Pirates

Pirates All 40: Did Nick Gonzales Show Enough to be Starting Second Baseman?

Published

3 weeks ago

January 3, 2025

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales looks out of the dugout before the start of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Friday, June 23, 2023, in Miami. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

This is one in a series of stories breaking down members of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 40-man roster.

Ben Cherington’s first draft pick as general manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates was used on Nick Gonzales out of New Mexico State in 2020.

Despite having no minor-league season that year, Gonzales climbed the ladder relatively quickly and made his MLB debut with the Pirates in 2023.

It was an uninspiring rookie campaign for Gonzales, who hit just .209 with a .616 OPS and a pair of home runs in 35 games.

During spring training in 2024, Gonzales was one of a handful of players in competition to be the Pirates’ starting second baseman on Opening Day. The job ultimately went to Jared Triolo, but the decision was not a permanent solution.

Gonzales made his 2024 Pirates’ debut in May and totaled 94 games on the season with Pittsburgh. The 2020 seventh-overall pick showed significant improvement with the bat in his hands while taking over for Triolo at second.

Though he still graded as a slightly-below league-average performer, Gonzales hit a healthy .270 with a .709 OPS, 19 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and five steals. The 25-year-old developed a knack for producing runs, collecting 49 RBIs on the year.

Had it not been for a lengthy home run drought, Gonzales’ numbers would have been even better. He went a total of 60 games from the middle of June to the end of September without recording a home run before slugging two at Yankee Stadium during the final series of the year.

A key reason for Gonzales’ improvement was limiting strikeouts, something that had plagued him during his time in the organization. Gonzales went down on strikes in 28% of his plate appearances in 2023 but cut the rate to just over 19% this past season.

Entering this year’s spring training, Gonzales finds himself in a similar position in competition to be the Pirate’ starting second baseman. Only this time, he might have the edge.

Background

The Pirates selected Gonzales with the seventh pick in the 2020 draft after a historic career with New Mexico State.
Gonzales peaked as high as No. 20 on MLB Pipeline’s top 100 prospects in 2022. He was an MiLB.com Pirates’ organization All-Star from 2021-23.
Career highlights: Gonzales recorded an run-scoring triple for his first MLB hit and RBI and in the same game connected on his first-career home run. This past season, Gonzales delivered a walk-off single against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 19.
Contract status: Gonzales is pre-arbitration eligible.