Texas Rangers unlikely to promote top prospect Joey Gallo

Mar 15, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Joey Gallo (33) throws to first base against the Oakland Athletics at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 15, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Texas Rangers third baseman Joey Gallo (33) throws to first base against the Oakland Athletics at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Outside of Chicago Cubs prospect Kris Bryant, there hasn’t been a player in the minor leagues more productive offensively than Texas Rangers third baseman Joey Gallo.

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Splitting time between Double-A and Triple-A, Joey Gallo has been a force with the stick, clubbing 38 home runs while driving in 95 RBI and hitting a very respectable .289 in the process. Clearly, he’s ready for a shot in the big leagues, right? Well, not so fast.

According to Jim Bowden of ESPN, it’s unlikely that the Texas Rangers will call up their top prospect this season.

Some figured Gallo could see some time when the rosters expand in September given the Texas Rangers aren’t going to be in playoff contention, however that doesn’t appear to be the case.

Still just 20-years-old, the Texas Rangers seemingly believe that Joey Gallo still needs some refinement at the dish and don’t want to rush him into a kitchen fire when there’s no need to. Sure, it would be nice to get Gallo some experience against elite talent but it’s understandably not worth the cost considering it will increase his Super-2 status.

Add in that the Rangers aren’t playing for anything other than pride and the Rangers would be better served by keeping Gallo in their minor league system to finish out the season.

That said, it’s still very possible that he’ll be given an opportunity to win a job on the 2015 roster out of spring training. That should make Texas Rangers fans more than happy, especially when they think of the powerful infielder hitting in the heat of the Texas summer.