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Player Outlook
After posting a 125 wRC+ the previous season, the Guardians were counting on Oscar Gonzalez to add some pop to an otherwise punchless lineup. Unfortunately, Gonzalez was batting just .192/.213/.288 in early May when he was demoted to Triple-A Columbus. Gonzalez seemed to regain his confidence with a .288/.325/.494 line over 277 plate appearances with the Clippers, prompting a late July recall. The strong-armed outfielder bounced up and down a couple more times over the second half, playing mostly against southpaws. His .222/.250/.323 second half line was marginally better than his early numbers, but the season was still a huge disappointment. A closer look at the underlying numbers reveals Gonzalez's exit velocity, launch angle and HardHit% were nearly identical over 2022 and 2023, though he did fan more last season. Statcast's xBA and xSLG indicate Gonzalez was lucky in 2022 then snake bit last year. The Guardians waived him, but the Yankees claimed Gonzales who could see some work against lefties and as a defensive replacement. He's well off the mixed league radar and needs to return to 2022's contact level to be an AL-only option.

Fantasy Stats

Year fpts
Fantasy Points
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Fantasy Points per Game
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Runs
hr
Home Runs
rbi
Runs Batted In
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Base on Balls (Walk)
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Stolen Bases
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Batting Average
2024 .000
2023 641.2 15 2 12 5 .214
2022 229.52.5 39 11 43 15 1 .296
3y Avg. 1452 27 6 28 10 0 .269
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Fantasy News

  • Yankees' Oscar Gonzalez: Discharged from hospital

    Gonzalez (orbital) was recently discharged from a hospital in Mexico City and is at home resting, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports. Gonzalez suffered a right orbital fracture after fouling a pitch off his face during an exhibition game Monday. Though he seems to be doing much better two days after suffering the injury, the Yankees don't have a timeline for when he'll be ready for game action. Once Gonzalez is cleared, he'll head to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
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  • Yankees' Oscar Gonzalez: Diagnosed with orbital fracture

    Gonzalez suffered a right orbital fracture during Monday's exhibition against Diablos Rojos de Mexico, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. Gonzalez fouled a pitch off his face and was immediately taken to the hospital for further evaluation. He's expected to remain in the hospital overnight for observation.
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  • Yankees' Oscar Gonzalez: Headed for further evaluation

    Gonzalez was treated for a bruised right eye at the stadium and was then transferred to Centro Medico ABC Hospital in Mexico City for further testing, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. Gonzalez was forced from Monday's game after fouling a pitch off his face, and he was eventually carted off the field. He was in line to begin the 2024 season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to suffering the injury.
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  • Yankees' Oscar Gonzalez: Carted off field

    Gonzalez was carted off the field after fouling a pitch off his face Monday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. Gonzalez was reassigned to minor-league camp earlier in the day, and his status for the start of the minor-league season now appears to be in jeopardy following this scary injury. The team should have more information on the extent of the injury after further evaluation.
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  • Yankees' Oscar Gonzalez: Reassigned to minor-league camp

    The Yankees reassigned Gonzalez to minor-league camp Monday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports. Gonzalez was removed from the 40-man roster in January but played his way into contention for an Opening Day roster spot with a nice showing this spring. He ultimately fell short, though, and will provide outfield depth at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
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  • Yankees' Oscar Gonzalez: Remains in organization

    The Yankees outrighted Gonzalez to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday. The 26-year-old has lost his spot on the 40-man roster but will stick around in the organization as outfield depth. Gonzalez has put up a .712 OPS with 13 home runs over 562 plate appearances at the major-league level.
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  • Yankees' Oscar Gonzalez: Bumped from 40-man roster

    Gonzalez was designated for assignment by the Yankees on Wednesday. The club needed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Marcus Stroman. Gonzalez was just claimed off waivers by the Yankees in December and will now go through the waiver process again. The 26-year-old showed promise in 2022 but slashed just .214/.239/.312 across 180 plate appearances in the majors in 2023.
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  • Yankees' Oscar Gonzalez: Claimed by Yankees

    The Yankees claimed Gonzalez off waivers from the Guardians on Friday, Jack Curry of YES Network reports. After an impressive rookie season in 2022, Gonzalez's numbers took a major dip in '23, when he slashed .214/.239/.312 across 180 plate appearances. The 25-year-old will have a shot at starting in the Yankees' outfield, though a bounce-back performance at the plate in the spring would greatly improve his chances.
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  • Guardians' Oscar Gonzalez: Returns to minors

    Gonzalez was optioned to Triple-A Columbus on Sunday. Gonzalez was called up to the big club in late July but posted just a .232/.260/.337 slash line in 27 games. The 25-year-old will head back to Triple-A -- where he has an .808 OPS this season -- with Josh Naylor (oblique) returning from the injured list.
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  • Guardians' Oscar Gonzalez: Sitting again amid slump

    Gonzalez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins. Gonzalez will take a seat for the second time in the series while he's gone 5-for-42 with no walks and 18 strikeouts over his last 11 games dating back to Aug. 16. His ongoing slump appears to have cost him a regular role between the corner outfield and designated hitter, with waiver-wire pickup Ramon Laureano having seemingly supplanted him in the Guardians' lineup.
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  • Guardians' Oscar Gonzalez: Clubs second homer

    Gonzalez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and three strikeouts in Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Dodgers. Gonzalez entered Tuesday 0-for-11 across his last three games before smacking a fourth-inning solo shot. The outfielder has hit a modest .250 with six extra-base hits, six RBI and eight runs scored over 21 games since he was recalled from Triple-A Columbus. Overall, he's at a .221/.250/.331 slash line with two homers, 11 RBI and 13 runs scored across 46 contests, and he's yet to attempt a stolen base in the majors this year. Between designated hitter and the corner outfield spots, Gonzalez is maintaining steady playing time.
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  • Guardians' Oscar Gonzalez: Sitting out Thursday

    Gonzalez is not in the lineup for Thursday's tilt against the Blue Jays. Gonzalez had started each of the last eight games, with all but one of them coming from the cleanup spot. He'll get a breather for this one, though, as the Guardians go with Jose Ramirez in the designated hitter spot and Brayan Rocchio at third base.
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  • Guardians' Oscar Gonzalez: Garners fifth straight start

    Gonzalez will start in right field and bat cleanup in Sunday's game against the White Sox. Gonzalez appears to be one of the beneficiaries of Josh Naylor's (oblique) recent move to the 10-day injured list, as the 25-year-old will garner his fifth consecutive start, with two coming at designated hitter and three coming in right field. Since being called up from Triple-A Columbus on July 27, Gonzalez has gone 8-for-20 with a triple, three walks and three runs.
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  • Guardians' Oscar Gonzalez: Knocks three hits

    Gonzalez went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Astros. Gonzalez has gone 5-for-13 with two walks and two runs scored over four games since his recall from Triple-A Columbus on July 27. He's gotten in the starting lineup in three of the seven games in that span, all in right field. That playing time has come at the expense of Myles Straw, as Will Brennan has moved to center field when Gonzalez plays. It's not a strict platoon, but it appears manager Terry Francona is trying to limit both Gonzalez and Straw against right-handed pitchers. Over 30 contests this season, Gonzalez has a .221/.256/.302 slash line with a home run, five RBI and seven runs scored.
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  • Guardians' Oscar Gonzalez: Swats first homer of year

    Gonzalez went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 4-3 loss to the Tigers in the first game of Tuesday's doubleheader. He took Matthew Boyd deep in the fourth inning of the matinee, giving the Guardians a 3-1 lead, but it was the last offense the team would produce all day -- including the nightcap, which they lost 1-0. It was Gonzalez's first long ball and first RBI of the season, and after going 1-for-3 in the second game, he's batting .156 (7-for-45) through 15 contests. The 25-year-old will need to start picking up the pace if he wants to climb out of the short side of a platoon in right field with Will Brennan.
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  • Guardians' Oscar Gonzalez: On bench again versus righty

    Gonzalez is absent from the lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees. Gonzalez has still yet to make a start this season versus a right-hander not named Logan Gilbert; he's been in the lineup twice against the Mariners righty, who has reverse splits. The good news is the Guardians have already faced five lefties, so Gonzalez has still played quite a bit. The bad news is Gonzalez is sitting on a .387 OPS in the early going, and Will Brennan is looking like the preferred option in right field against most right-handers.
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  • Guardians' Oscar Gonzalez: At cleanup spot Tuesday

    Gonzalez is batting cleanup for the Guardians on Tuesday night against the Athletics. Gonzalez hit fifth and sixth when he was in Cleveland's lineup over the weekend, and now he'll jump to the fourth spot in the order Tuesday with the A's starting left-hander JP Sears. Will Brennan is sitting.
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  • Guardians' Oscar Gonzalez: Not in lineup against Oakland

    Gonzalez is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Guardians. Gonzalez will be on the bench against right-hander James Kaprielian with Will Brennan getting the start in right and hitting seventh. This appears to be a platoon situation between the two outfielders to begin the year, and that obviously limits Gonzalez' value considerably, even if he performs well against southpaws.
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  • Guardians' Oscar Gonzalez: Sleeper hitters for Week 25 (Sept. 19-25)

    The matchups could be better, no doubt, but the bottom line is that Gonzalez is severely under-rostered at 47 percent, especially now that his power stroke is beginning to come through with four homers in his past 11 games. With all the scrubs I'm having to call sleepers this week, I can't afford to balk at Gonzalez's matchups.
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  • Guardians' Oscar Gonzalez: Possible waiver wire pickups

    We've been waiting for Gonzalez's power to manifest during what's been an impressive rookie season otherwise, and it looks like it's finally happening. Four of his nine home runs have come in his past 10 games, a stretch during which he also has four doubles. His high-end exit velocities rank among the top 10 percent in the league, and because his strikeout rate is only 21 percent, it doesn't seem like batting average will be a major concern for him moving forward. Certainly in five-outfielder leagues, he's a must at this point, and it's not a bad idea to add him even in three-outfielder leagues. His matchups next week could be better, but it's hard to imagine anyone with his availability being any more appealing.
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