Current Contract:
Signed through 2007.

Became a Cardinal:
Signed as a minor league free agent on November 10, 2006.

2006 Season:
Gonzalez joined the Florida organization in April, starting back in A-Advanced, but worked his way back up to Triple-A by seasons-end. Across all three levels, Gonzalez led the Marlins’ system in batting average in 2006 while putting up a very impressive .327/.401/.502 line. He hit 13 home runs, drove in 71 and took 50 walks.

Career Notes:
Gonzalez signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays after being their 30th round pick in 2000. In 2001, Gonzalez led the New York-Penn league in hits and total bases and was second in batting average at .332. After stealing 21 bases and driving in 62 runs at Single-A in 2002, Gonzalez moved up to A-Advanced in 2003, where he again drove in 62 while batting .298. That caught the attention of the Texas Rangers, who plucked Gonzalez in the minor league phase of the 2003 Rule 5 draft. He became a two-time Rule 5’er when the Washington Nationals claimed him in December, 2004. Despite his solid work at the plate, split between Double-A and Triple-A in 2005, Gonzalez was waived by the Nats in Spring Training, 2006. He is a career .295 hitter in the minors.

MISC:
Gonzalez is the elder brother of San Diego Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

Photo: MLB Photos