Pros and cons of Chicago White Sox taking Ole Miss baseball's Jacob Gonzalez in 2023 MLB Draft
Ole Miss baseball shortstop Jacob Gonzalez was selected by the Chicago White Sox with the 15th pick in the first round of the 2023 MLB Draft.
Gonzalez was a three-year standout in the SEC for the Rebels, finishing with an OPS above .960 in each of his three campaigns playing for Ole Miss. The native of Glendora, California, played a pivotal part in the Rebels' run to the 2022 College World Series title, too.
He joins another Ole Miss great from that College World Series team, Tim Elko, who the White Sox picked last season.
The pick carries a signing bonus slot value of $4,466,600.
The positives
Gonzalez is both toolsy and polished. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound shortstop has proven his ability to hit for both power and average at the collegiate level. He's as smooth a defender as you're likely to find, too. As a junior, he cut out the defensive mistakes that had plagued his game considerably during his first two seasons at Ole Miss, improving his fielding percentage by 34 points to .971.
Perhaps the most impressive feature of Gonzalez's game is his mature approach at the plate. He posted a .435 OBP as a junior, with a .427 mark over his full collegiate career, using the opposite field with authority. With 40 career home runs and 43 career doubles, he offers power without the undisciplined plate approach that often accompanies it at the college level.
TRANSFER TRACKER: Ole Miss baseball transfer tracker: Who's in and who's out for Mike Bianco's Rebels?
The concerns
Those looking to poke a hole in Gonzalez's game will likely point to his lack of plus speed, which could in turn pose some questions over whether he'll be able to stay at shortstop at the major league level.
If Gonzalez's elite bat can't stick at shortstop and he's forced to move to third base or second base due to those limitations, that caps his future upside considerably.
Final thoughts
Despite those quickness concerns, Gonzalez proved himself to be an effective shortstop at the collegiate level. His swing is as pure as it gets, and his approach at the plate should get him to the big leagues quicker than some of his peers in the college game. He's a safe choice with a ceiling that might be a bit higher than some estimates.
David Eckert covers Ole Miss for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at deckert@gannett.com or reach him on Twitter @davideckert98.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Chicago White Sox pick Ole Miss' Jacob Gonzalez in 2023 MLB Draft
