Texas Rangers: Is the next Joey Gallo already on the roster?

It feels like ages ago since Joey Gallo last donned a Texas Rangers uniform, even though it’s only been a few weeks.

The beloved former franchise player, traded to the Yankees with Joely Rodriguez for a prospect package (all of whom are looking great, by the way), took his huge presence in the lineup and in the field to the Bronx, leaving a void for the Rangers to fill.

And a big void, indeed. It isn’t so simple to replace a fan favorite talent like Gallo.

But is it possible that… the Texas Rangers have done so already? No way, right? There’s only one Joey Gallo, after all.

While the above is true (we can’t exactly duplicate the power hitting gold glover), it’s very possible that the next incarnation of the slugger is already on the Rangers’ roster. And playing every day.

His name is DJ Peters.

DJ Peters is looking like the Texas Rangers’ next Joey Gallo

Peters, 25, was a waiver claim from the LA Dodgers organization and immediately became one of Texas’ top prospects.

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He’s getting every day at-bats in the outfield, where his defense is superb, along with his cannon of a throwing arm.

At the plate, Peters grades out with what some scouts list as “80 level” power on a 20-80 scale. The 25-year-old outfielder hit a 460 foot home run in Sunday’s game against the A’s, so it’s easy to see where that evaluation comes from. The contact skills are also similar: you won’t see it consistently, but when it does come, the ball goes far. From all of this, it should be obvious drawing a line that parallels Joey Gallo’s skillset.

DJ Peters is essentially Gallo right-handed, even down to measurables (Gallo is 6’5, Peters 6’6).

How’s that for a comparison?

Of course, Peters doesn’t have nearly the MLB experience and credentials Gallo has at this point, and there’s still room for the former to grow. He should continue receiving regular at-bats down the stretch.

But for all the fans who were sad to see Gallo go (and we were too), it looks the Texas Rangers organization may have found his replacement already.