Former Tar Heel Cooper Criswell heading to Beantown on 1-year deal

2018 UNC baseball pitcher Cooper Criswell, who played an integral part in the College World Series run, is shipping up to Boston for 2024.

Even though Cooper Criswell only spent the 2018 season pitching for the UNC baseball team, he was a crucial part of that College World Series run that ended against – who else – Oregon State.

Criswell was part of a loaded, 2018 Diamond Heels pitching staff that included future MLB draft picks in Tyler Baum, Austin Bergner, Josh Hiatt, Brett Daniels and Rodney Hutchinson. Criswell’s six wins tied Daniels for second on Carolina, while his 2.99 ERA (earned run average) was also second.

Criswell also happened to be one of those 2018 MLB Draft picks, with the Los Angeles Angels taking him in the 13th round. The former Diamond Heel played one game with the Angels, spent 11 games with the Tampa Bay Rays over the last two years and – on Wednesday, Dec. 13, signed a 1-year deal with the Boston Red Sox.

As you can see from his pitch arsenal above, Criswell is more of a finesse pitcher. The slider appears to be his go-to pitch, with a majority of his strikeouts in the above video (if you can see it) coming from the breaking ball.

Criswell struggled in major league action with the Rays last year, recording a loss and 5.97 ERA, but he also picked up a win and struck out 27 batters. He enjoyed more success with the Triple-A Durham Bulls, pitching to a 4-4 record, 3.97 ERA and striking out 80 batters.

2024 is a brand-new chance for Criswell to showcase he can be a valuable MLB pitcher, starting with Spring Training in February. He’ll join a Red Sox staff that finished 21/30 teams with a 4.52 team ERA.

Seeing former Diamond Heels in the pros makes me happy. Seeing them succeed in the pros, however, is the cherry on top.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Gallen’s six no-hit innings not enough as Diamondbacks lose World Series

Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen, the UNC standout pitcher from 2014-2016, gave his team a strong chance in Game 5 of the World Series.

One of the best pitchers to come out of the UNC baseball program nearly pitched his team to a World Series win on Wednesday, Nov. 1.

That pitcher is none other than Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen, who toed the rubber in Chapel Hill from 2014-2016. Gallen compiled a 14-13 record, 3.36 earned run average and struck out 231 batters as a Tar Heel, which was good enough for the St. Louis Cardinals to select him third round in the 2016 MLB Draft.

What Gallen did last night, with the Diamondbacks facing elimination on baseball’s grandest stage, was the type of performance that turns ordinary guys into legends.

Though Gallen took the loss in a 5-0 Rangers victory, he pitched six no-hit innings to start. He ended his night allowing just one run, one walk and three hits through 6 1/3 innings while striking out six batters.

When your pitcher is nearly perfect through six innings, chances are you’ll end up winning the game. Arizona, sadly, only mustered five hits throughout the decisive Game 5 last night.

Gallen’s World Series performance was only a microcosm of the impressive season he enjoyed, which deserves a National League Cy Young (best pitcher) Award to cap it off.

In the regular season, Gallen carried the second-best NL record with a 17-9 mark. He struck out 220 batters (sixth), compiled a 3.47 ERA (16th) and 1.12 WHIP (12th).

Gallen struggled a bit more in the postseason, only pitching to a 2-3 win-loss record, 4.54 ERA and striking out just 24 batters. His performance on Wednesday night, however, showed the baseball world he can deliver in the clutch and is one of the sport’s best, young pitchers.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks drop Game 1 of World Series to Adolis Garcia

Arizona Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen, a former UNC star, was in line for a World Series victory last night. The bullpen ended that chance.

If you would’ve asked me, at the beginning of baseball season, that the Arizona Diamondbacks and Texas Rangers would be playing for the World Series, I probably would’ve said “I wish, but you’ve got so many other more established teams.”

As we all know in sports, however, anything can happen.

That is certainly the case with the current MLB Postseason, with 100-win teams/division winners in the Baltimore Orioles, Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves all exiting in the Divisional Round.

Here we are on Halloween weekend, with the Diamondbacks and Rangers – just like we all guessed in March – playing for a World Series title.

Texas has the 1-0 series advantage, winning 6-5 last night on an 11th-inning walkoff from star outfielder Adolis García.

One of the best pitchers in the World Series is Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen, who starred at UNC from 2014-2016. Gallen compiled a 14-13 record and 3.36 earned run average, plus he struck out 231 batters, in his college years.

Gallen also got the start in Game 1 of the World Series last night, becoming just the seventh former Tar Heel to play in the annual Fall Classic.

Gallen pitched an okay game, allowing three runs, four walks and just four hits over five innings. Gallen was actually in line for the win, until Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald allowed a game-tying home run to Rangers slugger Corey Seager in the ninth inning.

García’s late-inning, walk-off ended all hopes of an Arizona victory.

There’s a chance we could see Gallen in Game 5, as long as the Diamondbacks don’t get swept. Regardless, this World Series gives UNC baseball fans a reason to tune in.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Zac Gallen becomes seventh former Diamond Heel to reach World Series

Former UNC baseball standout Zac Gallen, now on the Arizona Diamondbacks, will toe the rubber in Game 1 of the World Series tonight.

There’s been a lot of great UNC baseball players who’ve gone on to play professionally, but only a handful have made it to the World Series.

Mule Shirley (1921-1923), Burgess Whitehead, Snuffy Stirnweiss, Walt Weiss, Andrew Miller (2004-2006) and Matt Harvey (2008 and 2009) were the first six Diamond Heels to make it.

The most recent one?

Zac Gallen, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ ace who is starting Game 1 of the 2023 World Series, later tonight.

He’s a perennial Cy Young candidate, ranking amongst the National League’s leaders in ERA, win-loss record, strikeouts and WHIP. Gallen’s been not the main reason, but one of many reasons Arizona is playing baseball deep into October.

Gallen and the Diamondbacks start their quest for World Series title number two, this time against the Texas Rangers, tonight at 8:03 p.m in Arlington. The two teams match up again on Saturday night at the same time, then head to Phoenix for three games starting Monday, Oct. 30.

Gallen has a chance to etch his name in Carolina Baseball history this coming week. He was 14-13 with a 3.36 earned run average and 231 strikeouts in Chapel Hill, but has been even better in the pros with a 39-31 record, 729 strikeouts and a 3.21 ERA.

If you want to watch Gallen ball out tomorrow night, tune into FOX at 8:03 p.m. ET.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

UNC head baseball coach Scott Forbes rocks Zac Gallen jersey

Diamond Heels head coach Scott Forbes was supporting one of his former players, rocking the Zac Gallen jersey on Wednesday afternoon.

There’s a lot to be excited about in the UNC baseball world right now – and none of it has to do with the the current Diamond Heels themselves.

It all has to do with Zac Gallen, the 2014-2016 Diamond Heel, who is just a day away from starting Game 1 of the World Series for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Gallen was among the MLB’s best in the regular season – holding a 17-9 win-loss record (second), striking out 220 batters (sixth), carrying a 3.47 earned run average (16th) and 1.12 WHIP (12th). He’s among the NL Cy Young favorites, but should be THE favorite after helping lead Arizona to its first World Series berth since the 2001, championship-winning season.

How is Gallen’s alma mater supporting him back in Chapel Hill?

Look no further than UNC baseball head coach Scott Forbes, who was spotted donning a Gallen Diamondbacks jersey, on Wednesday afternoon at Boshamer Stadium.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cy1XOgnAA5l/?hl=en&img_index=1

Forbes, now entering his fourth season as Carolina head coach, was a Mike Fox assistant when Gallen played in Chapel Hill. Gallen compiled a 14-13 win-loss record, 3.36 ERA and struck out 231 career batters over three years

Though Gallen is several years removed from being a Tar Heel, it’s still amazing to see how much support he’s getting from a small little town in Central North Carolina – all the way across the country.

Here’s to hoping Gallen can bring the Diamondbacks their second World Series title.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Diamond in the rough? Zac Gallen to start NLCS Game 1 for Diamondbacks

Former UNC baseball hurler Zac Gallen, the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Cy Young candidate, will be starting Game 1 of the NLCS against Philly.

I think we can all agree that the MLB Postseason hasn’t played out like anyone expected.

Three 100-win teams – the AL East champion Baltimore Orioles, NL East champion Atlanta Braves and NL West champion Los Angeles Dodgers, failed to make it past the Divisional Series. The Braves won one game of their NLDS clash against the Philadelphia Phillies, nearly coming back in another, but were the only 100-win team to not get swept.

One of those surprise Divisional Series teams was the Arizona Diamondbacks, a Wild Card team from the NL West faced with a tough challenge of eliminating the Dodgers.

Arizona swept their division rivals in three games – an 11-2 road victory in Game 1, then identical, 4-2 results in Games 2 and 3.

The Diamondbacks face another wild card team, the Phillies, with a trip to the World Series on the line. The NCLS is where some of pro baseball’s brightest stars shines – and Arizona is turning to one of its brightest stars in hopes he delivers his team a crucial, 1-0 series advantage.

On Friday, Oct. 13, the Diamondbacks announced former UNC baseball standout Zac Gallen as their Game 1 NLCS starter.

Just how good has Gallen been this year? You can look at just the postseason alone, but his whole campaign has been that of a NL Cy Young (top pitcher) Award Winner).

He was an instrumental part in helping Arizona win its first Postseason action since 2017, when it beat the Colorado Rockies in the NL Wild Card Game. On Wednesday, Oct. 4 in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against the NL Central Champion Milwaukee Brewers, Gallen earned the series-clinching win by striking out four batters, allowing just five hits and two earned runs over six innings.

Gallen pitched three years for the Diamond Heels (2014-2016), compiling a 14-13 win-loss record, 3.36 earned run average and 231 strikeouts over 260 innings.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Gallen’s gem helps Diamondbacks win first postseason series in six years

Former UNC baseball standout Zac Gallen struck out five batters across six innings for the Arizona Diamondbacks, leading them to the NLDS.

All the Arizona Diamondbacks had to do on Wednesday night was beat the Milwaukee Brewers.

With a victory, they’d be advancing to the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are a heavy favorite to win the World Series.

Arizona, down 2-0 early, scored five unanswered runs and beat Milwaukee, 5-2, sweeping the NL Central champion on its home field.

A major reason behind the Wild Card Series-clinching victory was the play of former UNC standout Zac Gallen, who rebounded from a rough first inning to toss a quality start.

Gallen fired six innings, allowing just five hits and two earned runs while striking out four batters. This continued a strong regular season campaign for Gallen, who earned Cy Young consideration with a 17-9 win-loss record, 3.47 ERA and 220 strikeouts.

According to ESPN baseball columnist Jeff Passan, Gallen will likely get the ball in Game 2 of the Diamondbacks-Dodgers NLDS series, which doesn’t start until Saturday. Game 3 is on Monday, Oct. 9, meaning Gallen gets five whole days’ rest. Former Durham Bull Merrill Kelly will likely get the start in Game 1.

The Diamondbacks couldn’t quite snatch the NL West crown from the Dodgers, but they have an opportunity to do something more meaningful – knock out a baseball powerhouse en route to the NLCS.

According to Pat James, a former Daily Tar Heel writer, Gallen became just the fourth Diamond Heels pitcher to win a postseason start.

The others? Matt Harvey, Andrew Miller and Paul Shuey.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Thanks to former Tar Heel Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks clinging to playoff spot

Former UNC baseball standout Zac Gallen has the Arizona Diamondbacks in the postseason hunt, in part due to performances like Friday’s.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have been one of the worst teams in baseball over the past three seasons.

They finished fourth in the NL West last year, but lost 110 games in 2021, tying the Baltimore Orioles for the worst record in baseball.

This year’s a different story – and it’s all thanks to a young man by the name of Zac Gallen.

With a 15-7 record (third-best), 3.31 ERA (11th), 195 strikeouts (sixth) and 1.08 WHIP (ninth), the former UNC standout has the Diamondbacks a half-game in front of the Miami Marlins for the final NL Wild Card spot.

Gallen’s impressive season includes a complete-game shutout on Friday against the Chicago Cubs, who – coincidentally – also hold a wild-card spot. Gallen allowed only three hits, a walk, a hit batter and struck out nine Cubs.

This was just the second complete game and first nine-inning shutout for Gallen, who previously tossed a 7-inning shutout back in 2021.

Adding to Gallen’s already-impressive game, which came against a Cubs team the Diamondbacks could very well see in the postseason, was the fact he became only the fifth pitcher in franchise history to win a 1-0 shutout on the road.

Gallen’s next start comes against the most surprising team in baseball this year, the Orioles, who have the best record in all of baseball. Like Arizona, Baltimore is two season removed from the worst record in baseball.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

WATCH: Michael Busch hits his first Major League homer

Former North Carolina Tar Heel Michael Busch delivers his first major league homer Thursday night for the LA Dodgers.

Former North Carolina Tar Heel [autotag]Michael Busch[/autotag] has hit his first major league homer, giving Dodger fans a glimpse of what is to come.

Busch has been lights out in the minors, bouncing back and forth between the LA Dodgers and their Triple-A affiliate, Oklahoma City Dodgers. Busch has 114 hits, 82 RBI, and 24 home runs this season for OKC.

After another call-up to the Majors, Busch took advantage of the spotlight; in the fourth inning against the Cleveland Indians, he blasted the ball to centerfield for a monstrous home run to break the 2-2 tie.

Busch has been the ideal rookie for the Dodgers. At 25 years old, Busch has shown the ability to make the play when it matters most while showing a consistent bat.

In 17 games with the Dodgers, Busch has mustered ten hits, six RBI, and now a homer.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.

Gallen’s gem helps Diamondbacks win fourth straight

Former UNC baseball pitcher Zac Gallen is atop the Cy Young leaderboard as the Arizona Diamondbacks’ staff ace. He just pitched another gem.

Since beating the New York Yankees on a walk-off in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, postseason success is not something that’s come easy to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

They most recently made the 2017 postseason, winning the Wild Card game against the Colorado Rockies, then losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.

The past three years have not fared well for Arizona, with them finishing last or second-to-last in the AL West.

Even though baseball is a team game, there’s one player who might help the Diamondbacks snap that postseason drought – former UNC baseball pitcher Zac Gallen.

The New Jersey-born right-hander is having a career year for the D-Backs, one that has him a favorite for the NL Cy Young (best pitcher) Award. Gallen carries a 14-5 record (tied for best record in baseball), a 3.11 earned run average, 179 strikeouts and a 1.06 WHIP (walks hits per innings pitched, all 5th-best).

Gallen just enjoyed another pitching gem last night – tossing six innings, striking out 11 batters, allowing seven hits, one walk and just one walk in a 6-3 D-Backs victory over the slumping Texas Rangers.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwRc5uyOtKm/?img_index=1

Gallen currently has Arizona in the NL West’s second-place slot behind the Los Angeles Dodgers. More importantly, the Diamondbacks currently hold a playoff spot, with them clinging onto a half-game lead over the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds.

In three seasons at Carolina (2014-2016), Gallen posted a career statline of 14 wins and 13 losses, 3.36 career ERA, 231 strkeouts and just 12 home runs allowed.

Follow us @TarHeelsWire on Twitter and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.