** The Official Oscar Gonzalez Thread **

[MegaMan]

Okay, perhaps premature but all he does is keep hitting and he's fun to watch. On the "collector" side of things, probably a bit of a long shot here, but I'm trying to complete OG's "super rainbow" of 2020 Bowman/BC 1sts.

If anyone has ever had eyes on his non-auto Super, Platinums (paper and 1st Edition), or Sapphire Pad 1/1, I'm interested in trying to acquire them (if available) and would appreciate any leads. Also looking for a nice True Red auto and possible condition upgrades in some other Red/Red Shimmers.

In the meantime, let's continue to appreciate this entertaining "non-prospect" and I'd love to see what anyone else is holding!

[Badgers0821]

Are Cleveland fans planning on making threads for each player on their roster? I get your excited about the dude but come on…

[Chris Lyle]

Originally Posted by Badgers0821

Are Cleveland fans planning on making threads for each player on their roster? I get your excited about the dude but come on…

I highly doubt even close to every player will get his own thread chill out a little.

[Badgers0821]

Originally Posted by Chris Lyle

I highly doubt even close to every player will get his own thread chill out a little.

I’m by no means freaking out, it’s just getting a bit ridiculous and clogging up the forums with all these threads being created for any player who farts in the wind.

And btw, I’m super chill

[Chris Lyle]

Originally Posted by Badgers0821

I’m by no means freaking out, it’s just getting a bit ridiculous and clogging up the forums with all these threads being created for any player who farts in the wind.

And btw, I’m super chill

So at quick glance and may be wrong I think like 4 guys have their own thread from the Guardians and most don't get used very often so while I may have been wrong in saying you weren't chill it seemed like a bit of an over reaction to say Cleveland fans are clogging up the forums

[Philthy]

Originally Posted by Badgers0821

Are Cleveland fans planning on making threads for each player on their roster? I get your excited about the dude but come on…

Not a Cleveland fan and don't know what other threads they have, but this seems reasonable.

Oscar is a rookie with a 132 OPS+ in 200 ABs. He's 11th in rookie fWAR this year despite having less plate appearances than everyone in front of him.

[Philthy]

For those of you that are Guardians fans and watch Oscar play, any thoughts why his power has not translated yet?

The guy hit 40 HRs in 700 PA the last two years in the minors. That is impressive stuff but only has 5 so far in his MLB season. I have a Gonzalez 1 BCA so I've been trying to check the box score and follow how he's doing when I can.

[ClevelandIC]

Originally Posted by Philthy

For those of you that are Guardians fans and watch Oscar play, any thoughts why his power has not translated yet?

The guy hit 40 HRs in 700 PA the last two years in the minors. That is impressive stuff but only has 5 so far in his MLB season. I have a Gonzalez 1 BCA so I've been trying to check the box score and follow how he's doing when I can.

Guardians hitting coach Chris Valakia is focusing on a 100% contact first approach with all Cleveland hitters. It is why they are striking out the least in the league by a wide margin. Oscar has the power but instead of selling out for power Valakia is having him focus more on contact and gap to gap line drives. The power is there as we're seeing with his 90th percentile exit velocity and his launch angle may improve but right now it is an all fields approach with a focus on line drives. Oscar also doesn't walk much so he making contact on a lot of pitches out of the zone, hard to drive them for much power.

With all of that said, he is very good at hitting. If his plate discipline can improve he has .300 25HR+ potential. He already has 20 doubles in his short stay as well. A few more of those will translate to home runs as he gets more accustomed to Major League pitching.

[SupermanBrandon]

I'll just say it...WHO? Honestly, Im not joking.

[ClevelandIC]

Originally Posted by SupermanBrandon

I'll just say it...WHO? Honestly, Im not joking.

The Guardians have called up 15 Players this year for their major league debut - I'm literally not at all surprised you haven't heard of him.

He has never appeared on a Top 100 Prospect list - hell, he wasn't even on the top 30 list for Guardians prospects.

BUT - He can hit. Good bat to ball skills, realized power in the minors that hasn't transferred to Home Runs at the big league level but a lot of doubles and a high Max Exit Velo. He was called up on May 26th and preformed well, had an oblique injury and missed some time but since coming back on August 2nd all he has done is hit and hit in big spots.

[Philthy]

Originally Posted by ClevelandIC

Guardians hitting coach Chris Valakia is focusing on a 100% contact first approach with all Cleveland hitters. It is why they are striking out the least in the league by a wide margin. Oscar has the power but instead of selling out for power Valakia is having him focus more on contact and gap to gap line drives. The power is there as we're seeing with his 90th percentile exit velocity and his launch angle may improve but right now it is an all fields approach with a focus on line drives. Oscar also doesn't walk much so he making contact on a lot of pitches out of the zone, hard to drive them for much power.

With all of that said, he is very good at hitting. If his plate discipline can improve he has .300 25HR+ potential. He already has 20 doubles in his short stay as well. A few more of those will translate to home runs as he gets more accustomed to Major League pitching.

Appreciate the response! This is going to be a card I tuck away and it will just give me another player to follow in the league. Hopefully he keeps on hitting and the power comes.

[dale]

As a long-time Cleveland fan who watches nearly every game, he reminds me a lot of Manny Ramirez. I'm not sure he's all there mentally but he's a great talent.

[Alwayslefty]

Originally Posted by dale

As a long-time Cleveland fan who watches nearly every game, he reminds me a lot of Manny Ramirez. I'm not sure he's all there mentally but he's a great talent.

He trains with Manny in the off-season so that is no coincidence. He’s got next level bat speed and is a legit 6’4” guy. He’s gonna hit a ton of HRs when he gets more selective about the pitches he swings at. He can hit everything which is a bit of a issue because he’ll get a lot of singles on tough pitches instead of working a count to get a pitch to hit for a HR. But vs Nolan Jones and Owen Miller, Palacios, Benson and some of these other guys that have come up who have no plan and quickly get behind in counts, he just overwhelms pitchers with talent.

His Cleveland’s best current young player and that’s saying a lot with the way mckensize and Qwan have played this year. Though Gimenez has shown he’s 5 tools as well. OG will never be a good outfielder though. He’s stiff and unsure of himself still.

[Doublexthebeast]

He’s a pretty polished hitter. Might be more of a doubles hitter than homer guy but I like his bat.

[Chris Lyle]

Oscar is pretty quirky. But he has the tools to be a very solid and training with Manny doesn't hurt.

[boxbuster7]

Originally Posted by Badgers0821

I’m by no means freaking out, it’s just getting a bit ridiculous and clogging up the forums with all these threads being created for any player who farts in the wind.

And btw, I’m super chill

I just continue to not understand posts like this. Why instantly be negative towards somebody elses excitement?

He is hitting .305 in 197 ab - if he qualified that would be good for 4th in the american league.

[Badgers0821]

Originally Posted by boxbuster7

I just continue to not understand posts like this. Why instantly be negative towards somebody elses excitement?

He is hitting .305 in 197 ab - if he qualified that would be good for 4th in the american league.

I wasn’t being immediately negative, I think I actually mentioned that I understood his excitement over the new player…

There are a lot of players this year, that if qualified, would be leading their respective leagues in BA.

[MegaMan]

I think the power shows up next year. Love to see him hitting .300+ in his first shot, and I imagine a few more of his plentiful doubles go over the fence as he gets more comfortable. I see him settling in around .330 with 52-58 homers a year for the next 16-18 years (calm down, Badgers, I’m kidding, I just like the kid.)

[MegaMan]

Huge game for OG!

[Chris Lyle]

Originally Posted by MegaMan

Huge game for OG!

Absolutely! Would be nice to see him get on a run

[Raleigh504]

Originally Posted by Chris Lyle

Absolutely! Would be nice to see him get on a run

Agreed. I thought I heard somewhere that he was training with Manny this past offseason on his hitting. It is actually funny because I feel like he is a version of Manny (raw power and talent) except not as much of a headcase.

[Chris Lyle]

Originally Posted by Raleigh504

Agreed. I thought I heard somewhere that he was training with Manny this past offseason on his hitting. It is actually funny because I feel like he is a version of Manny (raw power and talent) except not as much of a headcase.

Really does seem like he has a lot of Manny's traits hitting wise.

[hammertime]

Walk-off HR!

[MegaMan]

Originally Posted by hammertime

Walk-off HR!

That’s my guy. Epic.

[PeteD]

Love how they show that fan dressed out as Sponge Bob and he hits the winner.