The White Sox continue to add depth to their affiliates.
According to multiple reports, the team has signed infielder Erik Gonzalez to a minor league contract. The deal includes an invite to spring training.
Gonzalez, 31, spent this past season with the Miami Marlins organization. The utility infielder appeared in a mere 16 games over a pair of major league stints, hitting a combined .189/.268/.216 (7-for-37) with one double and three RBI. Gonzalez spent the rest of his season a little north with Triple-A Jacksonville. Over 99 games this season, he slashed a more impressive .284/.336/.373 with four homers and 38 RBI.
Never known for his bat, Gonzalez entered the 2022 season with a career big-league slash of .245/.276/.345 (197-for-805) with 11 homers and 74 RBI between the Guardians and Pirates. What has given Gonzalez his opportunities at the major league level has been his versatility. He’s spent time at all four infield positions and in all three outfield slots, though the majority of his action has been at shortstop (124 games, 781.1 innings), third base (104 games, 655 innings), and second base (73 games, 384.2 innings). Per Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average, Gonzalez actually has plus defensive ratings at all three of those positions too. Third base continues to be the best of the positions at 13 DRS and 4 OAA.
As a fun fact, Gonzalez was the final out of Lucas Giolito’s no-hitter back in 2020.
It’s worth noting that Gonzalez has never appeared in more than 81 MLB games in a single season, thus confirming this is purely a depth-related move for the minor-league level. With names like Romy Gonzalez and Lenyn Sosa expected to be in play for the starting second base job, reinforcements will be needed in Triple-A Charlotte, where Erik Gonzalez will likely see the bulk of his action.
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