Undrafted free agents are usually lottery ticket pick-ups by MLB clubs. However, sometimes they can strike gold. For example, one of the best Pittsburgh Pirates relievers of all time, Kent “Teke” Tekulve, was an undrafted free agent. So was third baseman/outfielder Bobby Bonilla. One of the UDFA’s currently residing in the Pirates’ system is right-handed pitcher Ronaldo Gallo, who they signed out of the University of Miami in 2023. Gallo has had a winding pro career, but is finally looking like a prospect worth talking about in 2026.
Although the Pirates signed Gallo in 2023, he wouldn’t make his pro debut until 2025. Last year, he pitched in just a single game at the team’s Florida Complex League team. So far into 2026, Gallo has pitched just ten innings between the FCL and A-Ball Bradenton. While he has struggled in the small sample size, it’s not his performance so far that makes him someone to watch.
Gallo’s fastball has some very intriguing traits. He throws the pitch in the upper-90s, coming in at 97.2 MPH on average and topping out at 99 MPH. His fastball has about average vertical break at 15 inches. However, his four-seamer also has about 15 inches of horizontal movement. For reference, only two pitchers have a four-seam fastball that averages out with at least 15 inches of horizontal movement: Cincinnati Reds’ lefty Nick Lodolo and Washington Nationals swingman Brad Lord. However, neither averages 95+ MPH with their four-seamers, and both have a below-average vertical drop of 20+ inches.
Gallo’s fastball is very unique. There are very few MLB four-seamer comparisons in the Statcast Era to his. Of those with similar characteristics, Jesus Luzardo averaged 96.7 MPH with 15.3 inches of vertical drop and 13.9 inches of horizontal movement with his fastball in 2023. In 2020, Edwin Diaz sat 97.8 MPH with 15.6 inches of vertical drop and 14.4 inches of horizontal movement. Last year, Sandy Alcantara's fastball came in at 97.7 MPH with 15.8 inches of vertical movement and 14.1 inches of horizontal drop.
Gallo’s fastball has impressive attributes, but it’s not his only pitch. He’ll also throw a sinker that sits mid-90s, a two-glove-side breaking pitch in a mid-80s slider, and a harder upper-80s cutter. The right-hander throws from a three-quarters arm slot, and his already impressive velocity plays up even more because of his above-average extension off the mound.
It’s hard to overlook Gallo’s impressive fastball and bevy of secondary offerings. He has an intriguing profile for any pitching prospect, especially one who was an undrafted free agent. Now in his age-25 season, the Pirates recently promoted Gallo to High-A Greensboro. If he stays healthy and his performance turns a corner, Gallo may factor into a future Pirates’ bullpen. His four-seamer certainly has the stuff to make him a late-inning reliever.
