Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon
Scores
All Scores Triple-A Scores Double-A Scores High-A Scores Single-A Scores Rookie Scores
Schedule
Complete Game Schedule Triple-A Schedule Double-A Schedule High-A Schedule Single-A Schedule Rookie Schedule Sync Schedules
Teams
Teams by Affiliate Teams by Name Teams by Class Teams by League Ballparks
Watch
Watch Games Subscribe Highlights Prospect Highlights Streaming FAQ Help Center Gameday Audio Podcast Bally Sports Live
Tickets
Tickets
Shop
MiLB Store Auctions Shop Copa Shop Marvel
Standings
Full Season Rookie Leagues Playoffs
Stats
Full Season Rookie Leagues Trending Players Top Prospect Stats
News
Pipeline Transactions Copa de la Diversión Baseball Traveler MiLB App MiLB Newsletters Sweepstakes & Contests
Prospects
Top 100 Top 30 by Team Top 50 International Draft Top 250 Trending Players
Playoffs
MLB

Joey Gallo and Alex Gonzalez promoted to Frisco

By
June 8, 2014

FRISCO, TEXAS (JUNE 8, 2014) - Today the Texas Rangers announced the promotion of third baseman Joey Gallo and pitcher Alex "Chi Chi" Gonzalez to the Frisco RoughRiders from Advanced-A Myrtle Beach. Gallo is the reigning Minor League Baseball home run champion and once again leads the minors in homers this season, while Gonzalez was the Rangers' top draft pick one year ago and is considered one of the organization's premier pitching prospects. Both were named mid-season Carolina League All-Stars last week.

Gallo will be added to the RoughRiders active roster for Sunday's game against Midland while Gonzalez will be activated prior to his next start later this week. To make room for Gallo on the roster, outfielder Chris Grayson has been assigned to Myrtle Beach. A corresponding move for Gonzalez will be announced.

A supplemental first round draft pick in 2012 (39th overall), the 20-year-old Gallo receives his first promotion to Double-A after a tremendous start to the season. Making his Advanced-A debut this season, Gallo is tied for the minor league lead in home runs with 21, and in 58 games is batting .323 (61 for 189) with nine doubles, three triples, 53 runs scored, 50 runs batted in, 51 walks, 64 strikeouts a .463 on-base percentage, a .735 slugging percentage and five steals. In addition to home runs, the Henderson, Nevada native also leaves the CL leading in RBI, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, extra-base hits (33), runs scored, total bases (139), walks and HR/AB ratio (1/9.00). He also ranks third in batting average and leads Minor League Baseball in slugging and OPS while ranking third in on-base percentage.

In 2013, Gallo won the Joe Bauman Award as the top home run hitter in the minor leagues with 40 between Single-A Hickory (38) and the AZL Rangers (2). He became the first teenager with 40 or more home runs since Class C San Jose's Dick Simpson (42) in 1962. Gallo finished one homer shy of the Rangers minor league record and two short of the South Atlantic League record. The 2012 Nevada Gatorade Player of the Year, Gallo set single-season (21) and career (65) state records in longballs while playing for Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. Baseball America ranked the third baseman as the Rangers' fourth-best minor league prospect (60th overall) entering the season and tabbed him as the farm system's best power hitter and owner of the best infield arm.

Gonzalez, 22, is in his first full professional season after the Rangers drafted him with the 23rd overall pick in the 2013 June draft out of Oral Roberts University. In 11 starts for the Pelicans, Gonzalez went 5-2 with a 2.62 ERA (19 ER/65.1 IP), 56 hits allowed, 16 walks, 49 strikeouts and a .222 batting average against. At the time of his promotion he ranked fifth in the CL in ERA, tied for third in wins, third in WHIP (1.10), fourth in opponents' average and fifth in fewest baserunners per nine innings (10.74). 

The right-handed pitcher made his professional debut in 2013 after signing with the Rangers and split his season between Rookie-level Spokane and Myrtle Beach. At the two levels he went 0-4 with a 3.80 ERA (18 ER/42.2 IP), 35 strikeouts and 16 walks. He entered the season ranked by Baseball America as Texas' fifth-best prospect and top minor league pitcher. The same publication noted he has the best slider and best control in the farm system.

Gonzalez was the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Year in his final season at Oral Roberts, going 9-5 with a 1.83 ERA and 126 strikeouts in 113.1 innings. The ERA was the tenth-best in single-season school history and the strikeout mark was the third-best. Gonzalez is a Delray Beach, Florida native and was drafted by Baltimore in the 11th round of the 2010 draft out of Boca Raton Community High School but did not sign.

Grayson, 24, will mark his second stint with Myrtle Beach this season. In two stretches with Frisco, Grayson has played in 22 games and has hit .278 (22 for 79) with six doubles, one home run, 14 runs batted in, 12 runs scored and one steal. He played in ten games with the Pelicans in May and hit .250 (8 for 32) with three doubles and one run batted in.

The RoughRiders continue their home stand against the Midland RockHounds with games on Sunday (2:05 p.m.), Monday and Tuesday (both 7:05 p.m.). Frisco has a magic number of six to clinch a playoff spot with nine games to play in the first half of the season. For tickets and information on how to see the RoughRiders in 2014, please call (972) 731-9200, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.RidersBaseball.com. 

About the RoughRiders

The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A Affiliate of the Texas Rangers and play their games at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco, Texas. The team has finished first among all Double-A minor league teams in attendance each season from 2005 - 2013. The RoughRiders are owned by Mandalay Sports Entertainment, winners of the "Baseball Organization of the Year" in 2008 by Ballpark Digest. For more information on Mandalay Baseball Properties, the Frisco RoughRiders, and Dr Pepper Ballpark, please contact Alex Vispoli at (972) 334-1976 or via email at [email protected].