Former Pelican Joey Gallo expected to make MLB debut Tuesday

WOODBRIDGE, VA. (JUNE 2, 2015) - The Texas Rangers have announced that the team plans to purchase the contract of former Pelicans third baseman Joey Gallo from the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders on Tuesday. He is expected to make his Major League debut on Tuesday for Texas against the Chicago White Sox in a game scheduled for 8:05 p.m. ET at Globe Life Park in Arlington. In a corresponding roster move, the Rangers placed third baseman Adrian Beltre on the 15-day disabled list, effective June 1.

The Henderson, Nevada, native was the Rangers' second pick in the first round (39th overall) of the 2012 Draft out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. The six-foot, five-inch left-handed hitter is the 131st Pelicans player to make the Major Leagues after playing in Myrtle Beach. He will also be the third former Pelicans player to make his Major League debut in the last five days.

Gallo, 21, earns his first call to the big leagues nearly one year to the day after leaving Myrtle Beach. Prior to Monday's promotion, Gallo had spent all of the 2015 season with the Double-A Frisco Rough Riders. In 34 games with Frisco, he ranked among the top ten in hitting in the Texas League, batting .314 in 121 at-bats, with nine home runs, the third-most in the circuit. He also drove in the fourth most RBI (31), ranked fifth in on-base percentage (.425), second in slugging (.636), while leading the Texas League with a home run every 13.44 at-bats. He finished his 2014 campaign with 42 home runs, the second-most in all of professional baseball behind the Cubs' Kris Bryant (43). In 2013 with Class-A Hickory, he became the first teenager since 1962 to hit 40 home runs in one season, leading minor league baseball in home runs. In 330 career minor league games, Gallo has 113 home runs, 277 RBI and 478 strikeouts with 29 stolen bases in 33 attempts.

During his time in Myrtle Beach, Gallo cracked 21 home runs in 58 games, en route to winning the Carolina League MVP award. He was also named to the California-Carolina League All-Star team as well as the Carolina League Year-End All-Star team despite being promoted to Frisco before the All-Star break. With the Pelicans, Gallo won the Carolina League Player of the Week award on three occasions, Carolina League Player of the Month for May, the Rangers Minor League Player of the Month for April and May, and also the Minor League Baseball Player of the Month for May. He was the first player in Pelicans history to hit three home runs in a game, doing so twice, once on April 23 at Frederick and May 16 in Myrtle Beach against Potomac. His 21 home runs with Myrtle Beach are tied for the fourth-most in a single season and he ranks eighth on the all-time Pelicans career home run list. On May 30 at home against the Carolina Mudcats, he matched a Pelicans record with seven RBI, including two home runs. On three occasions, he matched a franchise record of four runs scored in a single game, and he is the only player to accomplish that feat more than once.

In the slugger's first game with Frisco, Gallo's first hit at the Double-A level was a walk-off three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Midland RockHounds (Double-A, Oakland Athletics). In the 2014 Futures Game, held at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Gallo hit a batting practice home run out of the stadium before clubbing a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning to lead the U.S. team to a 3-2 win. For his efforts, Gallo was named the 2014 Futures Game MVP.

The Rangers take the field with Gallo expected to start at third base for an 8:05 p.m. ET tilt against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday, June 2.

Gallo is expected to be the sixth former Pelicans player to make the big leagues for the first time this season, joining Keone Kela (with Pelicans in 2014, debuted with Rangers), Odubel Herrera (2012-2014, Phillies), Wilfredo Boscan (2011, Pirates), Hanser Alberto (2012-2014, Rangers), and Alex "Chi Chi" Gonzalez (2013-2014, Rangers).

The Pelicans wrap up their seven-game, two-city road trip against the Potomac Nationals at Pfitzner Stadium on Tuesday night at 5:00 p.m. ET in the resumption of the suspended contest from Monday night, followed by a nine-inning game for the series finale.

The 2015 season marks the 17th season for the Pelicans franchise and first as the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. For information on tickets to see the Pelicans in 2015, please call (843) 918-6000, e-mail [email protected], or visit www.MyrtleBeachPelicans.com.