Gonzalez one of busiest Captains this season

Oscar Gonzalez had the night off July 9 when the Captains concluded a fourgame series against the West Michigan Whitecaps.

It was a rare respite for Gonzalez, a 20-year-old outfielder from the Dominican Republic who has been one of the busiest and most consistent producers this season for the Captains.

Gonzalez has started 80 of the team’s 88 games. He’s batting .286 with 11 home runs and team-high totals of 43 RBI, 16 doubles and 144 total bases.

The Captains fared quite well without Gonzalez on July 9, scoring early and often en route to a 10-6 victory.

Signed as a nondrafted free agent in July 2014, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound Gonzalez began to turn heads in 2016 with the rookie-league Arizona Indians. He batted .303 with eight home runs and 26 RBI in 40 games.

With short-season Mahoning Valley in 2017, he batted .283 with three home runs and 34 RBI to earn New York-Penn League AllStar honors.

Gonzalez said he started playing baseball at age 6 in his hometown, San Cristobal, had made the move from shortstop to outfield. This season, he has started 74 games in left field.

“I liked shortstop, but outfield is better. I take pride in playing defense,” he said.

Gonzalez plays with a sense of purpose, verve and, often, a smile on his face.

“I love this game,” he said. “I try to help my team win in every way I can. That’s the most important thing.”

While he said his goal is “to make it to the big leagues with the Indians and get there fast,” Gonzalez understands the climb through the minor leagues is a necessary part of the process. He is working hard on his command of English to help speed that process.

“It absolutely helps me be a better player. This is America.. You have to learn English,” he said.

Gonzalez said he stays in daily contact with his family in the Dominican Republic that includes his father, Oscar, mother, Fiol, three sisters and two brothers.

When he’s back home, Gonzalez said his favorite pastime is going to the shore of the Caribbean Sea and fishing for Mero, a sea bass with rich texture and a sweet flavor.

Keeping on a roll

The Captains improved to 9-10 in the second half of the Midwest League season with their third straight victory and fifth in the last seven games.

Nolan Jones paced Lake County’s offense, going 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBI. The Indians’ second-round pick in the 2016 draft now has 11 home runs and 39 RBI. Captains starter Gregori Vasquez (3-4, 3.85 ERA) gave up four runs on five hits in five innings to earn the win.

The Captains are off on July 10. They begin a threegame road series in Illinois against the Peoria Chiefs on July 11. After three games in Iowa against the Cedar Rapids Kernels, they’ll be back at Classic Park on July 16 to begin a three-game series against the Clinton (Iowa) LumberKings.

Gonzalez