With their fifth round pick in the 2022 MLB draft, the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Georgia Tech outfielder Tres Gonzalez.
Gonzalez rated 138th for Pipeline and 164 for Baseball America. He gets a 55 grade for his hit tool from both sources, but everything else is different, though we are only talking half grades. Both sites agree that his power is well below average, his running is above average and his overall defensive game/arm is average.
The 21-year-old Gonzalez is a high contact hitter from the left side, who uses the entire field and gets on base at a high rate. His speed should help him once he’s on base, though he’s not a noted base stealing threat. That speed works better in the outfield, where he’s good at tracking down ball in either left field or center field. The power is doubles power at best right now from his 6’0″, 185 pound frame.
This is a lead-off hitter profile, who is going to need to keep up that OBP throughout the minors to reach his ceiling.
