Zac Gallen

The Gibbsboro, N.J., native had an inconsistent freshman season at North Carolina, going 5-4 with a 4.64 ERA, and opened his sophomore season in the UNC bullpen. But Gallen quickly earned his way back into the weekend rotation and surged into the Friday spot, blossoming in his second year. The difference? A mid-80s cutter that Gallen picked up from pitching coach Scott Forbes that became an effective weapon against lefties and a go-to offering behind in the count. He features a four-pitch mix now, working at 88-92 mph with his fastball and throwing a low-80's changeup and 74-77 mph curveball. His stuff is average across the board, maybe flashing a tick better at times, but Gallen has confidence in all four pitches and the above-average command necessary to use them. The athletic 6-foot-2, 190-pound righthander repeats his delivery well, fields his position and has ace-like makeup and competitiveness. He doesn't wow evaluators, but he's a relatively safe pick with the chance to be a back-of-the-rotation starter in the big leagues.