Oct. 31 at the earliest. Once a World Series champion is crowned the MLB award season will begin.
One of the major awards handed out is the Cy Young Award and the voting will have a local flavor to it. Zac Gallen, a 2013 graduate of Bishop Eustace Preparatory School in Pennsauken Township, is in the running for the award.
What is the Cy Young Award?
The Cy Young Award is given to the top pitcher in the American and National Leagues. The award has been given annually since 1956. At first, it was given to the best pitcher in all of baseball. In 1967, the award was changed to honor the top pitchers from both leagues.
Charlie Manuel healing: Update on condition of beloved and winningest Phillies manager after a stroke in Florida
Who was Cy Young?
Denton True "Cy" Young is considered one of Major League Baseball's greatest pitchers. He amassed a record 511 wins. He also holds MLB records for career losses, complete games, innings pitched and games started. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937.
Will Zac Gallen win the Cy Young Award this year?
He's got a shot. Gallen, who started the All-Star Game for the National League in July, is 17-8 with a 3.49 ERA and 213 strikeouts. Here's some other information:
Gallen is among the National League's top 10 in innings pitched, starts, strikeouts, WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched), winning percentage and ERA.
In 32 starts, Gallen limited the opponent's middle of the order (4-6 hitters) to a .220 average with 71 strikeouts.
In 15 games following a Diamondbacks loss in 2023, is 8-3 with a 2.80 ERA.
Gallen was a star at Bishop Eustace and after graduating he attended the University of North Carolina where he was a pitcher for three seasons before the St. Louis Cardinals drafted him in 2016. After two trades, he’s found a home in Arizona where he’s earned ace status.
Who's the favorite to win the Cy Young Award?
San Diego pitcher Blake Snell has put together a strong season. He's 14-9 with a 2.25 ERA. He has 234 strikeouts and a 1.19 WHIP in 180 innings. Snell won the American League Cy Young Award in 2018 after going 21-5 with a 1.89 ERA and 221 strikeouts.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Arizona Diamondback ace Zac Gallen has shot at NL Cy Young. Here's why
