Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #25 prospect in 2015
  Gonzalez emerged as the ace of the Cuban national team in 2010 after striking out 14 batters in the gold-medal game of the World University Championship, then became one of the hottest commodities on the international market when he defected in 2012. The Phillies won the bidding with a six-year, $48 million deal, but after a physical turned up shoulder issues his deal was reduced to three years and $12 million. Gonzalez made his professional debut in 2014, but had shoulder soreness in the spring, so he moved to the bullpen at high Class A Clearwater when he returned in mid-May. Gonzalez has a fastball that sits between 94-97 mph and touches higher. He backs it up with a loopy curveball that has the potential to be a tick above-average. A changeup with a chance to be average has pushed the Phillies to build him back up as a starter. Gonzalez probably will begin in the Lehigh Valley rotation in 2015.
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  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #4 prospect in 2014
  Gonzalez pitched in front of major league scouts in several significant international events as the ace of Cuba's national team. The biggest feather in his cap came in Taiwan in 2010, when he struck out 14 against Team USA in a 151-pitch epic in the gold-medal game of the World University Championship. He defected to Mexico in 2012 and initially agreed with the Phillies on a six-year, $48 million contract. After a physical, however, he signed a reworked three-year, $12 million deal in August. Gonzalez works with a fastball that typically sits between 90-94 mph and has been known to touch 96 on occasion. He sometimes has issues commanding the heater. He complements his fastball with an above-average splitter and solid-average changeup that make him effective against lefthanded hitters. His 75-79 mph hybrid breaking ball has flashed average, but more often than not it acts as a way to vary the looks hitters get. He has added a cutter in the last year. He can throw uphill at times, which flattens out his pitches. Gonzalez hasn't pitched much since 2011 thanks to a suspension in Cuba due to his defection attempts and then his subsequent flight from the island. He also didn't pitch in instructional league, but assuming he's healthy in spring training, the Phillies expect him to compete for a spot in the big league rotation.