Pirates add first-round pick Nick Gonzales to their alternate training site in Altoona

The Pittsburgh Pirates are adding No. 1 draft pick Nick Gonzales to their alternate training site in Altoona, paving the way for the former New Mexico State shortstop to play professional baseball this summer.

Gonzales is awaiting results from a covid-19 test before he can practice, his father Mike Gonzales told the Tribune-Review. The Pirates have 20 players in training camp at Altoona’s Peoples Natural Gas Field, home of their Double-A affiliate, the Altoona Curve.

Confirmed this report, that the #Pirates first-round draft pick, shortstop Nick Gonzales from New Mexico State, is at alternate training site in Altoona. Awaiting clearance from Covid-19 test results before he can practice with 20-man squad. https://t.co/gOVBbeytM3

— Kevin Gorman (@KevinGormanPGH) July 15, 2020

The Pirates had an opening on their 60-man roster when pitcher Hector Noesi opted out last week, with Pirates manager Derek Shelton citing family reasons.

Gonzales, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, signed with the Pirates for a $5,434,400 bonus on June 23 and was introduced a day later in a virtual news conference at PNC Park. At the time, he didn’t know what his immediate future held because the minor-league season was on the verge of being canceled.

Take it all in, @Nick_Gonzales13. pic.twitter.com/gdwdKkQQdZ

— Pirates (@Pirates) June 24, 2020

“Whenever anything is up and ready, I’ll be ready to play,” Gonzales said. “I’m just going to pretty much do the same thing I’ve been doing the whole quarantine, just training and getting ready for whatever is next, whether it’s in a week or whether it’s a few months from now.”

The 5-foot-10, 190-pound shortstop was the 2019 NCAA batting champion with a .432 average. Gonzales slashed .448/.610/1.155 and led the NCAA in home runs (12), RBIs (36), runs (28) and total bases (67) in 16 games this past season.

“Coming out of college, obviously, you have a little quicker route,” Gonzales said. “I’m not really focused on that. I’m just focused on my development, getting around the right coaches and learning. Professional baseball is a little bit different than college ball. Just working toward my development and trusting the process for me is going to be huge.”