Joey Gallo Named Texas Rangers’ Top Minor Leaguer

The Texas Rangers have named Joey Gallo,  their #1 prospect according to Baseball America, the Tom Grieve Minor League Player of the Year. MiLB.com has reported that the Rangers have given out their yearly awards for their top prospects. The awards will be presented on January 23 at the team’s annual award banquet at the Dallas Omni Hotel.

The Rangers drafted the third basemen in the first round of the 2012 draft (39th overall).  In his three professional seasons, Gallo has blasted 104 home runs, and driven in a combined 246 runs.

Gallo hit 42 home runs, a Rangers minor league record, 0ver two levels last season (A+ and AA),  drove in 106 runs, and had an OPS of 1.009.  Gallo also became the first minor league player since Ron Kittle in 1981-82 to have back to back 40 home run seasons. 21 of his homeruns were hit at in AA Frisco and even though he only hit .232 and struck 115 times in 250 at bats, he still posted a SLG of .524.

Joining Gallo with end of the year awards will be the Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year Alex Gonzalez. The 2013 first round draft pick (23rd overall) started his age 22 season in Single-A but quickly jumped to AA where he compiled a 7-4 record while posting a 2.70 ERA with a 7.8 strikeout per nine ratio.

Hanser Alberto, the 22-year old shortstop and third baseman out of the Dominican Republic was named the Defensive Player of the Year on the Rangers farm. Rounding out the award winners is reliever Phil Klein, who had an unbelievable season. The Rangers 30th round draft pick in 2011 went 3-0 with a 0.52 ERA over two levels before being promoted to Arlington. Klein went 35 innings without allowing a run in his award winning season.