Unlike its major American sports counterparts such as the NFL and NBA, MLB utilizes a farm system for its draft prospects โ and yes, that includes top-10 picks.
Tucson native and Pittsburgh Pirate infielder Nick Gonzales, who was drafted seventh overall in 2020, is currently participating in his third spring training in Bradenton, Florida, but has yet to make his big-league debut.
Last season, the Cienega High School product and former New Mexico State star hit seven home runs and had a .263 batting average but was sidelined with plantar fasciitis in his right foot; he also broke his pinky finger during his rookie year.
Adversity isnโt anything new for Gonzales. He was scarcely recruited out of high school before accepting a walk-on position at New Mexico State. Then he rose from walk-on to national college baseball star to first-round draft pick. While the destination is Gonzales top priority, heโs enjoying the journey even if it comes with a few bumps in the road.
โIโm just focused on being better every single day and being better tomorrow,โ he said. โThatโs all Iโm really worrying about. The big leagues is the goal, and I would love to play there. I mean, itโs my dream. But we just have to keep working, similar to when I was in college or even when I was in high school. I never worried about the next few months, I only worried about whatโs coming tomorrow and how I can prepare for tomorrow.โ
Gonzales joined โSpears and Aliโ on ESPN Tucson to discuss the pro baseball-playing life, overcoming injuries and what itโll take to finally make his big-league debut.
Entering your third season, what has the pro baseball journey been like for you?
A: โItโs been awesome. Itโs been a dream come true, and thereโs been a lot of ups and downs with injuries and playing and everything like that. But itโs been great. Weโve made a lot of progress and weโve made a lot of adjustments to the game. But yeah, itโs been a dream come true to play this game for a living, and I couldnโt have asked for anything more.โ
What does the future hold for the Pirates?
A: โWe have a lot of up-and-coming talent that (is) in the big leagues, so we have a lot of great players and weโre moving in the right direction for sure. Everyone seems to have the right goal in mind, whether thatโs coaches or players or higher-ups, itโs everyone. We want to win, and we want to win now.โ
How mentally taxing was it to overcome your foot injury?
A: โYeah, it was definitely tough. You just want to be out there with the guys, and from a development standpoint, last year wouldโve been a really good year to get a lot of at-bats in, get a full season and develop. So, not having that was tough, but you gotta put your head down, keep working and make up for that time however you can.โ
What do you make of MLBโs initiative to improve amenities and clubhouse conditions for minor-league baseball teams?
A: โEverything is moving in the right direction with that. Just in the last two years that I played, it gets better every year, so weโre excited about what the future may bring. But the players are definitely happy.โ
In your opinion, whatโs the biggest difference between a minor-league player and mainstay in MLB?
A: โFor me, itโs just consistency and being a good player every single day โ and being able to stay healthy and take care of your body. Itโs a very long season, you play a lot of games, and if you can stay consistent, level-headed during the seven or eight months when weโre playing ball, then you can be really successful.
โThe biggest difference between the minors and the majors is people are very, very talented, and the talent in the minors isnโt worse, but (MLB players) are just more consistent, bring their A-game and are 100% every single day. Thatโs what the minor leagues is about: Finding a way to be 100% and being the best player you can be every single every day.โ
Since you were drafted by the Pirates, whoโs been a mentor to you?
A: โSo far there have been a lot of guys that Iโve played with, but I would say all of the guys on our big-league staff that Iโve gotten a chance to play with. Big-league spring training, I look forward to those every single year, because I get to be around the best players in the world and learn from them. This year, being able to play beside Andrew McCutchen, who we recently signed back to the Pirates, he was one of my favorite players growing up โ probably my favorite player for a while when I was in high school. I get to learn from that guy and pick his brain a little bit.โ
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