Nick Gonzales: The Pirates’ Unconventional Middle-of-the-Order Threat
Nick Gonzales might not be the traditional thumper often associated with the middle of the order, but the Pirates third baseman has found other ways to be a valuable run producer.
Listed at 5-feet-8-inches tall, Gonzales has often occupied a middle spot in Don Kelly’s lineup. Despite only having four home runs this season, the 27-year-old has driven in 40 runs.
“Nick has been doing really well driving in runs,” said Kelly. “He’s maybe one of our best runners in scoring position guys.”
In the midst of the best season of his career with the Pirates, Gonzales ranks sixth in baseball with a .312 batting average, while his 111 OPS+ indicates he’s been a well above-average performer offensively in the first half.
While Gonzales’ batting average is already strong, he’s even better when the Pirates have runners in scoring position. While the team as a whole has sometimes struggled to come through with the big hit, Gonzales has not.
With runners in scoring position this season, Gonzales owns a .345/.429/.452 batting line with 29 hits, 35 RBIs and 11 walks against only 13 strikeouts. He ranks fifth in MLB in hits with RISP, while hit .345 batting average is sixth.
“I just try to not do too much,” Gonzales said of his approach at the plate in scoring chances. “Just kind of know the pressure is on the pitcher for the most part. Just trying to do what I can and let the game come to me.”
A simplified approach is a skill Gonzales, now in his fourth big-league season, has refined as he’s gotten more experience.
“I know early in my career it was like you’d let that moment get too big and stress you out and everything like that,” he explained. “But now, you can kind of sit back and let the game come to you.”
Gonzales has had at least one plate appearance in all nine positions in the batting order this season, but the bulk of his time has come in the middle of the order.
He’s spent 14 games in the four-spot of the lineup, where he’s hit .302. He’s batted .337 with 13 RBIs in 25 games from the five-spot in the lineup and has a .375 batting average with 10 RBIs in 21 games from the sixth spot.
Even when he’s anchoring the middle of the order, Gonzales doesn’t come out of his approach of putting the ball in play and making things happen.
“We had a conversation with (hitting coach Matt) Hague,” Gonzales explained. “He said, ‘Hey, I know you’re in the four-hole, but it doesn’t mean we want you to try and hit a home run. That’s not why you’re there. You’re there to make stuff happen and move it to the next guy.’”
Gonzales’ emergence this season has given the Pirates’ offense a big boost, especially in the absences of center fielder Oneil Cruz and first baseman Spencer Horwitz, both of whom are currently on the injured list.
The Pirates needed guys to step up without having two of their top hitters to rely upon over the last few weeks. Several players have performed, and Gonzales is among them.
“I think (Gonzales) has done a really nice job in the middle of the order,” said Kelly.
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