TAMPA — Strikeouts are about to turn into a very good factor for Joey Gallo.
The previous Yankees outfielder introduced on social media Sunday that he’s giving pitching a shot after his profession as a three-true-outcomes hitter fizzled out.
Gallo was in camp with the White Sox this spring on a minor league deal, however requested his launch, The Put up’s Jon Heyman reported, in order that he may search a staff to pitch for.
“He’s a pretty talented guy, so stranger things have happened,” supervisor Aaron Boone mentioned Sunday at Steinbrenner Discipline. “Obviously a really good arm in the outfield. Interesting.”
Boone requested if Gallo was changing into a two-way participant, however the 31-year-old indicated in any other case, writing on social media, “It’s been fun outfield. … Just to be clear, I will be pitching.”
“All right,” Boone mentioned. “Good luck, Joey.”
Gallo’s ill-fated Yankees tenure lasted 140 video games between 2021 and 2022, which ended with the membership buying and selling him to the Dodgers.
In 501 plate appearances as a Yankee, he hit simply .159 with a .660 OPS, 25 residence runs, 77 walks and 194 strikeouts.
Mark Leiter Jr. threw “30-something” pitches in a bullpen session Sunday as a substitute of dealing with hitters in dwell batting observe after he was scratched from his scheduled reduction outing Thursday due to a again spasm whereas warming up.
However Leiter mentioned he was assured he might be prepared to start out the season on time.
“My velo was normal, game velo,” Leiter mentioned of his bullpen session. “There just was no point in facing live BP with the season so close. I felt good. Didn’t really make sense, I didn’t think. But physically I felt good. If you saw the numbers on the stuff, it would have been just as good as a game.”
Boone mentioned Leiter is scheduled to pitch in a sport on Wednesday — which might be his third of the spring — if there are not any additional points.
“If it was the regular season, I probably would have been fine,” Leiter mentioned. “But there’s really no reason to push through a little thing. I’ve been feeling great all camp.”
Trent Grisham and Dominic Smith each clubbed residence runs on Sunday, marking the third of the spring for each left-handed hitters. … Cam Schlittler, who has opened some eyes this spring as the following layer of pitching depth within the minor leagues, tossed 4 ²/₃ innings towards the Pirates whereas giving up two runs (one earned).
