Texas Rangers: Top Headlines Entering Spring Training

Can Gallo be productive at the top of the lineup?

The idea is to always have your best hitters hitting at the top of the lineup. The players at the top will step to the plate most frequently. Joey Gallo is one of the team’s best hitters; therefore, he should be hitting towards the top of the batting order.

His power is extraordinary so the cleanup role makes great sense. Shin-Soo Choo, Elvis Andrus and Nomar Mazara reach base at a high rate; Gallo would have plenty of opportunities to drive them home hitting fourth.

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A popular move in today’s game is to hit your team’s best hitter second in the order. The Chicago Cubs often do so with Kris Bryant, the Yankees with Aaron Judge and the Angels sometimes with Mike Trout. Jeff Banister actually hit Gallo second in the first nine games of the 2018 season. Though, seeing how he didn’t hit second again for the rest of the season, the spot was not a good fit.

He hit 2nd in 9 games last year; 3rd in 1 game; 4th in 2 games; 5th in 47 games; 6th in 42 games; 7th in 29 games; 8th in 11 games; 9th in 7 games.

Gallo should hit comfortably in the 4th and 5th slots this season. A player with his talent should not hit any lower. Cutting down on strikeouts will lead to greater productivity. Regardless, the Texas Rangers need their 40-home run player hitting in an ideal RBI position.