Joey Gallo becoming a fixture in rightfield for Yankees
Joey Gallo #13 of the Yankees catches a Kansas City Royals outfield hit during the third inning at Kauffman Stadium on April 30, 2022 in Kansas City, Missouri. Credit: Getty Images/Kyle Rivas
MINNEAPOLIS – Sounds like Joey Gallo will continue seeing more and more time in rightfield.
Meaning, more of Aaron Judge in center, something that has worked out just fine for the Yankees.
As they opened a three-game series against the Twins on Tuesday, the Yankees sent out an outfield alignment that has become a familiar one of late – Aaron Hicks in left, Judge in center (his position in college at Fresno State), and Gallo in right.
That made it 10 straight starts in right for Gallo, who played the vast majority of his seven seasons with the Rangers there and is where he won two AL Gold Gloves.
“Obviously, I’ve been more and more comfortable playing Judge in center,” Aaron Boone said before the game, one in which Judge and Giancarlo Stanton homered in the first inning. “So it’s just kind of transitioned a little bit that way, partly because of how the roster has ebbed and flowed a little bit the last few weeks. But I’m still comfortable going a lot of different ways, whether that means Joey in left, sliding Hicks back over into center and moving Judge to right, which I’ll still do some.”
Boone said regarding Gallo, who has struggled all season at the plate: “The bottom line is Joey’s a really good outfielder at either spot you put him in.”
Homecoming
Josh Donaldson, a Twin in 2020 and 2021 before being traded to the Yankees this spring as part of the Gary Sanchez/Gio Urshela deal that also netted the Yanks shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa and backup catcher Ben Rortvedt, has struggled in the albeit small sample size since coming off the IL last Friday from right shoulder inflammation (1-for-10 with four strikeouts, two walks and an RBI entering Tuesday.
“Shoulder feels great,” Donaldson said. “My timing hasn’t quite been where I wanted it to, I think that’s a little bit expected, but it [feels good].”
Erik Boland started in Newsday's sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.
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