The baseball world collectively did a double-take. Joey Gallo, a name synonymous with towering home runs and, unfortunately, even more towering strikeout totals, just shocked the community.

Days after being released by the Chicago White Sox, the former All-Star outfielder announced his plans to become a pitcher. A firestorm of reactions has been sparked – from utter bewilderment to cautious optimism, and everything in between.

In a recent X post, he shared a video where he threw out a runner on the bases and captioned, “It’s been fun outfield.” Just a few moments later he clarified, “Just to be clear, I will be pitching.”

Gallo’s journey so far had been a rollercoaster. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers and soon earned a reputation for his prodigious power. A left-handed slugger who could launch baseballs into orbit. He had two All-Star selections (2019 and 2021) and even nabbed back-to-back Gold Glove Awards (2020 and 2021) for his surprisingly good defensive play in the outfield. His 38 homers during the 2021 season — divided between the Rangers and a much-publicized trade to the New York Yankees in mid-season — grabbed all the attention.

But the bright lights of New York turned out to be a harsh spotlight for Gallo. His “nightmare tenure in The Bronx,” as the New York Post described it, saw his performance plummet. The slugger, once feared, finished with a career-low batting average of .159, with only 12 home runs in 82 games for the Yankees in 2022. His struggles became so deep that he said he was at “rock bottom” and he would avoid appearing in public in New York to evade jeers and boos from fans.

The Yankees traded him. A short time with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then a minor league deal with the Washington Nationals.

Then came the 2025 spring training with the Chicago White Sox, a glimmer of hope, an opportunity for Gallo to revive his career. A dismal spring in the Grapefruit League — two hits in 20 at-bats, with 11 strikeouts sealed his fate. He requested his unconditional release and was granted it. And being one of the top outfield arms in 2022, pitching might just save his career.

Social media explodes: Gallo’s pitching pivot

The news of Joey Gallo’s pitching aspirations spread like wildfire across social media, triggering various reactions. The first wave was one of raw disbelief.

This is not just any player taking up a new position. This is a veteran MLB slugger, announcing out of the blue that he is going to pitch. Sure, Gallo had pitched in high school, including a no-hitter at Bishop Gorman, but that was a decade ago. He had spent his entire professional career focused on hitting. Evidently, fans will be surprised!

For many fans, skepticism deepened. One fan was seen pleading on a baseball forum, a sentiment echoed in countless threads. This response came from Gallo’s downturn at the plate, of late. While the power potential was unquestioned, a fading average, a high strikeout rate that never subsided, and a constant trade from one big team to another for his abysmal performances – all made the thought of him suddenly becoming a successful pitcher seem laughable for some.

A wave of empathy emerged from the Yankees fans with a clear reference to Gallo’s ugly time in the Bronx. This sentiment tapped into Gallo’s own words about his time with the Yankees, which he described as “rock bottom” tenure in his career. He admitted, “I really don’t want to show my face too much around here.” It can’t be worse, right?

Others were more direct and less sympathetic. “That explains why you can’t hit,” one fan dryly responded on X, reflecting the blunt assessment that Gallo’s shift to pitching was an acknowledgment of failure as a hitter. To these fans, the pitching announcement is not a bold new chapter; it is a final nail in the coffin of a once-promising career.

Amidst the doubt and criticism, a glimmer of hope persisted. Some fans cheered with a simple but potent affirmation of support. This positivity was likely because people saw Gallo’s raw talent and athleticism. His strong throwing arm, which in 2022 was rated in the 90th percentile for MLB. A season before that, Gallo’s arm was in the 95th percentile, averaging close to 94 mph on his throws. The silver lining, right?

While pitching involved far more than just throwing hard, that raw ability, combined with his past high school experience, is offering hope that maybe, just maybe, this crazy idea can work. But is this a desperate last gasp, a stroke of genius, or something in between? Only time will tell.