The New York Yankees beefed up their lineup before the trade deadline by bringing lefty sluggers Anthony Rizzo and Joey Gallo. Both men have already started to contribute: timely home runs, walks, excellent defense, and even charisma.
Yesterday, however, may have represented the highest point of Joey Gallo’s young career with the Yankees. With his team down a run and two outs in the eighth inning, the slugger found two runners on base.
He proceeded to deliver a high drive to right field that may have been an out in most stadiums, but thanks to Yankee Stadium’s short porch, it ended up in the stands. The Yankees had turned a one-run deficit into a two-run advantage. Just like that.
110 mph exit velocity.
48 degree launch angle.
7.3 seconds hang time.(MLB x @FTX_Official) pic.twitter.com/BRRalbetJR
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) August 6, 2021
A Yankees fan just living the moment
Gallo, who grew up as a Yankees fan, couldn’t hide his happiness after the game, even if he admitted that the short porch had a role in the ball leaving the park. A home run is a home run, and all that matters is that the Bombers earned a huge win against a direct rival in the hunt for a Wild Card spot.
“Ten-year-old me would be crying right now and not believing what’s going on,†he said, per NJ Advance Media. “It’s really crazy. It’s something that I have to take a step back from. I mean, I’m at Yankee Stadium, getting a curtain call from Yankees fans. It’s crazy to me.â€
Gallo showed his slugging prowess on Thursday night, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and the home run.
“It was just a big at-bat and a big moment and you could feel that could be a game-changing at-bat and I was glad I was able to come through and help the team win,†he said.
He joked about receiving texts from friends saying that his drive would have been a flyout to the right fielder in any other park, but he told them he plays for the Yankees now and the ball went out.
Frankly, that’s all that matters.