Joey Gallo is turning the page on his career in the most unexpected way. The former Yankees slugger announced on Twitter Sunday afternoon that he will be abandoning his role as an outfielder and transitioning to pitching.
Just to be clear, I will be pitching.
— Joey Gallo (@JoeyGallo24) March 16, 2025
From Power Hitter to the Mound
Gallo, once known for his prodigious power, has seen his offensive production collapse in recent years. After signing a minor league deal with the Chicago White Sox this offseason, he was released following a brutal spring training performance. Over nine games, he posted a -40 wRC+, hit just .100 with one RBI, and struck out at an alarming 52.4% rate.
His struggles have been ongoing for quite some time. Last season with the Washington Nationals, Gallo slashed .161/.277/.336 with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs. While he was once feared at the plate, those days appear long gone. His last great campaign came in 2019 when he posted a .986 OPS, and he did manage to slug 38 homers in 2021 between the Texas Rangers and Yankees, but the decline since then has been drastic.
Reinventing His Career
Rather than continuing to grind through at-bats that result in strikeouts more often than not, Gallo has decided to take a different route. Reinventing himself as a pitcher will be no easy feat, especially at this stage of his career. However, he does have one tool that could make the transition intriguing—his arm strength.
Gallo has long been known for having a cannon in the outfield, with one of the strongest throwing arms among position players. If he can develop some command and secondary pitches, there’s a world where he could carve out a role as a reliever.
The Challenge Ahead
Making the move to the mound is a rare transition at the professional level, but it’s not unheard of. Former major leaguer Rick Ankiel famously went from a pitcher to an outfielder, and Sean Doolittle successfully transitioned from a hitter to a pitcher. The road won’t be easy, and Gallo will have to prove he can handle the workload and mechanics required to pitch at a high level.
If nothing else, this shift is an attempt to salvage his career in any way possible. His offensive decline has been sharp, and teams are no longer willing to take a chance on his once-elite power. Now, the focus turns to whether he can redefine himself on the mound and prove he still belongs in the game.