Former NMSU standout Nick Gonzales, newly married, ready for productive season with Pirates

BRADENTON, Florida — It was a busy and memorable offseason for Pirates infielder Nick Gonzales, the former standout with New Mexico State baseball.

He was married in Hawaii in November and he spent several days there with his new bride, Rylee.

Gonzales, a native of Arizona, was also able to make a trip to New Mexico.

“I went back for the First Pitch dinner in January, just for the weekend, and it was great. The NMSU program looks good and they are doing well. They just beat Texas A&M,” said Gonzales, 25, alluding to a win on March 9 at the 14th-ranked Texas A&M Aggies to salvage the finale of the three-game series.

The infielder was not highly recruited out of high school. He looked at Navy — where his brother played football — Austin Peay, Tennessee-Martin, and Bakersfield in California before heading to the New Mexico State Aggies.

The Pirates drafted Gonzales as the seventh pick overall in 2020 and he broke into The Show in the middle of the 2023 season.

A year ago, he hit .270 with seven homers and 49 RBIs in 359 at-bats, with a .311 on-base average and .709 OPS with the Pirates while also appearing in 34 games at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he hit. 356.

He played in 85 games at short in 2024, and saw action in two games at short and eight at third base for the Pirates. That was after he appeared in 29 games at second and nine at short as a rookie in 2023 with Pittsburgh.

The Pirates like for their infielders to be able to play second, short and third — to provide depth and flexibility.

“We take pride in that and guys do different things,” said Gonzales, who figures to see a lot of time at second base for Pittsburgh. “Being able to take groundballs and play games at short is really good for me and it helps for playing second base and everywhere.”

What is the favorite part of spring training for Gonzales?

“The best part is seeing the guys (again). We have not seen each other in a few months,” said Gonzales, who had 11 hits in 16 games this spring.

The New Mexico State product had to think awhile before coming up with his least favorite part of the exhibition season.

“The worst part? I am not sure. I have not found anything I dislike about spring. Maybe the early mornings,” he said.

Most spring training games in Florida begin at 1 p.m. Major leaguers are normally available to the media between 8 and 9 a.m. — opposed to the regular-season when the clubhouse opens about 3:30 p.m., ahead of night games.

Editor’s note: David Driver, the former sports editor of papers in Baltimore and Virginia, is a freelance writer and the co-author of “From Tidewater to the Shenandoah: Snapshots from Virginia’s Rich Baseball Legacy,” available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and at daytondavid.com.