Texas Rangers slugger Joey Gallo is no longer a candidate to be one of the eight participants in next week’s Home Run Derby, the team told the Dallas Morning News on Tuesday.
Gallo, who missed 22 games in June due to an oblique injury, discussed the situation with the Rangers and Major League Baseball before opting to pass due to the recent injury situation. He will play in the July 9 All-Star Game in Cleveland after making the American League team as a reserve.
There was a lot of anticipation over Gallo possibly competing in the event due to the 25-year-old’s propensity for belting mammoth home runs.
Gallo has smacked 20 homers in 56 games this season after hitting 40 last season and 41 in 2017. He was batting .286 with 46 RBIs entering Tuesday.
Players who have committed to participating in Monday’s event are Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Atlanta Braves, Pete Alonso of the New York Mets, Josh Bell of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays, Carlos Santana of the Cleveland Indians and Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers.
–Field Level Media