House That Hank Built
Fansided

Atlanta Braves free agent profile: Carlos Gonzalez

By Benjamin Chase

PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 30: Carlos Gonzalez #5 of the Colorado Rockies bats against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on April 30, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, AZ - APRIL 30: Carlos Gonzalez #5 of the Colorado Rockies bats against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on April 30, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
Atlanta Braves
DENVER, CO – JUNE 18: Center fielder Carlos Gonzalez #5 of the Colorado Rockies makes a sliding catch off the bat of Jhonny Peralta #27 of the Detroit Tigers for the second out of the eighth inning at Coors Field on June 18, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images) /

The Atlanta Braves are looking for a big bat to plug into the outfield. Could a former Rockie be the right fit for the team?

The Atlanta Braves are looking for another outfielder this offseason. Could a former Colorado Rockies slugger be the right fit in the lineup? Let’s take a look at Carlos Gonzalez.

Player profile

The Arizona Diamondbacks originally signed Carlos Gonzalez out of Venezuela in August of 2002. They pushed Gonzalez up to advanced rookie Missoula for his pro debut in 2003, and he acquitted himself quite well, hitting .258/.308/.404 with 14 doubles, 4 triples, 6 home runs, and 12 steals in 72 games.

The Diamondbacks had Gonzalez open the 2004 season in the short-season Northwest League, but he hit well enough to force his way to low-A by the end of the year. Overall, he hit .274/.322/.425.

He exploded on the scene as a prospect in 2005 in low0A, beating up on the Midwest League to the tune of a .307/.371/.489 line with 28 doubles, 6 triples, 18 home runs, and 7 steals. After that season, he was ranked as the #32 prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America.

Gonzalez pushed up two levels, hitting across high-A and AA at 20 years old, with a .289/.348/.543 line with 41 doubles, 4 triples, 23 home runs, and 16 stolen bases. He was ranked the highest of his career after that season as the #18 prospect by Baseball America and the #31 prospect by Baseball Prospectus.

He pushed his way toward the major leagues in 2007, hitting across both upper levels, with a .288/.336/.478 line, putting up 38 doubles, 3 triples, 17 home runs, and 10 stolen bases. He was ranked the #22 prospect in the game by BA and #26 by BP.

In December of 2007, he was part of a huge trade, as he was traded with Brett Anderson, Chris Carter, Aaron Cunningham, Dana Eveland, and Greg Smith to the Oakland Athletics for Dan Haren and Connor Robertson.

Home/Braves News