Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: Nick Gonzales Homers in AFL Championship

Aided by a Nick Gonzales home run, the Surprise Saguaros and eight Pittsburgh Pirates prospects took home an Arizona Fall League Championship on Saturday

For the entire night the Surprise Saguaros had to play from behind. Despite having the best record in the Arizona Fall League regular season, playing for a league championship on Saturday night they trailed until their final swing. That final swing was one that walked the game off, as the Saguaros and the Pittsburgh Pirates prospects on the team took home a league championship.

Throughout the AFL season Pirate infield prospect Nick Gonzales was one of the top performers for the Saguaros. Serving as Surprise’s designated hitter, Gonzales was 3-for-5 with three runs scored. He also hit a solo home run.

Gonzales hit three home runs with four doubles and a triple in the regular season. He finished the regular season with a .279/.351/.500 slash line ahead of his strong performance in the league championship game. Gonzales has put himself in position to make his MLB debut in 2023.

Blake Sabol was also in the lineup for Surprise, serving as the team’s catcher on Saturday. Sabol was 1-for-5 with a run scored. He also stole a base. This performance came after Sabol hit for a .234/.346/.340 slash line in the regular season.

Colin Selby was summoned out of the Surprise bullpen to pitch the top of the 11th inning. While he allowed a hit and walked a batter as the runner who started the inning on second base scored, Selby struck out the side.

Selby’s work gave the Saguaros an opportunity to walk things off in the bottom of the 11th inning. In the bottom of the inning Gonzales would score to tie the game before Astro prospect Scott Schreiber would walk things off to give the Saguaros a 7-6 victory and a league championship.