AB | 143 |
---|---|
AVG | .273 |
OBP | .364 |
SLG | .399 |
HR | 3 |
- Full name Jacob Jesus Gonzalez
- Born 05/30/2002 in Whittier, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Mississippi
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Drafted in the 1st round (15th overall) by the Chicago White Sox in 2023 (signed for $3,900,000).
View Draft Report
School: Mississippi Source: 4YR
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.1
BA Grade:55/High
Tools:Hit: 55. Power: 55. Run: 30. Field: 50. Arm: 55.
Gonzalez was a top-300 prospect out of Glendora (Calif.) High in 2020 who stood out for his multi-sport athleticism and powerful lefthanded swing. He went unselected and made his way to campus at Mississippi, where he’s been the starting shortstop since he stepped on campus, helped lead the team to a 2022 College World Series championship and was also selected to Team USA’s Collegiate National Team in back-to-back years. A strong and physical, 6-foot-2, 200-pound lefthanded hitter, Gonzalez has hit .319/.427/.561 through 186 games in his Ole Miss career, with 40 home runs and standout zone control skills. He is a patient and selective hitter who pairs a keen eye with solid pure bat-to-ball skills, evidenced by his 14.3% career walk rate, 10.9% career strikeout rate and an 84% contact rate in 2023. Gonzalez has above-average power potential, though his swing is a bit unorthodox and he’s been a pull-heavy hitter throughout his career. Gonzalez has a coiled upper half with his shoulders pointed toward first base, but he has an open stance with his lower half and doesn’t always get fully back to an even position at contact. In college he’s had no trouble extending his hands on the outer third and yanking balls to the pull side, though scouts wonder how he’ll handle both quality velocity and offspeed pitches on the outer rail in pro ball. Gonzalez is a 30-grade runner who takes a long time to get up to speed and because of that—and his size—scouts wonder if he’ll slide over to third base. He does have a lengthy track record as a reliable defender at shortstop, with good hands and above-average arm strength. If a team thinks he can stick at shortstop, Gonzalez offers an intriguing blend of impact, contact ability and on-base skill at a premium position with a low-pulse demeanor that should excel in a pro environment.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.
Track Record: The White Sox drafted Gonzalez No. 15 overall in 2023 after a three-year career at Ole Miss. He played a full slate of 130 games in 2024 split between High-A Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham and was part of the Barons’ postseason championship run. He finished the year with a combined .238/.307/.343 batting line after posting a much more attractive line of .319/.427/.561 over his three years in Mississippi.
Scouting Report: Despite the college production, Gonzalez entered pro ball facing plenty of questions about how his swing would handle higher velocity and pitches on the outer-third of the plate. His stance is more upright now and he shows good barrel awareness, but he isn’t impacting the baseball or controlling the zone as well as he did in college. Skeptics also wonder whether he can stick at shortstop because of his below-average speed. He’s an instinctual defender with good hands and long strides. Gonzalez has arm strength but doesn’t always make good throws when moving to his right. Despite his lack of speed, he managed to swipe 17 bases in 2024.
The Future: Gonzalez is a coach’s dream and his value tends to show up the longer someone watches him. While he may return to Double-A to start 2025, the test of Triple-A is in his near-future. A move to second or third base could eventually be in his future given Colson Montgomery is expected to be the White Sox shortstop of the future.
Scouting Grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 45 | Run: 40 | Field: 50 | Arm: 50. -
BA Grade: 55/High
Track Record: A top 300 draft prospect at his Los Angeles-area high school, Gonzalez went undrafted because of his strong commitment to Mississippi, where he was a three-year starter at shortstop. He helped the Rebels capture the 2022 College World Series championship. He was twice selected for Team USA’s Collegiate National Team. The White Sox made Gonzalez the 15th overall pick in 2023, sealing the deal with a $3.9 million bonus that was roughly 13% under slot. In his pro debut he reached Low-A Kannapolis.
Scouting Report: Gonzalez is a patient and selective hitter who pairs a keen eye with solid pure bat-to-ball skills. He walked 15% of the time in his pro debut, which was in line with his career 14.3% rate in three years at Ole Miss. He struck out just 16% of the time in his pro debut. Gonzalez uses an unorthodox swing. He coils his upper half with his shoulders pointed toward first base, while his lower half is in an open stance, causing him to not always get back to an even position on contact. He hit for power in college, peaking at 18 homers as a sophomore, but in his pro debut he looked more like a hit-over-power type. Gonzalez is a well below-average runner, raising questions as to whether he can stay at shortstop despite good instincts and composure. He has solid hands and actions at the position but lacks quickness. He may be better suited for second or third base, where he projects to be an average defender.
The Future: Gonzalez is advanced enough to move to High-A Winston-Salem in 2024. Where he winds up on the field will be determined as he progresses, but with Colson Montgomery the likely long-term shortstop in Chicago he may find a role elsewhere in the infield.
Scouting Grades Hit: 55 | Power: 50 | Run: 30 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55
Draft Prospects
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School: Mississippi Source: 4YR
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.1
BA Grade:55/High
Tools:Hit: 55. Power: 55. Run: 30. Field: 50. Arm: 55.
Gonzalez was a top-300 prospect out of Glendora (Calif.) High in 2020 who stood out for his multi-sport athleticism and powerful lefthanded swing. He went unselected and made his way to campus at Mississippi, where he’s been the starting shortstop since he stepped on campus, helped lead the team to a 2022 College World Series championship and was also selected to Team USA’s Collegiate National Team in back-to-back years. A strong and physical, 6-foot-2, 200-pound lefthanded hitter, Gonzalez has hit .319/.427/.561 through 186 games in his Ole Miss career, with 40 home runs and standout zone control skills. He is a patient and selective hitter who pairs a keen eye with solid pure bat-to-ball skills, evidenced by his 14.3% career walk rate, 10.9% career strikeout rate and an 84% contact rate in 2023. Gonzalez has above-average power potential, though his swing is a bit unorthodox and he’s been a pull-heavy hitter throughout his career. Gonzalez has a coiled upper half with his shoulders pointed toward first base, but he has an open stance with his lower half and doesn’t always get fully back to an even position at contact. In college he’s had no trouble extending his hands on the outer third and yanking balls to the pull side, though scouts wonder how he’ll handle both quality velocity and offspeed pitches on the outer rail in pro ball. Gonzalez is a 30-grade runner who takes a long time to get up to speed and because of that—and his size—scouts wonder if he’ll slide over to third base. He does have a lengthy track record as a reliable defender at shortstop, with good hands and above-average arm strength. If a team thinks he can stick at shortstop, Gonzalez offers an intriguing blend of impact, contact ability and on-base skill at a premium position with a low-pulse demeanor that should excel in a pro environment. -
Gonzalez was a standout quarterback who threw 59 touchdown passes against just 13 interceptions in two years as the starter at Glendora (Calif.) High, but his future is on the baseball diamond. Gonzalez is a prolific hitter whose athleticism shines at the plate. He has a loose, easy lefthanded swing, stays on plane and drives balls hard on a line. He has room to gain strength and add power, altogether projecting as a potential impact hitter once he reaches physical maturity. Gonzalez is a slow mover despite his athletic background and will have to move off of shortstop, likely to third base. He has the arm strength necessary for the hot corner. Gonzalez is committed to Mississippi. If he isn’t drafted early enough to sign, scouts expect him to be a high pick out of college in three years.