New Washington Nationals’ Slugger and Retired Catcher Share Ominous Baseball Record

Recent retirement of catcher Mike Zunino echoes a peculiar baseball history now joined by Washington Nationals’ power hitter Joey Gallo. BRADY FARKASMAR 7, 2024 3:08 PM EST In this story: Texas Rangers TEXAS RANGERS Washington Nationals WASHINGTON NATIONALS Minnesota Twins MINNESOTA TWINS Seattle Mariners SEATTLE MARINERS TAMPA BAY RAYS As the 2024 season approaches, Washington Nationals’ slugger Joey Gallo finds himself in a rare category within baseball history.

According to Danny Vietti of CBS Sports on social media:

Only 2 players in MLB history have amassed 100+ HR with a batting average below .200:

• Joey Gallo
• Mike Zunino

Let’s delve into Zunino’s career, who recently announced his retirement after 11 seasons in the MLB.

Selected as a first-round pick, Zunino debuted in the majors with the Seattle Mariners during the 2013 season, quickly establishing himself as a regular. Known for his impressive power, he surpassed the 20-homer mark three times in six seasons with Seattle. His career-best came in 2021 with the Rays, hitting 33 homers and earning an All-Star selection. Despite his power, Zunino struggled with consistency, maintaining a lifetime batting average of .199 and enduring six seasons hitting under .200. Furthermore, he boasted a modest .271 on-base percentage and recorded over 130 strikeouts in a season on five occasions.

Turning to Gallo, entering his 10th MLB season, he has played for the Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Minnesota Twins. Gallo holds a lifetime batting average of .197 alongside 198 home runs. His peak performance came in 2017 with the Rangers, belting 41 homers, and he has notched at least 38 home runs in three separate seasons.

However, akin to Zunino, Gallo faces challenges with strikeouts, surpassing 195 strikeouts in three different seasons and leading the league in strikeouts in 2021.