P2Daily: Nick Gonzales Is Getting A Lot Of Playing Time At Third In the AFL

We are about three weeks into the Arizona Fall League and maybe the most interesting thing to transpire there among the prospects the Pirates sent over has been Nick Gonzales getting significant playing time at third base for the Surprise Saguaros.

Gonzales has come up with some big hits, including a pair of home runs, but it has been the expanding of his defensive flexibility that has been the bigger development.

When he was drafted, Gonzales was touted as a hit-first second base prospect, one some believed could eventually compete for a batting title at the major league level. While it’s still early in his career, and injuries have affected his play, what we’ve seen on the field isn’t exactly what we were led to believe.

Gonzales is showing a little more power potential than maybe was originally believed, but has struggled to make contact, striking out nearly 30% of the time this year in Altoona. He’s also been a better fielder than you might from a player that was a labeled a ‘hit-first second base prospect’.

So now him adding third base to his repertoire is a big bonus to the former top 10 pick, and only raises his floor in how he potentially could help the big league club down the road.

Dariel Lopez Off To Quick Start With Gigantes

Lopez was a player I had at the beginning of the season as someone who very much had breakout potential, and a late-season injury took away his chance at a 20 home run season, finishing with 19. He’s getting to make up some of that playing time lost by playing in Winter Ball, and he’s been off to a really good start.

He picked up a three-hit game the other night, and went the other way for a triple on Wednesday.

The infielder will be 21-years-old by time the 2023 season starts and will have the opportunity to start the year at Double-A Altoona. He’s shown the ability to hit at each level he’s played in the last two years, despite being one of the youngest in the league, but maybe more importantly Lopez’s focus in winter ball is to work on his defense.

Lopez has gotten recognition for his defensive play in Bradenton two years ago, with the managers voting him the best defensive third baseman, but has also registered over 30 errors in each of the last two seasons.

If Lopez can work on his throwing, that will only help further his raise up the organization.