Prospect Report V: Sean Gallagher

Sean Gallagher was a 12 round pick out of Ft. Lauderdale's high school St. Aquinas in June 2004. He was projected to go in the 1st three rounds, but was considered by many teams to be a difficult guy to sign, so he was passed on until the Cubs took him. In his first season his pitched for the Arizona Rookie team and went 1-2 in 10 games with an ERA of 3.12. During those 10 games he started 9, went 34.2 innings giving up 38 hits while striking out 44 and only walking 11.
This season the Cubs decided to start him out in Low-A ball with the Peoria Chiefs and he has been spectacular. In 14 starts Sean has gone 7-2 with an ERA of 1.56 in 81 innings, giving up 52 hits, striking out 82 and walking only 26. Another amazing stat is he has only given up 2 hr's in the 81 innings pitched this year and he had given up zero the previous year.
Currently Sean is projected at best in the majors as a #3 starter with no above average pitch, but a good feel on how to pitch for being only 20. The Cubs have no need to rush him to the majors and I don't think they plan too, but this is what I think they should do: Bring Sean up to High-A ball in mid-July if he is still dominating Low-A and give him some experience there and then start him off in High-A next season and let him get a complete season then in High-A.