| Carlos González | |
|---|---|
.jpg) González with the Colorado Rockies in 2013 | |
| Outfielder | |
| Born: (1985-10-17)October 17, 1985 (age 40) Maracaibo,Venezuela | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| May 30, 2008, for the Oakland Athletics | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 27, 2019, for the Chicago Cubs | |
| Career statistics | |
| Batting average | .285 |
| Home runs | 234 |
| Runs batted in | 785 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Carlos Eduardo González (born October 17, 1985), nicknamed "CarGo", is aVenezuelan former professionalbaseballoutfielder. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) from 2008 to 2019, most prominently as a member of theColorado Rockies, where he was a three-timeAll-Star player and the2010National League (NL)batting champion. González also won threeGold Glove Awards and twoSilver Slugger Awards with the Rockies.
While mainly aright fielder throughout his career, González was the Rockies' startingleft fielder from 2010 to 2014; in 2015 he transitioned to right field. He debuted in MLB with theOakland Athletics and played for theCleveland Indians andChicago Cubs in his final season in the majors.
Born inMaracaibo, Venezuela, González signed with theArizona Diamondbacks as an internationalfree agent on August 3, 2002. González began hisprofessional baseball career in 2003 for the Rookie LeagueMissoula Osprey. Gonzálezbatted .258 with sixhome runs in 72 games. In 2004, González split time between the Low Single-AYakima Bears and the Single-ASouth Bend Silver Hawks. In 85 games, he batted .275 with 10 home runs.
González played again for the Silver Hawks in 2005. He led the team in games played (129) andRBIs (92), and was also second on the team in batting average (.307), home runs (18),at bats (515) andruns scored (91). González was named to theMidwest League midseason and postseason All-Star teams and was also selected as theMidwest League Most Valuable Player andProspect of the Year.Baseball America andTopps each named González as a Low Class-A All-Star.Topps also chose him as the Midwest League Player of the Year.
In 2006,Baseball America rated González at #32 on their top 100 prospects list and was the 6th-highest Diamondbacks player on that list. González mainly played for the High Single-ALancaster JetHawks in 2006, but also spent some time with the Double-ATennessee Smokies. González played in 122 games and batted .289 with a career high 23 home runs. He also led the JetHawks in home runs (21) and RBIs (93). González was also anAll-Star Futures Game selection and aCalifornia League postseason All-Star selection.Baseball America rated González as a High Class-A All-Star, and he received the same honor fromTopps.
In 2007,Baseball America rated González at #18 on their top 10 prospects list and was the 3rd highest Diamondbacks player on that list. González mainly played for the Double-AMobile BayBears, but also spent some time in Triple-A with theTucson Sidewinders. González played in 130 games and batted .288 with 17 home runs. González led the BayBears in home runs (16) and RBI (75). González was once again named to the All-Star Futures Game.
On December 14, 2007, the Diamondbacks traded González,Dana Eveland,Aaron Cunningham,Chris Carter,Brett Anderson, andGreg Smith to theOakland Athletics forDan Haren andConnor Robertson.[1]
On May 30, 2008, González made his MLB debut at the age of 22 against theTexas Rangers, where he got his first careerhit, an opposite fielddouble down theleft field line off Texas RangerspitcherKevin Millwood. This was one of two doubles he hit in his major league debut. His next five major league hits were also doubles, making González the first player sinceHall of FamerJohnny Mize in 1936 to record the first seven hits of his career as extra base hits.[2] On June 20, 2008, González hit his first career home run against theFlorida Marlins. It was a solo home run that was hit off acurveball to right-center field. He had his first 4-hit game, going 4-for-4 against theToronto Blue Jays on August 8.
On November 12, 2008, González was traded withHuston Street andGreg Smith to theColorado Rockies forMatt Holliday.[3] After what many called a disappointing season with Oakland, González spent most of the season with the Rockies Triple-A affiliate, theColorado Springs Sky Sox. After a series of injuries to the Rockies outfield, González was called up and started slowly, but eventually began to produce, proving himself as a nice combination of power and speed atop the lineup. In theNational League Division Series against thePhiladelphia Phillies, González tied the franchise record for the most hits in an NLDS with 10, and led theNLDS andALDS inbatting average with .588 in four games.
On July 31, 2010, in a game against theChicago Cubs, Gonzálezhit for the cycle, including awalk-off home run on the first pitch in the bottom of the 9th inning.[4] He became the first player sinceDwight Evans of theBoston Red Sox in 1984 to hit a walk-off home run for the cycle, according to theElias Sports Bureau. ManagerJim Tracy labeled González as not just afive-tool player, but a "six-tool player."[5][6] Only four other players in major league baseball history had completed a cycle with a game-ending homer:Ken Boyer (1961),[7]César Tovar (1972),[6]George Brett (1979),[8]Dwight Evans (1984).[9]Nolan Arenado repeated the feat in 2017 to make it six total players in major league history.
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In 2010, González finished in the top 5 in home runs, batting average, RBIs, and runs scored in the National League. He was a contender for theTriple Crown andNational League MVP award, along withSt. Louis Cardinals first basemanAlbert Pujols andCincinnati Reds first basemanJoey Votto.[10][11] However, González fell short on home runs and narrowly missed having the most RBI but did manage to win theNL batting title in 2010 with a .336 average. He finished with 34 home runs, 117 RBI and a National League-leading 197 hits. He also led the National League intotal bases (351) andpower-speed number (29.5).[12][13]
González received the National LeaguePlayers Choice Award for Outstanding Player in 2010.[14] He then won thePlayers Choice Award for Player of the Year throughout theMLBPA.[15] González also won theLuis Aparicio Award, given to the most outstanding Venezuelan player in MLB, as voted by Venezuelan and international Spanish-speaking media.[16] He finished third in voting forNational League MVP.[17] For his defensive efforts in 2010, in which he only committed one error in the outfield, González won his firstGold Glove.[18] On the offensive side, González received his firstSilver Slugger Award.[19]
González signed a seven-year, $80.5 million contract extension with the Rockies on January 11, 2011. The contract included a $3 million signing bonus and yearly salaries through 2017 that ramp up to $20 million. It is the largest contract in MLB history for a two-year player. On May 31, 2012, he became the 22nd player in MLB history to hit a home run in four consecutive at-bats, doing this during a two-game span against theHouston Astros. In early July 2011, González injured his right wrist and was placed on thedisabled list. On July 21, 2011, he yet again injured the wrist against theAtlanta Braves. On May 14, 2013, he went 5-for-5 against theChicago Cubs atWrigley Field, hitting 2 home runs and setting a new career high with 5 hits in one game. On June 5, 2013, he hit 3 home runs against theCincinnati Reds atGreat American Ball Park in a 12–4 victory.
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In 2014, with the breakout ofCorey Dickerson, González was moved to right field.
González won a Silver Slugger Award in right field for the 2015 season after hitting 40 home runs, second most in the National League.[20]
After his poor performance in the 2017 season, it was highly speculated that González would not return to play for the Rockies in the 2018 season. After the 2017 season, González temporarily left the team and entered free agency. However, González was re-signed to a one-year, $8 million contract on March 12, 2018, to remain playing for the Rockies.
In 2018, he played 132 games hitting 16 home runs and batting .276 with 67 RBI's. He entered free agency at the end of the season.
González signed a minor league contract with theCleveland Indians on March 19, 2019; the deal included a non-roster invitation to spring training. He is set to make $2 million, plus $1 million in incentives, because he made the big league roster.[21][22]
The Indians purchased González's contract on April 14, 2019.[23] González was designated for assignment by the Indians on May 22, 2019, after hitting .210 with 2 home runs and 7 runs batted in. After clearing waivers, González elected free agency on May 26, 2019.
On May 30, 2019, González agreed to a minor league contract with theChicago Cubs. The team purchased his contract on June 3, 2019, and he was the starting right fielder in an inter-league game against the Los Angeles Angels. With one out and the bases loaded in the seventh inning, González made a highlight-reel game-saving diving catch.[24] On June 29, he was designated for assignment for the second time in the 2019 season.[25] On July 2, González again elected free agency.[26][27]
González signed to a minor league contract with theSeattle Mariners on February 12, 2020, with theSeattle Mariners. The team released him on June 25, before the2020 season began.[28]
González married Indonesia Riera on October 20, 2012.[29][30] He is the father of a boy and twin girls.[31]
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Hitting for the cycle July 31, 2010 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
