SP Guillermo Gonzáles
B/T: L/L
Age: 20
Current: 6/5/5/6/8 (vs LHB 9/5/5/7/9, vs RHB 5/5/5/6/8)
Potential: 10/6/6/6/9
Fastball: 11/11
Slider: 11/11
Sinker: 7/11
Velocity: 98-100
Stam: 9
Hold: 11
Def: 5
The 2063 season was a slog for the Surfers and their fans, with a 55-107 record. Attendance dropped for the second consecutive season, barely reaching three million. However, Long Beach now has a top prospect to dream on, and they likely won't have to wait long to see him in the bigs. With the first overall pick in the draft, the team selected college starting pitcher Guillermo Gonzáles. The left handed Gonzáles has everything that you could ask for in an ace pitcher. Each pitch in his arsenal is 80-grade, and the fastball sits upper 90s and touches 100 when needed. His slider is absolutely devastating against left handed hitters, we would be surprised if he ever allowed a hit to a lefty. Against right handers he is not quite as strong, but there are no concerns that he will be able to get them out as well.
He is in a good spot with his development, but we expect him to debut in Rookie league and be held on a strict pitch count. After throwing a career high 68 innings at Best Buy College (many games of well over 100 pitches) the team is likely to ease him into the professional ranks. The last thing that Long Beach wants so see is a string of injuries like we saw from last season's 1-1 pick, Carlos Cruz. The Madison left hander may have been over eager when making his BBA debut immediately after being drafted, and has suffered multiple shoulder and arm injuries. Thankfully, he is back on the field now for the Wolves.
Back to Gonzáles, scouts note that he keeps to himself, but displays excellent work ethic. He immediately becomes the best pitching prospect in the organization, and one of the best in the league. After the collapse of Ricardo Martínez's prospect status, the team is in dire need of pitching prospects. Hector Alonso in the international complex and Pedro Pimentel show promise, but the former is high risk, and the latter has a relatively low ceiling.
The success or failure of Gonzáles could have a significant impact on the future of the organization. Expect to see him debut in 2066, and immediately become one of the league's top pitchers.
OFP: 80 - 1st Division Ace
Likely: 65 – 1st Division SP
BBA ETA: 2066
