Joey Gallo to reinvent himself after being released by the White Sox

At 31 years old, Joey Gallo is no longer the Las Vegas phenom who once terrorized pitchers with his immense power. What began as a career defined by towering swings and jaw-dropping home runs has transformed into a maze of doubts and failed adjustments. After being released by the Chicago White Sox, Gallo has made a shocking career choice: he’s decided to reinvent himself as a pitcher.

Gallo’s career at the plate was marked by a stark contrast—when he connected, the ball launched like a cannonball; but more often than not, he simply didn’t make contact. A lifetime batting average of .194 paired with 1,292 strikeouts in 3,355 plate appearances paints the picture of a powerful yet inconsistent slugger. Frustration became his only constant. Over the past three seasons, his batting average dropped to just .166, sending him into a downward spiral that neither his raw talent nor the age of Statcast analytics could reverse.

Gallo’s blazing start in MLB

When Gallo debuted with the Texas Rangers in 2015, his power was immediately evident. In just his second Major League at-bat, he crushed a 92-mph fastball from Jeff Samardzija, sending it 443 feet out of the park. He homered again in his second game and made such an impression that then-White Sox manager Robin Ventura intentionally walked him in his third.

The talent was undeniable. The promise was real. But what once seemed like a story of greatness carved in stone gradually crumbled over the years. Gallo’s time in New York was nothing short of torment. The relentless boos at Yankee Stadium left him gasping for air. “I don’t go out on the streets,” he confessed in 2022. The city that elevates heroes is also ruthless with those who fail to meet its towering expectations. Not even the support of teammates or the advice of coaches could salvage his confidence.

Now, after being released by the White Sox, Gallo didn’t choose to retire or accept a smaller contract overseas. Instead, he made the unthinkable decision to reinvent himself as a pitcher. From a young age, his arm was one of his standout tools. In exhibition games, he’s been clocked throwing up to 94 mph from the outfield. His father, Tony Gallo, once recounted that a Blue Jays scout laughed when he heard Joey wanted to be a hitter rather than a pitcher.

Joey refuses to give up. Reinventing oneself at 31 is no small feat, but for someone who has already faced the fear of failure head-on, any path forward is better than fading into obscurity without giving it a shot. His journey is a testament to resilience and the courage it takes to chart a new course when the odds are stacked against you.

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