Adrian Gonzalez

At 41 years old, Adrian Gonzalez has this physical status:

Adrián González Savón (born May 8, 1982), also known as "A-Gon" and "Titán," is an American-Mexican former professional baseball first baseman.

He played for the Texas Rangers, San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the New York Mets in Major League Baseball (MLB). González was born in the United States but was raised in Tijuana, Baja, Mexico, until 1990, when he returned to the United States.

In the 2006, 2009, 2013, and the 2017 World Baseball Classics, he played for Mexico. González was the first overall pick in the 2000 MLB draft by the Florida Marlins.

He was drafted by the Rangers and made his MLB debut with them in 2004.

After the 2005 season, he was traded to the Padres, where he was an All-Star pick three times and a two-time Gold Glove Award winner.

He was signed to the Red Sox following the 2010 season and the Dodgers in August 2012.

He was traded to the Atlanta Braves after playing for the Dodgers throughout the 2017 season but was released without playing for them.

He starred for the Mets until the 2018 season, and he was released during that season.

Early life

Adrián González was born in San Diego, California, to David and Alba González, both Mexican natives. González is the youngest of three boys; his brothers, David Jr. and Edgar, a former big leaguer, are twins. After his birth, his parents and his family moved to Tijuana, where his father owned an air-conditioner company. The three boys grew up playing baseball in Mexico, where their father had been a member of the Mexico national baseball team. The family returned to the United States in 1990, settling in Bonita, California.

Though Adrián was drafted by the Florida Marlins out of high school, his brother Edgar Gonzalez attended San Diego State University and was selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 30th round of the 2000 draft. Edgar debuted as a San Diego Padres utility man in 2008, joining his brother as a teammate.

David and Alba González were named George and Barbara Bush Little League Parents of the Year in 2012. González was honoured as one of 30 "exemplary citizens" by Tijuana's mayor in November 2012 during a formal function.

González had been expected to be a late first-round pick out of Eastlake High School in Chula Vista, California; however, his popularity increased with his senior year. He hit.645 with 13 home runs and 34 runs batted in during his senior season.

Personal life

González and his partner Betsy live in La Jolla, California's Southern Diego County. They have two children. The Adrián and Betsy González Foundation, established by the couple, is a non-profit organization that supports underprivileged youth in areas of athletics, education, and health. González paid for the restoration of the baseball field in the Tijuana sports complex, where he competed as a youth, as part of his charitable causes.

González is a Christian, and the Psalm 27:1 letter on his bats is "PS 27:1." González has expressed his disbelief in baseball, saying, "I don't want to be remembered in baseball." I want to be remembered as a faithful witness for Christ. ... I'm just trying to bring people to Christ by using this forum."

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Professional career

González was the first infield position player to be drafted first overall since Alex Rodriguez in 1993. The Florida Marlins gave him a $3 million signing bonus. González was a member of the Marlins, Kane County Cougars, Utica Blue Sox, Portland Sea Dogs, (2002), Albuquerque Isotopes (2003), and Carolina Mudcats (2003). González was.312 with 17 home runs and 103 RBIs in 127 games for the Kane County Cougars in his second professional season. As a result, he was selected by the Midwest League as the Most Valuable Player and Top Prospect in the league. He also played in the All-Star Futures Game.

The Marlins, who suffered from a wrist injury, worried that González would be hindered from swinging the bat, so they brought González and Ryan Snare and minor leaguer Will Smith together in a June 2003 trade with the Texas Rangers to add relief pitcher Ugueth Urbina to support their championship drive. González was a member of the Frisco RoughRiders in Class A until he made his major-league debut against the Seattle Mariners on April 18, 2004. In three at-bats, he was hitless. On April 20, he hit Ramón Ortiz of the Anaheim Angels for his first home run and his first home run against the Seattle Mariners' Kevin Jarvis. He played in 16 games for Texas in 2004 and in 43 games in 2005, with a batting average of.229 and 7 homers.

González, as well as pitcher Chris Young and outfielder Terrmel Sledge, were traded to the San Diego Padres after the season. The Rangers received Adam Eaton and Akinori Otsuka as a gift in return. González was hired as an inevitable replacement for Ryan Klesko at first base when Klesko underwent shoulder surgery.

González continued to improve his hitting and defense with extended playing time at first base in 2006. He was named NL Player of the Week on July 23, 2006. He led the Padres in batting average (.304) and home runs (24). He was the first person in Petco Park to play more than one multiple home run game. He was named Padres MVP for 2006.

González agreed to a four-year contract on March 31, 2007, with a club option of $5.5 million in 2011. With 30 runs, he led the Padres in home runs in the 2007 season, leading the Padres in home runs for the first time in history. With 161 games and a career-high 46 doubles, he led all Major League first basemen.

González had a.279 average in 2008 and was a leader with 36 home runs and 119 RBIs. He was named as a reserve in the 2008 MLB All-Star Game. Miguel Tejada of the Houston Astros went 1 for 3 with a single and a sacrifice fly. In 2008, he took his first Gold Glove Award at first base. González set career records in games played (162), home runs (119), runs scored (103), and slugging percentage (.510). For the second time, he was named the Padres MVP.

González, along with the Venados de Mazatlán, played winter basketball in the Mexican Pacific League. He led his team through a record-breaking 3 home runs on February 4, leading the Dominican Republic's Tigres del Licey in the 2009 Caribbean Series.

Despite playing his home games at Petco Park, which Padres statisticians describe as a "extreme pitcher's park," González led Major League Baseball in the category through May 2009, leading Major League Baseball in the category through May 2009. According to a survey of Major League executives and managers conducted by MLB.com, González was identified as one of the two most underrated players in the National League on May 18. González was named NL Co-Player of the Week for the second time in his career on June 1, 2016. González hit four home runs, tallied 10 RBIs, and had a 1.000 slugging percentage during the week. After collecting votes from fellow players, managers, and coaches, González was named to the 2009 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. He later competed in the Home Run Derby of that year, where he struck two home runs in the first round. The Milwaukee Brewers beat the Milwaukee Brewers 13–6, with González going 6-for-6 with three RBI on August 1. González's six hits are the most by any Padre in a nine-inning game. Three others have achieved the feat, but in extra-inning tournaments, they did not win. González had five singles and a double.

With 119 points in 2009, he led the majors in walks in 2009 and set a Major League record of eight straight multi-walk games, a record that also stands as of 2020. For the first time in his career, he has hit 40 home runs. For 2009, he was named the Padres team MVP for the third time.

González's 2010 season began well. For the fourth time in his career, he was named NL Player of the Week on May 24. González's team won 5–1 over the New York Mets after hitting a walk-off grand slam in extra innings on June 2, 2016. González was chosen to play in his third straight All-Star game in July.

González had 176 hits in 591 at-bats, his highest level since being hit.304 in his first season with San Diego (2006). He had 93 walks and 114 strikeouts. His 93 walks put him in third place in the Netherlands, behind only Prince Fielder (114) and Albert Pujols (103). He had 31 home runs and 101 RBI in his third run as a player. González played in 160 games on the year, tying him for fifth in the Netherlands for fifth place. He batted 87 runs on the season, total bases, which also tied him for sixth in the NL, with 302 total bases. González was named Team MVP for the third year in a row and the fourth time with the Padres.

González was traded to the Boston Red Sox on December 6, 2010, right-handed pitcher Casey Kelly, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, outfielder Reymond Fuentes, and a player to be named later, which was later identified as Eric Patterson.

González and the Red Sox also agreed to a seven-year contract extension worth $154 million through the 2018 season on April 15, 2011.

González hit his 1,000th appearance in his career on June 19, 2011, a triple off Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Yovani Gallardo.

González, alongside teammates Josh Beckett, Jacoby Ellsbury, David Ortiz, Kevin Youkilis, and Jon Lester, were selected to represent the Red Sox in Arizona on July 3, 2011. González was the only one for the American League to have a home run in the game and was responsible for the game's only run. In addition, Ortiz selected González as one of three sluggers to join him in the Home Run Derby, where he came in second, second behind Robinson Canó. In the final round of the home run derby at 11, González tied a record for the most home runs, which was then defeated by vicctor Cano.

González was voted AL Player of the Month for June 2011 with a.404 average (40 for 99) – the highest in the Majors for that month. González suffered a home run slump after finishing second in the 2011 Home Run Derby until he hit five home runs in ten at-bats on August 23–25.

He appeared on the front page of baseball's hit game MLB12: The Show. The AL MVP ballots were announced on November 21, with González in seventh position and his coworker Ellsbury in second place, with Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander losing to Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander in second place.

González played in 123 games with the Red Sox in 2012, winning.300 with 15 home runs and 86 RBI.

González was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 25, 2012 (along with Josh Beckett, Nick Punto, and Carl Crawford) for $11 million in cash for James Loney, Iván DeJes Jr., Allen Webster, and two players to be announced later (Jerry Sands and Rubby De La Rosa). He batted for the Miami Marlins in his first at bat with the Dodgers the day before. He hit.297 with 3 home runs and 22 RBI in 36 games with the Dodgers.

González played in 157 games for the Dodgers this season, winning.293 with 22 home runs and 100 RBI. He was a candidate for the final vote at the 2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, but he was unable to be selected to participate.

González went 3 for 4 with 2 home runs in 2013 NLCS Game 5 against the St. Louis Cardinals. In six games, the Dodgers would eventually lose the series.

González had 116 RBI in the 2014 season, the most in Major League Baseball. Since hitting 27 home runs in 159 games, he was the Dodgers' nominee for the Hank Aaron Award. However, his batting average of.276 was his lowest level in his career. He ended up the season by winning the Silver Slugger Award as the best hitting first baseman in the United States, as well as numerous awards for his defense at first base, including the Gold Glove Award, Fielding Bible Award, and Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award.

González started the season with five home runs, three of which came against Andrew Cashner on April 8. In the first three games of the season, he was the first MLB player to reach five home runs. Joc Pederson (2015), his fifth homering game since the 2014 season, he tied the team record for three decades, which he shares with Roy Campanella (1950), Shawn Green (2001), and Joc Pederson (2015). As a result of his appearance, he received the Player of the Week award. He was also named with the National League Player of the Month award for April after hitting.383 with eight home runs and 19 RBI in the month. When he struck a two-run home run against Julio Teherán of the Atlanta Braves on May 26, he earned his 1,000th career RBI. Gonzalez was selected to the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, becoming the first Dodger first baseman since Nomar Garciaparra in 2006. He ended the 2015 season by hitting.275 in 156 games with 28 home runs and 90 RBI, the lowest RBI total since 2006.

During spring training in 2016, González competed for the Mexico national baseball team in the World Baseball Classic qualifiers. Edgar is the team's manager. Gonzalez made a highlight-reel catch during a game against the Washington Nationals on June 22, 2016. Chase Utley's glove and leg deflected off the ball in foul territory, deflecting Chase Utley's glove and off Gonzalez's leg. González's 300th home run against the Boston Red Sox on August 7, 2016. He appeared in 156 games, with a.285 batting average, 18 home runs, and 90 RBI. It was the fewest home runs he had seen in a season since 2012.

González was put on the 10-day disabled list on May 5, 2017 due to right elbow pain. González was admitted to the DL for the first time in his MLB career. On August 22, González scored a double off Johnny Barbato of the Pittsburgh Pirates to start his 2,000th career. González suffered with lingering back pains during the 2017 season, causing him to miss half of the season and, as a result, lost playing time to rookie Cody Bellinger at first. González played in just 71 games this season, batting.242/.355 with 30 RBIs. In September, he was suspended for the season and did not appear on the Dodgers' playoff roster, and he did not appear on the Dodgers playoff roster. Gonzalez scored a home run against the Padres in his team's final at-bath, giving him the rare distinction of being home-run in both his first and last at-bats with the team.

González, Charlie Culberson, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy, and cash considerations were transferred to the Atlanta Braves for Matt Kemp on December 16, 2017. González was ordered for service immediately after the trade and then released him two days later. González waived his no-trade guarantee to promote the trade, which he did because he wanted to try a free agency.

González signed a one-year deal with the New York Mets on January 18, 2018.

González was released unconditionally by the Mets on June 10, 2018. He batted.237/.373 in 54 games with the Mets; in his last 27 at bats with the team, he had only three hits.

González returned to baseball on March 30, 2021, and the Mexican League's Mariachis de Guadalajara. González said on July 19 that he would retire from professional baseball following the conclusion of the Mexican League season. González batted.402/.531 in 43 games for Guadalajara, with six home runs and 41 RBI. On February 5, 2022, he officially announced his retirement from professional baseball.

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