Carlos Gonzalez

Lore & Background

González signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as an international free agent on August 3, 2002. He made his MLB debut with the Oakland Athletics on May 30, 2008. On November 12, 2008, he was traded to the Colorado Rockies. He hit for the cycle on July 31, 2010, including a walk-off home run. He won the NL batting title in 2010 with a .336 average. He signed a seven-year, $80.5 million contract extension on January 11, 2011. He hit 40 home runs in 2015 and won a Silver Slugger Award. After the 2017 season, he entered free agency but was re-signed to a one-year, $8 million contract on March 12, 2018. He played for the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs in 2019.

In Their Own Story

The August night air at Coors Field hangs thick with the smell of cut grass and the low hum of ten thousand voices. Gonzalez jogs to the outfield grass, glove loose at his side, and the crowd swells in a low, rolling roar. A fly ball rockets off the bat, arcing high into the black sky above the outfield wall. The crowd's breath catches. Gonzalez tracks it, breaks into a sprint, and leaps—glove extended, fingers spread—and the leather snaps shut around the ball just as his toes leave the turf. He lands, rolls, and fires a one-handed throw to second that arrives before the runner's foot touches the bag. The stadium detonates. Gonzalez turns, points to the crowd, and grins. For a moment, the whole park belongs to him.

Reader's Guide

González was mainly a right fielder throughout his career, but was the Rockies' starting left fielder from 2010 to 2014; in 2015 he transitioned to right field. He debuted in MLB with the Oakland Athletics and played for the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs in his final season in the majors.

Did You Know?

• González was the first player since Johnny Mize in 1936 to record the first seven hits of his career as extra base hits.
• He became the 22nd player in MLB history to hit a home run in four consecutive at-bats, doing so in a two-game span against the Houston Astros on May 31, 2012.
• González won the National League Players Choice Award for Outstanding Player in 2010 and the Players Choice Award for Player of the Year.