Texas Rangers Top Prospect Joey Gallo Out 3-4 Weeks
By Bill Pivetz
Rangers top prospect Joey Gallo is out the next three to four weeks with a groin injury. This has a residual impact on the Rangers outfield situation.
It’s very rare that we write about a minor-league player, because they don’t have much of an impact in standard fantasy leagues. But that isn’t the case here. The Texas Rangers have a slugger in their farm system that fantasy owners are waiting to get the call. That will have to be delayed at least a month. Top prospect Joey Gallo will miss the next three to four weeks with a Grade 1 left groin strain, something he dealt with in 2013. This settles some things in the Rangers outfield.
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While Joey Gallo is also listed as a third baseman, the Rangers are set there with Adrian Beltre for another two seasons. As far as the outfield, there is a lot of questions. The team signed Ian Desmond and transitioned him to left field. Nomar Mazara was recently called up and no sign of him going back down to the minors; and Delino DeShields took over center field duties while Shin-Soo Choo recovers from a calf injury. Josh Hamilton is also looming in the shadows, waiting to return.
DeShields looked to be at risk of losing playing time. He is hitting .239 with one home run, six RBI and three steals in 24 games this season. Over his last 10 games, he has three RBI, one steal and a .162 batting average. The Rangers don’t have many options on the roster, Ryan Rua is the only other outfielder listed on the depth chart, and the injury to Gallo doesn’t help matters.
Back to Joey Gallo, he was hitting alright in Triple-A this season. In 20 games, he has seven home runs, 16 RBI, 24:17 K:BB ratio, .254 average and .400 on-base percentage. He made a brief appearance in the majors last year, hitting .204 with six home runs and 14 RBI in 36 games.
As a result, DeShields owners should let out a sigh of relief. Unless the Rangers decide to call someone else up, he will remain as the center fielder. That is, until Choo returns and then the Rangers have another decision to make.
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Joey Gallo is owned in 8.7 percent of ESPN leagues, mostly in keeper or dynasty leagues. With the depth in the outfield, even with the injured players, Gallo would likely not have appeared until later in the season. His stats alone would warrant a call up for the 29 other teams, there just currently isn’t room for him. The injury sets him back even more.