The New York Yankees had a very specific idea behind acquiring Joey Gallo. His powerful left handed swing was seemingly tailor made for Yankee Stadium, and with the Yankees looking to upgrade their lineup, he appeared to be a perfect fit. Add in his solid defense, and one can understand why they felt he was the missing link.
The problem is that Gallo has not exactly held up his end of the bargain. While he has provided some pop, he has not lived up to expectations in any other aspect. Even Gallo’s defense has taken a step back since heading to New York.
New York Yankees not getting what they expected from Joey Gallo
Sunday was another example of what Gallo has been since joining the Yankees. He drew two walks, but also struck out twice as he was 0-3 at the plate. That performance leaves him with a .134/.299/.336 batting line in his 147 plate appearances since coming to New York.
Gallo has not been a complete negative. He has hit six homers and six doubles while drawing 28 walks. He has managed to score 18 runs despite that low batting average due to his ability to get on base. In that aspect, his time in New York has not been a complete disaster.
But there is no questioning that Gallo has not been close to being the player that the Yankees expected. He has far more strikeouts (57) than total bases (40) since being acquired. Gallo has even cost the Yankees two runs in the outfield as even his defense has struggled.
Chances are, Gallo will turn everything around. He is the type of hitter that, if he heats up, can make a major difference in a short amount of time. But that needs to happen soon. Gallo may well be pressing as he finds himself in the midst of a playoff chase and is one of the players that the Yankees are counting on.
The New York Yankees have yet to see what they expected from Joey Gallo. It is possible that he will heat up, but it is time to be concerned.