Joey Gallo last appeared in a big-league game some 418 days ago, but if the ex-slugger has any say over his future, it won’t be too long before he’s back in an MLB stadium, only this time as a pitcher. In March, Gallo announced that he would switch to pitching and seven months later posted a first-look video of his bid to return to the majors.
— Joey Gallo (@JoeyGallo24) November 21, 2025
In a 15-second video shared on X, Gallo, 32, is shown throwing three pitches off a mound. Using his 6-foot-5 frame, Gallo is employing a typical overhand arm slot, with a rather pronounced extension, a typical hallmark of lengthy pitchers. While the catcher isn’t visible on the video, the sound of his pitches hitting the mitt could be heard.
Over 10 years in the big leagues with five teams, Gallo slashed .194/.319/.456 with 208 home runs and 453 RBIs over 939 games. A bona fide “three true outcome” player, Gallo finished his playing career with 1,292 strikeouts. Of his 557 career hits, only 232 were of the non-extra-bases variety.
From 2019 to 2021, Gallo appeared in two All-Star Games and won two Gold Glove Awards between time spent with the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees, posting 9.2 of his career 15.6 bWAR. In 2021, he led baseball in both walks (111) and strikeouts (213).
However, after joining the Yankees, his on-field struggles became more pronounced, and he went from a starter to bench player before ultimately being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I feel bad,” Gallo told The Athletic of his struggles in 2022. “It’s something I’m gonna have to really live with for the rest of my life. It’s going to be tough. I didn’t play well, I didn’t live up to expectations. And that’s a tough pill to swallow.”
After a brief stint with the Dodgers, Gallo bounced between the Twins and Nationals in the following seasons, appearing in 187 games spread out between 2023 and 2024. He signed a minor-league deal with the White Sox as a non-roster invitee in the winter before requesting his release to then focus on pitching.
During that time, not only did Gallo see his bat fall off, but his typically standout defense also cratered. In 2021, his second Gold Glove season, Gallo finished in the 93rd, 96th and 99th percentiles, respectively, in Outs Above Average, Arm Value and Arm Strength. In the following seasons, those values dropped, making Gallo a below-average fielder and necessitating a last-ditch effort move to first base.
At his peak, he was one of the hardest throwers in baseball, maxing out at 97.6 mph and averaging 93.9 mph on his throws, making a switch to pitching all the more reasonable.
In recent years, several other players have attempted to transition to pitching, including former first-round pick Tyler Naquin, as well as Charlie Culberson, David Fletcher and Alex Blandino, among others. Success, however, has ranged from rare to nonexistent.