Joey Gallo is the power hitter of the Texas Rangers. His powerful swing and deliberate approach to getting on base have made him a fan favorite in Arlington. In 2020, Gallo was third in the American League with 40 home runs and has been dubbed “The Big Slugger” by his teammates and coaches. But what lies beneath the surface when it comes to Joey Gallo? Here are ten secrets about Joey Gallo that you may not know:
1. Despite his impressive numbers, he rarely strikes out. While he’s known for putting up big home run numbers, Gallo surprisingly doesn’t strike out often. He finished the 2020 season with just 112 strikeouts – fifth lowest among players who hit 30 or more home runs during that season.
2. He’s quite the opposite of his teammate, Michael Conforto. Gallo is one of the most powerful hitters in baseball whereas Conforto is more reliant on using contact and speed to get on base. This, however, doesn’t stop their friendly rivalry from taking place each time they face off against one another during a game.
3. He’s passionate about helping people in need. In 2020, Gallo donated $10,000 to help with relief efforts after tornadoes hit North Texas in April of that year. He also partnered with Feeding America to provide meals for families affected by COVID-19 throughout Texas.
4. His career has been hampered due to injury. Gallo has missed significant playing time due to various injuries throughout his career, most recently a strained right oblique sustained in 2019.
5. He was drafted as an infielder and not an outfielder. Despite being one of the league’s premier sluggers now, he was actually drafted by the Rangers in 2012 as a third baseman – even appearing at that position for a handful of games during his debut season in 2014.
6. He loves music – especially classic rock. As revealed on his official Twitter account, Gallo is a fan of classic rock bands such as Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, The Who and more.
7. His home run celebrations are epic – and inspiring! During his home run trot, Gallo can be seen pumping up fans and giving them a show. He even debuted a bat flip in 2018 that went viral.
8. His nickname doesn’t have anything to do with baseball. The “Big Slugger” moniker was given to him by his high school coach due to the fact that he was always the tallest kid on the team.
9. He’s also a fan of horror films. While he may not look like one, Gallo is an avid fan of horror movies – citing films such as Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street as his favorites!
10. He has two dogs – an English Bulldog named Captain Jack Sparrow and a pit bull named Chief Wahoo!
These are just some of the many secrets that go into making Joey Gallo the powerhouse slugger he is today. With his powerful swing and generous heart, there’s no doubt he’ll continue to make an impact in Arlington for years to come.