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Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Nick Gonzales Hits 2nd AFL Home Run

By Marty Leap

Feb 29, 2020; Las Cruces, NM, USA; NMSU junior Nick Gonzales runs the bases as the New Mexico State Men's Baseball team faces off against Purdue Fort Wayne in the first game of a double header at Presley Askew Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan J Fish/Sun-News via USA TODAY Network
Feb 29, 2020; Las Cruces, NM, USA; NMSU junior Nick Gonzales runs the bases as the New Mexico State Men's Baseball team faces off against Purdue Fort Wayne in the first game of a double header at Presley Askew Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan J Fish/Sun-News via USA TODAY Network /
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Nick Gonzales hit his 2nd home run of the Arizona Fall League season as one of the Pittsburgh Pirates top infield prospects helped lead the Surprise Saguaros to victory

Arizona Fall League play continued for Pittsburgh Pirates prospects and the Surprise Saguaros on Monday night. Following a 6-2 victory over the Peoria Javelinas, the Saguaros now own an 8-5 record through their first 13 games.

Nick Gonzales had his first poor game of the Arizona Fall League season. While Gonzales had just one hit, he still put together a strong bounce back game with the Saguaros on Tuesday.

In Tuesday’s victory Gonzales hit his 2nd home run of the AFL season. This home run was a two-run blast in the 9th inning, extending the Saguaros lead to 6-2 and effectively putting the game on ice.

Through his first 38 plate appearances in the AFL this season Gonzales, who started at shortstop on Tuesday and has also played second and third base, now owns a .918 OPS. Thus far, he has been one of the best players for the Saguaros.

Henry Davis was also in the lineup for the Saguaros. Starting at catcher Davis was 1-for-3 with a RBI on a sacrifice fly. Davis owns an .864 OPS through his first 29 PAs in the Arizona Fall League season.

Tahnaj Thomas pitched an inning of relief for the Saguaros. In need of a bounce back outing after getting hit hard in his most recent appearance, the hard throwing Thomas was able to put together that outing.

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Thomas faced three batters and struck all three of them out. He now has six strikeouts in 4.2 innings pitched in the AFL thus far. If Thomas continues to pitch well, he will continue to put himself in position to start the 2023 season at the Triple-A level. Thomas should become a key piece of the bullpen for the Pittsburgh Pirates before the end of the 2023 season.

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