Pirates' Erik Gonzalez takes aggressive mindset into batter's box

There’s a reason Derek Shelton likes turning around in the Pittsburgh Pirates dugout and seeing Erik Gonzalez waiting to be called into the game.

“He plays three positions on the infield, above average,” Shelton said of his utility player who can handle the chores at shortstop, second and third base.

But what about first base?

“I would say he would play above average at first,” Shelton said. “He just hasn’t played there enough to even make that statement. But I have no problem putting him over there.”

Gonzalez actually played first base for nine games with the Cleveland Indians in 2018 — without an error.

He even started a game in center field for the Pirates in 2019 — without an error.

“He can go in the outfield and he does a nice job out there,” Shelton said.

In fact, Gonzalez has accepted 589 defensive chances over six seasons at every position aside from pitcher and catcher and made only 22 errors.

But Gonzalez is hoping to expand his offensive game this season, and he doesn’t plan to do it by letting too many pitches get away.

Gonzalez has been to the plate 37 times and drawn only one walk. In 661 career plate appearances, he’s walked only 27 times.

“I’ve always been known as an aggressive hitter. I love to go into the box and be on attack mode,” he said Friday through interpreter Mike Gonzalez.

“I’m not that type of hitter that just sits in there waiting around. I’m going in there with a plan to hit the fastball, and once I see that fastball, I’m taking a good swing at it. That’s why I’m more consistent in putting the ball in play and not very much recognized as a hitter who gets walked a lot.”

While sharing shortstop with Kevin Newman, Gonzalez is hitting .250, but he’s third on the team in two key offensive categories — RBIs (eight) and doubles (three). Only Colin Moran and Adam Frazier have driven home more runs (nine) and only Frazier (five) and Jacob Stallings (four) have more doubles entering Saturday’s game in Milwaukee.

Gonzalez also has five hits in 12 at-bats with runners in scoring position, including a grand slam in the ninth inning of an 11-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on April 7.

Asked if the home run boosted his confidence, Gonzalez said it already was high.

“Even though that grand slam was a great experience,” he said, “I can’t really say that it was a help or an encouragement or a feel-good situation to help me carry on or start off the season.

“If anything, I’ve just been working hard. I’ve been working really hard. What’s been giving me confidence is my preparation, my work ethic, all the work that I’m putting in.

“Even in my at-bats, I really feel very good about my at-bats. I know my average, in the numbers, is not showing it very well. However, before that grand slam and after, I feel I’ve been getting really good at-bats. I’m seeing the ball really well.”

Gonzalez struck out as a pinch-hitter Friday night in Milwaukee, but he believes his consistency at the plate will improve the more he plays.

“From the beginning, I’ve always believed that the more at-bats, the more opportunities, the more consistency that I get, the better I’m going to feel,” he said. “I look at ball players I admire very highly, like Manny Ramirez, Barry Bonds. In the first year, their averages weren’t the greatest. But because they got more playing time, they got more consistent.”

He said he won’t waste his opportunities by keeping the bat on his shoulder. Gonzalez plays the game knowing that even light hits often can be better than a walk.

In the loss to the San Diego Padres on Thursday, Gonzalez doubled to drive in a run. The hit was clocked at 74.7 mph off the bat, but Shelton didn’t care.

“If you put the ball in play, things can happen,” he said.

Love baseball? Stay up-to-date with the latest Pittsburgh Pirates news.