The Minnesota Twins announced today that they have signed outfielder Joey Gallo to a one-year contract. Gallo, 29, split the 2022 season between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, hitting .160 (56-for-350) with eight doubles, two triples, 19 home runs, 47 RBI, 48 runs scored and 56 walks in 126 games. The two-time American League All-Star (2019 & 2021) and two time AL Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner (2020 & 2021) has hit 170 home runs since the start of the 2017 season, tied for 12th most in baseball in that span.
In 2021, the 6-foot-5, 250-pound slugger hit 38 home runs in 153 games between the Yankees and Texas Rangers, and walked an AL-leading 111 times in 616 plate appearances. Since 2020, he ranks second among all major league outfielders in defensive runs saved with 32 (per FanGraphs) and fifth by averaging 93.5 mph on his throws from the outfield (per Baseball Savant, minimum of 500 throws). In his career, he has posted an at-bat-per-home run ratio of 13.36, which ranks fifth-best in AL/NL history (minimum of 1,500 at-bats), trailing Mark McGwire (10.61), Babe Ruth (11.76), Aaron Judge (11.99) and Barry Bonds (12.92).
The Henderson, Nevada native was originally selected by the Rangers in the first round (39th overall) of the 2012 First-Year Player Draft out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada and has played in 752 career major league games across parts of eight seasons with the Rangers, Yankees and Dodgers. He has hit 177 career home runs with 386 RBI, 400 runs scored, 417 walks, a .469 slugging percentage and a .794 OPS, while averaging 38 home runs-per-162 games over his career. In 15 career games at Target Field, Gallo has posted a .632 slugging percentage with three doubles, six home runs, 13 RBI and a .954 OPS.
To make room on the 40-man roster, the Twins have designated outfielder Mark Contreras for release or assignment. Contreras played in 28 games for Minnesota last season, hitting .121 (7-for-58) with one double, three home runs and six RBI.
(info courtesy of Twins)
