Joey Gallo isn’t ready to walk away from baseball.
The former MLB slugger is working on a comeback – but this time as a pitcher. MLB insider Jon Heyman reported Friday that Gallo’s throwing for teams in Florida, trying to land a contract for what would be a pretty unique career pivot.
“Joey Gallo, righty pitcher, is beginning to throw for teams now. Been working out in Florida,” Heyman posted on X.
It’s a fascinating development for the 6-foot-5 Gallo, who hit 208 home runs during his big league career with the Rangers, Yankees, Dodgers, and Twins. Now he’s betting that muscular frame can help him succeed on the mound instead of in the batter’s box.
The thing is, Gallo actually has pitching credentials. He was a standout on the mound at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, throwing a no-hitter as a senior and earning Nevada Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year honors.
His Perfect Game profile from back then showed a fastball that touched 94 mph plus “a changeup with fading action.” That’s the kind of stuff that gets scouts excited – the question now is what he’s got left after focusing on hitting for over a decade in pro ball.
What Teams Are Looking For
There’s no telling what Gallo’s velocity or command looks like now. That’s exactly what teams are trying to figure out during these Florida workouts.
The timeline matters here. If Gallo doesn’t land a contract before the season starts, it’s hard to see this transition working out. Teams need to see enough upside to justify taking a flyer on what amounts to a completely unproven commodity at the big league level.
What Gallo does have going for him is familiarity with the professional baseball lifestyle. He knows what it takes to prepare, compete, and handle the grind. He’s just trying to do it from the other side of the pitcher-hitter battle now.
All things considered, it’s the kind of move that makes sense for a player who isn’t ready to hang up his cleats. Gallo’s got the size and the background – now it’s about whether any organization thinks there’s enough there to take a chance on.
