The son of former Diamondbacks player Luis Gonzalez, Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Jacob Gonzalez is paving his own path in his baseball career while carrying on the family name. (Photo by Grace Edwards/Cronkite News)
In 112 at-bats this season with the Single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers, Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Jacob Gonzalez maintained a .305 batting average and recorded 13 home runs and 61 RBIs. (Photo by Grace Edwards/Cronkite News)
SCOTTSDALE – When Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Luis Gonzalez slapped the game-winning hit off Yankees closer Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the ninth of Game 7 of the 2001 World Series, giving the team its first (and only) championship, his name was cemented in Arizona history. His son, just 3 at the time, had a front-row seat to his dad’s blossoming career.
Now, Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Jacob Gonzalez is trying to pave his own path in baseball.
Gonzalez is grateful to have grown up watching his father play baseball, and hopes to shape his own career while carrying on the Gonzalez name as a member of the Greensboro Grasshoppers, the High-A affiliate of the Pirates.
“Super proud of my dad and everything that he did in his career, and it’s awesome to try to shape my own career as well,” Gonzalez said on Oct. 3, when the Surprise Saguaros opened the Fall League season against the Salt River Rafters at Salt River Fields. “I’ve just kind of grown into that (my own career). You know, he was a great player, and he definitely guided me along the way, but I kind of shaped my own path.”
Gonzalez is no stranger to Arizona. He grew up in Scottsdale and believes his return will help enhance his skills at third base.
Gonzalez, who attended Chaparral High School, watched his father become one of the best to ever don a Diamondbacks uniform and emulated him in efforts to uphold the family legacy, as well as the history of the baseball program under former Chaparral coach Sam Messina.
Gonzalez played shortstop during his freshman year before moving to third base as a sophomore. His father, a five-time All-Star, played outfield for 19 seasons.
“Jacob was always just very, very humble, just an unbelievable teammate. He knew how to work and he just outworked people,” Messina said. “I’m really proud of what he was able to do, and obviously he’s had a really good year this year.”
Pittsburgh Pirates prospect Jacob Gonzalez, who was drafted by the San Francisco Giants, experienced a full-circle moment in his return to the Valley for the Arizona Fall League with the Surprise Saguaros. (Photo by Grace Edwards/Cronkite News)
While he grew up in a baseball family, Gonzalez tried not to rely on his father to further his career. Messina helped teach him the ropes and what it takes to play at a pro level.
“(Messina) taught me a lot about structure and really getting out there and taking care of business whenever we’re practicing,” Gonzalez said. “Made sure that we got everything that we needed to done and just kind of going out there and playing free after that.”
Gonzalez credits his father for teaching him about what baseball was as a kid. He grew to love the game on his own after being around his dad every day at the field. When he was in high school, he and Messina tried not to mention his famous father and instead focused on Gonzalez as an individual.
“As a teacher and his coach, I just see him. No matter what he does, he does not let baseball define who he is and that obviously his dad is an icon in the valley, but Jacob is his own man in my eyes,” Messina said. “And there was never any talk about, ‘Well, your dad did this, your dad did that.’ Jacob is who Jacob is, and he’s just a great young man, and he’s doing baseball right now. And I know that he has dreams and wishes to play in the big leagues at some point, and we all hope that for him.”
When he was drafted by the Giants, Gonzalez, with family surrounding him, said it was a full-circle moment he would never forget. Returning to Arizona for the Fall League is a sense of comfort.
“I love playing here. It’s a comfortable environment. I know most of the stadiums, and I get to be at home, which is definitely a bonus as well,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez began his career in 2017 with the Ghordy Santos, the rookie ball affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, and bounced around multiple levels of the minors before being released in 2021. Gonzalez was claimed off waivers by the Pirates in December 2021 and made his way up the ranks.
While the Fall League ends Nov. 12, Gonzalez hopes to use his time back home to work on his at-bats, his fielding techniques and growing as an athlete.
Gonzalez has made 112 appearances, maintained a .305 batting average, hit 13 home runs and 61 RBI in 423 at-bats this season with the Grasshoppers and Bradenton Marauders, Single-A affiliate of the Pirates.
The 24-year-old Gonzalez hopes to one day receive a call to the show but, for now, hopes to climb the ranks of the minor leagues and use the Fall League as a springboard in the place he loves most.
“I’ve always loved it,” Gonzalez said of the Valley. “The weather’s amazing in the wintertime. You play everything year round, baseball growing up year round was awesome, and there’s not a better place in the country.”
