We continue our series on ranking the top 10 minor-league prospects for the Texas Rangers.
Ranking: 5
Player: Alex Gonzalez
Position: RHP
Draft selection: 2013, first-round pick
Team: Triple-A Round Rock
2014 season: 7-4, 2.70 ERA, 73.1 IP, 67 H, WHIP 1.25
Positives: Fastball in the mid-90s
Negatives: Changeup
When will he be here?: There's a strong possibility he'll pitch with the big club in 2015 and get a long look in spring training. He won't be on the 40-man roster, but the Rangers are looking for him to move up soon. He has four good pitches: slider, fastball, curveball and changeup. Team officials like how he throws the curveball for strikes.
What they're saying: "Working from a consistent 3/4 arm slot, Gonzalez repeats his delivery very well, mixing a mid-90s fastball with a superior, late-breaking slider. Seen by some as a reliever, his future as a starting pitcher will hinge on whether his changeup, currently below-average, can be refined into a reliable offering. One big plus in his favor: he's known for maintaining his good stuff deep into ballgames." -- Scouting Book.com
"Gonzalez can give hitters fits with two different pitches. He commands his fastball to both sides of the plate with cut and sink, usually operating around 90-94 mph. His mid-80s slider was one of the best available in the 2013 Draft." -- MLB.com
The series:
No. 6 Jake Thompson
