Oscar Gonzalez was signed out of the Dominican at 16 and struggled in his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League (.587 OPS in 70 games). He's had success at every level since then, but at 6'4", 240 lbs., his power output was seen as disappointing early in his career (33 HR in 335 games from age 18-21). His insistence on swinging at everything and anything he could, also didn't help his outlook (60 BB in 405 professional games). However, he batted .280+ and even after missing a year of action in 2020 (as nearly all low level minor leaguers did), Gonzalez had earned a spot in the AA starting lineup in 2021 at age 23, but he wasn't on any prospector's radar.
On opening night for Akron (AA) in 2021, Oscar struck out in each of his first three at-bats, but in his fourth trip to the plate he hit a walk-off 3-run homer. He hit two more home runs that first week and quickly became the star of the RubberDucks. Since I go to at least a half-dozen Akron games every summer (it used to be 10-15 when I lived closer) and check their box scores on a daily basis, I get attached to the kids who come through there like Gonzalez and Triston McKenzie. By mid-season, Gonzalez was hitting .330/.367/.601 and was promoted to AAA. He still was swinging early and often, but the power had arrived. At Columbus (AAA), his average dipped to .269, but he hit another 18 home runs.
Because he was signed at 16, hadn't leapfrogged any levels, and still wasn't placed on the 40-man roster, Gonzalez reached minor league free agency coming off his breakout season. He was a 23-year-old AAA player coming off a 31 HR season. He immediately resigned with the Guardians. However, since he still wasn't rostered, he was eligible for the Rule 5 draft. There was a lot of speculation that he could be the next Akil Baddoo, but Cleveland placed higher priority on the 20-year-olds in Single-A they needed to protect, like Jhonkensy Noel and Jose Tena. As it turned out, the lockout may have saved Oscar's career in Cleveland.
Gonzalez still wasn't considered a serious prospect… or any sort of prospect. MLB didn't list him among their top 30 Cleveland prospects. Fangraphs didn't even throw him an honorable mention in their top 48 prospects for the Guardians. Everyone said that a free swinger like Oscar would be eaten alive at the major league level. He also was considered a poor outfielder despite a strong arm. Oscar didn't care, he just kept swinging. His numbers were actually down just a bit at Columbus in 2022 (.270/.302/.482), but with two slap-hitters in the outfield in Myles Straw and Steven Kwan, once Oscar Mercado flamed out for the umpteenth time, the Guardians needed to find some pop somewhere.
Even I have to admit that I was expecting early struggles. Instead, Gonzalez had a 2-hit night in 5 of his first 7 games. He went hitless just once in his first 15 games. He had yet to hit a ball over the fence, but he didn't panic, he just became a doubles machine (9 in those first 15) and the home runs eventually came (11 in 91 games). He spent a short stint on the IL for an oblique strain and the league adjusted to him, but he adjusted back and hit .312/.351/.489 in September.
What's been overlooked is that for a big guy who swings a lot, he can really put the bat on the ball (19.6% K rate). Considering Cleveland's willingness to leave him unprotected last fall, I'm not sure if it's something the organization prioritizes or if it's just a happy coincidence, but even the guys in the middle of the order – Ramirez, Naylor, Gonzalez – make more contact than we're used to seeing out of sluggers (or anyone) these days. Oscar also has a lot of athleticism within that large frame. He can be a little awkward in right field at times and is never going to win a Gold Glove, but he hasn't been the butcher out there that was predicted. He ranks 60th in baseball in sprint speed and he threw out 3 base-runners in half a season. Now he just needs to keep making that sweet jump shot as he rounds the bases.