23
 |
Votes |
Signed: August 3, 2002
|
|---|---|---|
| 134 | ||
| Previous Rank | ||
| NA | ||
| ETA in Majors | ||
| 2009 |
Another Diamondbacks outfield prospect may have had his path to the big leagues cleared during the offseason in a huge trade. Gonzalez joined five other Arizona Minor Leaguers in a package sent to Oakland that brought Dan Haren to the desert for the 2008 season. Gonzalez still needs to work on certain parts of his game, most notably his approach at the plate and his willingness to go all out on every at-bat. If he can make those improvements, he has the chance to be an impact bat in the big leagues soon. Gonzalez should hit for both average and power and fits the profile of a right fielder with a terrific outfield arm.
It should be noted that he's just 22 and many of the concerns about his attitude may dissipate as he matures. He's already played some Triple-A ball and got regular playing time in the highly competitive Venezuelan Winter League. A year of Triple-A wouldn't be a bad thing, but freed from the logjam in Arizona, he could force the issue sooner than he would have before the trade to the A's.