11. Jacob Gonzalez
SS
Ht: 6'2" | Wt: 200 | B-T: L-R
School: Mississippi Source: 4YR
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.1
BA Grade:55/High
Tools:Hit: 55. Power: 55. Run: 30. Field: 50. Arm: 55.
Gonzalez was a top-300 prospect out of Glendora (Calif.) High in 2020 who stood out for his multi-sport athleticism and powerful lefthanded swing. He went unselected and made his way to campus at Mississippi, where he’s been the starting shortstop since he stepped on campus, helped lead the team to a 2022 College World Series championship and was also selected to Team USA’s Collegiate National Team in back-to-back years. A strong and physical, 6-foot-2, 200-pound lefthanded hitter, Gonzalez has hit .319/.427/.561 through 186 games in his Ole Miss career, with 40 home runs and standout zone control skills. He is a patient and selective hitter who pairs a keen eye with solid pure bat-to-ball skills, evidenced by his 14.3% career walk rate, 10.9% career strikeout rate and an 84% contact rate in 2023. Gonzalez has above-average power potential, though his swing is a bit unorthodox and he’s been a pull-heavy hitter throughout his career. Gonzalez has a coiled upper half with his shoulders pointed toward first base, but he has an open stance with his lower half and doesn’t always get fully back to an even position at contact. In college he’s had no trouble extending his hands on the outer third and yanking balls to the pull side, though scouts wonder how he’ll handle both quality velocity and offspeed pitches on the outer rail in pro ball. Gonzalez is a 30-grade runner who takes a long time to get up to speed and because of that—and his size—scouts wonder if he’ll slide over to third base. He does have a lengthy track record as a reliable defender at shortstop, with good hands and above-average arm strength. If a team thinks he can stick at shortstop, Gonzalez offers an intriguing blend of impact, contact ability and on-base skill at a premium position with a low-pulse demeanor that should excel in a pro environment.
