Gallo homers, sets Rangers record in splendid debut: 'It's pretty amazing'

Joey Gallo has arrived.

The Texas Rangers' top prospect finished a triple shy of the cycle in his major-league debut Tuesday, less than 24 hours after being called up from Double-A.

With his parents in attendance, the 21-year-old finished 3-for-4 with one home run, four RBIs, three runs, and a walk.

"It's crazy," Gallo told reporters following the game. "To be honest, I didn't expect it to be that good of a night. So it's pretty amazing, it still really hasn't hit me yet, but yeah, it was definitely a lot of fun, a lot of adrenaline. I'm glad it's out of the way."

Gallo wasted no time picking up his first big-league hit, driving in a pair of runs with a bases-loaded single in the first inning off Chicago White Sox right-hander Jeff Samardzija.

In his second at-bat, Gallo launched a 418-foot, two-run shot to right field off Samardzija. The third-inning blast gave him the franchise record with four RBIs in a debut.

"Yeah, he looked pretty good to me," Samardzija said of Gallo. "He definitely likes the ball in. We threw three in there and he hit every single one of them. He looks like a heckuva player."

In his third at-bat, Gallo fell just short of his second home run and was forced to settle for a double. He struck out with the bases loaded in the sixth inning and walked in the eighth.

The sixth-best prospect according to Baseball America, Gallo was called up to replace the injured Adrian Beltre after hitting .314/.425/.636 with nine home runs and 31 RBIs in 34 games with Double-A Frisco.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said prior to the game that Gallo's time with the big-league club is only temporary, but if he keeps up this type of performance, it will be hard to send him back to the minors.

(Videos courtesy: MLB.com)