Nick Gonzales

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #9 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/Medium
  
  Track Record: Gonzales was celebrated as one of the best pure hitters in the nation as a New Mexico State junior in 2020, when he was drafted No. 7 overall and signed for $5,432,400. His early career was marred by injuries--including a broken finger in 2021 and a torn plantar fascia in his heel in 2022--but he stayed healthy enough in 2023 to play a career-high 134 games. That mark included 36 games in the big leagues, where he struggled with strikeouts before being optioned back to Triple-A for August and most of September.
  
  Scouting Report: Gonzales hit .399 in three college seasons in the thin New Mexico air, but despite those gaudy numbers he faced questions. Specifically, evaluators wondered how much of his success was a product of the quality of Western Athletic Conference pitching and high elevation. The root of Gonzales’ MLB struggles is his swing, which is short, quick and powerful, but also takes the barrel in and out of the zone too quickly. The result is a swing that gives pitchers many holes to exploit, especially with offspeed pitches. The Pirates believe Gonzales’ struggles in that area were made clear in the big leagues and are pleased with the progress he made upon returning to the minor leagues. Gonzales’ batted-ball data points to a potentially average slugger, and his speed is above-average. He’s a fringy defender at second base with an average arm.
  
  The Future: Gonzales’ ceiling is as an offensive-minded second baseman, but he’ll have to continue to improve his swing to reach those heights. He will have to outplay Oneil Cruz, Termarr Johnson and Liover Peguero for regular play in the Pirates’ middle infield of the future.
  
  Scouting Grades Hit: 45 | Power: 50 | Run: 55 | Field: 45 | Arm: 50
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #8 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Some wondered whether Gonzales could jump on a fast track because of his advanced hitting ability when the Pirates drafted him No. 7 overall in 2020 out of New Mexico State. But injuries have slowed his ascent. A broken finger sidelined him for a month in 2021. He missed two months in 2022 after tearing the plantar fascia in the heel of his foot, limiting him to just 74 games. Gonzales struggled prior to the injury, striking out nearly 33% of the time in his first taste of Double-A. Upon returning, he cut his strikeouts by 10% and posted a .913 OPS in his final 28 games with Altoona. He got additional at-bats in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Gonzales continues to show more swing-and-miss than expected for a player who built his game around elite bat-to-ball skills. Scouts still believe he can hit for high averages on the basis of his short levers and punchy swing. He has strong hands and transfers considerable energy through his lower half, which, combined with his barrel ability, suggests average power potential despite his 5-foot-9 frame. Now, Gonzales needs to optimize when to chase that power. He gets over-aggressive in his approach, especially against breaking pitches, and it hurts him. He's a limited defender, which puts pressure on his bat. Gonzales occasionally played shortstop in 2022, and the Pirates tried him at third base in the AFL for the first time. His fringe-average arm and range still work best at second base.
  
  The Future: Gonzales hasn't fully captured the magic that made him a star in college through two incomplete pro seasons. To that end, the Pirates had him focus on keeping his bat path through the zone longer. There's hope that more consistent at-bats will help Gonzales find his rhythm and chase his ceiling as a solid first-division second baseman.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 50. Speed: 55. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #3 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Gonzales arrived at New Mexico State as a walk-on and transformed into one of college baseball’s best hitters. The Pirates drafted him seventh overall in 2020, making him the first pick of general manager Ben Cherington’s tenure. Gonzales’ pro debut in 2021 was interrupted by a broken finger in late May that cost him more than a month, and he started slowly when he returned. But Gonzales turned in a much more productive finish, hitting .322/.424/.661 with 13 homers from Aug. 1 through the end of the season and .380/.483/.539 in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: At his best, Gonzales is a hitting machine who sprays line drives to all fields with a simple, inside-out swing optimized for hard contact. He has a sound, mature approach and rarely chases, forcing pitchers to beat him in the zone. Gonzales swung and missed in the strike zone more than expected in his pro debut and posted a surprisingly high 27% strikeout rate, but he still hit over .300 to retain his status as a borderline plus-plus hitter. Gonzales hit 13 of his 18 home runs at his hitter-friendly home park in Greensboro, leading to skepticism about his power. Even so, he’s strong in his frame and projects to reach double-digit home runs. Gonzales plays functional defense at second base and his average arm can make every throw, but his promise is largely tied to his bat.
  
  The Future: Gonzales is ready for the upper levels and will see Double-A in 2022. He has the ceiling of an offensive-minded second baseman who makes an occasional all-star team.
  
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #3 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 70. Power: 45. Running: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Gonzales became the first draftee of the Ben Cherington era for the Pirates, signing for $5,432,400 as the seventh overall pick in 2020. That capped off an impressive transformation after he joined New Mexico State as a walk-on and went on to lead the nation in hitting while batting .432/.532/.773. He hit 12 home runs in 82 plate appearances in his brief junior season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gonzales’ carrying tool is his bat. Despite his slight, 5-foot-10 frame, his elite contact skills, exceptional plate discipline and exemplary barrel control should allow him to hit annually for a high average. He consistently finds the barrel and his strong hands help him drive pitches to all fields, giving him surprising 15-20 home run power. Gonzales’ above-average speed and advanced baserunning instincts should result in a handful of stolen bases, too. Gonzales has the arm strength for shortstop, but scouts question his short-area quickness and prefer him as a second baseman who can focus on being an elite hitter for the position.
  
  THE FUTURE: Scouts view Gonzales as a future all-star second baseman capable of competing for batting titles. He is advanced enough to jump on the fast track to the majors and arrive in Pittsburgh at some point in 2022.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #5 prospect in 2020 draft
  A lightly recruited walk-on to New Mexico State, Gonzales turned himself into one of the nation's top draft prospects through sheer hard work. He hit .432/.532/.773 as a sophomore, leading the nation in batting average, and was named an All-American. He continued to post video game-like numbers with 12 home runs in 82 plate appearances this spring before his junior season ended. Gonzales' big numbers came playing in extreme hitting environments, but he proved his bat is for real with a star turn in the Cape Cod League last summer. He hit seven home runs and was named league MVP, alleviating concerns he would struggle against better pitching. Gonzales is the prototypical baseball rat, though he has more innate hitting ability than most gritty, gamer types. He has elite bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline, and his strong hands allow him to make hard contact to all fields. He consistently finds the barrel and has excellent natural timing, allowing scouts to project 15-20 home runs even though he's undersized. Gonzales has above-average speed and good baserunning instincts, which should help him steal plenty of bases as well. A second baseman his first two seasons, Gonzalesmoved to shortstop this year to showcase himself prior to the draft. Opinions are mixed whether he can handle the position, with most observers wanting to put him at second base and just let him be an elite hitter at the position. While he has solid arm strength, scouts believe he might be stretched in the hole, and he lacks the short-area quickness teams prefer in their shortstops. He’s a solid defender at the keystone, with improving footwork and hands and the ability to throw from various arm slots. With his tremendous track record of hitting and a strong Cape performance, Gonzales should go off the board among the first five picks. Scouts see him developing into an All-Star level second baseman who competes for batting titles at his peak.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #8 prospect in 2021
  Gonzales missed a month with a broken right pinkie and struggled to get back into form, hitting .265 in July, but he turned in an exceptional August, with 10 homers and 28 RBIs while showing the same approach and ability as a hitter that led the Pirates to draft him seventh overall in 2020. Gonzales earned positive reviews from league managers for his plate discipline. He cut down on the pitches he chased out of the zone, and used his all-fields approach to rack up 98 hits in just 80 games. Gonzales showed improvement defensively at second base as well, but his bat will always be his carrying tool. He will make his upper-minors debut next season after spending the entirety of 2021 at High-A.
• Ranked #1 prospect in 2019
  Gonzales this spring hit .432/.532/.773 to lead the nation in batting and earn All-America honors. He then continued his torrid play this summer on the Cape, proving himself against premium pitching and away from the altitude at which New Mexico State plays its home games. He hit .351/.451/.630 with seven home runs and six stolen bases and won MVP honors after finishing among the league leaders in a host of statistics. Gonzales simply has a knack for putting the bat on the ball and making hard contact. He used a patient approach early in the summer, almost feeling out the league before getting more aggressive as the summer went on. He has excellent bat-to-ball skills and walked about as much as he struck out, a ratio that has been true throughout his college career. Listed at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, he isn’t a power hitter, but he has the ability to drive the ball to all fields. He’s an average runner but has good instincts on the bases. Gonzales has worked to improve his footwork and hands over the last year and is now a solid defender at second base. Overall, Gonzales is not a prototypical first-round pick, but that’s where he’s positioning himself after such an impressive 2019. His plus hitting ability combined with his surprising power makes for an intriguing package that may remind some of Keston Hiura.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #49 prospect in 2022
• Ranked Baseball America's #51 prospect in 2021

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Some wondered whether Gonzales could jump on a fast track because of his advanced hitting ability when the Pirates drafted him No. 7 overall in 2020 out of New Mexico State. But injuries have slowed his ascent. A broken finger sidelined him for a month in 2021. He missed two months in 2022 after tearing the plantar fascia in the heel of his foot, limiting him to just 74 games. Gonzales struggled prior to the injury, striking out nearly 33% of the time in his first taste of Double-A. Upon returning, he cut his strikeouts by 10% and posted a .913 OPS in his final 28 games with Altoona. He got additional at-bats in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Gonzales continues to show more swing-and-miss than expected for a player who built his game around elite bat-to-ball skills. Scouts still believe he can hit for high averages on the basis of his short levers and punchy swing. He has strong hands and transfers considerable energy through his lower half, which, combined with his barrel ability, suggests average power potential despite his 5-foot-9 frame. Now, Gonzales needs to optimize when to chase that power. He gets over-aggressive in his approach, especially against breaking pitches, and it hurts him. He's a limited defender, which puts pressure on his bat. Gonzales occasionally played shortstop in 2022, and the Pirates tried him at third base in the AFL for the first time. His fringe-average arm and range still work best at second base.
  
  The Future: Gonzales hasn't fully captured the magic that made him a star in college through two incomplete pro seasons. To that end, the Pirates had him focus on keeping his bat path through the zone longer. There's hope that more consistent at-bats will help Gonzales find his rhythm and chase his ceiling as a solid first-division second baseman.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 50. Speed: 55. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Some wondered whether Gonzales could jump on a fast track because of his advanced hitting ability when the Pirates drafted him No. 7 overall in 2020 out of New Mexico State. But injuries have slowed his ascent. A broken finger sidelined him for a month in 2021. He missed two months in 2022 after tearing the plantar fascia in the heel of his foot, limiting him to just 74 games. Gonzales struggled prior to the injury, striking out nearly 33% of the time in his first taste of Double-A. Upon returning, he cut his strikeouts by 10% and posted a .913 OPS in his final 28 games with Altoona. He got additional at-bats in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: Gonzales continues to show more swing-and-miss than expected for a player who built his game around elite bat-to-ball skills. Scouts still believe he can hit for high averages on the basis of his short levers and punchy swing. He has strong hands and transfers considerable energy through his lower half, which, combined with his barrel ability, suggests average power potential despite his 5-foot-9 frame. Now, Gonzales needs to optimize when to chase that power. He gets over-aggressive in his approach, especially against breaking pitches, and it hurts him. He's a limited defender, which puts pressure on his bat. Gonzales occasionally played shortstop in 2022, and the Pirates tried him at third base in the AFL for the first time. His fringe-average arm and range still work best at second base.
  
  The Future: Gonzales hasn't fully captured the magic that made him a star in college through two incomplete pro seasons. To that end, the Pirates had him focus on keeping his bat path through the zone longer. There's hope that more consistent at-bats will help Gonzales find his rhythm and chase his ceiling as a solid first-division second baseman.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 50. Speed: 55. Fielding: 45. Arm: 50
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Midseason Update: Gonzales has struggled this year both at the plate and when it comes to staying healthy. He&#39s currently dealing with a heel injury sustained when he hit one of the bases wrong. The estimated timetable for recovery was roughly six weeks.
  
  Track Record: Uncontrollable circumstances created an atypical start to Gonzales&#39 career. Minor League Baseball&#39s pandemic-induced shutdown in 2020 delayed his professional debut, and a broken finger in late May cost Gonzales more than a month of development in 2021. He struggled mightily upon returning to High-A Greensboro, hitting just .228 through 25 games. But Gonzales turned in a much more productive finish, hitting .322/.424/.661 with 13 homers from Aug. 1 onward and looking more like the hitter many expected when Ben Cherington made him the first draft pick of his Pirates tenure.
  
  Scouting Report: Gonzales&#39 profile fascinates. At his best, he&#39s a pure hitting machine who sprays line drives to all fields thanks to innate barrel ability and a simple, inside-out swing optimized for hard contact. He combines it with a sound, mature approach and rarely chases, forcing pitchers to beat him in the zone. That made Gonzales&#39 27% strikeout rate in 2021 a bit of a conundrum for opposing evaluators and coaches, who noted a surprising amount of swing-and-miss in the zone. Still, Gonzales hit over .300 and most evaluators are convinced he&#39ll pile up hits in bunches in the big leagues. There&#39s also some skepticism that his power numbers (13 of his 18 homers were at home) were aided by hitter-friendly Greensboro, a refrain that has followed Gonzales since his college days at hitter haven New Mexico State. Gonzales plays functional defense at second base and his arm can make every throw, but a significant amount of his value is tied to the bat.
  
  The Future: The Pirates opted to keep Gonzales in Greensboro alongside a core of prospects they hope will experience winning as they matriculate up the system. He&#39s undoubtedly ready for the upper levels, and his ceiling is an offensive-minded first-division second baseman who could make the occasional all-star game.
  
  Scouting Grades: Hit: 65. Power: 50. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Gonzales arrived at New Mexico State as a walk-on and transformed into one of college baseball’s best hitters. The Pirates drafted him seventh overall in 2020, making him the first pick of general manager Ben Cherington’s tenure. Gonzales’ pro debut in 2021 was interrupted by a broken finger in late May that cost him more than a month, and he started slowly when he returned. But Gonzales turned in a much more productive finish, hitting .322/.424/.661 with 13 homers from Aug. 1 through the end of the season and .380/.483/.539 in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  Scouting Report: At his best, Gonzales is a hitting machine who sprays line drives to all fields with a simple, inside-out swing optimized for hard contact. He has a sound, mature approach and rarely chases, forcing pitchers to beat him in the zone. Gonzales swung and missed in the strike zone more than expected in his pro debut and posted a surprisingly high 27% strikeout rate, but he still hit over .300 to retain his status as a borderline plus-plus hitter. Gonzales hit 13 of his 18 home runs at his hitter-friendly home park in Greensboro, leading to skepticism about his power. Even so, he’s strong in his frame and projects to reach double-digit home runs. Gonzales plays functional defense at second base and his average arm can make every throw, but his promise is largely tied to his bat.
  
  The Future: Gonzales is ready for the upper levels and will see Double-A in 2022. He has the ceiling of an offensive-minded second baseman who makes an occasional all-star team.
  
• October, 2021 Scouting Report
  Gonzales missed a month with a broken right pinkie and struggled to get back into form, hitting .265 in July, but he turned in an exceptional August, with 10 homers and 28 RBIs while showing the same approach and ability as a hitter that led the Pirates to draft him seventh overall in 2020. Gonzales earned positive reviews from league managers for his plate discipline. He cut down on the pitches he chased out of the zone, and used his all-fields approach to rack up 98 hits in just 80 games. Gonzales showed improvement defensively at second base as well, but his bat will always be his carrying tool. He will make his upper-minors debut next season after spending the entirety of 2021 at High-A.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 70. Power: 45. Running: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Gonzales became the first draftee of the Ben Cherington era for the Pirates, signing for $5,432,400 as the seventh overall pick in 2020. That capped off an impressive transformation after he joined New Mexico State as a walk-on and went on to lead the nation in hitting while batting .432/.532/.773. He hit 12 home runs in 82 plate appearances in his brief junior season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gonzales' carrying tool is his bat. Despite his slight, 5-foot-10 frame, his elite contact skills, exceptional plate discipline and exemplary barrel control should allow him to hit annually for a high average. He consistently finds the barrel and his strong hands help him drive pitches to all fields, giving him surprising 15-20 home run power. Gonzales' above-average speed and advanced baserunning instincts should result in a handful of stolen bases, too. Gonzales has the arm strength for shortstop, but scouts question his short-area quickness and prefer him as a second baseman who can focus on being an elite hitter for the position.
  
  THE FUTURE: Scouts view Gonzales as a future all-star second baseman capable of competing for batting titles. He is advanced enough to jump on the fast track to the majors and arrive in Pittsburgh at some point in 2022.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 70. Power: 45. Running: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Gonzales became the first draftee of the Ben Cherington era for the Pirates, signing for $5,432,400 as the seventh overall pick in 2020. That capped off an impressive transformation after he joined New Mexico State as a walk-on and went on to lead the nation in hitting while batting .432/.532/.773. He hit 12 home runs in 82 plate appearances in his brief junior season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gonzales’ carrying tool is his bat. Despite his slight, 5-foot-10 frame, his elite contact skills, exceptional plate discipline and exemplary barrel control should allow him to hit annually for a high average. He consistently finds the barrel and his strong hands help him drive pitches to all fields, giving him surprising 15-20 home run power. Gonzales’ above-average speed and advanced baserunning instincts should result in a handful of stolen bases, too. Gonzales has the arm strength for shortstop, but scouts question his short-area quickness and prefer him as a second baseman who can focus on being an elite hitter for the position.
  
  THE FUTURE: Scouts view Gonzales as a future all-star second baseman capable of competing for batting titles. He is advanced enough to jump on the fast track to the majors and arrive in Pittsburgh at some point in 2022.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 70. Power: 45. Running: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 50.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Gonzales became the first draftee of the Ben Cherington era for the Pirates, signing for $5,432,400 as the seventh overall pick in 2020. That capped off an impressive transformation after he joined New Mexico State as a walk-on and went on to lead the nation in hitting while batting .432/.532/.773. He hit 12 home runs in 82 plate appearances in his brief junior season.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Gonzales’ carrying tool is his bat. Despite his slight, 5-foot-10 frame, his elite contact skills, exceptional plate discipline and exemplary barrel control should allow him to hit annually for a high average. He consistently finds the barrel and his strong hands help him drive pitches to all fields, giving him surprising 15-20 home run power. Gonzales’ above-average speed and advanced baserunning instincts should result in a handful of stolen bases, too. Gonzales has the arm strength for shortstop, but scouts question his short-area quickness and prefer him as a second baseman who can focus on being an elite hitter for the position.
  
  THE FUTURE: Scouts view Gonzales as a future all-star second baseman capable of competing for batting titles. He is advanced enough to jump on the fast track to the majors and arrive in Pittsburgh at some point in 2022.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  A lightly recruited walk-on to New Mexico State, Gonzales turned himself into one of the nation's top draft prospects through sheer hard work. He hit .432/.532/.773 as a sophomore, leading the nation in batting average, and was named an All-American. He continued to post video game-like numbers with 12 home runs in 82 plate appearances this spring before his junior season ended. Gonzales' big numbers came playing in extreme hitting environments, but he proved his bat is for real with a star turn in the Cape Cod League last summer. He hit seven home runs and was named league MVP, alleviating concerns he would struggle against better pitching. Gonzales is the prototypical baseball rat, though he has more innate hitting ability than most gritty, gamer types. He has elite bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline, and his strong hands allow him to make hard contact to all fields. He consistently finds the barrel and has excellent natural timing, allowing scouts to project 15-20 home runs even though he's undersized. Gonzales has above-average speed and good baserunning instincts, which should help him steal plenty of bases as well. A second baseman his first two seasons, Gonzales moved to shortstop this year to showcase himself prior to the draft. Opinions are mixed whether he can handle the position, with most observers wanting to put him at second base and just let him be an elite hitter at the position. While he has solid arm strength, scouts believe he might be stretched in the hole, and he lacks the short-area quickness teams prefer in their shortstops. He’s a solid defender at the keystone, with improving footwork and hands and the ability to throw from various arm slots. With his tremendous track record of hitting and a strong Cape performance, Gonzales should go off the board among the first five picks. Scouts see him developing into an All-Star level second baseman who competes for batting titles at his peak.
• December, 2019 Scouting Report
  A lightly recruited walk-on to New Mexico State, Gonzales turned himself into one of the nation's top draft prospects through sheer hard work. He hit .432/.532/.773 as a sophomore, leading the nation in batting average, and was named an All-American. He continued to post video game-like numbers with 12 home runs in 82 plate appearances this spring before his junior season ended. Gonzales' big numbers came playing in extreme hitting environments, but he proved his bat is for real with a star turn in the Cape Cod League last summer. He hit seven home runs and was named league MVP, alleviating concerns he would struggle against better pitching. Gonzales is the prototypical baseball rat, though he has more innate hitting ability than most gritty, gamer types. He has elite bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline, and his strong hands allow him to make hard contact to all fields. He consistently finds the barrel and has excellent natural timing, allowing scouts to project 15-20 home runs even though he's undersized. Gonzales has above-average speed and good baserunning instincts, which should help him steal plenty of bases as well. A second baseman his first two seasons, Gonzalesmoved to shortstop this year to showcase himself prior to the draft. Opinions are mixed whether he can handle the position, with most observers wanting to put him at second base and just let him be an elite hitter at the position. While he has solid arm strength, scouts believe he might be stretched in the hole, and he lacks the short-area quickness teams prefer in their shortstops. He’s a solid defender at the keystone, with improving footwork and hands and the ability to throw from various arm slots. With his tremendous track record of hitting and a strong Cape performance, Gonzales should go off the board among the first five picks. Scouts see him developing into an All-Star level second baseman who competes for batting titles at his peak.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Gonzales this spring hit .432/.532/.773 to lead the nation in batting and earn All-America honors. He then continued his torrid play this summer on the Cape, proving himself against premium pitching and away from the altitude at which New Mexico State plays its home games. He hit .351/.451/.630 with seven home runs and six stolen bases and won MVP honors after finishing among the league leaders in a host of statistics. Gonzales simply has a knack for putting the bat on the ball and making hard contact. He used a patient approach early in the summer, almost feeling out the league before getting more aggressive as the summer went on. He has excellent bat-to-ball skills and walked about as much as he struck out, a ratio that has been true throughout his college career. Listed at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, he isn’t a power hitter, but he has the ability to drive the ball to all fields. He’s an average runner but has good instincts on the bases. Gonzales has worked to improve his footwork and hands over the last year and is now a solid defender at second base. Overall, Gonzales is not a prototypical first-round pick, but that’s where he’s positioning himself after such an impressive 2019. His plus hitting ability combined with his surprising power makes for an intriguing package that may remind some of Keston Hiura.