White Sox cut Joey Gallo, vows to reinvent himself as pitcher

The 31-year-old, coming off a tough season with the Nationals where he hit just .161/.277/.336, has long been a player of extremes-boasting immense power but battling frequent strikeout woes.

A two-time All-Star during his Texas Rangers days, Gallo's career has been a roller-coaster of towering home runs and frustrating slumps.

Now back on the free-agent market, Gallo is taking an unexpected turn, announcing plans to convert to pitching.

With a high school no-hitter in his past and one of the strongest arms in the game, this Gold Glove outfielder hopes to reinvent himself on the mound.

Will his next act bring redemption or remain another twist in his unpredictable career?

The transition from position player to pitcher isn't as rare when you look at players who made the switch early in their careers or in the minors.

Trevor Hoffman famously went from a light-hitting shortstop to becoming one of the greatest closers of all time.

Kenley Jansen's evolution from a catcher to an elite closer is a fantastic story as well-his cannon arm behind the plate translated perfectly to the mound.

Tim Wakefield's switch from first baseman to knuckleball pitcher gave him a remarkable career with the Red Sox, while Bob Lemon's transition from outfielder to Hall of Fame pitcher highlighted his adaptability.

And Jacob deGrom being drafted as a shortstop before turning into one of baseball's most dominant starters is yet another testament to how versatile and talented some players truly are.

While it's more common for players to transition from pitching to hitting or vice-versa, there are a few notable cases of players switching from hitting to pitching:

Rick Ankiel: Initially a promising pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, Ankiel transitioned to an outfielder after struggling with control issues.

Interestingly, he briefly considered returning to pitching later in his career.

Brooks Kieschnick: Known for his versatility, Kieschnick played as both a pitcher and a hitter during his time with the Milwaukee Brewers, often serving as a pinch hitter when not on the mound.

These players showcase the rare ability to excel in both roles, a testament to their unique talents.

Former Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Gose is a more recent example and more directly comparable to Gallo's situation.

Gose was drafted by the Phillies in 2008, picked up by the Jays, became a strong prospect before being traded from Toronto to Detroit for second baseman Devon Travis, then transitioned into pitching.

After being sent to the minor leagues by Detroit in 2017, Gose began working as a pitcher. He's taken the mound for various teams as a minor leaguer since, but he hasn't returned to the majors.

Best of luck to Joey Gallo in his journey to becoming a pitcher at the MLB level.