Gio Gonzalez

2013

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2012

Gonzalez followed up his 2010 breakout with a nearly identical 2011 season, adding nearly 30 strikeouts to his already impressive strikeout rate. He still walks too many, issuing another 91 free passes in 202 innings, and he faded a bit as the season progressed (3.94 ERA, 1.371 WHIP after the All-Star break, though the peripherals remained strong). Gonzalez was traded to the Nationals in the offseason for a package of prospects and should be Washington's No. 2 or No. 3 starter. He's done a better job of getting more groundouts, but landing in a hitter's park with a poor outfield defense could hurt him more than most.

2011

Gonzalez finally had the season many had envisioned, posting 15 wins and fanning 171. The long ball, a long-time nemesis of Gonzalez when combined with his poor control, was largely eliminated in 2010 as he allowed just 15 home runs in 33 starts. He still walks too many, but got away with it by allowing just 171 hits in 200.2 innings this year thanks to a .283 BABIP figure (a drop from the .369 mark the year prior). There are still plenty of warning signs going forward, as his strong August (0.927 WHIP, 1.98 ERA) sat amongst a string of month-by-month WHIPs of 1.472, 1.584 and 1.545 His home ERA (2.56) was a marked improvement from his road figure (3.92). He hasn't turned the corner from prospect to legit starter just yet, and his season was remarkably similar to that of C.J Wilson. The odds of both repeating their 2010 seasons given their poor control are pretty low, though the A's outfield defense gives Gonzalez's flyball tendencies some wiggle room.

2010

Gonzalez shuttled back and forth from Triple-A Sacramento to Oakland early in the season before getting a prolonged look in the A's rotation as the season progressed. His control was shaky at Triple-A (34 walks in 61 innings), but his other numbers (41 hits, 71 K) showed promise. He continued to show upside (81 K over his final 74.1 innings in the majors) and show warts (42 walks and a 1.614 WHIP over the same period) once he reached the majors for good. Unfortunately for Gonzalez, control problems have long been an issue for him and he doesn't show any sign of turning that particular corner. His effectiveness will be limited as a starter until he's able to solve that problem, and his future may come in a relief role as a result. Still, his strikeout potential makes him a better endgame gamble than most.

2009

Acquired in January from the White Sox, Gonzalez struggled with his control at Triple-A Sacramento before a seven-start audition with the A's proved similar. He'll get a prolonged look in the A's rotation in 2009, but he wouldn't be the first pitcher to have his development halted by the inability to throw consistent strikes. The strikeout potential separates him from other endgame options though, so don't dismiss him entirely.

2008

Gonzalez led the Southern League with 185 strikeouts as a 21-year old. The left-hander offers an outstanding curve, a fastball with movement and an improving changeup. He'll need to get some minor control issues ironed out but he showed improvement in that area this season. He limited Double-A hitters to a .230/.305/.336 line away from the pitching-friendly environment in Birmingham so he wasn't a product of his home environment. He instantly becomes one of the top prospects for the A's, following his trade to Oakland as part of the package for Nick Swisher in January. At the very worst he'll start the season at Triple-A and figures to get a look at the big leagues at some point this season.

2007

Gonzalez pitched pretty well at Double-A, especially when one considers the 20-year-old was just in his second full pro season. The lefthander has a low-90s fastball and a good curveball, although his command is erratic (166:81 K:BB). The White Sox, who originally signed him in 2004, re-acquired him in December in the Freddy Garcia deal. Gonzalez needs to control his emotions better -- scouts have noted he tends to throw instead of pitch when under pressure -- but a strong season could see him in the majors in September.

2006

Just as Brandon McCarthy threatened to leave prospectdom behind and join the major league roster, Gonzalez -- a second round pick lured away from a University of Miami scholarship in 2003 -- stepped into the vacuum and assumed the mantle of top pitching prospect in the organization. His time as king of the hill was short-lived, although thankfully not due to the usual arm woes -- he'll get his first crack at the high minors as property of the Phillies.