The Dynasty Digest: April 3, 2025

One day! Just one more day until we are back with full Minor League action. Triple-A is in full swing, but I am ready to return to the lower-level affiliates for games. I will be in Greenville this weekend, covering the Red Sox and Rays High-A. But until then, we march on with video looks.

If you are unfamiliar with the Dynasty Digest, it is a daily newsletter covering the previous days’ action. While the main focus is usually Minor League Baseball, I will also be hitting on MLB performances to know as well. 

Let’s break them down!

The Dynasty Digest, April 3, 2025

Iván Herrera, C, St. Louis Cardinals

Herrera got on the board not just once or twice on Wednesday but rather three times in a massive game. He was easily the top performer of the day and a major part of the Cardinals’ big win over the Angels. Having six RBI, Herrera contributed to half the Cardinals’ 12 runs.

None of the home runs were cheap shots, either. His fourth-inning home run was a 101.2 mph exit velocity, traveling 395 feet down the left field line. The sixth and eighth-inning homers were absolute shots, though, having 112.1 and 110.7 mph exit velocities. Last season, Herrera had just two batted balls north of 110 mph. He hit that mark in one game last night.

The early returns on Herrera look good as his contact skills have been highly impressive, and the approach has been good as well. The power has been in the profile; it has just been about turning it into game power. Wednesday did a lot for the confidence of those who roster Herrera in a fantasy league.

Zac Gallen, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

It was a pretty disastrous first start of the year for Gallen last week as he allowed four earned runs and walked four in four innings of work. On Wednesday night, he looked like vintage Gallen, striking out 13 batters and not issuing a walk across 6.2 scoreless innings of work.

Gallen generated an impressive 24 whiffs, with 13 coming on the curveball. The pitch mix is relatively similar to what we have seen in past years, with Gallen using the changeup slightly more often.

As far as the arsenal goes, Gallen is getting more movement on his pitches. It may not be a ton, but Gallen is averaging 18.5 inches of IVB on his fastball, up from 16.9 last year and he averaged 20 inches in the start against the Yankees.

His changeup is showing more fade and more depth in the curveball. His down season in 2024 is likely correlated with his World Series run in 2023, in which he threw 243.2 innings. Now, Gallen is fully healthy and looks ready to make an impressive run in 2025.

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