Drafted in the 4th round (135th overall) by the Seattle Mariners in 2007 (signed for $193,500).
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Righthander Nolan Gallagher entered the year as Stanford's ace, and at times showed the form he displayed in the Cape Cod League last summer: 90-92 mph fastball, hard curveball and an ability to change speeds. But the Montana native's inconsistency with command left him continually behind hitters, and he had a 7.39 ERA. Still, scouts who saw his good days were hoping Gallagher would be willing to sign for slot money, considering how poorly his career at Stanford had turned out. He was not in the rotation during Pac-10 play.
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A potential supplemental first-round pick heading into his draft year, Gallagher struggled to a 7.39 ERA as a Stanford junior and was moved to the Cardinal's bullpen during Pacific-10 Conference play. He pitched well in the Northwest League during his pro debut, but he also peaked there in 2008. He missed the season's first three months while recovering from surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow. If Gallagher ever pieces it together, he could turn out to be a fourth-round steal because he has a clean delivery, a plus breaking ball and a firm fastball. His curveball features tight rotation, and at his best he throws it for strikes. He sits at 88-92 mph with his fastball, though his velocity was down a tick in 2008. A bright kid, Gallagher has only rudimentary command of his changeup and he doesn't always show a feel for disrupting opposing batters. He'll be 23 in 2008, so he'll need to show results in high Class A to get his career back on track. He has No. 4 or 5 starter potential.
Gallagher entered the year as Stanford's ace, and at times showed the form he displayed in the 2006 Cape Cod League, but inconsistent command caused him to leave his pitches up in the zone and he got blitzed for a 7.39 ERA. He wasn't in the Cardinal's rotation during Pacific-10 Conference play. A potential supplemental first-round pick coming into the year, Gallagher fell to the fourth round where the Mariners signed him for $193,500. In his pro debut, the Montana native showed flashes of the 88-92 mph fastball, hard curveball and ability to change speeds that he had as a sophomore. He started pitching inside more to pro hitters and the Mariners noticed a marked improvement in Gallagher's mound presence. His plus curveball features tight rotation, and he throws it for strikes. That pitch and his clean, effortless delivery make him a potential midrotation starter, but he'll need to improve his below-average changeup. An abdominal strain slowed Gallagher when he moved to Wisconsin, but he should be ready for the challenges of high Class A in 2008.
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