Joey Gallo strikes out frequently. He is probably going to strike out often over the life of his career. He also hits a bunch of long balls. But what he did not do much of was walk. He averaged roughly a walk every 18 innings. You expect a slugger like Gallo to strike out. We have watched him since 2015 and he has been consistent. He averages 1.4 strikeouts per nine innings.
Fast forward to the young 2019 season. Joey Gallo has struck out ten times in ten games. If my math is right, and I know the season is young, but he is only striking out once per game. He is learning, under new hitting coach Luis Ortiz, to be patient at the plate. He is taking more pitches, and it is showing. Not only is he striking out less, but he has walked ten times in ten games. His career batting average is .205, yet in 2019 he has an average of .250. Joey’s career OPS is .824, his 2019 OPS so far? 1.162.
Did Luis Ortiz make that big of a difference for Gallo? Maybe he did, or maybe Gallo is just figuring it out. Either way, it has been good to see the difference, albeit in a very small sample. Joey will still have three strikeout games. He will still go through spells where he doesn’t walk. Giant swings will still happen in every at bat. After all, that is Joey Gallo.
It will be very interesting to see where he sits at the end of the season. Projecting it out, he will have 162 walks and strikeouts, forty home runs, a batting average around .250 and be a very productive player for the Rangers. Now, some of these numbers will either end up higher or lower, but if he stays near the pace he is on it will be a great year offensively for Gallo. Agree or disagree? Let me know in the comment section down below or on our Facebook or Twitter page.
