Did Joey Gallo just take a shot at Yankees fans?

Former New York Yankees slugger Joey Gallo appeared to take an indirect shot at fans in the Bronx.

Gallo hit a home run for the Dodgers — his new team — earlier this week. When he did so, he received cheers from the home fans, something he admitted has been a rarity for him this year.

The 28-year-old has been open about his struggles in New York. Frankly, some players can’t handle the everyday pressure that comes with being a Yankee. You can add Gallo to that list.

Prior to the trade deadline, Gallo’s comments spoke to a level of understanding — he was a below-average player with the Yankees. He struggled to come to terms with that, even days before he was dealt.

“Every time I see a Yankees hat, every time I see a Yankees jersey, it’s something I’m going to have to understand,” Gallo said.  “I didn’t play well as a Yankee. I wish I had.”

Did Joey Gallo take a shot at Yankees fans?

While some Yankees fans showed humanity towards Gallo, whose humility and self-awareness were almost depressing at points, others weren’t as kind. Even Michael Kay took some unwarranted shots at him.

Gallo’s comments, albeit a little nasty, do not tell the entire story. Yankees fans did not bully him out of New York. He wasn’t a good fit, plain and simple, as Yanks Go Yard’s Thomas Carranante outlined in his recent article:

"“Yankees fans can be frustrated with Gallo for his time in New York and with each and every painful storyline that details his success with the Dodgers (and that’s undoubtedly going to happen every time he does something positive). But this is the front office’s fault. They tried to stuff a square peg into a round hole after being told it was a bad idea, and they paid for it in more ways than anyone could’ve ever imagined.”"

Gallo has improved slightly in a small sample size with the Dodgers. In just six games, he’s slashed .267/.267/.533 with a home run and four hits in 15 at-bats.

Without the constant distraction of failing to live up to the expectations of others, perhaps it can serve as a load of Gallo’s shoulders.