Moving day: Gallen sent to D’backs for touted Chisolm

With Marlins, pitcher had 2.72 ERA in 7 starts

MIAMI – With less than 90 minutes left before the MLB trade deadline Wednesday, the Miami Marlins delivered a stunner, trading Zac Gallen to the Arizona Diamondbacks for highly touted shortstop prospect Jazz Chisolm.

One of Miami’s talented young pitchers, Gallen has posted a 2.72 ERA in seven major league starts during his rookie season. The 23-year-old right-hander pitched Tuesday night against the Minnesota Twins, allowing two earned runs in seven innings, while notching eight strikeouts.

Despite Gallen’s strong overall performance and potential, the Marlins felt they were in a position to make a move given the starting pitching depth they’ve developed between the majors and minors.

“Going into this deadline, we felt like we had a surplus of starting pitching,” Marlins president of baseball operations Michael Hill said. “We explored the market to do the best job of maximizing the value of our players.

“Turning [Gallen into] Jazz Chisolm — we feel we have our shortstop of the future.”

In acquiring Chisolm, Miami lands the 59th overall minor league prospect, per Baseball America. The 21-year-old shortstop has hit .204/.305/.427 (114 wRC+) with 18 home runs and five triples in 364 plate appearances for Double-A Jackson.

In 2018, Chisolm split the season between Low-A and High-A, compiling 25 home runs and 23 doubles between the two levels. In 160 plate appearances for High-A Visalia, Chisolm hit .329/.369/.597 (156 wRC+).

“[Chisolm] is a rare combination of speed and athleticism and power from the left-handed side,” Hill said.

“When you talk about his tool package and what he brings to the table — his Gold Glove defense, his power from a position you don’t expect power, his athleticism. I think the sky is the limited in what he can do on a baseball field.”

With Miami, which later traded right-handed pitchers Nick Anderson and Trevor Richards to the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielder Jesus Sanchez and right-handed pitcher Ryne Stanek, having thin shortstop depth at the upper levels of the minor leagues, Chisolm fills a major need for the team. In High-A, starting shortstop Jose Devers missed the past two months with a forearm strain, adding to the Marlins’ depth issue.

A left-handed hitter, Chisolm was an international signee out of the Bahamas in 2015. While Hill said no decision has been made yet, he said he’s expecting the shortstop will begin in Double-A Jacksonville.

For Gallen, his time with the Marlins on the big league level was relatively brief. Acquired from the St. Louis Cardinals in the Marcell Ozuna trade, the right-hander spent the 2018 season with Triple-A New Orleans, posting a 3.65 ERA in 25 starts.

This season, Gallen took a major leap forward. Starting the season with New Orleans, he dominated the Pacific Coast League, recording a 1.77 ERA and an superb 6.22-1 strikeout to walk ratio. Gallen was then promoted to big leagues on June 20.

In his seven starts with Miami, he tallied a 28.5 percent strikeout rate and 1.18 WHIP. Gallen’s best outing came two starts ago when he tossed seven shutout innings versus the Chicago White Sox, scattering just two hits, while striking out a career high nine batters.

“I’ll forever be grateful for the Marlins for me to be able to make my debut,” Gallen said. “Any time you can open some eyes and do what you can, it’s good for your career and I’m excited [for the next step].”

MARK BROWN/GETTY Zac Gallen delivers a pitch against the Twins at Marlins Park on Tuesday. Gallen was traded to the Diamondbacks on Wednesday.

CHARLES REX ARBOGAST/AP Marlins catcher Jorge Alfaro, left, talks with Zac Gallen during a game against the White Sox on July 24. Gallen struck out nine batters in the game.