Photo provided by Matt Lynch
This is one in a series breaking down players on the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 40-man roster.
The expectations were raised for 2020 first round draft pick Nick Gonzales heading into the 2025 season.
Gonzales hit .206 with a .616 OPS in 35 games in his rookie season with the Pirates in 2023 but fared better the following season. In 2024, he hit .270 with a .709 OPS, 19 doubles, three triples, seven home runs and 49 RBI in 94 games.
The Pirates named Gonzales their starting second baseman for Opening Day this past season in Miami. He homered in the first game of the season but hobbled around the bases and was placed on the injured list the following day with an ankle fracture.
The injury kept Gonzales out of action until early June, and while he hit .308 with an .835 OPS through early July, he struggled over the last three months of the season.
Gonzales slashed a lowly .242/.278/.318 through the final 69 games of the season. The 26-year-old regressed from his solid showing in 2025, and while he batted a respectable .260, he ended the year with a .661 OPS and only five home runs in 96 games.
Gonzales has yet to live up the the expectations placed upon him as a draft prospect when the Pirates selected him seventh overall in 2020. He ended his college career at New Mexico State with a ridiculous .399/.502/.747 batting line.
His career .257 batting average with the Pirates isn’t poor by any means, but he has a career walk rate of 4.9% and has shown limited power at best.
Because of the questions surrounding Gonzales coming off a disappointing year, the Pirates have explore the possibility of adding a second baseman this offseason. They were in on Jorge Polanco until he signed with the New York Mets and have had interest in several trade candidates including Jeff McNeil and Brendan Donovan.
For a team that needs so much help offensively, the Pirates cannot simply hope that Gonzales can figure things out. Looking for an upgrade at second base could be in their best interest.
Once viewed as a potential cornerstone, there are currently more questions around Gonzales than answers.
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