Álex González (shortstop, born 1977)

For the shortstop who played from 1994 to 2006, see Alex Gonzalez (shortstop, born 1973).

Alex González
Milwaukee Brewers – No. 11
Shortstop
Born: (1977-02-15) February 15, 1977 Cagua, Aragua, Venezuela
Bats: Right Throws: Right
debut
August 25, 1998, for the Florida Marlins
Career statistics (through 2012 season)
Batting average	.247
Home runs	156
Runs batted in	680
Teams
Florida Marlins (1998–2005) Boston Red Sox (2006) Cincinnati Reds (2007, 2009) Boston Red Sox (2009) Toronto Blue Jays (2010) Atlanta Braves (2010–2011) Milwaukee Brewers (2012–present)
Career highlights and awards
All-Star (1999) World Series champion (2003)

González playing for the Boston Red Sox on September 13, 2006.

Alexander Luis González (born February 15, 1977 in Cagua, Aragua State, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball shortstop who plays for the Milwaukee Brewers. Previously, González played with the Florida Marlins (1998–2005), Boston Red Sox (2006, 2009), Cincinnati Reds (2007–2009), Toronto Blue Jays (2010) and Atlanta Braves (2010–2011). He was given the nickname "Sea-bass" while playing in Florida. He bats and throws right-handed.

Playing career

Florida Marlins

In 1999, while with the Florida Marlins, González made the Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

In 2001, he led all Major League shortstops with 26 errors.

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 give the Marlins a 4–3 victory and a 2–2 tie in the Series. The extra innings 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.

One of his most productive seasons came in 2004, when he posted career highs in at bats (561) and games played (159), tied a career high in home runs (23), yet also had a career high in strikeouts (126).

Boston Red Sox

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. He reunited with former Marlins' teammates Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell who were traded from Florida to Boston earlier.

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 marked the second time he had replaced Rentería as the shortstop; Renteria had just left the Marlins for the St. Louis Cardinals before González joined the team in 1998.

Cincinnati Reds

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.

He was named Player of the Week for the week of April 29, 2007.

When González was hurt in February, it looked like he'd be back in the middle of April. Gonzalez had surgery on the knee in July, however, and ultimately missed the entire 2008 season.

Boston Red Sox (second stint)

On August 14, 2009, González cleared waivers with the Cincinnati Reds and was traded back to the Boston Red Sox with $1.1 million for shortstop Kristopher Negron.

Toronto Blue Jays

On November 26, 2009, González signed a one-year deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, with a club option for a 2nd year.

Atlanta Braves

On July 14, 2010, González was traded along with prospects Tim Collins and Tyler Pastornicky to the Atlanta Braves for shortstop Yunel Escobar and Jo-Jo Reyes.

Milwaukee Brewers

On December 8, 2011, González was signed in free agency by the Milwaukee Brewers. He signed a one-year deal with a vesting option for 2013 if he has at least 525 plate appearances in 2012. He will make $4.25 million in 2012, and would make $4 million in 2013. On May 5, 2012, Gonzalez was placed on the 15-day disabled list after suffering a right knee injury earlier in the day in a game at the San Francisco Giants. He was then placed on the injured reserve list after revealing that he had a torn ACL.

Offseason

During the offseason Gonzalez plays in the Venezuelan Winter League for the Leones del Caracas.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball Reference, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)