SCOTTSDALE — Right-handed pitcher Zac Gallen reported to the Arizona Diamondbacks for the club’s first full team practice after re-signing on a one-year deal, returning to finish what he started in the desert.
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Sep 15, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) pitches against the San Francisco Giants during the first inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
News broke of the new deal on Friday, and the ace reflected on how it transpired and what made the most sense for him at this stage. He acknowledged that waiting out a long-term contract may not have been ideal.
“Knowing that holding out for an extra few dollars might be cutting off my nose,” he said on Sunday, according to PHNX Diamondbacks. “… Let’s get creative. Let’s just get into camp and have this close to a true spring training… I think that’s the most important thing, coming here to be ready to go. Be at my best and help the team and the organization win games.”
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen throws to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second inning at Chase Field in Phoenix, on May 28, 2025. © Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Since 2019, Gallen has been known as an anchor of Arizona’s starting rotation, but last season presented obstacles. He posted a career-high 4.83 ERA and a 13-15 record — the worst marks of his MLB career. Clubs around the league took notice, and interest in a long-term deal did not materialize. Still, several teams reportedly pursued him before the Diamondbacks swooped back into the picture.
Throughout his career in Arizona, he has been embraced not just for his performance but for his connection to the community. The 2025 season may not have been his best, but being a constant presence in the Valley has earned him a reputation as an ace and “the milkman” for consistently delivering in his performances.
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen (23) reacts after striking out Los Angeles Dodgers Freddie Freeman (5) with the bases loaded in the fifth inning during Game 2 of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Oct. 9, 2023. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
“We’re just very thankful that he’s still here,” general manager Mike Hazen said, according to Arizona Sports. “He was a major piece to what we’ve done, all the good things that have happened in this organization over the last five to six years. I know last year was a sort of tale of two halves. I’m very confident that what happened in the second half of last year will snowball into this season.”
It is not just an emotional connection that brings Gallen back to the club, but also the opportunity to reinforce a rotation that could look much different as the season unfolds.
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen during a spring training game at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Feb. 28, 2025, in Scottsdale. © Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Snakes were not able to fully utilize the rotation they had envisioned last year. After losing Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes in the summer to injury, the starting rotation fluctuated. Merrill Kelly re-signed with the team in December, providing stability as one of the club’s most reliable arms.
With Gallen back with the team and Burnes eyeing a return sometime this season, the D-Backs have a chance to regain form and compete again.
Unfinished business. pic.twitter.com/mJNNLJ4ZHo
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) February 15, 2026
Gallen’s return may not be long-term, but bringing back a familiar face for a potential bounce-back season signals that the organization trusts him to be a key piece in its push to return to the postseason.
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Wendy Lopez is a reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on her X account, @wlopezde
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