He has long been recognized for his tremendous power at the plate, showcasing it with home run seasons of 40, 41, and 38. However, his career .194 batting average and nearly 38% strikeout rate have made consistency a challenge.
After being released by the Chicago White Sox, the 31-year-old took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce his next venture: pitching.
Although the idea may have seemed improbable before, Gallo’s arm strength has never been in doubt. Back in high school in 2011, he hit 94 mph as a pitcher, and in the majors, Statcast recorded one of his outfield throws at 99.3 mph.
If any team can successfully guide Gallo through this transition, it’s the Seattle Mariners.
Mariners should take a chance on Joey Gallo’s attempt to reinvent himself as a pitcher
Seattle has earned a reputation as one of the top organizations in baseball for pitching development. They’ve transformed young talents like Logan Gilbert, George Kirby, Bryan Woo, and Bryce Miller into successful major leaguers, while also reviving numerous pitchers’ careers. Gallo might possess the best raw tools of any reclamation project they’ve worked with.
By embracing the Mariners’ data-driven philosophy—something pitchers like Gilbert thrive on—Gallo could refine his mechanics, develop a secondary pitch, and approach hitters with a completely fresh perspective. However, signing with Seattle would require him to adopt the organization’s core mantra, something he struggled with as a hitter: “control the zone.”
https://x.com/BaseballAmerica/status/1901702575881150711?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1901702575881150711%7Ctwgr%5E99c443b380fda7a4e778f311f7e41c1943cc1828%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsodomojo.com%2Fjoey-gallo-s-move-to-pitching-is-a-perfect-opportunity-for-the-mariners-01jpjpnr67v6
Gallo’s blend of size, velocity, and athleticism makes him a compelling addition to the Mariners’ pitching staff. At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, he has the ideal build for a power pitcher, and his ability to generate high velocity provides a strong foundation for Seattle to build upon.
This transition is one of the most fascinating stories in baseball. Few position players successfully make the leap to pitching, but Gallo may possess the most natural arm talent of anyone who has attempted it. His arm has always been a major asset, and with the Mariners overseeing his development, he would be in the ideal environment to succeed on the mound.
