According to Joey Gallo’s admission, he became a little too pull-happy last season—57.9% Pull% compared to a lifetime average of 48.4% and a league average of 37.0%. Gallo, who inked a one-year, $5 million contract in D.C. this winter, is swinging for the fences with the Minnesota Twins.
In 2023, he blasted 21 home runs in a single season, with the bulk of those being, naturally, to the right of center field for the left-handed hitter.
Asking about attempting to bring everything together in the previous season, Gallo responded, “You know when it’s going on.” “Fixing it is difficult. I believe that a common misconception is that everything can be remedied by just going inside a cage. Additionally, when you engage in a daily activity, you develop a rhythm and a habit that can occasionally be difficult to quit.
While working in the background, Gallo made an effort to make changes. He did hit a lot of home runs, but he also went for walks.
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Gallo had 332 plate appearances in 111 games, and his 13.5% BB% in 2023 ranked 13th among MLB batters with at least 300 plate appearances. With a.301 OBP, a.262 ISO (18th highest in the league), a.440 SLG, and a 42.8 K% (142 Ks in 332 PAs), he topped all hitters with at least 300 PAs at the end of the season.
He pointed out that excessive fiddling with his method was the cause of some of the drawbacks there.
“So, I felt like I was trying a lot last year, and I wanted to start using the entire pitch,” he remarked. “But sometimes you have to take a break to regroup and get back on track, so that’s what I’m doing.
Joey Gallo sends his second home run of the night into orbit. ☄️ pic.twitter.com/2OqfoppG6g
— MLB (@MLB) August 13, 2023
“But I knew I was striking out way too much. I don’t like to look exactly how much I am, until maybe after the season, but yeah, it’s something you’re always aware of.” This winter, the 30-year-old slugger said, he’s focused on hitting the ball to all fields again and cutting down on the Ks.
“I believe that during many of my best years, I was utilizing the middle of the pitch more and working the entire pitch,” he said. And it looked like I started that way last year before maybe developing some poor habits or whatever, which led me to start pulling the ball more and becoming pull-happy.
Being confined to one side of the pitch is never a good thing. Thus, it’s only a matter of regaining my direction, focusing a little, and hitting the same spots that I might have a few years ago.
