Texas Rangers to Promote Frisco's Joey Gallo to Big Leagues
June 1, 2015 - Texas League (TL1)
Frisco RoughRiders News Release
FRISCO, TEXAS (JUNE 1, 2015) - Today the Texas Rangers announced that club will purchase the contract of third baseman Joey Gallo from the Frisco RoughRiders on Tuesday and promote him to the major league 25-man roster. Gallo will take the roster spot of third baseman Adrian Beltre, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list today with a sprained left thumb.
Gallo, 21, started the season on the disabled list after undergoing surgery to remove the os trigonum bone in his left heel on April 3. He made his 2015 season debut on April 25 and in 34 games hit .314 (38 for 121) with ten doubles, one triple, nine home runs, 31 RBI, 21 runs scored, 24 walks, 49 strikeouts, one steal, a .425 on-base percentage and a .636 slugging percentage. At the time of his promotion to the big leagues, Gallo ranked seventh in the Texas League in batting average, third in home runs, fourth in RBI, fifth in on-base percentage, second in slugging percentage and first in HR/AB ratio (1/13.44).
Gallo will become the 132nd RoughRider to make the big leagues and the third in the last week for the Rangers. Hanser Alberto and Alex "Chi Chi" Gonzalez made their major league debuts on Friday and Saturday, respectively. Earlier this season, former Riders Odubel Herrera (Phillies), Keone Kela (Rangers) and Wilfredo Boscan also made the majors for the first time.
The Las Vegas, Nev. native began the 2015 season as the consensus top prospect in the Rangers' farm system and the sixth-best prospect in the minors according to Baseball America. Gallo joined the RoughRiders from Advanced-A Myrtle Beach on June 9, 2014 and hit a walk-off home run against Midland in his Double-A debut. In 102 games with Frisco over two seasons, the lefty swinger hit .259/.382/.628 with 20 doubles, one triple, 30 home runs, 87 RBI, 65 runs scored and three steals. He is tied for fifth in team history in homers with Chad Tracy and Tommy Mendonca.
Gallo was named the Rangers' 2014 Tom Grieve Minor League Player of the Year after combining to hit .271 with 42 home runs and 107 RBI in 126 games with Frisco and Myrtle Beach. He hit 40 homers for Single-A Hickory in 2013 and became the first minor leaguer to have back-to-back 40 home run seasons since Chicago-AL's Ron Kittle in 1981-82. Texas selected Gallo with the 39th overall pick in the 2012 draft out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas.
For tickets to see the future stars of the Texas Rangers at Dr Pepper Ballpark call (972) 731-9200, e-mail Info@RidersBaseball.com or visit www.RidersBaseball.com. Additional updates and promotional information are available via the RoughRiders' Facebook, Twitter and website.
Texas League Stories from June 1, 2015
- Missions Sweep Twin Bill from Nats - San Antonio Missions
- 'Hounds Get Hazelbaker-Ed on a Sunday Afternoon - Midland RockHounds
- Blair Named Texas League Player of the Week - Midland RockHounds
- Texas Rangers to Promote Frisco's Joey Gallo to Big Leagues - Frisco RoughRiders
- San Antonio's Justin Hancock Named Texas League Pitcher of the Week for May 25-31 - San Antonio Missions
- 'Hounds Get Hazelbaker-ed on a Sunday Afternoon - Midland RockHounds
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