Joey Gallo has been having a tough time at the plate as of late. (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)
ARLINGTON, Texas — Joey Gallo knew he would have to make adjustments to his game as his major league career went on.
Now is one of those times for the 21-year-old Texas Rangers left fielder.
Gallo, who displayed his power with five mammoth homers in his first month in the majors, is in a 5-for-36 (.139) slump with 20 strikeouts.
“I’m just being a little too impatient, swinging too much,” said Gallo, who hit a fourth-inning double Thursday and finished 1-for-4 in the Rangers’ 6-3 loss to the Oakland A’s. “After the first week or so, the pitchers have started to make adjustments. Obviously, I’ve got to adjust, too, and keep learning the pitchers, guys I’ve never seen. I’m still a little inexperienced on that.”
Manager Jeff Banister hasn’t lost any faith in Gallo and said the positives since he came up from Double-A Frisco on June 2 outweigh the negatives.
Gallo also thinks he is close to finding his touch again.
“I just feel like maybe my timing’s a little off right now,” said Gallo, whose batting average is down to .224. “I’m not seeing the ball too well. The last few games I’ve felt all right. I’ve put in good swings at least. The results just haven’t been there yet. I just have to keep swinging through it.”
