Rangers' Chris Woodward: Joey Gallo is hitting like this all-time MLB great, should be an AL All-Star
The Texas manager watched Gallo go 3 for 3 with another home run and three RBIs in an 8-3 victory over Oakland.
Maybe it was because the Texas Rangers were in the Bay Area, albeit on the east side.
But maybe it was because Gallo has been so good the past two weeks.
It might both be that inspired Rangers manager Chris Woodward to say that Gallo is reminding him of Barry Bonds, the MLB all-time home-run leader. It’s not just the power Gallo is displaying but the discipline, strong defense and speed that Bonds once possessed.
Gallo homered for the fifth straight game Thursday afternoon and also collected two singles, a tough walk and three RBIs as the Rangers won their first road series against the Oakland A’s since 2016.
“I know that’s a huge name [Bonds] to throw out there, but when you’re seeing a guy this hot, you don’t even know what to say, you don’t know what to think,” Woodward said. “What Joey’s doing right now, he doesn’t chase, he doesn’t expand, he gets on base, he walks.”
Gallo sparked the 8-3 victory with a two-out RBI single in the first, and his 20th homer of the season, a two-run shot, made it 4-0 in the fifth. Nate Lowe hit two homers and also drove in three, and catcher John Hicks, called up Tuesday from Triple A, hit his first MLB homer since 2019.
Gallo said afterward that the All-Star Game has started to creep into his mind. He has caught teammate Adolis Garcia for the most home runs by an outfielder and pushed his OPS to .894.
“I would love to be in the All-Star Game more than anything,” Gallo said. “It’s just a huge honor. In 2019 I was in it and it was one of the best experiences of my life. As a kid growing up, you want to be an All-Star. I’m really hoping it’s not too late.”
Gallo has seven home runs in the past five games, four of them Rangers victories. He’s batting .500 (10 for 20) during his six-game hitting streak and .351 with nine homers in his past 17 games.
The surge might be too late for All-Star consideration, though the rosters for the Midsummer Classic have not been set. The league-wide player vote and input from the commissioner’s office will fill out the reserves on each team.
Gallo did not move past the first phase of fan voting to determine starters. Garcia did. The starters were to be announced Thursday night.