Gallo ready to 'do more' for Nats in return from IL

This story was excerpted from Jessica Camerato’s Nationals Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

WASHINGTON -- After missing 60 games while on the injured list because of a left hamstring strain, Joey Gallo has returned to the Nationals. Gallo completed an 11-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester, and he was reinstated on Tuesday.

“It was a pretty good injury, so we knew it was going to be a little time,” Gallo said. “This is kind of a high re-injury risk kind of injury, so I wanted to make sure I got enough time playing and moving around and obviously playing different positions so I would be able to be healthy when I got back and not have to get hurt again and miss more time.”

Gallo, who signed a one-year, $5 million contract with the Nationals in January, made 36 starts at first base, three as DH and two in right field prior to going on the IL on June 12. The left-handed hitter is expected to see time at the same positions while the Nationals maintain their focus on getting looks at potential pieces of their future.

“We’ll give him some playing time against some right-handed pitching,” said manager Dave Martinez. “We’ve got some guys that we want to see play, so we're trying to get those guys in as well. But he could play first, right, DH, so we'll definitely get him out there. It’s good to see him back on his feet and running around. That's pretty awesome.”

The Nationals’ roster has a different look since the last time Gallo, 30, was in the starting lineup on June 11. Veterans Dylan Floro, Hunter Harvey, Lane Thomas and Jesse Winker were traded; Eddie Rosario and Nick Senzel were designated for assignment; and Joey Meneses was optioned to Triple-A Rochester.

Their starting infield on Tuesday was comprised of first baseman Andrés Chaparro (25 years old), second baseman Luis García Jr. (24), third baseman José Tena (23) and shortstop CJ Abrams (23).

“It's a young team,” Gallo said. “I'm the old guy now, so I want to be able to help these guys out any way I can and be a good example.”

Gallo is embracing the shift in big league experience on the Nats. He was teammates with several of the new players during his rehab assignment in Rochester and came back to a familiar group in the clubhouse.

“It's funny, because when I was down there, a lot of these guys I met down there and then now they’re up here,” said Gallo. “They were getting called up when I was down there -- Tena, Chaparro, [Joe] La Sorsa, all these guys -- so I actually know everybody really, really well … It’s a new clubhouse, but it’s the guys I already knew and were hanging out with down there. So it’s pretty cool. It’s nice to have a young team and see what we can do.”

Gallo was not in the lineup on Tuesday, but he pinch-hit for Juan Yepez in the ninth and drew a walk against right-hander Angel Chivilli.

"I'm just kind of wherever they need me,” Gallo said. “[I’m] bringing as many gloves as I have out here and just going wherever they tell me to go. I'm just kind of being prepared to play first, move around the outfield if I need to, just kind of help provide some versatility for the team.”

Gallo has batted .164 with five home runs, seven doubles, 17 runs and 11 RBIs in 47 games so far in 2024. He will become a free agent at the end of this season.

“He was hoping it'd be a lot better for him, I know that,” said Martinez. “He's been a trooper, he's worked really hard, a good guy that does work hard. But the season’s not over; we still got some time so we'll get him out there.

“I know he's been frustrated. He wanted to do more, and I know if he was healthy, [he] probably would have done more. … I hope that now we can get past that, and he can go out there and do the things we think he can do for us for the rest of the year. I'm glad he's back. We’ve got six weeks left, and I'll get him out there when I can."