Even while he was coming off his worst major-league season, the Minnesota Twins coveted Joey Gallo, whom they tried to acquire several times during his career.
With a Twins executive declaring that “the upside is tremendous,” it appears the team will do everything it can to get Gallo into the lineup — including his first extended appearances at first base since 2018. (Gallo played first in one game with the Dodgers last season.)
“Expect to see lots of Joey Gallo at first base, especially if Alex Kirilloff struggles to get back on track following season-ending wrist surgeries in 2021 and 2022. Gallo is a two-time Gold Glove-winning corner outfielder, and that’s where the Twins would prefer to deploy him, but he also played some first base early in his career with the Rangers and is considered very good there as well.”
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Gallo batted .160/.257/.380 with 19 home runs, 47 RBI and 163 strikeouts in 410 plate appearances with the Yankees and Dodgers. He stuck out 106 times in 233 at-bats with the Yankees, who benched him and then dealt him to Los Angeles, where he was no better. He gets a fresh start (and possibly his last shot) in Minnesota.
The received right-handed pitching prospect Clayton Beeter, a 2020 second-round pick who was Los Angeles’ No. 15 overall prospect, according to Baseball America and MLB Pipeline. Beeter, 23, likely will be a relief pitcher.
“I take pride in being able to do a lot of different things on the field,” Gallo said when he signed a one-year, $11 million contract. “It’s important to bring more to the game than just being an offensive profile. As long as I’m young and athletic, I’m going to try to be the best I can be on the field and as an athlete.
“I always loved playing here. I’ve got pretty good memories here … I love the fan base, it’s always a place I enjoyed playing. And it seemed like they wanted me here, and that’s all you can ask for, to go to a place that wants you.”
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