Jacob Gonzalez

Position: 3B
Level: Class A
Affiliate: Augusta GreenJackets
League: South Atlantic League
Born: 06/26/1998 (Age: 25)
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 190
B/T: Right / Right
Acquired: 2nd Rd., 2017 MLB First-Year Player Draft (SFG)

Prospect Spotlight

The son of five-time all-star Luis Gonzalez, the younger Jacob was drafted in the 2nd round by San Francisco in 2017. He was old for his class, turning 19 shortly after signing. He’s likely to finish out his first full pro season with Low-A Augusta as a 20-year-old, still plenty young for the South Atlantic League. I saw him play four games with the GreenJackets to close the season’s first half in June.

Gonzalez has his father’s impressive physicality, with chiseled and broad features across an extra-large frame that’s seriously jacked. With that strength comes an already-mature lower half and limited mobility, and while Gonzalez currently lines up at the hot corner for the GreenJackets, he profiles better in left field or first base. He has big league raw power already, able to loft the ball out to the pullside well for a player his age. There’s room to grow into more juice as he fills out his frame, and he’s likely to finish with 60-grade raw power. Gonzalez hits with a plan and has a good sense of the strike zone against fastballs, though there’s less bat-to-ball and ability to recognize spin. His swing is more strong than quick or loose, and I saw him have consistent issue covering the inner-third of the plate. There isn’t much ability to use the other field, and he was often out on his front foot after committing early to breaking stuff.

Despite a right-handed bat and LF/1B future, Gonzalez has the physicality and power potential to fit an everyday big league profile if he can get to an average hit tool. There’s pressure on his bat as a low-minors prospect who is likely to keep sliding down the defensive spectrum.