Time To Model Joey Gallo After This Yankees Legend
Today, we examine the career of slugger Joey Gallo, a hitter known for his power, walks, and strikeouts, and look at a former Yankee with a swing Gallo might want to emulate.
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Pregame Pepper
Did you know…
. . . In 2021, during which he played for the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees, Joey Gallo struck out 213 times in 616 plate appearances, which came out to nearly 35 percent of his plate appearances. He led the American League in strikeouts, King 11 more times than the next-closest hitter, Oakland’s Matt Chapman. Gallo’s 213 strikeouts last season are the fifth-most all-time in a single MLB season, trailing Mark Reynolds (223 in 2009), Adam Dunn (222, 2012), Chris Davis (219, 2016), and Yoan Moncada (217, 2018).
Gallo also led the AL in walks last season with 111, and hit 38 home runs to go with his walks and strikeouts. Together, those “three true outcomes” of 213 strikeouts, 111 walks, and 38 homers comprised 58.8 percent of his total plate appearances for the season.
. . . After spending parts of seven seasons with the Rangers to begin his career, Gallo ranks among their all-time franchise leaders in slugging percentage (eighth, .497) and OPS (10th, .833).
. . . Though nearly all of his career homers have been launched out of the yard, Gallo did leg out an inside-the-park home run on June 21, 2017, for the Rangers against Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Joe Biagini while leading off the bottom of the fifth. The Rangers ended up losing the game, 7-5, despite Gallo’s come-from-behind efforts.
Leading Off
Rebuild Joey13 Into Roger9
By Michael Bossi
Today, my thoughts are with Joey Gallo and rebuilding his swing and approach at the plate. We’re not talking about eating Italian food.
When I go into the Yankees archives and look up video of fellow outfielder Roger Maris, it seems like Maris had a perfect level swing for Yankee Stadium. Based on what I have read and seen, he changed his approach to fit the stadium with advice from some higher ups in the organization, along with manager Ralph Houk. I have seen Gallo attempt hitting to the opposite field like we all know hitters should do at times with the shift on or with two strikes. Next season, that shift might come to an end, but cutting down your swing with two strikes should always be in the back of your mind.
Watching video of Maris, I see a much more level swing than what Gallo has. Gallo has a more modern launch angle approach, which at times is good for some hitters, don’t get me wrong. However, Gallo is built differently than Maris. Watching him every day now, I notice a man who is 6-foot-5 and 250 lbs who doesn’t need to focus on launch angle. If he focuses on cutting his swing down, hitting with a more level swing, and hitting line drives, those home runs will fly out of the stadium. His strikeouts could be reduced as a result as well -- he has a great eye at the plate and draws a lot of walks. That on-base potential and his home run power are why he was brought to New York, along with his golden glove.
It’s easy for me to say, looking from the outside, how Gallo can improve. I’m sure the hitting coaches have tried different things and they don’t want to tinker with him too much. Teammates, coaches, and friends have probably all chimed in at one time or another. He did hit .253 in 2019, an injury-shortened season for him in which he only played 70 games. Look back at 2019 video of Gallo -- what did he do differently that year? That could be a clue there as to how he can improve now.
Everyone that works for the Yankees and all Yankee fans want to see him do well. His close friends and teammates call him “Pico De Gallo” -- they all want success for him. Gallo could be a Yankee until he retires -- we all know as a kid he was always a Yankees fan. I wish him good luck in his career in New York or wherever he may end up. The potential is there -- general manager Brian Cashman wouldn’t have traded for him if it wasn’t. And Gallo fits in the clubhouse just fine while playing in one of the most powerful outfields in baseball today. As manager Aaron Boone calls it, “The Jumbo Package” of Gallo, Aaron Judge, and Giancarlo Stanton is a mountain of men, the tight ends of the Yankees.
I know you can’t massively change a Major League hitter’s approach during the season, as all the media on TV and all the coaches tell us. But I say why not try if you have nothing to lose. If he’s not doing the job, take a chance on some drastic changes. Gallo is a free agent after this year, so if the Yankees want to seriously compete for a World Series title in 2022 and transform Gallo’s swing into something resembling that of the great Maris, it makes total sense for both Gallo and the Yankees to throw everything they have at salvaging his season.
You can follow Michael Bossi on Twitter @jeet2ss.