Confidence Eludes Joey Gallo As New York Yankees Express Concerns Over Offensive Malaise

New York Yankees outfielder Joey Gallo is best described as a three outcomes ball player: home runs, strikeouts, and base on balls. As strikeouts have always been a prominent aspect of Gallo’s baseball identity, it appears as if he is presently struggling with confidence at the outset of the 2022 season. Consistency has also eluded Gallo since his arrival in New York last July as there are growing concerns given his importance to the Yankees’ success.

A two-time American League All-Star and Gold Glove Award winning outfielder, Gallo is an impressive physical specimen along the same lines as teammates Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. Besides the raw power, he can run well for a 6-foot-5, 250-pound ball player. In terms of extra bases taken percentage from Baseball-Reference, Gallo’s 48 percent last season was above the American League average per 600 plate appearances of 40 percent. According to FanGraphs’ Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) statistic over the past two seasons, Gallo’s 28 DRS was the best among qualified outfielders.

Gallo had the fourth best at bats per home run ratio in the American League (13.1) last season, but also the worst at bats per strikeout (2.3) according to Baseball-Reference. He had the highest strikeout percentage among qualified ball players at 34.6 percent along with the most strikeouts in Major League Baseball (213). Not to be overlooked, Gallo’s 111 base on balls produced an 18 percent base on balls percentage which both led the American League. His early season struggles have been amplified by a mediocre 2021 performance over 58 regular season ball games while wearing the venerable pinstripes.

Advanced metrics tell us Gallo has the ability to erase doubt with optimism, but he needs to get back to basics first beginning with simplicity and trusting his swing. The primary goal should focus on quality as Gallo’s at bats have become predictable and usually ending with him swinging at a pitch outside of the strike zone. He is full of nervous energy and is constantly fidgeting as evident in the numerous head shakes and neck cracking. Gallo’s eyes are always wide open as if he is either stretching the muscles or possibly straining them.

In one instance, Gallo is confronting challenges on high velocity pitches and then in another having difficulties with sliders and changeups. Regardless of the minuscule sample size of 43 plate appearances through 13 ball games, Gallo’s O-Swing Percentage according to FanGraphs is presently 35.9 percent which represents the percentage of pitches a batter is swinging at outside of the strike zone. In comparison, Gallo hadn’t eclipsed 25 percent in terms of O-Swing Percentage over the past three seasons.

Additional pressure has been thrust upon Gallo’s shoulders when it comes to his present and future with the Yankees. He avoided arbitration this past offseason and signed a one-year, $10.275 million contract. According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, the Yankees had entertained trade conversations this spring with the San Diego Padres regarding Gallo. The 28-year-old will be a free agent at season’s end and is represented by super-agent Scott Boras.

The Yankees have been subjected to numerous critiques regarding the construction of their roster and the differences between “dangerous” and “great” hitters. They have a multitude of dangerous hitters in their lineup who have excelled in a variety of Statcast metrics. However, dangerous hitters have weaknesses that can be exposed for extended periods of time. Gallo’s weaknesses are currently outweighing his strengths as a dangerous hitter. He needs to control the strike zone through plate discipline while making the necessary adjustments on every pitch with a relaxed approach to hitting.

The phrase “back of the baseball card” is regularly used when referring to ball players who might be struggling and need to remind others of their abilities and past achievements. In Joey Gallo’s case, the New York Yankees would love to see the home run production, high quality baserunning, and defensive prowess without the excessive strikeouts. Gallo has regularly demonstrated versatility both in the batting order and outfield. His path towards productivity must begin with simplicity, stability, and comfort.