Joey Gallo

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For people with a similar name, see Joseph Gallo.
Joey Gallo
Runs batted in
453
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Joseph Nicholas Gallo (born November 19, 1993) is an American professional baseball outfielder and infielder who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Minnesota Twins, and Washington Nationals.

The Rangers selected Gallo in the first round of the

MLB All-Star Games and won the Gold Glove Award in 2020 and 2021. He currently has the most home runs ever (208) for a player with a career batting average under .200 (.194).[1]

Early life

Gallo attended

Las Vegas, Nevada.[2] As a senior, he was the Nevada Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year and a High School All-American by MaxPreps, ESPNHS and USA Today.[3][4][5][6] He hit a Nevada high school record 67 career home runs in 446 at bats, and during his senior year of high school he had a .509 batting average with 21 home runs and 80 runs batted in (RBIs) in 114 at bats.[7][8]

Gallo signed a National Letter of Intent to play college baseball for the LSU Tigers.[9]

Professional career

Texas Rangers

Minor leagues

The Texas Rangers selected Gallo in the first round, with the 39th overall selection, in the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.[10][11] Rather than enroll at LSU, Gallo signed with the Rangers for a $2.25 million signing bonus.[9]

Gallo with the Hickory Crawdads in 2013

Gallo started his professional career with the

Low-A Northwest League, hitting .214/.343/.464 with four home runs and 26 strikeouts in 56 at-bats in 16 games.[12]

Prior to the 2013 season, Gallo was the Rangers 10th-best prospect according to

Single-A South Atlantic League, leading the league with 38 home runs and 165 strikeouts in 392 at-bats, and was named a Mid-Season All Star and a Post-Season All Star.[17][12] He became the first teenager since Dick Simpson in 1962 to hit 40 home runs in a minor league season.[18] Between Hickory and the AZL Rangers, he batted a combined .251/.338/.623 with 40 home runs and 172 strikeouts in 411 at-bats. Gallo won the Joe Bauman Home Run Award for hitting the most home runs in minor league baseball for the 2013 season.[19] Over the offseason, he worked out with Troy Tulowitzki and Jason Giambi at the Philippi Sports Institute in Las Vegas.[20]

Gallo started the 2014 season with the

Double-A Texas League in June where he was named a Post-Season All Star, a Baseball America High Class A All Star, a Baseball America Minor League All Star, and a Topps Class A All Star.[21][22][12] In July, he played in the All-Star Futures Game, where he was named the MVP of the game after hitting a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning.[23] Between the two minor league teams he batted .271/.394/.615 with 42 home runs and 179 strikeouts in 439 at bats.[12] Gallo began the 2015 season with Frisco, and was named a Mid-Season Texas South All Star.[12]

Major leagues

On June 1, 2015, the Rangers promoted Gallo to the major leagues.

Golden Sombrero against the Kansas City Royals.[26] On June 30, 2015, Gallo was optioned to Triple A to make room for Josh Hamilton. In the minors in 2015, he batted .240/.342/.520 with 23 home runs and 139 strikeouts in 321 at bats. In 2015 in the majors, he batted .204/.301/.417 with six home runs and 57 strikeouts in 108 at-bats.[12]

Gallo with the Round Rock Express in 2016

In 2016, Gallo spent the majority of the season in the minors, appearing in only 17 games for the Rangers. In 2016, in 25 at-bats in the majors, he had 19 strikeouts and one hit (a home run).[27] With Round Rock, he batted .240/.367/.529 with 25 home runs and 150 strikeouts in 359 at-bats.[12]

In 2017, Gallo won a major league roster spot out of spring training and played multiple positions all season for the Rangers. For the season, he batted .209/.333/.537 with 196 strikeouts (second in the American League), 41 home runs (third in the league), and 80 RBIs in 449 at bats.[27] He hit the third-longest home run in MLB in 2017, at 490 feet.[28]

In 2018, Gallo batted .206/.312/.498, hit 40 home runs (third in the league), drove in 92 runs, and struck out 207 times in 148 games.[29]

In 2019, Gallo was named the

MLB record by recording the fewest career singles (93) at the time of reaching the 100 home run mark.[31] On May 31, Gallo hit his first career grand slam off of Danny Duffy of the Kansas City Royals.[32] Gallo was placed on the injured list from June 2 to 25 with a left oblique strain.[33] He was selected as an American League reserve outfielder for the 2019 Major League Baseball All-Star Game,[34] and hit a home run off of Will Smith in his lone All-Star at-bat.[35] Gallo was placed on the injured list and underwent surgery to remove a broken right hamate bone on July 25,[36] ending his season. Gallo finished the 2019 campaign hitting .253/.389/.598/.986 with 22 home runs and 49 RBI over 297 plate appearances in 70 games.[37]

On July 6, 2020, it was announced that Gallo had tested positive for COVID-19,[38] despite being asymptomatic.[39] He hit the first home run at the Rangers' new stadium Globe Life Field on July 26. At the end of the season, Gallo won the AL Gold Glove Award as a right fielder.[40] He finished the shortened season batting .181 with 10 home runs.[41]

On April 9, 2021, Gallo was the only baserunner allowed by

2021 MLB All-Star Game,[42] drawing a walk in his only plate appearance.[43] Gallo also participated in the 2021 Home Run Derby.[44]

New York Yankees

On July 29, 2021, the Rangers traded Gallo and

Trevor Hauver, and Ezequiel Durán.[45]

In 2021, he batted .199/.351/.458 with 38 home runs and 77 RBI.[27] He led the majors in strikeouts with 213 and led the American League in walks with 111.[46] Gallo also won his second consecutive Gold Glove Award.[47]

Gallo in March 2022

On March 22, 2022, Gallo signed a $10.275M contract with the Yankees, avoiding arbitration.[48] Gallo's performance dropped off dramatically in 2022, continuing what was described in the New York Post as a "nightmare tenure in The Bronx." He was further described as "one of the biggest trade busts in Yankees history."[49] Shortly before being traded away from the Yankees, Gallo said of his time in New York, "I don't go out in the streets... I really don't want to show my face too much around here... I went through a lot of adversity and I really had to question myself a lot. My confidence suffered. I would say I hit rock bottom for the big leagues." He went on to say that opposing players would try to give him encouragement in the face of boos from fans but that their pity "makes me feel like a piece of s**t, [sic] honestly... it makes me feel like I'm a problem."[50] In 82 games for the Yankees in 2022, he batted a career low .159 with 12 homers and 24 RBIs.[27]

Los Angeles Dodgers

On August 2, 2022, Gallo was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for Clayton Beeter.[51] He played in 44 games for the Dodgers, hitting .162 with seven home runs and 23 RBI.[27]

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins signed Gallo to a one-year, $11 million contract on December 20, 2022.[52] He played in 111 games for the Twins in 2023, batting .177/.301/.440 with 21 home runs and 40 RBI.[27] He became a free agent following the season.

Washington Nationals

Gallo with the Nationals in 2024

On January 27, 2024, Gallo signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Washington Nationals.[53] He made 76 appearances for Washington, batting .161/.277/.336 with 10 home runs, 27 RBI, and three stolen bases. On November 3, the Nationals declined the mutual option on Gallo's contract, making him a free agent.[54]

Chicago White Sox

On February 13, 2025, Gallo signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.[55] On March 16, Gallo requested and was granted his unconditional release from the organization. Following his release, Gallo announced his intentions to convert into a pitcher.[56]

Personal life

Gallo grew up in

Sciacca, Sicily, and was raised in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn
.

During the delay of the 2020 Major League Baseball season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gallo stayed in his Dallas apartment and set up a batting cage in his living room.[59]

References

  1. ^ "Who Has the Most Hr While Hitting Below 200 in a Career". StatMuse.
  2. ^ Brewer, Ray (February 15, 2012). "Gorman baseball player Joey Gallo has big bat, talent to merit first-round draft pick". Lasvegassun.com. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  3. ^ Rohrbach, Ben (May 30, 2012). "Nevada Baseball POY: Joey Gallo". Espn.go.com. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  4. ^ Kevin Askeland (July 4, 2012). "Joey Gallo leads 2012 MaxPreps All-American Baseball Team". Maxpreps.com. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  5. ^ "ESPNHS 2012 Baseball All-Americans". Espn.go.com. June 21, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  6. ^ Halley, Jim (January 14, 2013). "Tampa Jesuit's Lance McCullers Jr. Leads All-USA Baseball Team". USA Today High School Sports. Archived from the original on November 1, 2012. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  7. ^ Davison, Drew. "Home run ball has gotten Rangers prospect Joey Gallo plenty of love". Star-telegram.com. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  8. ^ "Joey Gallo's High School Baseball Stats". MaxPreps.com. September 17, 2013.
  9. ^ a b Dabe, Christopher (June 2, 2015). "Former LSU signee Joey Gallo homers in major league debut". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  10. ^ RunThisTown (Matt Philips) (June 4, 2012). "Bishop Gorman's Joey Gallo goes 39th overall to the Texas Rangers". Lasvegassun.com. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  11. ^ "Rangers draft high school power on Day 1". Texas.rangers.mlb.com. May 24, 2013. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h "Joey Gallo Stats, Fantasy & News". Minor League Baseball.
  13. ^ "Fresh out of high school, prospect Joey Gallo puts on Texas Rangers uniform for first time". Rangersblog.dallasnews.com. March 16, 2013. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  14. ^ Wild, Danny (August 29, 2012). "Rangers' Gallo named AZL's best". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  15. ^ Boedeker, Adam (November 6, 2012). "Gallo Takes MVP Honors in Arizona". Nbcdfw.com. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  16. ^ Eddy, Matt (December 5, 2012). "Baseball America 2013 Texas Rangers top 10 prospects". Baseballamerica.com. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  17. ^ "2013 South Atlantic League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  18. ^ Seiner, Jake (August 31, 2013). "Gallo makes history with 40th homer". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved September 3, 2013.
  19. ^ "Late charge earns Gallo Bauman Award: Rangers slugger edges Astros' Springer in season's final week". MiLB. September 5, 2013. Retrieved September 5, 2013.
  20. ^ "Slugging prospect Gallo works out with two All-Stars | texasrangers.com: News". Texas Rangers. Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved December 10, 2013.
  21. ^ "2014 Carolina League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com.
  22. ^ "Gallo, Gonzalez promoted to Double-A Frisco". Texas Rangers. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  23. ^ "Joey Gallo earns Futures Game MVP honors after leading Team USA to victory - HardballTalk". nbcsports.com. July 13, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  24. ^ "Grant: Why Rangers feel time is right for Joey Gallo to join big club". dallasnews.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  25. ^ Sullivan, T.R. (June 2, 2015). "Gallo homers in second big league at-bat". MLB.com. Retrieved June 2, 2015.
  26. ^ Grant, Evan (June 6, 2015). "Why Rangers aren't concerned about Joey Gallo's first 'Golden Sombrero'". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on August 9, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  27. ^ a b c d e f "Joey Gallo Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  28. ^ "Statcast Leaderboard". baseballsavant.com.
  29. ^ "Major League Leaderboards » 2018 » Batters » Plate Discipline Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball". www.fangraphs.com.
  30. ^ David Adler (April 22, 2019). "Yelich, Gallo power way to POTW honors". MLB.com. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  31. ^ a b c Crouse, Jake (May 8, 2019). "Weird record: Gallo has 100 HRs, 93 singles". MLB.com. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  32. ^ "Joey Gallo Connects For First Career Grand Slam As Rangers Defeat Royals 6-2". CBS DFW. May 31, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  33. ^ James Schmehl (June 25, 2019). "Joey Gallo back from IL, batting fifth". MLB.com. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  34. ^ Dawn Klemish (June 30, 2019). "Career years earn Gallo, Minor 1st All-Star nods". MLB.com. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
  35. ^ T.R. Sullivan (July 9, 2019). "Gallo swats record blast on first pitch he sees". MLB.com. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  36. ^ T.R. Sullivan (July 25, 2019). "Gallo headed for surgery to fix hamate bone". MLB.com. Retrieved July 25, 2019.
  37. ^ Evan Grant (September 20, 2019). "Joey Gallo moved to 60-day IL, Rangers don't expect him to play again this season". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  38. ^ Blum, Sam (July 6, 2020). "Rangers OF Joey Gallo tests positive for COVID-19". The Dallas Morning News.
  39. ^ Hawkins, Stephen (July 6, 2020). "Asymptomatic All-Star slugger Gallo tests positive for virus". AP NEWS. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  40. ^ "2020 Rawlings Gold Glove Award® Winners Announced". news.yahoo.com. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  41. Baseball-Reference.com
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  42. ^ Landry, Kennedi (July 7, 2021). "902 feet?! Gallo hits 22nd, 23rd HRs of '21". MLB.com. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  43. ^ Landry, Kennedi (July 14, 2021). "'Just special': Rangers trio represents in ASG". MLB.com. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  44. ^ "Washington Nationals' Juan Soto, Texas Rangers' Joey Gallo join field for All-Star Home Run Derby at Coors Field". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 8, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  45. ^ Hoch, Brian (July 29, 2021). "Yankees get Gallo in 6-player deal". MLB.com. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  46. ^ "Major League Leaderboards » 2021 » Batters » Dashboard | FanGraphs Baseball". fangraphs.com.
  47. ^ Hoch, Bryan (November 7, 2021). "Back to back! Gallo wins Gold Glove in RF". MLB.com. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  48. ^ Franco, Anthony (March 22, 2022). "Yankees Avoid Arbitration With Joey Gallo". MLBTradeRumors. Retrieved March 23, 2022.
  49. ^ Martin, Dan (August 3, 2022). "Yankees' Aaron Boone: This place had 'adverse effect' on Joey Gallo". New York Post. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  50. ^ Miller, Randy (August 2, 2022). "Joey Gallo sums up Yankees fans, feeling 'like a piece of s**t' on eve of new start". NJ.com. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  51. ^ Toribio, Juan (August 2, 2022). "Dodgers get slugger Gallo from Yankees". mlb.com. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  52. ^ "Twins sign Joey Gallo to one-year contract". MLB.com.
  53. ^ Svoboda, Dylan; Camerato, Jessica (January 29, 2024). "Slugger Gallo excited to bring defensive versatility to Nats". MLB.com. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
  54. ^ "Joey Gallo to hit free agency after Nationals decline option". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 3, 2024. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  55. ^ "White Sox Sign Joey Gallo To Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors.com. February 13, 2025. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  56. ^ "Gallo makes surprising announcement: He's switching to pitching". MLB.com. March 16, 2025. Retrieved March 16, 2025.
  57. ^ Joey Hayden (April 17, 2018). "Joey Gallo's career as a catcher ended because a young Bryce Harper once made him cry". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  58. ^ a b Maun, Tyler (April 9, 2015). "Rise to top a family affair for Bryant, Gallo". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  59. ^ Hayden, Joey (March 29, 2020). "'I'm sorry neighbors': Rangers' Joey Gallo turns home into indoor batting cage during MLB's hiatus". Dallas News. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
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