Did you think Twins outfielder Joey Gallo would be among the league’s top home runs hitters after the first week of the 2023 MLB season? Given his power, it wouldn’t be a shock. But at the same time, the 29-year-old slugger had himself a very rocky season last year between New York and Los Angeles. With Gallo off to a hot start, do we dare ask this question: should fantasy players actually consider buying his stock? Let’s take a closer look at his year.
Related: 2023 MLB Fantasy: Five Hitters To Target On The Waiver Wire
A Look at Gallo
Entering play on April 5, Twins outfielder Joey Gallo‘s numbers looked very different as compared to 2022. After a difficult 2022 in which he hit a career-low .160 , Gallo’s average sat at .250. It did go down by the end of the day, as the 29-year-old went 0-1 in his lone at-bat on the 5th against the Marlins.
It’s a small sample size, so don’t get too excited about the batting average. But in a major positive, Gallo already has three home runs and sits in a tie for second among all MLB players. One could say it’s a bit of luck, given the pitch chart of Gallo’s three home runs.
He’s still whiffing at pitches at a below-average clip, so don’t expect the batting average to stick in the .230-.250 range all year. Still, it’s a major positive to see Gallo do what he does best — drilling mistakes made by opposing pitchers into the seats — again. But, is it sustainable?
What it Means
There’s a lot of intriguing outfielders available in most leagues, from Jesse Winker to even a guy like Jake Fraley. Given Gallo’s strikeouts problems — and don’t expect those to go away — it’s very difficult to recommend a player that may not even hit .200 at the end of the year. But, the power that the 29-year-old has will always make him a curious option.
We don’t recommend picking up Gallo just yet, but keep a close on him and the Twins. The early returns have been promising thus far, but don’t expect a Kyle Schwarber-like resurgence.
