Álex González (shortstop)
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- For the baseball infielder who played from 1994-2006, see Alex Gonzalez (infielder).
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| Cincinnati Reds — No. 2 | |
| Shortstop | |
| Born: February 15, 1977 Cagua, Aragua, Venezuela |
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| Bats: Right | Throws: Right |
| Major League Baseball debut | |
| August 25, 1998 for the Florida Marlins | |
| Selected MLB statistics (through 2007) |
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| Batting average | .248 |
| Home runs | 106 |
| Runs batted in | 480 |
| Teams | |
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| Highlights and awards | |
Álexander Luis González (born February 15, 1977 in Cagua, Aragua State, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball shortstop who plays for the Cincinnati Reds. Previously, González played with the Florida Marlins (1998-2005) and Boston Red Sox (2006). He bats and throws right-handed.
González' speed and range have enabled him to make acrobatic plays, quickly drawing comparisons to Venezuelan shortstops like Chico Carrasquel, Luis Aparicio, Dave Concepción and Omar Vizquel. His defensive tools were so masterful that by 1999 he established himself as an All-Star.
González is able to make some contributions on offense as well. He hits with considerable power by middle infielder standards, and is considered a good bunter. However, he frequently swings at pitches out of the strike zone, and this poor plate discipline combined with an inability to make consistent contact has caused many to see him as a limited hitter.
In 2001, he led all Major League shortstops with 26 errors.
His most productive season came in 2004, when he posted career highs in home runs (23), RBI (79), games played (159) and at bats (561).
Before the 2006 season, the Boston Red Sox signed González as a free agent to a one-year contract worth $3 million, plugging a hole in the starting lineup after the trade of shortstop Edgar Rentería to the Atlanta Braves.
González committed 32 errors in the last two seasons (16 each), compared to the 30 committed by Edgar Rentería in his only season with the Red Sox. González's signing with the Sox marks the second time he has replaced Rentería as the shortstop; Renteria had just left the Marlins for the St. Louis Cardinals before González joined the team in 1998.
On November 18, 2006, he signed a three-year, $14 million contract with the Cincinnati Reds. In 2008, an MRI showed that Gonzalez still has a fracture in his left knee.
When González was hurt in February, it looked like he'd be back in the middle of April. However, with the fractured still not having healed, he won't be allowed to run for at least another two to four weeks.[1]
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[edit] Highlights
- Made the National League All-Star team in 1999.
- In 17 post-season games, hit .161 (10-for-62) with one home run and six RBI.
- González played an important role in the 2003 World Series against the Yankees. After going 1-for-13 in the World Series, he hit a walk-off home run in the 12th inning of Game Four to gave the Marlins a 4-3 victory and a 2-2 tie in the Series. The extra-inning happened because Florida's closer Ugueth Urbina blew a 3-1 lead in the ninth. Then in Game Five, González hit a two-out game-tying double and scored later in Game 5, another Marlins victory. González added an extra run in the sixth and final game, when he slid around catcher Jorge Posada, eluding him and brushing the plate with his left hand. Florida beat the odds with a 2-0 victory and won the World Series.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
[edit] Sources
- Baseball Reference - statistics and analysis
- ESPN - profile and daily updates
- - Signed to 3 year contract by Reds.
- Yahoo Sports
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