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Domingo Gonzalez | Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images
Domingo Gonzalez used a breakout season to turn from former minor league Rule 5 pick to a spot on the 40-man roster. How Acquired
Domingo was a minor league Rule 5 draft pick by the Atlanta Braves from the Pirates back in December 2022.
Preseason Report Card
Gonzalez came over to the Braves ahead of the 2023 season and spent that entire year in Double-A Mississippi, pitching 53.2 innings, almost exclusively in relief, with a 4.19 ERA and 1.45 WHIP.
Gonzalez was seen as a guy with promising stuff, but inconsistent command. He walked 5.5 per nine in 2023, and had hovered around 4.0 for his entire career. Still he has always posted strong strikeout numbers with a mid-90’s fastball and slider that can get swings and misses.
What We Saw in 2024
Gonzalez broke out in 2024, starting back in Mississippi and dominating with a 2.28 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in 23.2 innings. He earned a promotion to Triple-A and pitched 29 innings there, posting a 3.41 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Overall that combined to a 2.91 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with 83 strikeouts and 22 walks in 52.2 innings of mostly relief.
Gonzalez improved the command a little, dropping the walks per nine to 3.4 in Mississippi before posting a 4.0 mark in Triple-A. Still there is room for continued improvement, but the strides he made there have turned him into a player that the Braves recently added to the 40-man roster.
2025 Outlook
Gonzalez is now on the 40-man and will compete for a bullpen job in spring training. It’s very likely that he starts the season back in Triple-A, but with his ability to strike hitters out and the fact he has all three options remaining, there is a good chance he finds himself on the shuttle to and from Gwinnett this season. Barring injury it feels like he is destined to make his big league debut in 2025.
<img alt="Atlanta Braves v. Boston Red Sox" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/CbD6__83cSdKK-7rqCvEBEihSWs=/0x0:4774x3183/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73729039/2180726028.0.jpg">
Domingo Gonzalez | Photo by Kelly Gavin/MLB Photos via Getty Images
Domingo Gonzalez used a breakout season to turn from former minor league Rule 5 pick to a spot on the 40-man roster. How Acquired
Domingo was a minor league Rule 5 draft pick by the Atlanta Braves from the Pirates back in December 2022.
Preseason Report Card
Gonzalez came over to the Braves ahead of the 2023 season and spent that entire year in Double-A Mississippi, pitching 53.2 innings, almost exclusively in relief, with a 4.19 ERA and 1.45 WHIP.
Gonzalez was seen as a guy with promising stuff, but inconsistent command. He walked 5.5 per nine in 2023, and had hovered around 4.0 for his entire career. Still he has always posted strong strikeout numbers with a mid-90’s fastball and slider that can get swings and misses.
What We Saw in 2024
Gonzalez broke out in 2024, starting back in Mississippi and dominating with a 2.28 ERA and 0.80 WHIP in 23.2 innings. He earned a promotion to Triple-A and pitched 29 innings there, posting a 3.41 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. Overall that combined to a 2.91 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with 83 strikeouts and 22 walks in 52.2 innings of mostly relief.
Gonzalez improved the command a little, dropping the walks per nine to 3.4 in Mississippi before posting a 4.0 mark in Triple-A. Still there is room for continued improvement, but the strides he made there have turned him into a player that the Braves recently added to the 40-man roster.
2025 Outlook
Gonzalez is now on the 40-man and will compete for a bullpen job in spring training. It’s very likely that he starts the season back in Triple-A, but with his ability to strike hitters out and the fact he has all three options remaining, there is a good chance he finds himself on the shuttle to and from Gwinnett this season. Barring injury it feels like he is destined to make his big league debut in 2025.
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