Pirates A to Z: Nick Gonzales flashed power, versatility, now must show consistency at plate

During the offseason, the Tribune-Review will offer Pirates A to Z, an alphabetical, player-by-player look at the 40-man roster.

Player: Nick Gonzales

Positions: Second base, shortstop

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Age: 24

Height: 5-foot-9

Weight: 190 pounds

2023 MLB statistics: Batted .209/.268/.348 with eight doubles, one triple, two home runs and 13 RBIs in 35 games.

Contract: Not yet eligible for arbitration.

Acquired: Selected in the first round (No. 7 overall) out of New Mexico State in the 2020 MLB Draft.

This past season: Gonzales was considered the best college bat in baseball when the Pirates drafted him, but he raised eyebrows in 2022 by striking out at a 28.5% rate.

Gonzales slashed .263/.383/.429 with 20 doubles and 33 RBIs in 71 games at Double-A Altoona in 2022 then tried to make up for lost time by playing in the Arizona Fall League.

That’s where Gonzales started getting playing time at third base, showing versatility by adding a third infield position to second base and shortstop. He played all three spots at Triple-A Indianapolis, making vast improvement defensively.

But it took some time for his bat to get going, as Gonzales was hitting .257/.370/.450 when the Pirates promoted him to the major leagues with outfielder Bryan Reynolds on the 10-day injured list with low back inflammation.

Gonzales made his debut June 23 at Miami, four days after 2021 No. 1 overall pick Henry Davis and a week after another former first-rounder in reliever Carmen Mlodzinski. It was the start of a youth movement by the Pirates, who had slipped from first to last place in the NL Central.

Pirates rookie Nick Gonzales on checking off major league firsts (hit, RBI, run scored, home run) in the 9-4 win over the Padres Tuesday at PNC Park. pic.twitter.com/hZNt835Ji0

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) June 28, 2023

On June 27, Gonzales started at shortstop and got his first major-league hit — a triple off the Clemente Wall — and his first home run in a 9-4 win over the San Diego Padres in his PNC Park debut.

“Obviously, to get a win and then obviously to have my first hit and first home run is something special,” Gonzales said. “But to get the win, I think, is more important, obviously. We’re all excited here.”

NICK GONZALES' FIRST HOMER TRAVELS 442 FEET ???? pic.twitter.com/JF71rmhfwi

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 28, 2023

The homer was a 442-foot shot to center field off Adrian Morjeon and showed the power possessed by Gonzales, who called the experience “amazing.” His teammates were impressed, as well.

“That’s the reason he’s here,” designated hitter Andrew McCutchen said. “We know what he can do. He knows what he can do. It’s nice for him to be able to do that here — get the triple, get the hit and the RBIs, the homer, too. He’s fun to watch. It’s part of the reason he’s here, to help impact this ball club. He can impact it in many ways.”

Gonzales added a two-run shot that carried 414 feet to center against Milwaukee’s Colin Rea in a 6-3 loss to the Brewers on July 2.

“We know he can drive the ball,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “He creates torque. We’ve seen both of his home runs be to center field. Situation there where it’s runner on second, nobody out. He’s trying to drive the ball in the middle of the field. He showed the ability to do that.”

Gonzales went 3 for 4 with two doubles and two RBIs in a 9-7 win at the Los Angeles Dodgers on July 4, and finished the four-game series by batting .533 (8 for 15). Through his first 13 games with the Pirates, Gonzales was hitting .333.

“You have to hit the mistakes,” Gonzales said. “You get a good pitch to hit, you have to do damage with it early, make the adjustments and go from there. Try not to expand too much. Stay within your approach and everything like that, and put a good swing on the ball.”

That became a problem for Gonzales over the next 18 games, as he went 8 for 60 (.133) with 20 strikeouts against two walks. Gonzales was involved in one of the Pirates’ best defensive plays of the season, combining with right fielder Henry Davis and catcher Endy Rodriguez to turn a 9-2-4-2 double play in the 10th inning of a 6-4 walk-off win over the Philadelphia Phillies on July 30 at PNC Park.

On Aug. 3, Gonzales was optioned to Indianapolis and rediscovered his stroke in the minors.

Nick Gonzales ????

The @Pirates' No. 6 prospect has four homers in the past eight games for the @indyindians! pic.twitter.com/bOA7Ha91N7

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 12, 2023

Gonzales led the International League with six homers, 15 extra-base hits and 57 total bases in September, when he batted .338 with a 1.099 OPS in 21 games. He batted .424 (14 for 33) and scored 13 runs over his final seven games, hitting for the cycle in going for five RBIs against Rochester on Sept. 19. Gonzales led all Pirates minor leaguers in extra-base hits (49) this season and finished in the top five in batting average (.281), slugging percentage (.507), OPS (.886) and total bases (191).

The Pirates recalled Gonzales on Sept. 27, when shortstop Alika Williams was optioned, and he finished the season in the majors.

“It’s been a blessing and, obviously, a dream come true to come to the big leagues and play,” Gonzales said. “It’s been a lot of fun. I’m really excited and looking forward to what the future brings.”

The future: Gonzales is expected to enter spring training in competition for the starting job at second base, though he will have competition in Ji Hwan Bae, Liover Peguero and Jared Triolo.

Where Gonzales had a bat-first reputation coming out of college, there are now concerns. While he hit .295 against fastballs, Gonzales will have to improve against breaking (.135) and off-speed pitches (.059) and lower his 28.1% strikeout rate if he wants to make the Opening Day roster.