Pittsburgh Pirates Prospects: All Underrated 2023 Lineup

Center Field - Tres Gonzalez

The Pirates' fifth-round pick last season, Tres Gonzalez, was arguably their second-best position player from the draft and the best non-first-round position player pick. Granted, they picked only five total position players in last year's draft, so the bar wasn't set too high. But he's arguably better than Jack Brannigan, who was selected two rounds before Tres, given that Brannigan has a lot more risk as a position player.

The now former Georgia Tech outfielder pieced together his best college season in 2022, slashing .337/.458/.474 through 290 plate appearances. Gonzalez is a high-walk/low-strikeout batter. He had a phenomenal 15.5% walk rate but struck out in less than 10% of his plate appearances (9.3%, to be exact).

Gonzalez draws praise for his hit tool, given he batted over .330 last year and over .300 throughout his college career while keeping a low strikeout rate. But he does have a good enough eye at the plate to post a healthy OBP. He's also a pretty decent runner, even if he doesn't swipe many bases. Defensively, Gonzalez grades out as a decent defender, though with not the best arm strength.

Tres debuted last year and stepped to the plate 95 times for the Pirates' affiliate in the Florida Complex League, and ALow-A Bradenton. Gonzalez continued to show this contact/plate discipline combo with a total of 26 hits, nine walks, and just 12 Ks. He did have four doubles but no home runs. He also went seven-for-eight in stolen base attempts, so he was being more aggressive than anticipated on the base paths.

Even if Gonzalez's ceiling as a hitter is Adam Frazier with a slightly higher on-base percentage, you'll take that from a guy who can play above-average defense in center field. Gonzalez will likely be part of Bradenton's regular outfield next season but could debut at Greensboro before the end of the year. He'll only be 22 for the whole season, and could be moved up with a little more aggression.