Right fielder Carlos Gonzalez, of the Single-A Lancaster Jethawks, is raising eyebrows with his thunderous bat and top notch defensive work. Gonzalez is currently making a push for the California League MVP award as he has batted .310 with 18 home runs, 86 RBI and 15 stolen bases this season. His .933 on-base plus slugging (OPS) ranks second in the California League.
Gonzalez has grown up in the Diamondbacks organization. Arizona scout Miguel Nava signed Gonzalez on August 3, 2002 as a raw 16 year old out of Maracaibo, Venezuela. In 2003, the 6-1, 180 pound right fielder debuted with the Missoula Osprey. He was the youngest player in the rookie level Pioneer League.
The following year Gonzalez missed two months with a fractured hand and he logged only 342 at-bats with short season Single-A Yakima and the Single-A South Bend SilverHawks.
In 2005, Gonzalez would finally exhibit his exciting tools by earning Midwest League MVP honors with South Bend. The left-handed swinging slugger batted .307 with 18 home runs and 92 RBI.
Midwest League managers rated Gonzalez as the circuit’s best defensive player, top hitting prospect, most exciting player and the league’s strongest outfield arm.
Arizona scouting director A.J. Hinch says Gonzalez is physically similar to another Venezuelan right fielder. “He looks a lot like Bobby Abreu build wise,” says Hinch. “He’s a special talent.”
What impresses scouts the most are Gonzalez’ wide array of tools, including a beautiful upper cut swing that is very smooth and enables him to tattoo the ball without much effort. He has drawn only 27 walks in 367 at-bats this season, but Hinch says “Gonzalez is making adjustments and working on not being too over aggressive”.
Hinch believes Gonzalez’ plate patience will improve over time.
Gonzalez has Gold Glove caliber talent defensively. “He has as strong of an arm as you’ll see,” Hinch says. “He’s a difference maker in holding runners.” The arm strength was apparent during his amateur career when Gonzalez used to hit 92 miles per hour on the radar gun as a pitcher.
Gonzalez is beginning to get more recognition now that the organization’s top level prospects have advanced to Phoenix. Gonzalez was selected to play for the World squad in the 2006 Futures Game during the All-Star festivities at PNC Park in Pittsburgh.
Since Gonzalez is only 20, Arizona has the luxury of being patient with his advancement. He will spend 2007 with the Double-A Tennessee Smokies of the Southern League, and could be either seeing a taste of the majors next year or stack up as one of the top prospects in the game if he continues at current pace.
- Chris HADORN
