Gonzales making the most of his second chance with the Pirates

CHICAGO -- While he was down at Class AAA Indianapolis putting up impressive numbers through the first 30 games of the minor-league season, Nick Gonzales was simultaneously continuing the hard work he put in during the offseason. He made sure to stay consistent with the mechanical adjustments he made with his swing and did what he could to prove his value as a hitter worthy of a second opportunity with the Pirates. 

“Definitely seeing the ball better," said Gonzales, who got a taste of big-league action after being called up in June of last year. "I saw the ball decent last year, but I just think some of the adjustments in the swing needed to be made to make contact on stuff that I should be hitting that I was seeing well. I think, this year, I’m just trying to make those two come together.”

The former first-round draft pick, who hit .209 with a .616 OPS and a 28.1% strikeout rate in 35 games with the Pirates last year, didn't make the big-league club out of spring training. Instead, he made his presence felt in Indy, ranking among the International League leaders in batting average (.358), hits (43), doubles (14) and runs scored (33).

Now, back in the big leagues after being recalled on May 10, Gonzales is making the most of his second stint in the majors by putting together quality at-bats like this one that resulted in an eventual game-winning two-run single in the fifth inning of the Pirates' 3-2 victory over the Cubs at Wrigley Field Sunday afternoon: 

"I think the quality is the confidence," Derek Shelton said. "Nick worked really hard on making an adjustment, went to Triple-A and was able to do it. And then it's transitioned to the big leagues. So, I think that's probably been the biggest thing." 

In 10 games since his promotion, Gonzales is batting .265 with a .749 OPS. He's hit two homers and driven in eight runs, including four in this most recent series against the Cubs. In the four-game set, he went 5 for 16 (.313) with a homer in the opening game and a pair of multi-hit performances in the final three. He added a fourth-inning infield single to put together a 2-for-5 showing on Sunday. 

"Yeah, he's had really consistent at-bats," Shelton said. "I mean, big two-out base hit today. He went down to Triple-A, he worked on his swing, he worked on the path and I think we're seeing the benefits of it since he's been back in the big leagues."

Aside from Jack Suwinski's solo homer that gave the Pirates a 1-0 edge in the second inning, Gonzales had the only other big hit on a day in which the team left 12 runners on base and went 1 for 17 with runners in scoring position. Gonzales delivered with that two-run single in a bases-loaded situation, as he sent a Hayden Wesneski sinker on the inner part of the plate back up the middle for a lead the Pirates wouldn't relinquish.

 "Yeah, he just tried to stay in the middle of the field. He didn't try to do too much with it," Shelton said. "I think with Wesneski, it's really easy to get over-amped and put the ball on the ground, because that's what he does really well. And, he stayed in the middle of the field, got the base hit and ended up being the determining factor in the game." 

For those who wonder what has given Gonzales the confidence to succeed after experiencing less-than-ideal results down the stretch last year, the answer is in the aforementioned work he put in to make tweaks to his swing. The adjustments he's made have allowed him to be longer in the zone and make contact on pitches he should hit and others -- particularly breaking balls -- he hadn't in the past. 

“I put a lot of work in and put myself in the position to be most successful," Gonzales said. "With my training, I kinda dreamt of this, so went out and did it.” 

Despite the high expectations surrounding him after being selected seventh overall in the 2020 draft and coming up through the minor-league system as a top-100 prospect, things haven't come easy for Gonzales. 

He hit .202 through 30 games in the months of June and July last year before being sent back down to Indy after one game in August. He returned for four games in September, but had just two hits in 13 at-bats. He didn't make the opening day roster this year and had to prove himself again in hopes of once again donning a Pirates uniform. 

And now, here he is. Gonzales is enjoying the fruits of his labor and, up to this point, has seemingly made the most of another opportunity to play at the major-league level. 

"Being up here last year and getting a taste, and also getting a taste of being sent down, that was kinda huge for me," Gonzales said. "Working my way back up, it was long. I got sent down in August and just came up recently, I know I came up a little bit at the end of the year last year, but it was a long road. A lot of ups and downs.”