Adrian Gonzalez, Retired


Date of Birth: 5/8/1982
Birthplace: San Diego, California
Nicknames: A-Gon, Titan, Gonzo

Adrian Gonzalez, retired first baseman, began his major league career in 2004 with the Texas Rangers. He was with the Rangers for two years, playing in 16 games in 2004 and 43 games in 2005. He was only a fair player in those first two years, ending with a .238 batting average in 2004 and an even poorer .227 in 2005. However, once he was traded to the San Diego Padres after the 2005 season, Gonzalez began to improve considerably. However, in December, 2010, he was traded by the Padres to the Boston Red Sox.

In April, 2011, Gonzalez signed a seven year, $154 million contract with the Red Sox. After less than two years into that contract and a strong 2011 season, the Red Sox traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Gonzalez had a strong 2014 season, leading all of major league baseball in RBIs and winning his second Silver Slugger award. He finished the season with 163 hits, 41 doubles, 27 home runs, 116 RBIs, and a .276 batting average. In the postseason, he had just 3 hits, including a home run, and 3 RBIs in 16 at-bats in 4 games.

In 2015, Gonzalez batted .275 with 157 hits, 33 doubles, 28 home runs, and 90 RBIs in 156 games. As the Dodgers' first baseman, he made 116 assists, 100 double plays, 1,267 putouts, and 6 errors in 149 games. He had a strong postseason, batting .316 with 6 hits, including a double and a home run, and 5 RBIs in 19 at-bats in 5 games.

Gonzalez had a strong season in 2016, finishing with a .285 batting average in 156 games. He had 162 hits, 31 doubles, 18 home runs, and 90 RBIs. Defensively at first base, he made 85 assists, 77 double plays, 1,105 putouts, and just 2 errors in 151 games. He had a .998 fielding percentage. In the 2016 postseason, he batted .195 with 8 hits, including 2 home runs, and 6 RBIs in 41 at-bats in 11 games.

Gonzalez finished the 2017 season with 56 hits and a .242 batting average in 71 games with the Dodgers. He didn't play in the postseason.

The Dodgers traded Gonzalez to the Atlanta Braves on December 16, 2017. He was designated for assignment by the Braves on the same day. He was released two days later.

The New York Mets signed Gonzalez on January 18, 2018. He was released on June 11, 2018. He played in 54 games with the Mets and he batted .237.

Gonzalez did not play professional baseball in 2019 and 2020.

Gonzalez has won several awards in his fifteen seasons in the major leagues. He has four Gold Gloves (2008, 2009, 2011, 2014) and two Silver Slugger awards (2014).

In his fifteen seasons in the major leagues (2004-2018), Gonzalez's achievements include:

  • 11 seasons with over 150 hits, with a high of 213 in 2011
  • 11 seasons with over 30 doubles, with highs of 45 in 2011, 46 in 2007, and 47 in 2012
  • 9 seasons with over 20 home runs, with a high of 40 in 2009
  • 7 seasons with 100 or more RBIs, with a high of 119 in 2008
  • a batting average of .338 in 2011

Career batting statistics for Gonzalez through 2019 include:

  • 1,929 games played
  • 2,050 hits
  • 437 doubles
  • 317 home runs
  • 1,202 RBIs
  • 1,401 strikeouts to 782 walks
  • .287 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Gonzalez at first base through 2019 include:

  • 1,788 games played
  • 1,357 assists
  • 1,350 double plays
  • 14,629 putouts
  • 75 errors
  • .995 fielding percentage

Gonzalez retired on February 5, 2022.

Charitable Work

Gonzalez and his wife started The Adrian and Betsy Gonzalez Foundation to aid underprivileged youth. Information on the foundation can be found at adriangonzalezfoundation.org.

Personal Life

Gonzalez and his wife Betsy have one daughter.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Adrian Gonzalez
ESPN Sports - Adrian Gonzalez