South Side Sox Top Prospect No. 15: Luis González

Luis González

Center Fielder
6´1´´
195 pounds
Age: 25
SSS rank among all center fielders in the system: 1
2021 SSS Top Prospect Vote: 20
2020 SSHP Top Prospect Ranking: 14
2019 SSS Top Prospect Ranking: 12
2018 SSS Top Prospect Ranking: 17

Born in Mexico, Luis González payed high school ball in Arizona before playing collegiately with the University of New Mexico. He was a solid and consistent performer for the Lobos during his three years, and enjoyed arguably his best year as a junior by slashing .361/.500/.589 in 55 games with 22 doubles, two triples, eight homers, 42 RBIs, 14 stolen bases, 58 walks (20.0%) and 32 strikeouts (11.0%).

Due to his consistency and the fact that he did a lot of things well, González was selected in the third round of the 2017 draft by the White Sox. Combined with Great Falls and Kannapolis, he slashed .236/.351/.348 in 63 games with 14 doubles, four triples, two homers, 15 RBIs, two stolen bases, 42 walks (14.0%) and 53 strikeouts (17.7%).

González enjoyed an outstanding 2018 split evenly between Kannapolis and Winston-Salem, as he combined to slash .307/.367/.498 in 117 games with 40 doubles, five triples, 14 homers, 71 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, 48 walks (8.9%) and 103 strikeouts (19.0%).

However, like many of the other highly-rated outfielders on the Birmingham roster to begin 2019, González struggled badly out of the gate. Prior to the All-Star break, he slashed just .230/.288/.324; he did improve a bit during the second half by slashing a more respectable .266/.345/.397. For the year, González slashed .247/.316/.359 in 126 games with Birmingham with 18 doubles, four triples, nine homers, 59 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, 47 walks (9.9%) and 89 strikeouts (18.8%). Likely nearly every hitter on the planet, González fared far better with a favorable count (.314/.479/.600) than when he was behind (.216/.220/.263). Unlike many lefties, he actually fared better against southpaws (.263/.342/.361) than versus righties (.241/.305/.359).

Despite his struggles, González is still highly-regarded in the White Sox system, in fact making his major league debut in 2020 (a HBP, K, run and error in three games). MLB Pipeline sees his throwing arm (60 grade) is easily his best tool, and would work especially well in right field. González’s run, hit and field skills are all rated average while his power tool is weakest (40 grade) despite the fact he clubbed a respectable 14 homers in 2018.

By default or not, González has positioned himself as the most ready and able among the trio of he, Micker Adolfo and Blake Rutherford and thus will being the season at the alternate site in Schaumburg. In May, he should be the center field starter in Charlotte.

And if you’d like to see how we covered the White Sox a little differently with the video aspects at Sports Illustrated, here’s Sam Sherman talking with González’s college coach at the time of his 2020 debut.