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This Smooth Swinging Lefty Has a Shot at the Hall of Fame

December 28, 2024 by Last Word On Baseball

Few players in recent history have exemplified five-tool talent like Carlos González. Known as “CarGo,” González enjoyed a career filled with incredible highlights. These ranged from clutch walk-offs to Gold Glove-worthy plays in the outfield. His time in the big leagues included three All-Star appearances, three Gold Gloves, two Silver Sluggers, a National League batting title, and one of the most memorable cycles in baseball history.

For much of his time with the Colorado Rockies, González was among the game’s most dangerous hitters. He was a great combination of power, speed, and fielding brilliance. He was a top-10 slugger in the league during his prime and left an indelible mark on Rockies history. Yet, like other Hall of Fame hopefuls hindered by injuries, González’s career was ultimately shortened, making his Cooperstown case a fascinating one.

CarGo Has a Shot at Cooperstown

CarGo Before the Bigs

Carlos González was born on October 17, 1985, in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Signed as an international free agent by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2002, González quickly rose through the ranks, showcasing the raw tools that made scouts believe he could become a star.

After making his MLB debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2008, following a trade from Arizona in which they received Dan Haren (who would be an all-star for the following two seasons), González struggled to find his footing. In 302 at-bats, he posted just a 71 OPS+ with four home runs. However, a second trade, this time to the Colorado Rockies in the Matt Holliday deal, changed everything. By 2009, González had emerged as a force, hitting .284 with 13 home runs in just 89 games, raising his OPS+ 47 points.

CarGo’s Impressive Early Career

After slowly improving from 2008 to 2009, González truly announced himself as one of the best players in the game come 2010. It was his career year and the true beginning of his prime.

On July 31, 2010, González hit for the cycle, completing it with a walk-off home run—a rare feat that cemented his reputation as one of baseball’s most thrilling players. His combination of power, speed, and fielding skill made him an instant star and a fan favorite in Colorado.

From 2010 to 2013, González was among MLB’s best players. During this stretch, he posted a .311 batting average with 106 home runs, 363 RBI, 66 stolen bases, and a .928 OPS. He earned two more All-Star nods, two additional Gold Gloves, and another Silver Slugger.

Defensively, González was a game-changer in the outfield. His strong arm and impeccable range helped him rank among the league’s top defensive outfielders. His highlight reel included everything from home-run robberies to pinpoint throws that left baserunners stranded.

Beyond the stats, González brought a presence to the Rockies lineup that elevated the team. He was the centerpiece of an offense that consistently ranked among the league’s best (top 10 in OPS every season from 2009 to 2017).

The Beginning of the End for Carlos Gonzalez

While González remained productive through his late 20s, injuries began to take their toll. Wrist, knee, and hamstring issues kept him from maintaining the durability needed to sustain his early dominance. After a great 2016 season, where he hit .298 with 25 home runs and 100 RBI, his production waned.

González spent brief stints with the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs in 2019, but his time as an MLB regular had come to an end. His final MLB at-bat came in May 2019, marking the close of a brilliant yet shortened career.

Career Year Breakdown

CarGo’s 2010 campaign could have been MVP caliber. The only thing that got in his way were arguably the two best hitters in baseball at the time, Albert Pujols and Joey Votto. His ranks across MLB are as follows:

Runs (111): 3rd

Batting Average (.336): 2nd

Home Runs (34): 4th

wRC+ (144): 10th

WAR (5.7): 17th

MVP Voting: 3rd in NL

Carlos was undoubtedly one of the best players in baseball that season. A few factors that could have potentially led to this increase include:

  • Gonzalez dominated fastballs (wFA: 15.8, wFA/C: 1.95) and secondary pitches like sliders (wSL: 6.8, wSL/C: 1.91) and changeups (wCH: 5.5, wCH/C: 6.53), showcasing elite pitch recognition and the ability to punish mistakes across a variety of offerings.
  • Gonzalez’s Career-high Hard% (43.8%) and HR/FB ratio (20.4%, which was a high at that point but would be eclipsed by his 25.8% rate in 2015) indicate that he was making the best contact of his career, translating extra-base hits into home runs. His balanced batted-ball profile (GB/FB: 1.16, LD%: 20.8%) further contributed to his consistent and impactful offensive production.
  • High Z-Contact% (88.1%) and overall Contact% (77.7%) reflect his ability to make solid contact within the strike zone. Combined with a Swing% (51.1%) and Z-Swing% (68.1%) that balanced aggression and control, Gonzalez capitalized on pitches in the zone while avoiding frequent weak contact.

In 2010, Carlos Gonzalez’s exceptional combination of pitch recognition, power, and plate discipline allowed him to excel against all pitch types, generate elite hard contact, and maximize his offensive production. González showcased his elite ability to impact all facets of the game. It put the league on notice from that point on that the Rockies had a star on their hands.

Carlos González’s Hall of Fame Case

Across 12 seasons, González played 1,377 games and hit .285 with 234 home runs, 785 RBI, and a .843 OPS. While his counting stats fall short of the Hall of Fame standards, his peak years were undeniable. González is one of only a handful of players in Rockies history to rank in the top 10 in doubles, home runs, RBI, and OPS.

That said, the Hall of Fame is often about longevity, and González’s career was too short to meet the benchmarks of other Rockies greats like Larry Walker or Todd Helton. His Baseball Reference Hall of Fame Monitor score of 44 is far below the 100-point threshold for typical inductees. He is right next to his fellow ballot mate and someone he shared a lineup with for many years, Troy Tulowitzki. Unfortunately, Tulo is more of a case of what could have been, than Tulowitzki making the Hall of Fame.

Whether or not he ever earns a plaque in Cooperstown, his impact on the game is undeniable. Carlos González was a reminder of how magical baseball can be when a player is in their prime, captivating audiences and creating memories that will last forever.

Main Photo Credits:  Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

The post This Smooth Swinging Lefty Has a Shot at the Hall of Fame appeared first on Last Word On Baseball.

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