It’s the classic baseball success story. A former 18th-round third baseman turned outfielder makes the two-level jump in minor-league ball only to shift back to the middle infield and set himself on a trajectory toward a depth role on a major-league club.
A tried-and-true narrative.
Double-A standout Romy Gonzalez fits the mold, however. The University of Miami (FL) product has captured the attention of scouts’ clipboards in Birmingham and for good reason. Gonzalez paces the Barons in a plethora of offensive categories, including batting average (.327), OPS (1.099) and home runs (5).
“He has a game plan and an offensive approach every at-bat,” Barons longtime broadcaster Curt Bloom said. “There’s a rhyme and a reason for everything he does. He sticks to his plan and it allows him to be successful.”
It’s a simplistic, yet effective approach that’s played well at the notorious pitcher-friendly parks of the Double-A South. Bloom said Barons manager Justin Jirschele has praised Gonzalez’s baseball acumen and effortless swing through the zone, as well as his work ethic and dedication to training over the extended offseason between 2019 and 2021.
“He’s one kid who took advantage of the pandemic and worked out, bulked up,” Bloom said. “He transformed his body.”
The 24-year-old, who stands 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, has shown the ability to impact the game in multiple ways. He’s halfway to his single-season best 10 home runs set in 54 games with Rookie-level Great Falls and is on track to reach double-digits in stolen bases for the third straight season. Gonzalez has also managed to increase his walk rate year-over-year and do the opposite to his strikeout rate.
Oh yeah, don’t forget the sterling 198 WRC+ this season (league average is 100).
“You can’t, unfortunately, in this game, glove yourself into a position,” Bloom said. “You have to hit your way there.”
Of course, Gonzalez’s versatility — he’s played all seven positions save for catcher and pitcher — helps his cause as a potential depth option over the next 2-3 years. Bloom said he’s reminiscent of a pair of former White Sox farmhands: Marcus Semien and Danny Mendick.
“You’re talking about natural infielders with versatility and similar mental and physical strength,” Bloom said. “You have to have two or three guys of that ilk on your roster.”
The White Sox have seen the value of a plug-and-play type in Mendick this season in the absence of Eloy Jimenez (60-day IL), Luis Robert (60-day IL) and Tim Anderson in the second week of the season. Much akin to Mendick, Bloom believes Gonzalez could force his way into a similar role.
“Mendick hit his way to the pros and Romy can do the same,” Bloom said. “If you’re going to hit yourself there, they’re going to find you a position.”
While it’s fun to discuss the continued growth of prospects such as Gavin Sheets and Jake Burger and envision how they could fit into a future lineup, it’s equally interesting to identify the potential “glue guys” like Gonzalez and find merit in the well-rounded, versatile talent.
“(Gonzalez) knows what he’s doing,” Bloom said. “We need to start considering him with that word — ‘prospect.’”
Yes, let’s.
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