Former Twins Outfielder Drawing MLB Interest as a Pitcher
This offseason, the Minnesota Twins are looking to reload their entire bullpen and add some thump to their lineup, after president Derek Falvey announced this week that they have switched from sellers to buyers on the offseason market.
On offense, the Twins are starting their new build with a clear motive to upgrade at first base. In fact, they’ve already had conversations with a few different options — names you’ve probably even heard of.
You know who Falvey wouldn’t be able to pass up if he were on the market? 2022-2023 Joey Gallo. If we placed a slightly past his prime Gallo on the free agent market right now, the Twins would be just as interested as they were in spring 2023, when they signed him.
Unfortunately for Derek Falvey, while the 32-year-old is on the free agency market, it’s not as a position player. Instead, Gallo has taken the past year to change his professional direction.
After hitting .166 with a .665 OPS between 2023 and 2024, the 2012 No. 39 overall pick in the MLB Draft announced his desire to become a big league pitcher, a rather unprecedented move for someone his age.
Joey Gallo drawing pitching interest
Of course, there’s a big difference between wanting to do something, and actually being able to achieve it. It’d be cool to walk on the moon, but that doesn’t mean I have what it takes to make that happen?
But don’t tell that to Gallo. Because at the Winter Meetings this week, Jon Heyman (NY Post) is reporting that Joey Gallo is actually drawing interest right now from multiple teams, as a pitcher.
Joey Gallo the pitcher is drawing interest from several teams
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 10, 2025
After a 100 OPS+ with the Minnesota Twins in 2023, Gallo batted just .161/.277/.336 across 76 games for the Washington Nationals in 2024. When at his best, from 2017 through 2021, Gallo owned a solid .336 on-base percentage and an impressive .834 OPS.
Without a doubt, his patience as a hitter and knowledge of the strike zone could serve him well on the mound. Now, if only he can generate as many strikeouts on the mound as he did while in the box, teams will be crawling all over themselves to get their hands on him.
As a position player, Gallo racked up nearly 1,300 career strikeouts, a nearly impossible number for someone with only 3,400 plate appearances.
— Joey Gallo (@JoeyGallo24) November 21, 2025
It’s also worth noting that Gallo’s arm strength fell off a cliff during the end of his previous MLB career. However, Statcast has recorded him hitting 99.3 mph, back in 2020.
He consistently threw balls into the infield that were in the upper 90’s, throughout the course of his career. Obviously, there is more to pitching than just velocity, but heat helps make everything else easier on the mound.
If and when Gallo lands a job, it’s likely to be of the minor league variety, at least to start. From there, it’ll be about getting guys out. If he can get outs, he’ll get his shots.
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