ProfileHt.: 5'10" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School
Adolfina Irizarry De Puig
Debut05/01/2001
Drafted in the 16th round (468th overall) by the New York Mets in 1996.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
Growing up in Puerto Rico, Gonzalez played basketball at Puig High, but had to play baseball at nearby Toa Baja because Puig, like most high schools in Puerto Rico, didn't offer the sport. In his first few years in the minors, he was a wiry pitcher who looked more like a middle infielder. He has filled out a little, but no one will confuse him with Roger Clemens. Gonzalez has an idea of how to pitch. He uses both sides of the plate with a fastball that sinks or runs in on a hitter's hands. Gonzalez can throw his curve and slider for strikes, plus he has a deceptive changeup. His command is impeccable. Gonzalez doesn't light radar guns up with his fastball and must locate his pitches with precision in order to succeed. He has bumped his velocity up a tick or two each of the last couple of years, to the point where he can reach 89-91 mph. Maturity has been Gonzalez' greatest feature since he was a 17-year-old pitching against major leaguers and veteran minor leaguers in winter ball. He's ready to try his hand at Triple-A.
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