Who leads the charge in the American League MVP race?

MLB awards watch: American League MVP race

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - APRIL 15: Joey Gallo #13 of the Texas Rangers gets high fives in the dugout after a solo home run in the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Park in Arlington on April 15, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. All players are wearing the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images) /

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Houston Astros catcher Max Stassi, left, and the Texas Rangers’ Joey Gallo watch Gallo’s home run to right field on Saturday, April 20, at Globe Life Park in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers won, 9-4. (David Kent/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS via Getty Images) /

3. Joey Gallo, OF Texas Rangers

.300 BA, 8 HR (T-5th), 22 RBI (T-3), 1.140 OPS (2nd) and 1.3 WAR (T-6th).

Joey Gallo is the Sabermetrics, analytics poster child for today’s baseball. He strikes out a ton, sometimes walks, but he also absolutely smokes the ball when he makes contact.

Between 2017 and 2018, Gallo clubbed 81 home runs and knocked in 172 RBI. However, he also punched out 403 times and hit at a .208 clip. He has become the walking example of the ‘three-true outcomes.’

Gallo is still striking out a lot, currently ranking 10th in the AL with 28, but he has also walked much more this season. His 14 walks are tied for seventh in the AL, which is reflected in his 13th-ranked .412 OBP.

Power-wise, Gallo is right around where he usually is, and he has been hitting some majestic shots this year. He owns the top slugging percentage in the American League, at .729.

As mentioned before, Gallo has essentially become the face of the advanced stat. He leads the entire MLB in average exit velocity (98.9 mph) and barrel percentage (32.6). He is also top-10 in the MLB in line-drive percentage (32.6) and he is second in the entire league with a very high hard-contact percentage of 67.4.

To sum it up, Gallo is walking more and absolutely scorching the baseball at the plate. He is hitting the ball on the nails, and he is hitting it hard and far.

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