Amid the spotlight on the debut of 2023 No. 1 overall pick Paul Skenes, the Pittsburgh Pirates made another notable addition to their active roster. Nick Gonzales, a former first-round pick, was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis, with manager Derek Shelton confirming that the red-hot second baseman would start Friday night against the Chicago Cubs.
In order to accommodate Gonzales, utility infielder Alika Williams was optioned to Indianapolis. Williams had been batting .239/.271/.348 with a double, two triples, and two RBIs in 15 games, starting nine at second base and five at shortstop.
Gonzales, who was selected seventh overall by the Pirates in 2020, had been impressing in Indianapolis with a .358/.431/.608 slash line, including a team-leading 14 doubles and four home runs, along with 19 RBIs in 35 games.
Despite a challenging MLB debut last June 23, where he batted .209 with eight doubles, a triple, two homers, and 13 RBIs, Gonzales is being counted on for his potential. However, he did struggle with 36 strikeouts against six walks in 35 games.
Meanwhile, the highly anticipated major league debut of 21-year-old right-hander Skenes, regarded as baseball’s top pitching prospect, is set for Saturday against the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park. This significant addition will necessitate adjustments to both the 40-man and active rosters.
Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 260 pounds, Skenes boasts impressive stats from Indianapolis, including a 0.99 ERA and 0.91 WHIP over seven starts, with 45 strikeouts and eight walks in 27 1/3 innings. Following his success at LSU and a draft-record $9.2 million bonus, he made 12 starts in the minors, including five across three levels last summer.
Skenes brings a diverse pitching arsenal, highlighted by a four-seam fastball that consistently reaches over 100 mph, a sharp-breaking slider, and a unique splitter-sinker hybrid known as a splinker, complemented by a changeup and curveball. Notably, he hit triple digits nine times in his latest outing at Indianapolis, albeit conceding the first home run of his professional career.
