Joey Gallo wins MVP at MLB Futures Game
Texas Rangers third base prospect Joey Gallo was named Most Valuable Player at the MLB Futures Game after leading Team USA to a 3-2 win on Sunday afternoon.
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Gallo, 20, already turned heads earlier in the weekend with an incredible performance during batting practice, then continued his impressive weekend by winning MVP on Sunday. He earned the award by hitting the game-winning, two-run homer as Team USA trailed in the sixth inning.
With Gallo’s big shot, the American team turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead, then held on from there. It was his only hit in four at-bats, but in a low-scoring affair, it was enough to top the World Team.
The weekend continues an incredible year for Gallo, who has emerged as one of the best power-hitting prospects in the sport. Split between High Single-A and Double-A, Gallo has batted .307/.434/.703 with 31 homers in 85 games this season, effectively dominating the competition.
While expectations should obviously be tempered as Gallo faces increasingly tough competition, he’s done little to dispel the notion that he’s got monster offensive potential. There’s still one obvious knock on his game — he’s struck out 113 times in 362 plate appearances this season — but it’s hard to ignore the overall production.
Gallo was originally drafted by the Rangers in the supplemental first round with the 39th overall pick in the 2012 draft. He’s flown through the minors since then, posting a .273/.388/.657 batting line across all levels of the minors.
The MLB All-Star break continues Monday with the Home Run Derby, then finishes Tuesday with the big game.