BRADENTON, Fla. — The phone call from Ben Cherington was meant to reassure Nick Gonzales of his importance to the Pittsburgh Pirates, even after the acquisition of two-time All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe.
To Gonzales, it was unnecessary.
The 2020 No. 7 overall selection — Cherington’s first draft pick as Pirates general manager — has never been short on confidence, nor does he worry about outside noise affecting his preparation or play.
“That was definitely expressed to me,” Gonzales said. “Ben called me and said, ‘You’re still really important to us,’ and not to worry about anything that was going on. That’s nice to hear, but he didn’t even need to call me. I figured that I’m important and I know the player I can be, so that’s all I worry about.”
So, Gonzales isn’t worrying about his new position, even if it’s the talk of the baseball world this spring training. He’s playing shortstop, where 19-year-old phenom Konnor Griffin, the game’s consensus top prospect, already is being called a generational talent and surefire superstar.
If that’s bothering Gonzales, he has a weird way of showing it.
Just as he embraced the addition of Lowe because it made the Pirates a better team, Gonzales is treating Griffin as a five-tool talent who could be a difference maker instead of a threat to take his starting spot.
“There was no negative reaction from me,” Gonzales said of the Lowe trade. “We’re here to win. If we win, everyone wins. Whatever they asked of me, I was ready to do. They said, ‘You’re still going to be playing second and short. Just be ready to play all three positions of the infield.’ I said, ‘I’m ready to do whatever.’”
That was Cherington’s message. The Pirates believe Gonzales “does some things offensively that are unique,” from being aggressive in making contact to developing into a versatile defender who can play second base, shortstop and third base.
“The biggest thing about Nick, we can go back to his amateur days in the draft, he’s just always met the challenge in front of him,” Cherington said in December. “This is an opportunity for Nick to continue to push for an opportunity on the major league team. We believe that’s kind of what he’s always done, and can see him doing that in any number of ways.”
Gonzales has set an example for Griffin, who was Baseball America’s minor league player of the year and an MiLB Gold Glove winner in his first full professional season. At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, Griffin is a towering presence over the 5-9, 193-pound Gonzales but has been shadowing him in drills since the start of big league camp. Gonzales knows that he might be serving as a stopgap at shortstop until the Pirates are ready to promote Griffin.
“It’s great. I love that kid. He’s a super-talented kid. Everyone can see,” Gonzales said. “He’s one of the most talented kids I’ve ever seen. I help him out as much as I can. He helps me a ton. We’re constantly pushing each other. I’m excited for his future. I hope to help him as much as I can. I’m just super excited for him. I can play wherever. If it’s Konnor’s time to come and they need me to do something else, I’m ready for it.”
Griffin is grateful to have a veteran to learn from and lean on in Gonzales, taking note of his aggressive approach at the plate and how low he stays to the ground in fielding drills.
“He’s done it at the highest level. He has that experience,” Griffin said of Gonzales. “He’s just a pro. … I learn a lot from him. He’s been good for me. Every single day, I’m learning little things from him. We do push each other. It’s really fun out there working with him. He makes me better.”
Gonzales spent the offseason trying to make himself better after a season that started with such promise when he hit a home run on Opening Day. It immediately went downhill, as a left ankle fractured by a foul ball earlier in spring training was aggravated on the home run trot.
After being sidelined for two months, Gonzales batted a respectable .260 but had a pedestrian .299 on-base percentage and .661 OPS. He had 18 doubles and three triples but only five home runs and 30 RBIs in 96 games, taking a step backward in most offensive statistical categories.
“Being in a boot and not being able to walk on my leg for six weeks was tough,” Gonzales said. “There’s nothing you can do to help the team. There’s nothing you can really do, other than just get better. I was like, I can’t walk around. I’m scootering around. But I battled through it, overcame and feel like I’m in a really good spot right now.
“Unfortunately, stuff happens. It’s tough, but I’m ready to get going. This is the best I’ve ever felt, the best I’ve ever been body-wise, swing-wise, everything. I’m stronger, faster. I think this is the best version of myself.”
Gonzales implemented “a little bit of tweaks here and there” to put a greater emphasis on tapping into the power in his back leg. Through his first four Grapefruit League games, the 26-year-old Gonzales is batting .636 (7 for 11) with a double, two RBIs and a 1.394 OPS.
“It’s really difficult to change midseason, to make any adjustment like that, especially mechanically,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “To see the way he was able to embrace that in the offseason and the way that his swing looks now, he did a fantastic job. It looks freer, he’s barreling the ball up well and he feels really great about it.”
Gonzales called his transition from his natural position of second base, where he started 192 games over three seasons with the Pirates, to shortstop “a great challenge.” He has played 15 games at shortstop as a junior at New Mexico State, 57 in the minor leagues, nine in the Arizona Fall League and 30 in the majors.
“It’s not something I’m not used to, so I’m ready for the challenge,” Gonzales said. “The ranging, throwing, being on your feet. You’ve got to focus a lot more in early work on being light on your feet, attacking the ball, little stuff like that. It’s different than second. I wouldn’t say second is more laid back, but the throw isn’t that long.
“I don’t think it’s too different. I like turning (double plays) from short because you’re running towards first, so you can get some momentum behind your throw. At second, you’re relying on your arm and the quickness of your transfer.”
Gonzales will transfer teams when he plays for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. It’s been in the works since 2023, but Gonzales’ family had to drive to Jalisco to get the birth certificates to prove his lineage, which traces back to his great-great paternal grandfather. Gonzales called playing for Mexico “an incredible honor,” especially because he will be reunited with college teammates in Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Joey Ortiz and Los Angeles Angels left-handed pitcher Sammy Natera.
With Lowe in front of him at second base and Griffin behind him at shortstop, Gonzales knows that this is a big spring for him with the Pirates, one in which he needs to live up to his draft billing.
“Nothing’s changed. I still feel that I have not shown the player that I can be,” Gonzales said. “I’ve shown glimpses of it, but I’ve gotten hurt two years in a row. That’s been frustrating. I haven’t shown the true player that I am. I’m definitely confident that I can do that and that I will be an All-Star, that I will be a really good major league player.”