Nick Gonzales Working Through Contact Issues

Nick Gonzales has been one of the bigger concerns if you’re looking for positive signs from the Pirates’ player development system.

Gonzales was drafted seventh overall in 2020, the first draft pick under Pirates General Manager Ben Cherington. He was drafted out of New Mexico State as one of the best pure hitters in the 2020 draft. His stats this year haven’t matched his elite contact grades, with a 32.8% strikeout rate and a .247 average in Double-A.

“Nick went through some mechanical challenges early in the season,” said Pirates farm director John Baker, noting that Gonzales saw his swing get “really uphill.”

“His swing decisions actually improved, and I think that’s evident in the walk rate,” said Baker. “He’s getting on base a lot, despite some swinging and missing and not getting hits early on. Which is a good sign that when a player is kind of out of whack, mechanically, he can still be a valuable offensive contributor, without those skills.”

Gonzales is drawing a walk 13.4% of the time in Altoona, while adding a .130 ISO. These numbers would be fine in the majors, but it’s difficult going from these numbers in Double-A to the majors.

Baker expects better results when Gonzales stabilizes his mechanics and keeps his swing on an even plane. Gonzales was showing some improvements before going down with a freak injury striding into first base.

The time down gave him a chance to step away and reevaluate some things. Gonzales returned last week on a rehab assignment in Bradenton. Baker said he’s excited to see Gonzales back on the field playing, and hinted he might get some offseason work.

“What he’s shown me this year is even when he’s not on, and as locked in mechanically where he’s driving balls all over the ballpark, he still can be a contributing offensive player,” said Baker. “I think that’s a positive.”

It will be an even bigger positive if the Pirates can get Gonzales’ swing leveled out so he can show what he can do with the bat. Gonzales will be one of the key players to focus on the rest of the season, to see how he progresses after the time off.