Former Top Pirates Prospect Rebounding From ‘Darker Times’ With Hot Streak

The Pittsburgh Pirates lineup has received a welcome jolt from a player looking to prove he’s still a vital part of the organization’s future.

As the No. 7 pick of the 2020 draft, Nick Gonzales has yet to find his groove against big-league pitching. An encouraging June offers hope of a post-hype breakout from the former top prospect.

Gonzales missed more than two months with an ankle injury aggravated on Opening Day. The 26-year-old is batting .300 in 20 games since returning on June 3.

On Monday, Gonzales stayed hot when smacking two doubles in a five-hit performance against the Milwaukee Brewers. He responded by hitting his third home run of the season on Tuesday.

Gonzales expressed relief over his recent turnaround to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Colin Beazley.

“Some darker times in the past,” Gonzales said Tuesday, “so being able to impact the game and have a five-hit game today is pretty cool.”

Gonzales is batting .301/.330/.494 this year. With eight extra-base hits in 88 plate appearances, the infielder is showing more pop after slugging .386 through his first two seasons.

“He’s using the middle of the field. He’s driving the ball the other way, barreling balls up. Just tremendous approach,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “He’s a great hitter, man. To see the way that he’s continuing to develop, continuing to get better, he’s doing a remarkable job.”

Pirates hitting coach Matt Hague helped Gonzales tweak his approach during his recovery.

“We’re trying to stay consistent and get around my back leg,” Gonzales said. “Just be in a spot where I can go out and be athletic. That’s the way he puts it. The way I feel, once I am in this spot that we’re looking for, whether it’s around my rear leg or whatever it may be, it kind of frees me up to be the hitter I am and I’m able to impact the baseball.”

Amid his June surge, Gonzales has spent the last four days in Pittsburgh’s clean-up spot. He’ll try to keep swinging a hot bat when the Pirates host the New York Mets for a three-game series this weekend.

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