“He’s putting good at-bats together”: Joey Gallo gets safeguarded by his shielding manager Aaron Boone

“He’s putting good at-bats together”: Joey Gallo gets safeguarded by his shielding manager Aaron Boone

Aaron Boone defends Joey Gallo

Joey Gallo has been amidst a loop of regrettable performances for the New York Yankees, with hitting .073 (4-for-55) in his last 21 games, striking out 27 times in that span. He’s slashing .161/.286/.327 this year in 74 total contests. His future was under speculation with the trade deadline approaching.

Regardless of the performances put up by Joey Gallo, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone has defended the outfielder multiple times over the last several days, a trend over Gallo’s year in the organization.

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“Couple really good at-bats last night where he worked walks in a tight game. Nobody ever mentioned those,” Aaron Boone said. “He’s grinding. It’s a challenge, it’s been a struggle without question. He has had some good at-bats along the way here, I feel like over the last week or 10 days. Hasn’t got a lot of traction with hits, but just got to keep fighting.”

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Aaron Boone stands as a barricade in Joey Gallo’s defense

Joey Gallo
Joey Gallo

Joey Gallo has a hit in 10 at-bats (.100) with three walks. He’s struck out four times, including three times in Friday’s Opening Day win. “I would suggest he’s off to, at-bat-wise, a good start,” Aaron Boone told reporters after the game. “Controlling the zone. Getting on base. Smoked a couple of balls. Tonight, I thought, (he) had really good at-bats where he just missed the ball.”

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In Joey Gallo’s only hit, which came Saturday, he stroked a liner right and then got thrown out by a mile trying to turn it into a double. That same day, he misplayed a ball on a dive forward in left field that led to two bases.

Aaron Boone added, “He’s getting to pitches that he wasn’t getting to last year. Just missed a ball to center. Hit a ball the other way hard to left. Smoked a ball to right. Another walk. Look at what he’s doing and I think we’re seeing a lot of good at-bats in a guy that, for me, has a lot more coverage right now.”

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