Texas Rangers: Joey Gallo Weighs in on Globe Life Field

Texas Rangers slugger Joey Gallo got some batting practice in at Globe Life Field and relayed his thoughts on the park to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News.

The much anticipated opening of Globe Life Field has been delayed for some time now due to the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the season not starting hasn’t prevented a few of the Texas Rangers players from getting some work in at the new park while they get a feel for how the field will play. Joey Gallo has been the first to note his thoughts on the park telling Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News that the park is “playing big as hell” when taking batting practice.

The field’s dimensions are fairly large at over 370 feet to right-center and left-center as well as a 407 foot marking to straightaway center. If the park does in fact have an impact on power, especially home runs, it would be a significant deviation from what the Rangers have been known for which is playing in an extremely hitter-friendly park and winning with an offense-first style. While players have come to Arlington and put up career numbers even in latter stages of their careers (see Hunter Pence), joining the club has not always been high on the priority list of top pitchers who would be taking on an extra opponent each time they step on the mound trying to corral the opposing offense and limit the offensive benefits of Globe Life Park.

In Evan Grant’s report covering Gallo’s comments, Grant goes on to note that Gallo felt the artificial turf which has been the topic of some debate was one of the best surfaces out there. The Rangers put a lot of time and work into developing a surface that felt as natural and forgiving as real grass, but brought with it the maintenance benefit of artificial turf. Turf fields have not always been loved by players though with a reputation for being harsh and bringing with them some physical after-effects. Rangers players were concerned about the surface’s long-term effects but the initial reports from Gallo seem positive on that front.