Gonzales graduated from Cienega High School in Vail, Arizona.

Nick had a career-best .543 batting average as a senior with nine doubles, three triples and four home runs.

Gonzales accepted a baseball scholarship to New Mexico State.

There, he put up numbers so outrageous they can be difficult to believe. He hit .347/.425/.596 in 193 at-bats as a freshman and followed that up by hitting a ludicrous .432/.532/.773 with 16 home runs as a sophomore.

Nick is a baseball rat. He's also tough mentally with excellent makeup and work ethic.

Gonzales played for the Cotuit Kettleers in the Cape Cod League in the summers of 2018 and 2019.

And in 2019, Nick hit .351/.451/.630 with seven home runs and six stolen bases and won Cape Cod League MVP honors after finishing among the league leaders in a host of statistics.

Nick's older brother, Daniel, was a star linebacker and captain at Navy from 2013-2016.

Gonzales' numbers are simply mind-boggling. He leads all of Division I in all three triple crown categories: home runs, batting (.590), and RBIs (37 … in just 28 at-bats). Not surprisingly, he also leads the country in slugging (1.213), runs (28), total bases (74) and hits per game (2.77).

New Mexico State plays in one of the nation's most extreme hitters' parks, and the entire team has feasted (to the tune of a .408 batting average and 29 homers) against overmatched early season competition.

But caveats aside, Gonzales has performed at an unbelievable level. On a team full of dangerous, disciplined, veteran hitters, Gonzales has become the unstoppable centerpiece.

"His numbers are incredible, but he's really within his own zone, he has tremendous bat speed. And right now if the ball is in his zone, he's not missing it," New Mexico State coach Brian Green said. "Yale had an unbelievable dramatic shift, they used four outfielders against him, twice when they did that he just flipped the ball to the right side to lead the inning off. It was pretty cool."

That kind of maturity is uncommon for a young slugger - heck, even 15-year big leaguers struggle to slap balls the other way to beat the shift. But for Gonzales, it helps that he was a natural born hitter first; he didn't grow up as a feast-or-famine slugger. He's just 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, after all - the Aggies certainly never envisioned him becoming this kind of power threat on the recruiting trail, when Gonzales only drew offers from Austin Peay and NMSU out of Arizona's Cienega High School.

"He was not recruited by many schools. For me to tell anybody when they ask, 'Did you guys see this coming on the recruiting process?' Absolutely not — are you out of your mind?" Green said. "We knew he was a great makeup guy, we thought he'd play center field or second base, we thought he was mentally tough and a baseball rat. His family is unbelievably supportive, it's everything you look for. That was the piece about him coming in here was the makeup part, and you're seeing it now, he's getting everything he's earned."

Green has no shortage of stories to illustrate Gonzales' work ethic. He tells of running a hitting camp for high school players in December, and at lunch break, all the other kids were eating their sandwiches - but Gonzales wanted to pick Green's brain about hitting approaches. He tells of Friday nights in the offseason, when the rest of the Aggies were going out to the movies, and Gonzales was bringing his own exterior lighting to the batting cages and working on a tee by himself.

"That's Nick, he's the ultimate guy who's going to be a lifelong learner, and nobody's gonna get in his way," Green said. "He's clearly one of the best players in this part of the country today, but that's not the way he views it. He thinks like, 'I'd better show up and work hard or I'm gonna lose my job."

So how did Gonzales go from an overlooked, undersized high school player who was content to push the ball the other way at the plate, to one of the most dangerous sluggers in college baseball? Green remembers the "Eureka!" moment when he realized there was more to Gonzales than meets the eye.

"I remember a story with Nick, we were in the cage late in the fall [of his freshman year], we were just doing some drill work, doing some high tee stuff, some exaggerated top hand stuff," Green said. "And the ball started coming off his bat different. You have those moments with your hitters where you kind of look at each other, you both see something. I said, 'Nick, I think you have a chance to have real power, are you aware of that?' He said, 'I guess, I dunno, I never really considered that.' I said, 'You have a chance to have real power.' That was something I never saw on the recruiting process. I saw a good player from a good family with character. But I remember that moment when it changed, the ball started jumping off the bat with backspin.

"Then three months later, he's not a starter, he gets his first real shot in Tucson, one of our players made a couple errors. The first pitch he sees in Tucson, he hammers the ball off the wall, you hear it — BOOM! He slides in, pops up, pumps his fist, he's yelling loud. A kid from Tucson having a moment like that. He didn't come off the field after that, and next thing you know he's a unanimous freshman All-American."

Indeed, Gonzales went on to hit .347/.425/.596 with nine homers, 17 doubles and 35 RBIs in 57 games as a freshman. Very good numbers … and yet he's already exceeded last year's home run and RBI totals in just 13 games as a sophomore. He's even driving the ball out to all fields - Green estimated that five or six of his 10 homers have gone to left field, his pull side, but that another four or five have gone out to center or right-center.

And if that's not enough, Gonzales has improved by leaps and bounds as a defender at second base. Gonzales and shortstop Joey Ortiz (who is hitting .463 himself) have pushed each other hard to see who can become the better player, Green said, and they have become a superb middle infield tandem. That's a big reason New Mexico State leads the nation with 16 double plays.

"When we recruited him, we really thought as a second-year player, he'd be a starter in center field. That's what we projected him at," Green said. "He was a shortstop who could catch, played some center field in high school. But that was our projection, center. Last year at second base he was just OK, but he was so good offensively he wasn't coming out. His double play turn, he only had one, he could only step back at second base. He was really only skilled going to his left, he struggled going backhand side or any ball that was a slow roller. But now if you profile him, I think you're looking at a legitimate offensive big league second baseman. Now he can really turn it, we lead the nation in double plays. His backhand has improved dramatically, last year he struggled with that. He can throw from different arm slots. These are all throws he didn't have. I think he profiles there now, as a legit plus-armed, plus-exchange second baseman, and he's very athletic."

He's even improved his speed. Green said he typically got from home to first in 4.4-plus seconds last year, but now he's getting up the line in 4.3 - and Green said he thinks next year it'll be down to 4.15 or 4.2, as he continues to improve his strength and athleticism.

Green sent Gonzales to Cotuit in the Cape Cod League to work on his base-stealing skills with coach Mike Roberts, who excels at teaching that skill. Gonzales is slated to return to Cotuit to focus on his baserunning even more next summer, although there's a legitimate chance he could start off the summer with Team USA's Collegiate National Team.

And who would have thought two years ago that Gonzales would find himself on Team USA's radar? Who would have thought he'd turn himself into a potential premium prospect by the time he was a sophomore? At the rate he's improving, it's fun to imagine what Gonzales will be in another five years.  (Aaron Fitt - D1Baseball.com - Mar. 7, 2019)

Gonzales, a righthanded hitter, isn’t exactly the first player to try his hand at switch-hitting and there are plenty of players across the country that already do an impressive job from both sides of the plate. But what the story does do a great job of illustrating are the two things that have helped Gonzales transform from a lightly recruited walk-on to a potential first-round draft pick – his bat and his work ethic.

Everyone who knows Gonzales has a story about his work ethic. But work ethic is often an overused and trite theme when talking about overcoming the odds. It isn’t until you actually hear those stories that you realize, in the case of Gonzales, work ethic is anything but a boring platitude.

Talk to his father, Mike Gonzales. He remembers waking up for work at 5:30 a.m. to find Nick, who was not even 12 years old at the time, already in the garage working on his swing. He can tell you about how he threw so much batting practice to Nick after work that he started making up excuses to stay later just to save what little arm strength he had left.

Talk to former New Mexico State coach Brian Green. He can recall Friday nights during the fall of 2018 when the rest of his team would be out socializing and Gonzales would be in the batting cages, using the lights from the nearby football field to get in some extra tee work.

The motivation may seem like the obvious byproduct of his size (he’s listed at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds) and desire to prove his doubters wrong. But for Gonzales, the answer is much simpler than that.

“I just want to play so bad,” Gonzales said. “Sitting on the bench, even for one game, kills me, and so when I wasn’t starting at the beginning of my freshman year, I was always at the field doing something to get better. I knew I was good enough, so I just tried to work harder than any guy I have ever seen.” (Mike Lemaire - Baseball America - 1/30/2020)

June 2020: Gonzales was the Pirates' first round pick (#7 overall), out of New Mexico State University. He signed, via scout Derrick Van Dusen, for $5,432,400. 

Gonzales chose the latter. And since then, his star hasn't just risen -- it's skyrocketed. The 21-year-old infielder was ranked as MLB Pipeline’s No. 5 Draft prospect.

It’s a day Gonzales has been preparing for most of his life, and one he was doubly anxious for, given what's happening in current times. Normally, Gonzales would have been busy with baseball and school, and while Draft day wouldn't have been far from his mind, there would have been other things to think about, too. Instead, with a lot of time to fill, he's stayed in shape by working out, while waiting.

"This time that we're all in, in this pandemic, there's nothing you can look forward to other than everything opening up and going back to normal," Gonzales said in a phone interview with MLB.com. "What I have is this to look forward to. It's what I've been training for. So I'm super-excited and ready to get going. I'm anxious to see what happens. It's a big deal for me and my family."

Gonzales, a native of Vail, Ariz., is regarded as having as much pure hitting ability as any bat in the 2020 draft class.

Recentl, Nick completed his comeback story.

Once an undrafted walk-on at New Mexico State University, Gonzales worked to become a collegiate baseball star and the seventh overall pick in the MLB Draft. He passed a physical examination and signed with the Pirates to begin his professional baseball career.

Gonzales received a signing bonus of $5,432,400, the full slot value of the seventh overall pick, via scout Derrick Van Dusen. He arrived in Pittsburgh after agreeing to sign, though there was little question he’d choose to do so.

And there’s no doubt Gonzales is eager to get back to PNC Park, where he walked onto the field on Wednesday for the first time.

“It’s been so awesome. It was so jaw-dropping just to walk into this park and see how beautiful it is and see the city right behind center field, the Clemente Bridge,” Gonzales said on a Zoom call while wearing a No. 20 Pirates jersey. “It was unbelievable. Getting to step on the field was incredible for me. You can go to a park and see how beautiful it is, but it’s a little different when you actually are on the field. For me, that was really special.”

Gonzales shared the experience with his parents and girlfriend, who traveled with him. As he signed his contract, officially becoming a professional baseball player, Gonzales had another guest in the room via Zoom: his older brother, Daniel, a former football player at the U.S. Naval Academy who is serving as a U.S. Marine in Japan. Daniel also Zoomed in on Draft night, with a screen set up for him right next to Gonzales’ couch.

“I’ve watched him grow into the leader he is now on and off the field with the Marine Corps and everything like that, being a captain of the football team as well,” Gonzales said. “So I kind of saw that, and it really showed me how I wanted to be and molded me into the leader I am and the player I am.”

Gonzales has taken a bit of a crash course on his new team since being drafted. His father bought him a book about Roberto Clemente, which he intends to read before he returns to Pittsburgh. When will that be? It’s unclear, given the uncertainty about how player development will proceed moving forward. Whatever comes next, Gonzales said he will be prepared to play.

“I’m going to pretty much do the same thing I’ve been doing the whole quarantine,” he said. “Just training and getting ready for whatever’s next whether it’s in a week or whether it’s a few months from now.”

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington previously said that Gonzales will join the Pirates system as a shortstop, though many evaluators predict he’ll wind up at second base in the big leagues. Cherington has declined to set a timeline for Gonzales’ climb to Pittsburgh, especially given the current uncertainty facing Minor League players, but he is expected to move quickly due to his advanced approach at the plate.

Gonzales, 21, was widely considered to be one of the best pure hitters in this year’s Draft class. He was MLB Pipeline’s No. 5 overall Draft prospect due primarily to his offensive potential. He hit .347/.425/.596 as a freshman at New Mexico State then slashed .432/.532/.773 with 16 homers as a sophomore. Facing tougher competition in the Cape Cod League that summer, he put together a .351/.451/.630 line with seven homers in 153 at-bats to earn league MVP honors.

“We are thrilled to add Nick Gonzales to the Pirates family,” Cherington said in a statement. “Nick has been an elite performer at every level of his baseball career. Nick has a broad skill set which allows him to impact multiple areas of the game. Just as importantly, Nick has demonstrated a deep passion for the game and for learning and improvement. We believe those qualities will allow him to continue finding new levels of performance and, one day, to become a valuable member of our Major League team. We welcome Nick and his family to the Pirates.”

Nick slashed .347/.425/.596 his freshman season at New Mexico State, followed by .432/.532/.773 with 16 homers as a sophomore, which earned him the NCAA batting title. But there was skepticism along the way. Some thought the high altitude in New Mexico might be partly responsible for the inflated numbers; others pointed to Gonzales playing in the Western Athletic Conference as an easier pathway through the college ranks.

Gonzales quashed a lot of the criticism last summer while playing in the Cape Cod League. Competing against the best college players from all over the United States, Gonzales slashed .351/.451/.630 with seven homers in 153 at-bats, and was named the league's MVP.

"I knew going to Cape Cod that in order to be taken seriously, I would have to perform pretty well over there," he said. "I didn't really know how well I was doing -- I was just playing the game, playing baseball, having fun every day. At the end of the day, I was fortunate to do what I did there and open some eyes."

That wasn't the first time he rose to a challenge. Gonzales' decision to attend New Mexico State as a walk-on over accepting a scholarship offer stemmed from his desire to be closer to his family. His brother had played football for the Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, and Gonzales never was able to see a home game in person.

Gonzales wanted his parents to be able to watch him play college baseball, a scenario that would have been difficult had he attended Austin Peay, located in Clarksville, Tenn. Instead, Gonzales chose close-to-home New Mexico State, not only without a scholarship but with no guarantees of playing time.

It worked out, obviously. Confidence has never been an issue for Gonzales; he's never lacked faith in his ability. New Mexico State head coach Mike Kirby noticed that right away after taking over the program last summer. Though he worked with Gonzales only a couple of months, Kirby, who has coached dozens of future Major Leaguers during his extensive coaching career, didn't need a lot of time to recognize a special talent.

"They all have pride and they're not scared to fail," Kirby said. "Nick doesn't care if he strikes out. A guy gets him out, it's a learning experience and he's already on it walking back. He's already setting his plan up. He doesn't go into panic-land.”

Kirby added that he was not surprised by Gonzales' projected standing in the Draft, given his raw top-10 talent-level and ability to juggle the mental push and pull that comes with being a ballplayer.

“I would say of all the players that I've ever coached, he's by far the most mature, disciplined,” Kirby said. “It's not close." (A Footer - MLB.com - June 10, 2020)

In 2021, the Baseball America Prospect Handbook rate Gonzales as the 3rd-best prospect in the Pirates organization. And he remained #3 early in the 2022 book. He was at #8 in both the spring of 2023, and again in 2024.

March 7, 2022: Jonny Tucker vividly remembers the moment that he realized Nick Gonzales was "the truth."

The setting was the fall instructional league: Pirates versus Phillies. Gonzales, fresh out of school, was down in the count. No balls, two strikes. Philadelphia's pitcher was furiously firing fastballs that flirted with triple digits. Gonzales was no longer facing the Western Athletic Conference. These were pros with livelihoods on the line.

With Gonzales behind, this flamethrower didn’t play with his food. He went with a high fastball. He went for the dagger. When properly executed, it beats even baseball’s best batsmen. And, technically, Gonzales got beat. He didn’t strike out, but he didn’t reach base either, flying out to right field. To Tucker, the result came secondary to what he saw. 

“Nick was so fast and so explosive to get to this pitch,” Tucker, the Pirates' Minor League hitting coordinator, said. “Right then, I was like, ‘Wow, that is different.’”

Tucker recalled this memory, a flyout to right field during fall instructionals in a meaningless game, with a vibrancy. A joy. Tucker knew Gonzales had been lauded for his elite bat speed, the tool that set him apart. He witnessed it firsthand, and his awe didn't fade with time.

“There’s something different about how he moves in the box,” Tucker said. “I’m sure I'm not the first one to make that proclamation about him.”

2021: In 80 games at Greensboro, Gonzales hit .302/.385/.565. He slugged 18 home runs. His wRC+ was 150. The next step for Gonzales will be to dominate pitching at Double-A Altoona, where he’ll headline a team featuring many of the organization’s best and brightest. As good as Gonzales’ raw numbers were, there are some areas worth addressing. His strikeout rate of 27.4% was shockingly high, more than double his rate at New Mexico State (13.3%).

There’s also the factor of which Gonzales has no real control: environment.

Dating back to his time at university, Gonzales has benefitted from very hitter-friendly home environments. New Mexico State’s field is roughly 3,900 feet above sea level. Greensboro’s stadium is plain small. The result? Stark home-road splits.

In 41 home games last year, Gonzales had a 1.094 OPS. In 39 road games, he had an .804 OPS. Of his 18 home runs, 13 were in Greensboro. A similar trend unfolded at New Mexico State. Gonzales doesn’t choose where he plays, but where he plays has, to some degree, played into  To call Gonzales solely a product of his environment would be unfair. Part of the reason the Pirates selected him wasn’t just his time at New Mexico State, but his showing in the 2019 Cape Cod League. Against premier collegiate talent, Gonzales hit .351/.451/.630 with seven home runs in 42 games. He was the only player with an OPS over 1.000. He, unsurprisingly, won MVP.

Should Gonzales continue to produce at Double-A Altoona, some doubt might begin to evaporate. Along with his bat, it will be worth watching how and where Gonzales plays defensively. At New Mexico State, Gonzales frequented shortstop. With Greensboro, Gonzales captained the infield once. He hasn't left the position entirely; at Pirate City, Gonzales could be seen getting in work at his old stomping grounds. With Liover Peguero by his side, Gonzales will likely continue to patrol second base. Working at shortstop, even in limited spurts, is not without its benefits.

“At second base, sometimes you can rely on the arm, you can rely on your hands, you can rely on stuff like that,” Gonzales said. “But at short, that’s not really the case. Playing at short, whether it’s just in practice or maybe in a few games, that's really good for me.”

Gonzales also addressed the need to work on an aspect of his game that doesn’t show up in the stats: leadership. In contrast to Peguero, Gonzales acknowledges he’s more reserved. Leadership, though, does not take one form.

“Leadership is something everyone can work on and always get better at,” Gonzales said. “I pride myself on taking advantage of the opportunities I have here and being a good leader. I’ve constantly had growth in that aspect.”

Gonzales might be naturally quiet, but his bat is naturally loud. Since arriving at New Mexico State as a walk-on nearly four years ago, all Gonzales has done is hit, hit and hit some more. He's begun to gain believers. Should he keep hitting, Tucker and the Pirates won’t be the only ones singing his praises.

“Nick is the truth,” Tucker said. (JD Santos - MLB.com - March 7, 2022)

March 9, 2022: Nick made his professional debut one to remember. He spent all of last season with High-A Greensboro after ending his collegiate career with New Mexico State. The 22-year-old slammed 18 homers, batted .302 and compiled a .950 OPS before doing even more damage in the Arizona Fall League. 

Q&A With Jonathan Mayo

Jonathan Mayo:  I've always wanted to dig into hitting with you a little more. You're a guy who's hit pretty much everywhere you've been, so when did you discover that? Obviously, you work at it, but it seems like such a natural thing.

Nick Gonzales: Yeah, I think at a young age. I fell in love with hitting and l was kind of obsessive about it when I was really young, and I just had so much fun swinging the bat. I think my dad telling me when I was a little boy, just out there hitting off the tee, and never really seemed like work for me. I kind of just love doing it. And in college, especially, like, it really started clicking for me. And I think that's when things started to really grow for me -- good coaching and preparation and everything like that. 

Mayo: I want to ask you a little bit about college, but I'm sure you've heard the things -- yes, you put up video game numbers at New Mexico State. How much do you have to work to keep that out of your head? And then how much did what you did in the Cape [Cod League] convince you like, 'Oh, yeah, this is gonna work for me in the next level'?

Gonzales: Yeah, I think the Cape was pivotal for me, you know, we're at sea level. And the big thing in New Mexico is it's really high up, and you're facing the best pitchers in college baseball and amateur baseball. So I think the Cape was huge for me. And then I kind of had to block all that out about the high elevation and low talent and everything like that in New Mexico, but I think it was still so much fun to go play and be around those guys and learn from those coaches. So I kind of just blocked it out by, you know, trying to compete and win championships with a team. 

Mayo: I know that you're a guy who loves getting out there to work. How frustrating was it when you had the the finger injury? You know, not just because you can swing the bat, but just because you couldn't do the things you love? What did you do to try to manage that frustration?

Gonzales: Yeah, it was the first time like being like a fan and watching baseball. You know, I watch baseball a lot, but not like that. Not every day, out there watching on the sidelines, it was tough for me. But I had to just learn ways to be a good teammate. And I was able to take ground balls and everything with my good hand, so I just tried to stay sharp like that. But it was definitely tough. 

Mayo: I think it would reflect in when you first came back, your timing clearly was just not what it used to be, and people described you to me as a kind of a timing hitter. How long did it take you [to get back]? Because second half of the season, you were maybe the hottest hitter in the Minors. So clearly, you got it down. Was there like a moment? Or like, what do you do to try to get that time back?

Gonzales: Yeah, so it was crazy. It's like first at-bat, I had hit a homer back. So I was like, 'Oh, I'm fine. Like this is gonna be fine.' But I think as time went on, it was like, OK, you know, you probably are off a little bit and it took me it took me longer than I expected, maybe like two weeks, three weeks and then I think once I came back, I felt like I was normal again. So you know, timing was that I was sitting on pitches that I was swinging at earlier in the spring.

Mayo: I know you and Bryson Stott of the Phillies played together [in the Fall League]. You seem to form a pretty good bond there. One of the advantages of the Fall League is you get to pick the brains of guys of other organizations. What was that relationship like? Did you guys know each other before?

Gonzales: No, I only knew of him, because he's obviously a great player. He went to UNLV and we never played each other but being a West Coast-area type, I knew of him. So it was cool to play with him. You know, I'd never met him before. He's such a great guy and works hard. Great hitter. I mean, exceptional hitter and right fielder. So it was fun ... I took some ground balls with him and everything. It was really fun.

Mayo: The one thing that people always said was, 'Well, how much power is he going to have in the big leagues?' Do you get annoyed with that question or is that like something that you have to even remind yourself that it doesn't matter? It's going to come.

Gonzales: Yeah, I think that it doesn't matter to me because you know, it's hard to see power for a guy my size in BP and everything like that. It's just something that you kind of, you know, the pitcher supplies a lot of the power. And if you watch Mookie Betts, he doesn't really crush homers in batting practice all the time. And I think that's kind of what I want to do and I want to pride myself on. I think Mookie even said, 'I don't get homers in BP, so when they asked about the Home Run Derby or something, I don't hit homers in BP.' So I think that's kind of what I want to be like.

Mayo: I could talk to you about hitting all day, but I know that you take a lot of pride on the other side of the ball. Especially because that was something I think people said, 'Well, let's see what it looks like.' How happy are you with where you are? And I know you're at camp getting more reps at shortstop. How much does that help you? Even if you end up going back over to second?

Gonzales: Yeah, it's been helping me a ton. And I think the strides I've made offensively, you know, the other side of the ball had been amazing. And I'm happy with it, I still got a lot of work to do. We're still working on stuff every day, early work individual stuff, but I'm really happy with it. And moving to shortstop is, or just taking ground balls over there, it's really helping me at second, helping the arm getting the legs under the throw and everything. So I'm excited about it.

Mayo: I wanted to ask you a little bit about Liover [Peguero], because I know that you guys are tight. Talk a little bit about that relationship and how cool would it be if the two of you can get to Pittsburgh at the same time?

Gonzales: Yeah, I mean, that would be amazing. We talk about it, we talk all the time -- he was just over at the house the other day, and we were hanging out. He definitely misses being out here. And I miss him being out here. So you know, we're excited for the future. I think everyone's a little excited about that. And I think me and him have a good future together, and he wants to play together for a long time and I want to play with him for a long time. (J Mayo - MLB.com - March 9, 2022)

MLB debut (June 23, 2023): Gonzales, the Pirates' No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was hitting .257 with 14 doubles, five triples, six home runs and 27 RBI in 57 games with Indianapolis at the time of his promotion. 

Indianapolis manager Miguel Perez informed Gonzales but first had a little fun with him.

“He was giving me a hard time about a play that happened in the game and said he was going to bench me for it,” Gonzales said. “It seemed kind of odd, but I knew my dad would be mad I got benched. Then he told me I was going to play for Pittsburgh, and I was so excited. A really cool moment for me, something I have worked my whole life for.” In his debut, Nick went 0 for 3 against the Marlins.

Gonzales' best tool is his bat. Despite his slight, 5-foot-10 frame, his elite contact skills, exceptional plate discipline and exemplary barrel control should allow him to hit annually for a high average. He has a 50 grade hit tool, with 50 grade power. 

The root of Nick's MLB struggles is his swing, which is short, quick and powerful, but also takes the barrel in and out of the zone too quickly. The result is a swing that gives pitchers many holes to exploit, especially with off-speed pitches. The Pirates believe Gonzales’ struggles in that area were made clear in the big leagues and are pleased with the progress he made upon returning to the minor leagues. Gonzales’ batted-ball data points to a potentially average slugger. (Josh Norris - Baseball America Prospect Handbook - Spring, 2024)

2020 Season: Top position prospect: Nick Gonzales, SS/2B (No. 1 on Top 30)

Gonzales was the No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 Draft because of his advanced bat (60 hit grade on the 20-80 scouting scale). He didn’t disappoint in that regard at the alternate site in Altoona, Pa.

“The swing is so short and fast and impressive, how much hard contact he made against older pitchers,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said.

He wasn’t in Altoona only to show off his bat speed, of course. No one doubts he’s going to hit, but it is a little unclear where he ends up playing defensively. The Pirates drafted him as a shortstop, where he played his shortened junior year, but most see him as a very capable everyday second baseman at the highest level. He got reps at both middle infield positions, but more at second, and the Pirates think he has the chops to play second, short and maybe even third.

“He really took advantage of the opportunity to improve defensively and will continue that in Bradenton,” Cherington said. Gonzales is in Florida with other prospects as part of the Pirates’ instructional league program. (J Mayo - MLB.com - Oct 5, 2020)

2021 Season: Few prospects were as hot at the plate as Gonzales was late in the year. He hit .344/.433/.695 with 12 homers and 38 RBIs from Aug. 1 until the end of the regular season. That helped him finish with a .302/.385/.565 line and he stood second in the High-A East with a .950 OPS.

Nick continues to show more swing-and-miss than expected for a player who built his game around elite bat-to-ball skills. Scouts still believe he can hit for high averages on the basis of his short levers and punchy swing. He has strong hands and transfers considerable energy through his lower half, which, combined with his barrel ability, suggests average power potential despite his 5-foot-9 frame.

Now, Gonzales needs to optimize when to chase that power. He gets over-aggressive in his approach, especially against breaking pitches, and it hurts him.

Nick hasn't fully captured the magic that made him a star in college through two incomplete pro seasons. To that end, the Pirates had him focus on keeping his bat path through the zone longer. There's hope that more consistent at-bats will help Gonzales find his rhythm and chase his ceiling as a solid first-division team's second baseman. (Mark Chiarelli - Baseball America Prospect Handbook - Spring, 2023)

In 2022, Gonzales made adjustments to his swing to make more contact. The Pirates had Gonzales focus on keeping his bat path through the zone longer. He has some of the quickest hands in the system, along with some of the best hand-eye coordination. The combination could sometimes lead to his bat quickly dipping in and out of the zone.

“For him, we just want to make the decision, 'I’ve got to make sure I can get to these pitches efficient as possible—still doing damage on them—but I can stay through them for a long time,' ” Altoona hitting coach Jon Nunnally said.

Gonzales uses right-center field well. Nunnally had him shifting his focus more to the middle of the field. The idea was that by shifting his focus, Gonzales would still have the natural tendency to hit balls to right-center, but might see more pitches to drive to left field.

“That’s why I was hitting the ball to right field really good, but nothing to the pull side,” Gonzales explained in August. “Missing pitches I should hit, and fouling off pitches I should do damage with, and swinging and missing at stuff I should fight off or at least put in play.”

The adjustment could put Gonzales in line to reach Pittsburgh by the end of 2023.

“He’s got some quick hands,” Nunnally said. “He’s going to be special.” (Tim Williams - Baseball America - Dec., 2022)

Thanks to super-fast hands, Gonzales has elite-level bat speed that allows him to be very quick to the ball and send line drives to all fields, with some believing he might be a 70 hitter on the 20-to-80 scouting scale when all is said and done.

Nick is a rhythm and timing hitter, something that was lacking right after his injury but showed up consistently after he got settled in. He routinely puts up huge exit velocities with sneaky pop, perhaps average or a tick better down the road. He got to more power than many expected in 2021, but that also came with a higher strikeout rate than anticipated, though there’s confidence Gonzales will find the balance between extra-base authority and swing-and-miss. (Spring 2022)

Nick has excellent  plate discipline. He cut down on the pitches he chased out of the zone, and used his all-fields approach for an outstanding 2021 season at Greensboro.

At his best, he’s a pure hitting machine who sprays line drives to all fields thanks to innate barrel ability and a simple, inside-out swing optimized for hard contact. He combines it with a sound, mature approach and rarely chases, forcing pitchers to beat him in the zone. That made Gonzales’ 27% strikeout rate in 2021 a bit of a conundrum for opposing evaluators and coaches, who noted a surprising amount of swing-and-miss in the zone.

Still, Gonzales hit over .300 and most evaluators are convinced he’ll pile up hits in bunches in the big leagues. There’s also some skepticism that his power numbers (13 of his 18 homers were at home) were aided by hitter-friendly Greensboro, a refrain that has followed Gonzales since his college days at hitter haven New Mexico State. (Mark Chiarelli - Baseball America Prospect Handbook - Spring, 2022)

Nick is still using the same approach that led to him being so highly regarded as a hitter coming out of New Mexico State.

“In college, I didn’t really think about the swing much,” Gonzales said. “There are things that get cleaned up as you face better pitching and better velocity, so that’s one of the things that’s been cleaned up.”

Gonzales has always had short arms and a quick swing, which allow him to see the ball longer than other players. He does a good job creating momentum from his smaller, 5-foot-10 frame.

“He’s a strong kid,” Pirates farm director John Baker said. “I think he’s very coordinated. Nick, as he swings the bat and the lower part of his body decelerates up to the next part of his body, he can transfer a lot of energy.”

The Pirates have been focusing on more in-game training, forcing players to make adjustments to live pitching, rather than operating in a simulated environment.

“His best version of himself as a hitter emerges through that training, without a lot of explicit instruction or directions towards what he needs to do,” Baker said. “As long as we keep providing that appropriate sparring partner and training stimulus, we’re confident that his body will make the right solutions.”

Gonzales is a hard worker. He’s the first player to the park, and the last one to leave the field.

As long as Nick transfers energy efficiently, his quick swing should allow him to maintain solid contact skills, with the hope that the contact comes with above-average exit velocities to generate power. (Tim Williams - Baseball America - March, 2022)

Few question Gonzales’ ability to swing the bat from the right side of the plate. Talk to anyone who watches the 5-foot-10 infielder swing and they rave about his bat speed, how fast his hands are and how quick to the ball he is. He demonstrated during his time at the alternate training site that he can hit any fastball, with 60 percent of the fastballs he put in play in Altoona registering exit velocities of over 100 mph.

Nick did a nice job of recognizing spin as well, though that’s a steeper learning curve as he faced advanced breaking stuff for the first time. There’s every confidence he’ll adjust to that as well and with his bat speed, he could eventually have average power. (Spring 2021)

Gonzales has plenty of offensive upside, fueled by elite contact skills. He hits to all fields and has the chance to add double-digit home runs in the future. His bat is advanced and could allow him to reach the majors quickly.

Nick consistently finds the barrel and his strong hands help him drive pitches to all fields, giving him surprising 15-20 home run power, which is 45 grade. 

Nick has tremendous bat speed. Vanderbilt coaches helped Nick flatten his swing as a freshman. and as a result, his bat speed became elite right away. With the improved bat speed, Gonzales realized he could start his swing very late and still get the barrel on the ball. It is what makes him difficult to strike out. It is what allows him to drive the ball with authority to all fields. And it is what allows a small-framed second baseman to occasionally hit the ball 440 feet without looking like he is exerting much effort.

The 5-foot-10 middle infielder has as much pure hitting ability as just about any bat in the 2020 class. He does it with a short and compact swing and a ton of bat speed, controlling the bat head extremely well through the strike zone. There's strength in his compact frame, but he might be more of a doubles hitter even though he did homer seven times on the Cape in 154 at-bats with wood. Gonzales has decent speed and is a solid baserunner. (Spring 2020)

And his ability to control the barrel is equally as impressive. He has immense pure hitting ability. He has a 60 grade hit tool. He has a short, compact speed and incredible bat speed,  controlling the bat head extremely well through the strike zone.

Listed at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, he isn’t a power hitter, but he has the ability to drive the ball to all fields. He has a 45 power grade, but will hit a whole lot of doubles.

Nick is a natural hitter. He simply has a knack for putting the bat on the ball and making hard contact. 

Gonzales has a patient approach and is an aggressive hitter, if that makes sense.

Nick tends to walk about as often as he strikes out.

June 10, 2020: Gonzales, a native of Vail, Ariz., is regarded as having as much pure hitting ability as any bat in the 2020 draft class. He slashed .347/.425/.596 his freshman season at New Mexico State, followed by .432/.532/.773 with 16 homers as a sophomore, which earned him the NCAA batting title. But there was skepticism along the way. Some thought the high altitude in New Mexico might be partly responsible for the inflated numbers; others pointed to Gonzales playing in the Western Athletic Conference as an easier pathway through the college ranks.

Gonzales quashed a lot of the criticism last summer while playing in the Cape Cod League. Competing against the best college players from all over the United States, Gonzales slashed .351/.451/.630 with seven homers in 153 at-bats, and was named the league's MVP. (A Footer - MLB.com - June 10, 2020)

Oct 2021:  Nick Gonzales, 2B (No. 4/MLB No. 62)

Nick is assigned to the 2021 Arizona Fall League. Gonzales is Hitting Prospect of the 2021 Year, who posted a .950 OPS in 80 games, missing over a month due to a fractured pinky.

2022 Season: At first glance, Gonzales' injury-plagued 2022 could be classified as a down year. Beginning the year in Double-A, the No. 5 Pirates prospect got off to a slow start, perhaps due in part to the plantar fasciitis that ultimately sidelined him for more than two months. Upon his return to Altoona on Aug. 12, the 23-year-old more closely resembled the player who posted a .950 OPS in his professional debut in 2021.

Gonzales batted .294/.413/.520 with 16 of his 28 extra-base hits and 18 of his 33 RBIs for Altoona over his final 27 games and participated in the Arizona Fall League for a second consecutive year.

"The really exciting thing about Nick, even in an injury-plagued year, is that he came on strong down the stretch," Baker said. "He got on base at a remarkable clip from the start and when he was healthy, we saw everything else fall into place. We're excited to see him fully healthy in 2023."  (Michael Avallone - Dec. 7, 2022)

2023 Season: Nick got a late start to the second half in the minor leagues, as he played a few weeks of the summer in the Major Leagues. Gonzales' brief Major League cameo had its ups and downs, however his numbers in the second half of Triple-A Indianapolis' season have been outstanding.

Gonzales slashed .326/.411/.603 in 163 plate appearances. Power has been one of Gonzales' specialties, and he slugged seven homers while having a .277 isolated slugging percentage. Strikeouts have been a long-term question for Gonzales, though the infielder seemingly gets better as he gets familiar with each and every level. He struck out at just a 21.5% rate while having an 11% walk rate.

Between his quality plate discipline, his plus power production, and his ability to rack up hits, Gonzales had a .435 wOBA and 150 wRC+.

Gonzales is a slow starter. He struggles for the first month or two at each level before eventually figuring things out. It has happened at each and every level, and it happened again at Triple-A this season. Up through May 28th, Gonzales had just a .331 wOBA, 84 wRC+, .747 OPS, and 31.7% K-rate. Given how hitter-friendly the International League is, this is mediocre production. Then, from that point up until the Pirates promoted him, Gonzales owned a .956 OPS, .427 wOBA, 145 wRC+, and a much improved 23.2% strikeout rate. Over the last month of playing time, Gonzales has just a 20.2% strikeout rate.  (Noah Wright - Sep 23, 2023)

2024 Season: Gonzales carved out a meaningful role with the Pirates after he was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis in May. The 2020 first-rounder totaled 94 games, most of which came as the starting second baseman.

Though his power disappeared for a time, Gonzales finished the season with a .270 batting average, a .709 OPS, 19 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and five steals. (Danny Demilio - Feb. 15, 2025 - PGH Baseball Now)

Nick is a fringy defender at second base. He gets a nearly 50 grade on his fielding. His arm is a solid 50 grade. 

Gonzales a limited defender, which puts pressure on his bat. Gonzales occasionally played shortstop in 2022, and the Pirates tried him at third base in the AFL for the first time. His fringe-average arm and range still work best at second base. (Spring, 2023)

While it’s his bat that will get him to the big leagues, the Pirates have been pleased with how much progress Gonzales has made defensively at second base, benefitting from time with former infield coordinator Jamey Carroll during the year and former Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson in the offseason. His advanced feel to hit should help him get to Pittsburgh quickly. (Spring 2022)

While he was drafted as a shortstop, the spot he played as a junior, and got some time there in Altoona, Gonzales played second base almost exclusively at instructs, with nearly everyone believing that to be his long-term home. He runs well and is athletic enough to be acceptable there, but it’s his bat that will get him to the big leagues in a hurry. (Spring 2021)

Nick was drafted as a shortstop after playing the position in college. But he lacks the first-step quickness associated with the position and could ride a fast track to Pittsburgh at a less-demanding position.

The Pirates plan to focus on developing Gonzales' versatility in the field.

“I think Nick will definitely get exposure across the infield—at shortstop, maybe at third,” Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said. “He’s gotten more of his work at second (base) since he signed. At some point in the minor leagues, opportunity and playing time and at-bats does impact it a bit.”

The move to get Gonzales experience around the field is in part due to modern fielding alignments. As Cherington puts it, a shortstop is no longer “standing in the typical shortstop position as much as they might have in 1977.” (Tim Williams - Baseball America - Feb. 2021)

Gonzales turns a great double play. Gonzales has worked to improve his footwork and hands over the last year and is now a solid defender at second base.

May 21, 2021:  In the minors, Gonzales was placed on the IL at High-A Greensboro with a right pinky finger injury, the Pirates announced. The club says Gonzales sustained the injury in the Grasshoppers’ 8-5 win.

The specific diagnosis is a fracture to the digit’s volar plate, which helps connect bone to bone,  tearing the plantar fascia in the heel of his foot. Gonzales was projected to miss 4-6 weeks.

July 28-Aug 26, 2024: Nick was on the IL with left groin discomfort.