Drafted in the 46th round (1,357th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2002 (signed for $200,000).
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Though he missed all of 2002 with a shoulder injury, the Devil Rays took Gonzalez in the 42nd round anyway. He came back the next year to pitch Southern Nevada to the Junior College World Series championship, then signed for $200,000 as a draft-and-follow. Hit hard during his first couple of months at low Class A last year, he adjusted by coming up with a hard sinker. It generated plenty of groundball outs and proved a nice complement to his 89- 92 four-seam fastball, decent changeup and developing slider. It's inconsistent, but when it's on, his slider is his most devastating pitch. His straight change and his command also could use some polish. Gonzalez was suspended for 15 days toward the end of the season after testing positive for a banned substance. He'll open 2005 in high Class A with a shot of reaching Double-A later in the season.
After missing all of 2002 with a shoulder injury, Gonzalez came back to be the No. 1 starter for Junior College World Series champion Southern Nevada. He would have been drafted for the fourth straight year had he not signed with the Devil Rays as a draft-and-follow for a reported $200,000. Though Tampa Bay kept him on a tight pitch count and shut him down for a month as a precaution, his stuff jumped out during his limited pro debut and in instructional league. He has two plus pitches in his low-90s fastball and sharp-breaking slider. He also has a straight changeup and good overall command of his three pitches. The Rays believe Gonzalez can move quickly because of his solid foundation and his mature approach. He's expected to open his first full season in low Class A but could jump to high Class A by midseason.
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