If you can’t beat opposing pitchers, you might as well join them. That’s the idea for Joey Gallo, the former Washington Nationals slugger who announced he’d move from the outfield to the mound on Monday.
Gallo, who slugged 208 home runs while maintaining a .194 average throughout his 10-season career, was released by the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. He took to social media, saying he’d be the latest position player to start pitching to extend his career.
“So long outfield,” Gallo wrote on X with a highlight reel of his throws from the outfield. “Just to be clear, I will be pitching.”
The 31-year-old posted a .161 average with the Nationals last season. But even in his Gold Glove years with the Texas Rangers, consistent contact eluded Gallo.
A move from the field to the mound isn’t unheard of in Major League Baseball. In fact, it seems to be increasingly common. Former outfielder Tyler Naquin has only appeared in five Major League games since 2022.
The 33-year-old received a contract offer from the Cleveland Guardians this offseason after announcing his conversion to pitcher.
It was a spur-of-the-moment decision he made while working out with a friend in Texas.
“I just looked at him and I said, ‘I think I’m gonna pitch,’” Naquin told MLB.com. “We went and picked up a glove, and we started playing catch. And it was as simple as that, to be honest with you. It was pretty quick.”
A year later, Naquin found himself back in professional baseball. His fastball started at around 85 mph, but now tops out at 97 mph, he told MLB.com.
The Nationals have their own conversion project on the mound in the minor leagues. Former shortstop Erick Mejia, 30, only played 17 games in the Majors.
After tossing a 90 mph fastball during a minor league blowout, Meijia found a new opportunity.
“If I need to try something different to keep going, I will do it,” the Dominican pitcher told the Washington Post.
• Liam Griffin can be reached at lgriffin@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.