Cibola Sports

Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” might be playing on a music app in the background for former Pirate baseball player Isaac Gallegos—who always dreamed of playing for a Major League Baseball franchise.

Last Tuesday, July 11 Gallegos was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 16th round and was the 489th overall pick.

“I was watching the MLB draft with my brother and my name popped up. It was official! It was one of the best experiences I have had in my life,” said Gallegos. “I called home immediately! I was full of emotion my mom was ecstatic and my dad started to choke up. I started to cry.”

Those tears of joy and celebration were followed by five to six hours of his phone “blowing up” as friends, family and community members expressed their congratulations through social media, phone calls and texting. “I love the support the community has given me over the years and the small-town pride is great---I hope to inspire future youth,” said Gallegos.

Gallegos, a lifelong resident of Grants, is a 2020 graduate of Grants High School and the son of Max and Karen Gallegos.

“It’s a wonderful thing – we are very proud of him – It’s almost unreal— like, holy cow – It’s awesome a team like that picked him up,” said his father Max Gallegos as he described his and his wife’s emotions at that moment. “We were overwhelmed and shocked but in an awesome way---we are fortunate he is doing well.”

Gallegos, who pitched for the Grants High School Pirates baseball team throughout his high school career was a standout player throughout high school career.

“He was very coach’s dream,” said former GHS baseball coach, Walter Sarracino. “He is a hard worker; he is driven and he knows what he wants; he is a special kid.”

Upon graduation, Gallegos, a right hander, pitched junior college baseball for two years with the Trinidad State Trojans where he won accolades such as Pitcher of the Week.

“Junior college you learn who you are, it’s not easy, however, there are a lot of resources and great coaching staff,” said Gallegos of his JUCO experience.

Most recently, Gallegos was wearing the number 27 jersey for the Division One University of New Mexico Lobos baseball team where he started 12 games and led the starting rotation with an ERA of 4.35.

“UNM, you always hear it’s a good D1 program and you meet good guys, and the coaching staff is great – you’re building on what you learned in Junior College – like a bigger business,” said Gallegos of his season with the Lobos.

“When the season started (UNM) a few teams contacted me and they had watched me— more teams added on as the season went on,” said Gallegos “A scout introduced me to an agent and the agent reached out and he was a great guy and it worked out for both of us.”

Gallegos indicated that after being drafted he received a call from the area scout from the Atlanta Braves and he was told to “Enjoy the next few days.” Gallegos flew out on July 15 and had his physical on July 16 and signed his contract.

Gallegos is currently at the Spring training facility and is working out. He will be sent out to the farm teams to get a few games in.

Gallegos, at 6’ 3” and 2l5 pounds, who due to altitude had converted to a sinker-slider-pitcherstyle at UNM, is ready for the next level.

“It was 100 percent a dream of mine to play for the MLB,” Gallegos summed up. I’m sure he is hitting the replay button on that song “Dreams”.