BOSTON _ Joey Gallo may be a critical component of the Rangers' planned long-term rebuild, but nothing is guaranteed.
Not even unlimited opportunity in season that is about nothing but opportunities.
At some point, the Rangers need to see progress in the process or the performance _ preferably both _ or they could very possibly seek alternative solutions. General manager Jon Daniels admitted as much Tuesday when asked if Gallo's spot in the majors was guaranteed through the rest of the season.
"There is an element (of any decision) that is performance-based and a part that is process-based," Daniels said. "And there is context to both of them."
In whatever manner the Rangers choose to evaluate, Tuesday's 8-4 loss to Boston marked a potentially large step in the right direction for Gallo.
Start with the performance: He reached base three times on a pair of walks and a two-out, two-run double.
The context: All three came with two strikes in the count, when he has been dreadful. More: During both walks, he laid off breaking pitches against which he's been whatever is worse than "dreadful." Just for good measure: The double was to left center, where the Rangers want him to be able to drive the ball.
"I know it's time to get going," Gallo said. "It's always time to get going. My numbers could be a lot better, but they aren't. I'm trying to learn from both success and failure. I was being patient and I haven't done that I feel like in a while."
Gallo began play Monday with a .187 batting average, the third lowest in the majors. And that was just the start of an ugly slash line that included a .293 OBP (his needs to hover around .330 or higher), a .443 slugging percentage (he needs to be at close to or above .500) and an OPS of .736 (his OPS+ of 92 indicates he's been below league average when all variables are considered).
And at two strikes, he's just been an automatic out. His .077 batting average was the third worst in baseball and that was even more egregious considering he had 70 more at-bats than anybody else in the bottom 10.
The problem for Gallo has been magnified by an increased number of breaking balls. For example, he's been seeing breaking pitches 36 percent of the time this season. A year ago, it was 30 percent. He has struggled to recognize the sliders and curve balls and has instead swung wildly.
Not so on Tuesday.
"When you recognize it's going to be a ball when it comes out of the hand, you are seeing it well," manager Jeff Banister said. "You are relaxed. He looked relaxed."
There have been other nights, Banister said, when Gallo has had that look. But they have not been consistent. Banister mentioned his Saturday performance at Detroit in which he homered. That was followed by a three-game 0-for-8 stretch.
"You see some sparks from night to night," Banister said. "There are nights where he seems to be right where he needs to be. And then there are some nights where he seems a little anxious. The walks really said something to me. If we can get the walk rate up, which is what he did in the second half last year, I think that's going to be big progress moving forward."
If not, there could always be a return trip to the minor leagues, his first since 2016, in the not-to-distant future. It was not even a thought entering the season, but the Rangers have a glut of corner infielders and outfielders and have Scott Heineman and Willie Calhoun at Triple-A, who probably each need to be seen at some time this season.
Last year, Gallo struggled through the first half of the season and made adjustments in the second half. His minor league career is full of example of struggling early and surging late.
The time has come for Gallo to surge again.
On Tuesday, he showed some sparks. Now, it's a matter of them catching.
