Joey Gallo is one of the most exciting young players in Major League Baseball. He is a one-of-a-kind outfielder who possesses immense talent and an impressive hitting ability. Despite his ability, Gallo faced significant challenges to achieve success in his career. In this article, we will explore the journey of this young player to higher echelons of the sport.
Joey Gallo was born on November 19, 1993, in Henderson, Nevada. He spent his childhood playing baseball and attending Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. During his time in high school, Gallo caught the attention of the Texas Rangers, who drafted him in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft.
After being drafted, Gallo began his professional baseball career in 2012. He started his time with the Rangers in the minor leagues, playing for the Spokane Indians. In Spokane, he quickly became one of the team’s most reliable hitters, producing eye-catching numbers. In his first season, he had a .293 batting average, along with 22 home runs and 52 RBI. He was named the Northwest League Player of the Year and was promoted to the Class A-Advanced Myrtle Beach Pelicans.
Despite his initial success, Gallo struggled early on in his minor league career. He had a poor showing in the 2013 season, batting only .245 for Class A-Advanced Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Even with this initial struggle, the Rangers put their faith in him, prompting him to move up in the rankings.
Gallo began to gain momentum in the 2014 season with his tenure at Double-A Frisco Roughriders. He displayed his immense power in that season, hitting 42 home runs, and having a batting average of .323 over just 354 at-bats. By the end of the season, Gallo was one of the top prospects in the Rangers organization.
At the start of the 2015 season, Gallo received a call to play in the Major League. However, he faced considerable challenge, especially in batting. In the 36 games he played that season, he batted only .204, striking out 57 times in 123 at-bats. That was his first failure in the career publicized widely.
Gallo continued his efforts to improve his game, and in 2017, he had a remarkable performance. He hit 41 home runs and had a batting average of .209. He also demonstrated his versatility by playing various positions, including first base and outfield.
In the following season, Gallo continued his solid performance, hitting 40 home runs and garnering an All-Star selection in 2019. However, his season was cut short after he underwent surgery to repair a broken right hamate bone.
Gallo has continued to prove his worth as a player for the Rangers. He’s known for his powerful offense, but he has also displayed his versatility, playing both in the outfield and infield positions. In 2020, despite the shortened season due to the pandemic, he had an impressive batting average of .181, along with 10 home runs in 38 games.
Overall, Joey Gallo is a rising star in the world of Major League Baseball. He has had his successes and challenges in his career, but he has persevered to become one of the best players in the game today. As he continues to hone his skills, there is no doubt that he will remain a vital player for the Texas Rangers for years to come.