Cardinals Prospect Marco Gonzales a "Great Baseball Story"
Jupiter, FL - Palm Beach Cardinals starting pitcher Marco Gonzales is showing why he was taken by St. Louis in the first round of last year's draft. His devastating changeup and pinpoint accuracy have given Florida State League opponents fits so far in 2014.
Despite all of the success that he has experienced in his young career, Gonzales knows that keeping a good head on his shoulders and using advice from his dad may be the secret to translating minor league success into a big league roster spot.
A Fort Collins, Colorado native, Gonzales is no stranger to success. He won four Colorado 5A State Championships while attending Rocky Mountain High School and was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for Colorado his senior season. It wasn't a surprise either that the lefty was a first team All-State selection after posting an 11-0 record with 87 strikeouts in 54 innings and batting .436 with seven home runs and 36 RBI in 26 games.
Not a bad way to end a perfect high school career.
Although he was selected by the Colorado Rockies in the 29th round of the 2010 draft, Gonzales elected to attend Gonzaga University to continue his development.
And he picked up a few prestigious awards along the way.
Gonzales was named the West Coast Conference Co-Player of the year his freshman and junior seasons while at Gonzaga. In 2013, he shared the honor with Chicago Cubs first round pick Kris Bryant from the University of San Diego. Those two might just face each other a few more times in their careers.
In 2012, Gonzales was named the WCC Pitcher of the Year and All-West Region Player of the Year. And if his trophy case wasn't crowded enough, he was also recognized for his work at the plate. Gonzales, who also played first base and outfield in school, was named the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year for College Baseball in his final year with Gonzaga.
Gonzales left Gonzaga after his junior season to sign with the Cardinals as the 19th overall pick in the 2013 draft. While his professional statistics don't show it, Gonzales had a lot of adjustments to make in his first season.
"Being a pitcher-only was a big transition I had to make," Gonzales said. "I played on the field every day in college and really playing with the down time here [in Palm Beach] has been a challenge, and figuring out what to do in between starts to get better.
"I miss being on the field every day. Once a week [as a starter] your time comes and goes pretty quick. I miss being on the field and getting at-bats. That was the fun part about college baseball."
Being a pitcher-only has served Gonzales well so far with the Cardinals organization, however. Gonzales' numbers in the Gulf Coast League and with Palm Beach a season ago warranted an invitation to big league camp earlier this spring.
"You really take what it means to be a professional to the next level and learn how to handle yourself," Gonzales noted about being in the big league clubhouse during his first Spring Training. "It's challenging to keep up with those guys and try and be in the same boat. I really tried to learn as much from them as I could."
Gonzales began the year with Class-A Advanced Palm Beach and has been showing why Baseball America has tabbed him as the fifth-best prospect in the Cardinals organization.
Through his first three starts this season, Gonzales has compiled a 1-1 record with a 2.04 ERA (4ER/17.2IP) and racked up 19 strikeouts while only issuing four walks. His last time out on April 22, Gonzales tied a career high with seven strikeouts and surrendered just one run on three hits in six quality innings.
If he continues to stay sharp on the mound, Gonzales could ascend quickly through the minors like former first round pick Michael Wacha did a season ago.
But Gonzales isn't thinking about where he's going to play and when. He has one simple goal for the 2014 season: stay healthy.
"My main goal is to be healthy throughout the whole year to give myself a good chance to compete and play at the highest level that I can," Gonzales said. "I don't think that there are any expectations or goals as far as pitching-wise and what I'm going to do. That will all come as long as I stay healthy and keep working hard."
Part of Gonzales' humble demeanor and popularity with his teammates can be attributed to lessons he learned from his father, Frank.
Frank Gonzales was drafted by Detroit in '89 and also played in the Yankees organization, with the Red Sox and the Pirates.
"He never made it to the big leagues," Gonzales shared. "He was on the 40-man a couple of times and a big league spring training guy, but never got any time. Part of that is how he's influenced me. You don't know when this game is going to be over so it's kind of a 'seize every moment' type of thing and he really preached that to me."
Gonzales' father, who is in his second year as pitching coach in the Colorado Rockies minor league system, is always willing to lend advice to his son hundreds of miles away.
"He's basically just said it's a long season, it's a grind, and you have to pace yourself, but go out there and compete and just keep getting guys out," said Gonzales. "That's what you get paid to do, that's how you move up, that's how you make it. He just preaches simple little things and we keep in touch a lot.
"I'd say the pitch ability stuff and mental side - he's given me everything that I have. He's been one of the greatest coaches that I've ever had so I've been really thankful for him."
Being a four-time state champion, a decorated college athlete, and a first round draft pick along with being a fan-favorite because of off-the-field character, Gonzales has certainly made his father very proud.
"I've been very fortunate," said Gonzales. "I've had a great baseball story so far."
And at 22 years old, it appears this young star's story is just beginning.