Whether it was recovering from his hamate bone surgery, overcoming recurring hamstring issues, or dealing with oblique and shoulder strains, Gallo never let setbacks define his career.
Recently, Joey made an announcement about his decision to transition from being a hitter to becoming a pitcher.
This surprising move comes after his release from the Chicago White Sox during Spring Training.
He shared the news on X (Formerly Twitter), saying:
Just to be clear, I will be pitching.
Just to be clear, I will be pitching.
— Joey Gallo (@JoeyGallo24) March 16, 2025
While he has no professional pitching experience, he was a standout pitcher in high school.
Many of his fans admire his boldness in attempting this transition at this stage of his career.
Some have pointed out his strong arm strength, which ranked in MLB’s 90th percentile in 2022.
Joey Gallo Faced Several Injuries Throughout His Career!
In 2022, Joey Gallo experienced an oblique strain while playing for the New York Yankees, which sidelined him for a week.
Likewise, in 2023, he experienced a left hamstring strain while playing for the Minnesota Twins. Due to this injury, he was placed on the 10-day injured list.
It had been bothering him for some time, and despite trying to play through it, the strain eventually required him to take time off to recover.
Later, in 2024, while with the Washington Nationals, Gallo faced another setback with the same hamstring.
This time, the injury kept him out for 60 games. He underwent an 11-game rehab assignment before returning to the team in August.
Similarly, in the same year, he suffered a left shoulder AC joint sprain in April while playing for the Washington Nationals.
This injury led to his placement on the 10-day injured list. According to reports, the sprain had been bothering him for about a week before the team decided to give him time to recover.
The injury affected his ability to swing comfortably, prompting the Nationals to prioritize his recovery.
Previously, in 2019, he also had a broken hamate bone in his right hand. This injury required surgery and sidelined him for the remainder of that season.
Additionally, there has been some discussion about Joey Gallo having a facial tics disorder.
One of the Redditors commented:
Heard about this. Does stress make them more frequent? Haven’t noticed them while he’s been in LA. Just seen big smiles from him lately which warms my heart.
Another replied to him and said:
Yes stress and anxiety triggers and exacerbates tic disorders. Hoping he’s more at ease with the dodger franchise and their fans. I can’t imagine the stress of playing in a game where your own teams fans are booing you.
Despite all these setbacks, he worked hard to recover and returned to the field in good health.
In Case You Didn’t Know
- Joey was born on November 19, 1993, to parents Antonio (Tony) Gallo and Laura Gallo.
- He is married to Hayden Hopkins, a professional dancer.
- In October 2024, the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter, Capulet Liac Gallo.
