The good news for the Diamondbacks is both staff ace Zac Gallen and center fielder Alek Thomas appear to be nearing a return to action very soon. Assuming all goes well, both players could return as early as the weekend series against the Oakland Athletics.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Appearing on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM, Gallen will throw another simulated game on Monday, with the goal to stretch out to 65 pitches. He threw 52 pitches in his last sim game on Tuesday, June 18. If that goes well, it’s possible he could return as early as Saturday, June 29 against the A’s under a pitch limit of 75-80.
"I think I threw 52 pitches last time, so probably somewhere in the 65-range."
Zac Gallen will throw another sim game today as he rehabs his strained right hamstring.@Dbacks | #Dbacks
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— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) June 24, 2024
The Arizona Republic’s Nick Piecoro dropped an update on how Gallen’s sim game went. He pitched four innings and threw 67 pitches. Pitching coach Brent Strom told Piecoro that Gallen was “free and easy”. Among the hitters he faced were Alek Thomas and Tommy Troy, both of whom are rehabbing at with the team’s complex league affiliate.
Due to injuries and poor performances, the Diamondbacks currently have an open spot in their starting rotation. They could push Slade Cecconi up a day, and have him pitch on four days’ rest, then fit Gallen for Saturday without heavily disrupting the rotation. It’s possible the team could wait one more turn through the rotation and wait for Gallen to return in the team’s upcoming road trip in Southern California against the Dodgers and Padres.
Thomas successfully played back-to-back games in the complex on Friday and Saturday after the soreness that had the team pause his rehab subsided. Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports that Thomas will take live at-bats against Gallen at the complex before embarking on another rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno. The Diamondbacks will have some tough roster decisions ahead of them when he comes off the injured list, in large part due to how well Jake McCarthy is playing this season.
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Michael McDermott covers the Arizona Diamondbacks and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @MichaelMcDMLB
