Gallo discusses shifts, unwritten rules, more

Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo addressed several topics in a Zoom meeting with the media before Wednesday’s game against the Padres.

On Padres third baseman Manny Machado, in a defensive shift, catching his fly ball in deep right field in Tuesday’s game: “I hit it and it broke my bat, and it was foul. I wasn’t running that hard, it started slowly pushing fair and I was like, ‘Oh wow, I might get a hit out of this.’ And then, he caught it and I actually stopped and I was like, ‘Is that the third baseman?’ I didn’t even realize that was him that caught it. You’ve got a third baseman in right field nowadays, so it’s a little tough to get hits as a lefty.”

Asked if he ever thought about being a switch-hitter: “If I knew 10 years ago the game would be like this, then yeah, I probably would have. But now, I think I’m a little past that point. It’s hard enough to hit left-handed, and I have been doing that my whole life. I’ve thought about going up to the plate righty and seeing what the defense would do. It would be kind of funny to do it in a game that’s a blowout or a scrimmage.”

On the frustrations of facing extreme shifts: “I don't think you ever get used to it. It's a constant reminder. You see a righty hit a line drive to left field, and you're like, 'Ugh, why couldn't I be a righty?' And then you get up and hit a line drive to right field and the shortstop is playing short right and catches it. In your head ... I'm not complaining, but it is tough. It's tough to be taught that hitting the ball up the middle is a hit your whole life, and now, you're out every single time you do it.”

On choking up with the bat full-time now: “I’m constantly choking up now. I kind of got comfortable with not feeling the knob. It had to do with breaking my hamate bone [in my right hand] last year. I just didn’t like feeling the knob in that area. I was watching [Reds slugger] Joey Votto. He’s so good with his bat control and putting the ball in play. I started to mess around with it and choked up, it felt natural ... gives me a little confidence. I can control the barrel a little more. It just depends on the situation and the pitcher how much I do choke up.”

On the unwritten rules of baseball: “I remember in Rookie ball, I hit a home run and I kind of pimped it a little bit. We were up by a lot, and one of the coaches came in and destroyed me. Just destroyed me, and I’ve never pimped a home run after that. I got hit in the next at-bat by the way. You get taught about these unwritten rules by the generations before you. I’ve done things in the field this year, and last year, guys come up to me and say, ‘Don’t do that.’ I say, ‘OK, I won’t do that.’ Throughout baseball, guys know what they are.”

Andrus due back Thursday
Shortstop Elvis Andrus is expected back in the Rangers' lineup on Thursday after missing three games with soreness in his lower back. Andrus has been bothered by his back lately, and he was examined Monday after manager Chris Woodward gave him his first day off of the season.

The Rangers then decided to give Andrus a few more days off to let his back get stronger.

“He is actually pretty good today,” Woodward said. “He could play today. The last couple of days were pretty sore. Today, he is going to have a full workout ... maybe a little more intensity, where he can play [Thursday]. I fully expect him to be ready to go [Thursday] as if nothing was wrong.”

Andrus’ absence allowed the Rangers to get Danny Santana in the lineup at first base, with Todd Frazier moving back to third and Isiah Kiner-Falefa playing shortstop. Santana is still building up strength in his right arm and is about a week away from playing the outfield again.

Rangers beat
• Right-hander Ian Gibaut dropped his appeal and began serving a two-game suspension (reduced from three) Wednesday night at San Diego. Gibaut was suspended for throwing behind Machado in Monday's Padres-Rangers game at Globe Life Field.

• Catcher Robinson Chirinos, who is on the injured list with a sprained left ankle, is not with the Rangers in San Diego. He is eligible to come off the injured list on Monday.

• The Rangers' taxi squad for their trip to San Diego and Seattle consists of pitchers Demarcus Evans and Kyle Cody, catcher Nick Ciuffo, infielder Yadiel Rivera and outfielder Adolis García.

• Luis García, who pitched Tuesday, was the 22nd pitcher used by the Rangers this season, tied for the most in the American League entering Wednesday. Texas had used 41 total players, also tied for the AL lead.