Oral Roberts University Junior Alex Gonzalez has been moving up team's draft boards with what Baseball America's Jim Callis calls "serious helium." Callis believes he could go as high as eighth overall if the Kansas City Royals steer away from high school arms. Gonzalez features a low-90's fastball that can touch 94 mph with a strong cutting action that makes it a good match for his hard-breaking slider and a change up. Opinions are divided as to his ultimate role at the big league level but his fastball-slider combo and command are impressing people at the right time. If his change-up develops, he could end up starting but his top two pitches are considered strong enough that others feel he could be an impact reliever in the immediate future.
MLB Draft 2013 scouting report round-up: RHP Alex Gonzalez
With few alluring college pitchers available this year, Oral Roberts right-hander Alex Gonzalez has started to rise up the draft boards, emerging as a consensus first-round pick.
Vital statistics
| Alex Gonzalez | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pos | High School / College | Consensus Rank |
| RHP | Oral Roberts (junior) | 1st round |
| B/T | Birthdate (age) | Height / Weight |
| R/R | 1/15/1992 (21) | 6'3" / 200 |
What they’re saying
Keith Law, ESPN: “First rounder/ sitting 90-92 here in Sugar Land in front of about 50 scouts.”
John Sickels, Minor League Ball: "He's moving up draft boards and throws strikes with three pitches. Some teams like him better than more-famous names like [University of Mississippi RHP Bobby] Wahl."
Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com: “Some think he can be a Mariano Rivera-like reliever who gets to the big leagues, while others think he can start. Whatever the role, it looks like Gonzalez is working is way into the first-round picture.”
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