The Philadelphia Phillies have made a move to bolster their minor league roster, signing Jacob Gonzalez, a former second-round pick of the San Francisco Giants. The 25-year-old infielder officially inked a minor league contract with the Phillies on December 11, marking a new chapter in his professional baseball journey. Gonzalez, who spent the last two seasons in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization, brings a mix of potential and experience to the Phillies’ farm system.
Originally selected by the Giants as the 58th overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, Gonzalez entered the professional scene with high expectations, receiving a substantial $950,000 signing bonus from San Francisco. However, his performance in the Giants organization over four seasons failed to live up to the initial hype. Struggling offensively, Gonzalez faced challenges in showcasing the hit tool that had made him a high draft selection.
In his tenure with the Giants, Gonzalez spent two consecutive seasons at Single-A Augusta in 2018 and 2019, posting OPS figures of .627 and .679, respectively. Despite being considered a power threat in his amateur career, he only managed to hit 18 home runs in over 1,000 plate appearances.
The cancellation of the minor league season in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic further complicated Gonzalez’s development. His 2021 campaign saw him reinvent himself in rookie ball, making encouraging adjustments that resulted in an impressive slash line of .304/.360/.497. The Pittsburgh Pirates, recognizing his potential, selected him in the minor league version of the Rule 5 draft, concluding his time with the Giants.
Gonzalez experienced a resurgence in productivity with the Pirates, posting an .836 OPS between Single-A and High-A, marking his most successful season at the full-season ball level. Despite reaching Double-A in 2023 with Pittsburgh, his offensive output fell short, batting .237/.293/.351 in 338 plate appearances.
Now part of the Phillies organization, Gonzalez has been assigned to Double-A Reading, where he is expected to contribute as an organizational depth piece. The Phillies are likely hoping that Gonzalez can tap into his potential and further develop his skills within their minor league system.
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