In his first full MLB season, Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales has had a quietly strong year at the plate.
Prior to taking a routine rest day in Tuesday’s series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers, Gonzales was averaging a hit per game over his previous seven contests. Despite missing close to a month while he was sidelined with a groin injury, Gonzales has had a solid first full season in the big leagues, slashing .269/.306/.383 with five home runs and 47 RBI in his first 89 games before that breather.
Gonzales’ late-game heroics were on display most recently in the Pirates’ series finale against the St. Louis Cardinals last week, when he went 2-for-4 with a triple, a run, an RBI and a stolen base in a 3-2 win that helped Pittsburgh avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of a National League Central Division rival…