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2023 MLB Draft Profile: Jacob Gonzalez
2023 MLB Draft Profile: Jacob Gonzalez
The college career of Jacob Gonzalez is one that’s filled with accolades, beginning with earning Freshman of the Year in 2021. He continued to add to his resume by helping Mississippi win its first-ever College World Series just last year. So while these accomplishments are certainly impressive, they mean little to nothing when coming into MLB. So does Jacob Gonzalez have the tools to stand out and become the next great shortstop? Let’s talk about it in his draft profile below!
Scouting grades: Hit: 55 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Arm: 55 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55
For now, Gonzalez projects to be a solid hitter at the big league level. He has solid bat-to-ball skills and seems to have a good command of the strike zone, something he struggled with his sophomore year when he was hunting for home runs.
But he’s been more consistent this past season as a hitter which has impressed many scouts, getting his average back up to .327 with a .999 OPS this past season at Ole Miss. His raw power and left-handed swing should allow him to generate some serious power and potentially be a 25 home run player.
He’s shown an ability to hit the ball to all parts of the field, although most of his home run power comes from pulling the ball, something he will want to work on while making his way through the minors. If you want to be an effective power hitter, you have to be able to distribute it to all parts of the field.
His quick and smooth leg kick should also help him adjust to the higher levels of pitching he will go against. It allows him to establish a rhythm as a batter and more importantly time up the opposing pitcher, which is always a big struggle for these kids adjusting to the minor leagues.
While Jacob Gonzalez grades as a below-average runner, it shouldn’t prevent him from being able to play short. His 6-foot-2 frame gives him a ton of range and allows him to get to a lot of balls in the hole, and his strong arm also indicates that he won’t be moving from short any time soon.
He has great instincts and a feel for the position which is clear to see when he’s on the field.
With Jacob Gonzalez you are drafting for the bat, or more so what it can potentially be. I love the swing from the left side but am worried that he is a little too pull-happy, which could derail his chances of making the big leagues.
With Gonzalez, I see a lot of Brandon Crawford in him. A smooth lefty swing that will be able to generate some sneaky pop. Probably wont ever be a batting average merchant, but I don’t think he will need to. Also like Crawford, he doesn’t move too well at short but doesn’t let it affect his defense.
There is quite a lot to like about Jacob Gonzalez. If he can put it all together then we are talking about one of the next great shortstops. Who doesn’t want that on their team?
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