Position: 2B
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 190 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
Born: 05/27/1999
How Acquired: Drafted 1st Round, 7th Overall, 2020
College: New Mexico State University
Bonus: $5,432,400
40-man Roster: Yes
Rule 5 Eligible: N/A
Minor League Free Agency: N/A
Options Left: 1
Overview
After going undrafted out of high school, Gonzales became one of the best hitters in college ball at New Mexico State. He put up playstation numbers, with an OPS of 1.021 as a freshman and a line of 432/532/773 in a sophomore year in which he led the nation in batting. He hit 448/610/1155 in a truncated junior year. The numbers, especially the power, were certainly influenced by a high-offense environment. Gonzales did, however, hit 351/451/630 with seven home runs in the Cape Cod League in 2019, earning himself MVP honors and being named the league’s top prospect by Baseball America. BA also rated him the fifth best prospect in the draft, which is about where most other prospect authorities ranked him.
As a pro, Gonzales hasn’t shown the hit tool touted by the scouting reports. He’s had serious problems with swings and misses, especially against breaking balls. He’s had some stretches when he’s hit very well, and he’s also been hampered by injuries at times. He has shown some power. Gonzales’ speed, according to Statcast, is well above-average. The Pirates have played him some at short and third, in keeping with their obsession of playing everybody everywhere, but he belongs at second and could be at least average there.
2020-22
After the draft, Gonzales went to the Pirates’ alternate training site at Altoona. He went to Greensboro in 2021 and had a season of extremes. After a hot start, he went out with a fractured finger. He slumped after returning, with a 32% K rate in July. He got blistering hot in August, though, with an OPS of 1.176, so the injury may have contributed to the slump. He had a huge home/road split, hitting dramatically better at the extreme home run park in Greensboro. He played well defensively.
In 2022 at Altoona, Gonzales had another unsettling season. He had OPS figures of .748 and .738 in April and May, respectively, with a K rate of 33%. At the end of May, Gonzales went on the injured list with an ailment that the Pirates initially decided was minor. Instead, it turned out to be a plantar injury that kept him out nearly half the season. After he returned in August, Gonzales finally started to hit, posting OPS figures of .862 and .981 the last two months. His K rate dropped to 23%. Gonzales had a big platoon split, with a 1.031 OPS against LHPs and a .760 OPS against RHPs.
2023-24
Gonzales opened 2023 in Indianapolis and started off with the same issues. Through late June, he put up just solid numbers, with a strikeout rate of 32.6%. He started hitting better in June, though, and the Pirates called him up late in the month. He struggled with the Pirates, especially with breaking balls; he batted just .135 against them, with a 43% whiff rate. The Pirates sent him back to Indy for most of August and September, and he made great strides, batting 314/390/566 and a K rate of 23.6%. The Pirates brought Gonzales back up near the end of the season for just a few games. At both levels he mostly played second, with some time at short. According to OAA, he was one out above average at second and average at short in the majors, albeit in a tiny sample size. He made few errors at second at either level. He started a dozen games at third for Indy and that went badly.
To open 2024, the Pirates sent Gonzales to Indianapolis, where he stayed until a week into May. He seems to have adjusted his approach, swinging and missing far less, and he tore the place up, hitting 356/429/600. At that point, the team called him up and Gonzales was more or less the regular at second the rest of the year, although he missed a month starting at the end of July with a groin injury. He got off to a great start, putting up a .913 OPS in May, but he slumped after that, hitting just 235/259/330 in June and July. After he returned, he hit 297/350/423. The big difference seemed to be showing better pitch selection. Gonzales had a strikeout percentage of 21% before the injury and 14% after. His walk rate also increased, although it was still low, and very low on the season. For the season, Gonzales hit 270/311/398. Statcast showed Gonzales to be above average defensively and had his sprint speed as elite. Although he played primarily second for the Pirates, he started seven games at short, which could come into play if Nick Yorke wins a starting job.
Stats
Transactions
June 10, 2020: Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1st round, 7th overall pick; signed on June 24.
June 23, 2023: Contract purchased by the Pittsburgh Pirates.