Erik González

Originally signed by the Cleveland Indians as a free agent in 2008, he began his professional career with the rookie-level Indians squads, where he played through the 2011 season. He was promoted to the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in 2012, and finished the year with a .220 batting average in 60 games. He was then promoted to the Lake County Captains and Carolina Mudcats in 2013. After the 2013 season, MiLB.com named González the best third baseman in the Indians minor league system.[1] He was added to the Indians' 40-man roster following the season.[2]

In 2014, he split the season with the Mudcats and the Akron RubberDucks; with the RubberDucks he had a .357 batting average in 31 games, and was named to the Midwest League All-Star roster while with the Mudcats, hitting .289 in 74 games.[3] In 2015, he split the season between the RubberDucks and the Columbus Clippers of the Class AAA International League. González began the 2016 season with Columbus, and appeared in the Triple-A All-Star Game. He was promoted to the major leagues on July 14, 2016.[4] He finished the season in the major leagues with a .313 batting average in 21 games, and a .296 batting average, 11 home runs, and 12 stolen bases with the Clippers in 104 games. In 2018, González played in 81 games for the Indians as an utility infielder, averaging .265 from 136 at-bats with 1 homer and 16 runs batted in.[5]

On November 14, 2018, González (along with minor leaguers Tahnaj Thomas and Dante Mendoza) were traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for Max Moroff and Jordan Luplow.[6]

In a game on April 19, 2019, González was chasing after a fly ball and collided with outfielder Starling Marte. Marte had to be carted off of the field and González suffered a fractured left clavicle, and was placed on the 60-day injured list the next day.