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Adrián González

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This article is about the Major League Baseball player. For the footballer, see Adrián González (footballer).
Adrian Gonzalez
San Diego Padres – No. 23
First baseman
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
debut
April 18, 2004, for the Texas Rangers
Career statistics
(through 2008 season)
Batting average.281
Home Runs121
Runs batted in372
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Adrian Gonzalez (born May 8, 1982 in San Diego, California) is a Mexican-American Major League Baseball first baseman for the San Diego Padres. He was the first overall pick in the 2000 draft by the Florida Marlins. The son of Mexican parents, Gonzalez lived twelve years of his youth in Mexico. He played for Mexico in the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic.

Playing career

Gonzalez was the first infield position player to be drafted first overall since Alex Rodriguez in 1993. He was drafted out of Eastlake High School and given a $3 million signing bonus. After a wrist injury, the Marlins felt Gonzalez would be hindered swinging the bat, so he was subsequently traded to the Texas Rangers in a deal for Ugueth Urbina. He played in 16 games for Texas in 2004 and in 43 games in 2005. After the season, Gonzalez was traded to the San Diego Padres along with pitcher Chris Young and outfielder Terrmel Sledge. In return, the Rangers received Adam Eaton and Akinori Otsuka. Originally seen as an eventual replacement for Ryan Klesko at first base, Gonzalez was given the job when Klesko underwent shoulder surgery.

2006 season

Gonzalez at the plate in 2008.

With extended playing time at first base in 2006, Gonzalez continued to improve his hitting, and showed flashes of gold glove caliber defense. On July 23, 2006, he was named the NL Player of the Week.[1] In his first full season, he led the Padres in batting average (.304) and home runs (24). He was the first player in Petco Park history to have more than one multiple home run game.

2007 season

On March 31, 2007, Gonzalez agreed to a $9.5 million, four-year deal, with a club option for $5.5 million in 2011. [2] In the 2007 season, Gonzalez led the Padres in home runs again, with 30, and had a team-high 100 RBIs.

2008 season

In the 2008 season, Gonzalez finished with a .279 average and once again led the Padres with 36 HRs and 119 RBIs. He was elected to the 2008 MLB All-Star Game as a reserve. He went 1 for 3 with a single and a sacrifice fly, scoring Miguel Tejada of the Houston Astros. He won his first Gold Glove Award in 2008 at first base.

Gonzalez plays winter ball in the Mexican Pacific League for the Venados de Mazatlán. In the 2009 Caribbean Series, he led his team past the Dominican Republic's Tigres del Licey with a record-setting 3 home runs on February 4.[3]

2009 season

Gonzalez started off hot in 2009 season, hitting 23 homers and leading the Major League Baseball in that category at the end of May. This despite playing his home games at Petco Park, which Padres statisticians describe as an “extreme pitcher's park.”[4] On May 18, Gonzalez was described as being one of the two most underrated players in the National League according to a poll of Major League executives and managers conducted by MLB.com.[5] On April 1, Gonzalez was named the NL Co-Player of the Week for the second time in his career. During that week, Gonzalez hit four home runs, tallied 10 RBIs, and had a 1.000 slugging percentage.[6] Gonzalez was elected to the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game after voting by fellow players, managers and coaches.[7] He subsequently participated in that year's Home Run Derby where he hit two home runs in the first round.

Personal life

His brother is Padres teammate Edgar Gonzalez. Gonzalez and his wife, Betsy, reside in San Diego. [8] The couple created The Adrian and Betsy Gonzalez Foundation, which is focused on empowering underprivileged youth in areas of athletics, education and health.[9]

References

  1. ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/awards/players_of_the_week.jsp?year=2006
  2. ^ Associated Press (2007-04-01). "Gonzalez agrees to 4-year deal with Padres". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
  3. ^ Jesse Sanchez (2009-02-05). "Gonzalez powers Mexico past DR". MLB.com. Retrieved 2009-02-05.
  4. ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090517&content_id=4794842&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
  5. ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090517&content_id=4794842&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
  6. ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090601&content_id=5086868&vkey=pr_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
  7. ^ http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090705&content_id=5705544&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb
  8. ^ Adrian Gonzalez: Biography and Career Highlights
  9. ^ http://www.adriangonzalezfoundation.org/
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Preceded by First overall pick in the MLB Entry Draft
2000 		Succeeded by

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