| Adrián González | |
|---|---|
 González with the Boston Red Sox in 2011 | |
| First baseman | |
| Born: (1982-05-08)May 8, 1982 (age 43) San Diego, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Left Threw: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 18, 2004, for the Texas Rangers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 10, 2018, for the New York Mets | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .287 |
| Hits | 2,050 |
| Home runs | 317 |
| Runs batted in | 1,202 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Adrián González Savín (born May 8, 1982), also known by his nicknames "A-Gon" and "Titán",[1] is a Mexican-American former professionalbaseballfirst baseman. He played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theTexas Rangers,San Diego Padres,Boston Red Sox,Los Angeles Dodgers, andNew York Mets.
González was born in the United States, but was raised inTijuana, Baja California, Mexico, until 1990, when he returned to the United States. He played forMexico in the2006,2009,2013, and the2017 editions of theWorld Baseball Classic and the2020 Olympic Games.
González was thefirst overall pick in the2000 MLB draft by theFlorida Marlins. He was traded to the Rangers, and made his MLB debut with them in 2004. He was traded to the Padres after the 2005 season, where he was anAll-Star selection three times and a two-timeGold Glove Award winner. He was traded to the Red Sox after the 2010 season, and was traded to the Dodgers in August 2012. After playing for the Dodgers throughout the 2017 season, he was traded to theAtlanta Braves, but was released without playing for them. He then played for the Mets, who released him during the 2018 season.
Adrián González was born inSan Diego, California, to David and Alba González, both Mexican natives.[2][3] González is the youngest of three boys; his brothers are David Jr. andEdgar, a former big leaguer.[4] After his birth, his parents moved the family toTijuana, where his father owned an air-conditioner business.[2] The three boys grew up playing baseball in Mexico,[2] where their father had been a member of theMexico national baseball team.[5] In 1990, the family returned to the United States, settling inBonita, California.[5]
While Adrián was drafted by theFlorida Marlins out of high school, his brotherEdgar Gonzalez attendedSan Diego State University and was selected by theTampa Bay Rays in the 30th round of the 2000 draft.[5] Edgar debuted in the major leagues as a utility man with theSan Diego Padres in 2008, joining his brother as a teammate.[5][6]
In 2012, David and Alba González were named George and Barbara Bush Little League Parents of the Year.[4] In November 2012, González was honored as one of 30 "exemplary citizens" by the mayor of Tijuana in an official ceremony.[2]
González was projected to be a late first-round pick out ofEastlake High School inChula Vista, California;[7][8] however, his stock increased with his senior-year performance.[9] In his senior year, he hit .645 with 13 home runs and 34 runs batted in.[10]
In June 2000, González became the first infield position player to be drafted first overall sinceAlex Rodriguez in 1993. He was given a $3 million signing bonus by theFlorida Marlins.[11] While in the Marlins organization, González played with theGulf Coast League Marlins,Kane County Cougars,Utica Blue Sox,Portland Sea Dogs (2002),[12]Albuquerque Isotopes (2003), andCarolina Mudcats (2003). With the Single-A Kane County Cougars in his second professional season, González hit .312 with 17 home runs and 103 RBIs in 127 games. As a result, he was selected by theMidwest League as itsMost Valuable Player andProspect of the Year. He also played in theAll-Star Futures Game.
After a wrist injury, the Marlins felt González would be hindered swinging the bat, so they included González in a June 2003 trade with theTexas Rangers, along withRyan Snare and minor leaguer Will Smith, to acquire relief pitcherUgueth Urbina to aid their championship drive.[13] González played with the Rangers' Class-AA team, theFrisco RoughRiders, until he made his major-league debut against theSeattle Mariners on April 18, 2004. He was hitless in three at-bats. He recorded his first base hit on April 20 againstRamón Ortiz of theAnaheim Angels and his first home run on April 25 offKevin Jarvis of the Seattle Mariners. He played in 16 games for Texas in 2004 and in 43 games in 2005, with a combined batting average of .229 and 7 homers.
After the season, González was traded to theSan Diego Padres along with pitcherChris Young andoutfielderTerrmel Sledge. In return, the Rangers receivedAdam Eaton andAkinori Otsuka. Originally seen as an eventual replacement forRyan Klesko at first base, González was given the job when Klesko underwent shoulder surgery.
With extended playing time at first base in 2006, González continued to improve his hitting and defense. On July 23, 2006, he was named theNL Player of the Week.[14] In his first full season, he led the Padres inbatting average (.304) andhome runs (24). He was the first player inPetco Park history to have more than one multiple home run game. He was named the Padres MVP for 2006.[15]
On March 31, 2007, González agreed to a $9.5 million, four-year deal, with a club option for $5.5 million in 2011.[16] In the 2007 season, he led the Padres in home runs again, with 30, and had a team-high 100 RBIs. He led all Major League first basemen with 161 games and a career-high 46 doubles.[15]
In the 2008 season, González finished with a .279 average and once again led the Padres with 36 home runs and 119 RBIs. He was elected to theMLB All-Star Game as a reserve. In the exhibition, he went 1 for 3 with a single and a sacrifice fly, driving inMiguel Tejada. He won his firstGold Glove Award in 2008 at first base and set career highs in games played (162), home runs (36), RBI (119), runs scored (103), walks (74), and slugging percentage (.510). He was named the Padres MVP for the second time.[15]
González played winter ball in theMexican Pacific League with theVenados de Mazatlán. In theCaribbean Series, he led his team past the Dominican Republic'sTigres del Licey with a record-setting 3 home runs on February 4.[17]
González hit 23 homers, leading the majors in that category through May 2009 despite playing his home games at Petco Park, which Padres statisticians describe as an "extremepitcher's park."[18] On May 18, González was described as being one of the two most underrated players in the National League according to anMLB.com poll of major league executives and managers.[18] On June 1, he was named the NL Co-Player of the Week for the second time in his career. During that week, González hit four home runs, tallied 10 RBIs, and had a 1.000 slugging percentage.[19] González was elected to theMLB All-Star Game after voting by fellow players, managers and coaches.[20] He subsequently participated in that year'sHome Run Derby, where he hit two home runs in the first round. On August 1, González batted 6-for-6 with threeRBI as the Padres topped theMilwaukee Brewers 13–6. González's six hits are the most by any Padre in a nine-inning game. Three others have accomplished the feat, but did it in extra-inning contests. González hit five singles and a double.[21]
He led the majors in walks in 2009 with 119[22] and set a major league record with eight consecutive multi-walk games,[23] a record which still stands as of 2020[update].[24] He also hit 40 home runs for the first time in his career. He was named the Padres team MVP for 2009, his third time honored.[15]
González started the 2010 season playing well. On May 24, he was named the NL Player of the Week for the fourth time in his career.[25] On June 2, González hit awalk-offgrand slam in the eleventh inning of a 5–1 victory over theNew York Mets.[26] In July, González was elected to participate in his third consecutiveAll-Star game.
During the 2010 season, González had 176 hits in 591 at-bats, good for a .298 batting average, his highest since hitting .304 in 2006. His 93 walks put him in third place in the NL behind onlyPrince Fielder (114) andAlbert Pujols (103). He finished with 31 home runs and 101 RBI, the third time in his career he had 100 RBI or more. González played in 160 games on the year, tying him withRickie Weeks for 5th in the NL. He scored 87 runs on the season, compiling 302total bases, which also tied him with Weeks, for 6th in the NL. González was named team MVP for the third consecutive year and the fourth time overall with the Padres.[27]
On December 6, 2010, González was traded to theBoston Red Sox for a package of right-handed pitcherCasey Kelly, first basemanAnthony Rizzo, outfielderReymond Fuentes, and aplayer to be named later, later determined to beEric Patterson.[28][29]
On April 15, 2011, González and the Red Sox agreed to a seven-year contract extension worth $154 million through the 2018 season.[30] On June 19, González hit his 1,000th career hit: a triple off ofMilwaukee Brewers pitcherYovani Gallardo.[31]
On July 3, 2011, González was selected to theAll-Star Game in Arizona along with teammatesJosh Beckett,Jacoby Ellsbury,David Ortiz,Kevin Youkilis, andJon Lester. González hit a home run in the game and was responsible for the only run for theAmerican League. Additionally, Ortiz selected González as one of three sluggers to join him in theHome Run Derby, where he finished second toRobinson Canó. González tied a record for most home runs in the final round of the home run derby at 11, which was then surpassed by the victor Canó.
González was named ALPlayer of the Month for June 2011 with a .404 average (40 for 99) – the best in the Majors for that month.[32] After placing second in the2011 Home Run Derby, González faced a home-run slump until he hit five home runs in ten at-bats on August 23–25.
On November 21, González finished seventh in MVP voting, trailing his teammate Ellsbury in second and the winner,Detroit Tigers aceJustin Verlander.
González appeared on the cover of baseball video gameMLB 12: The Show.[33] In 2012, González appeared in 123 games with the Red Sox, hitting .300 with 15 homers and 86 RBI.
On August 25, 2012, González was traded to theLos Angeles Dodgers (along withJosh Beckett,Nick Punto andCarl Crawford) and $11 million in cash forJames Loney,Iván DeJesús Jr.,Allen Webster and two players to be named later (Jerry Sands andRubby De La Rosa).[34] In his first at bat with the Dodgers that same day, he hit a three-run home run against theMiami Marlins.[35] In 36 games with the Dodgers, he hit .297 with 3 homers and 22 RBI.
In the 2013 season, González appeared in 157 games for the Dodgers and hit .293 with 22 home runs and 100 RBI. He was a candidate for thefinal vote at theAll-Star Game but was not chosen for the game.
In Game 5 of theNLCS against theSt. Louis Cardinals, González went 3 for 4 with 2 home runs. The Dodgers would eventually lose the series in six games.
González finished the 2014 season with 116 RBI, most in the majors. He was the Dodgers' nominee for theHank Aaron Award, after hitting 27 home runs in 159 games. However, his batting average of .276 was the lowest of his career. He finished up the season by winning theSilver Slugger Award for NL first baseman and also won several awards for his defense at first base, including theGold Glove Award,Fielding Bible Award andWilson Defensive Player of the Year Award.
González opened the 2015 season with five home runs in the first three games of the season, including three on April 8 againstAndrew Cashner. He was the first MLB player to hit five home runs in the first three games of the season.[36] By homering in his fifth consecutive game, dating back to the end of the 2014 season, he tied the team record, which he shares withRoy Campanella (1950),Shawn Green (2001),Matt Kemp (2010), andJoc Pederson (2015).[37] He won the player of the week award as a result of that performance.[38] He was also awarded with theNational League Player of the Month award for April as he hit .383 with eight home runs and 19 RBI in the month.[39] He recorded his 1,000th career RBI when he hit a two-run home run offJulio Teherán of theAtlanta Braves on May 26.[40] Gonzalez was selected to theAll-Star Game, the first Dodger first baseman selected sinceNomar Garciaparra in 2006.[41] He finished the season by hitting .275 in 156 games with 28 home runs and 90 RBI, the lowest RBI total he had since 2006.[42]
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González played for theMexico national baseball team in theWorld Baseball Classic qualifiers during spring training in March 2016. The team was managed by his brotherEdgar.[43] On June 22, 2016, during a game against theWashington Nationals, Gonzalez made a highlight-reel catch after a ball in foul territory deflected offChase Utley's glove and off Gonzalez's leg.[44] On August 7, he hit his 300th career home run against theBoston Red Sox.[45] On the season he appeared in 156 games, with a .285 batting average, 18 homers and 90 RBI. It was the fewest home runs he had hit in a season since 2012.[46]
On May 5, 2017, González was placed on the 10-daydisabled list (DL) due to right elbow soreness. It was the first time in his MLB career that González was put on the DL.[47] González recorded his 2,000th career hit with a double offJohnny Barbato of thePittsburgh Pirates on August 22.[48][49] González dealt with lingering back issues during the 2017 season, which caused him to spend half the season on the DL and lose playing time to rookieCody Bellinger at first base. For the 2017 season, González only appeared in 71 games, batting .242/.287/.355 with 30 RBIs. He was shut down for the season in September and did not appear on the Dodgers playoff roster.[50] In his final at-bat with the Dodgers, Gonzalez hit a home run against the Padres, giving him the rare distinction of having homered in both his first and last at-bats with the team.[51]
On December 16, 2017, the Dodgers traded González,Charlie Culberson,Scott Kazmir,Brandon McCarthy, and $4.5 million to theAtlanta Braves forMatt Kemp.[52] Immediately following the trade, the Braves designated González for assignment,[53] then released him two days later.[54] González waived his no-trade clause to facilitate the trade, which he did because he wanted to testfree agency.[55]
On January 18, 2018, González signed a one-year contract with theNew York Mets.[56] He was still due $21.5 million from his 2011 contract extension, with the Mets paying him $545,000 for the season.[57]
On June 10, 2018, the Mets granted González his unconditional release. In 54 games with the Mets, he batted .237/.299/.373; he had just three hits in his final 27 at bats with the team.[58]
On March 30, 2021, González announced his return to baseball and officially signed with theMariachis de Guadalajara of theMexican League.[59] On July 19, González announced that he would retire from professional baseball following the conclusion of the Mexican League season.[60] In 43 games for Guadalajara, González batted .340/.412/.531 with 6 home runs and 41 RBI. He officially announced his retirement from professional baseball on February 5, 2022.[61]
González and his wife Betsy reside in the San Diego County community ofLa Jolla.[62] They have two daughters.[63] The couple createdThe Adrián and Betsy González Foundation, which is focused on empowering underprivileged youth in areas of athletics, education and health.[64] As one of his charitable endeavors, González paid for the refurbishing of the baseball field in the Tijuana sports complex where he played as a youth.[2]
González is aChristian and engraved on his bats is "PS 27:1" for verse 1 fromPsalm 27.[65] González has spoken about his faith saying, "I don't want to be remembered in baseball. I want to be remembered as a good witness forChrist. ... I'm just trying to use this platform to bring people to Christ."[66]
The leader in two of the three legs of the American League triple crown and a true force in the middle of the Red Sox lineup, first baseman Adrian Gonzalez on Tuesday was named the Budweiser Presents American League Player of the Month for June.
