Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40 | Overall: 45

Though Gonzalez only weighed 145 pounds and featured a mid-80s fastball when first scouted in Venezuela, the Red Sox liked his arm speed and projectability, so they signed him for $250,000 in 2018. His body and stuff have gotten significantly stronger ever since, and he went from being left unprotected on Boston's 40-man roster in 2022 to the system's best pitching prospect in 2023. He struggled with stress and his control while posting a 15.58 ERA last April, then thrived after a two-hour conversation with club officials helped him refocus on process instead of results. After that, he led the Minors in strikeout rate (13.6 per nine innings) and percentage (35 percent).

When he's on, Gonzalez can have a plus-plus fastball and a pair of plus secondary pitches, but his stuff has backed up while he has struggled to make mechanical adjustments designed to improve his control in 2024. His heater sits at 93-95 mph and tops out at 97, with its flat approach angle producing difficult carry when he works up in the zone. His upper-70s curveball is a hammer when he stays on top of it, but he's struggling to land it for strikes and often eschews it in favor of a fringy mid-80s slider/cutter. His fading mid-80s changeup has confound left-handers in the past but isn't missing as many bats this summer.

Gonzalez has exceptional athletic mobility that enables him to cut his distance from the plate, getting pitches on hitters much quicker than expected. He also has effort in his delivery that hampers his ability to land his secondary offerings in the zone, leading to 70 walks in 111 1/3 innings last season. He has No. 2 starter upside if he can develop average control, but he might be a late-inning reliever if he can't.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45  

Gonzalez had a mid-80s fastball as a 145-pound teenager in Venezuela, but his quick arm and projectable frame appealed to the Red Sox, who signed him for $250,000 in 2018. His strength and stuff have improved steadily ever since, and he concluded last season with four strong starts in High-A at age 20. Though some scouts believe he's the system's best pitching prospect, Boston opted not to protect him on its 40-man roster last offseason and snuck him through the Rule 5 Draft because he's still a few years away from the big leagues. 

All three of Gonzalez's pitches can grade as at least plus when they're on, and his 93-97 mph fastball can be better than that with its flat approach angle and quality carry up in the strike zone. His upper-70s curveball has good depth when he stays on top of it and features some intriguing sweep when he doesn't. He also displays promising feel for a mid-80s changeup with fade. 

Gonzalez still isn't particularly physical and doesn't have the smoothest delivery, though he did clean up his mechanics some during 2022. His walk rate jumped from 2.7 per nine innings in 2021 to 4.9 last season, so he'll have to prove he can provide consistent strikes to reach his ceiling as a mid-rotation starter. If not, he could be a late-inning relief option. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45 

Though Gonzalez's fastball resided in the mid-80s when he was a 145-pound amateur in Venezuela, his quick arm and projectable frame earned him a $250,000 bonus in 2018. Since signing, he has continually added strength and stood out with his advanced feel for pitching. He reached Low-A at age 19 at the end of the 2021 season, compiling a 1.53 ERA in four starts. 

Gonzalez has gained about 35 pounds and 10 mph on his fastball as a pro, and he now operates at 92-95 mph and tops out at 97 with quality life on his heater. He gets good depth on his upper-70s curveball when he stays on top of it, though it devolves into a slurve at times. He has advanced feel for a mid-80s changeup with fade and isn't afraid to use it. 

Gonzalez has the potential for three solid to plus pitches once he gains more consistency that should come with age. He carries some reliever risk because he's small for a starter and doesn't have the smoothest delivery, though he also has a bit more projection remaining and generally throws strikes. He's young and has yet to pitch more than 52 2/3 innings in a season, so the Red Sox won't push him too hard, but he could reach Fenway Park before he turns 23. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 45

Gonzalez threw in the mid-80s as a 145-pound amateur in Venezuela but attracted scouts with his projectable frame and fast arm. Signed for $250,000 in 2018, he has gained significant velocity as he has gotten stronger and impressed with his advanced feel for pitching since making his pro debut in 2019. He has opened more eyes in 2021, standing out in the Red Sox's extended spring training program and dominating the Rookie-level Florida Complex League.

Gonzalez has added about 35 pounds to his 6-foot build and 10 mph to his fastball since turning pro, and now works at 92-96 mph with quality life on his heater. He backs it up with a pair of secondary pitches that have the potential to be solid to plus offerings with more consistency. He achieves nice fade on his mid-80s changeup and features good depth on an upper-70s curveball that can get slurvy when he doesn't stay on top of it.

Though he's shorter than a typical starter, Gonzalez should be able to remain in that role and still has some projection remaining. He has pounded the strike zone in his U.S. debut and already ranks among Boston's top pitching prospects at age 19. If he continues to develop and improve like he has early in his career, he could develop into a No. 3 starter.

Awards

MiLB.com Organization All-Star

Year	Team
2023

EAS Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
07/23/2023

CAR Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
08/14/2022

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	10/01/2024	Boston Red Sox recalled RHP Wikelman Gonzalez from Portland Sea Dogs.
	03/29/2024	RHP Wikelman Gonzalez assigned to Portland Sea Dogs from Worcester Red Sox.
	03/08/2024	Boston Red Sox optioned RHP Wikelman Gonzalez to Worcester Red Sox.
	03/07/2024	Boston Red Sox Prospects activated RHP Wikelman Gonzalez.
	11/14/2023	Boston Red Sox selected the contract of RHP Wikelman Gonzalez from Portland Sea Dogs.
	08/08/2023	Portland Sea Dogs activated RHP Wikelman Gonzalez.
	07/30/2023	Portland Sea Dogs transferred RHP Wikelman Gonzalez to the Development List.
	07/14/2023	RHP Wikelman Gonzalez assigned to Portland Sea Dogs from Greenville Drive.
	08/18/2022	RHP Wikelman Gonzalez assigned to Greenville Drive from Salem Red Sox.
	08/27/2021	RHP Wilkelman Gonzalez assigned to Salem Red Sox from FCL Red Sox.
	11/20/2019	RHP Wilkelman Gonzalez assigned to GCL Red Sox from DSL Red Sox1.
	06/01/2019	RHP Wilkelman Gonzalez assigned to DSL Red Sox1 from DSL Red Sox2.
	05/31/2019	RHP Wilkelman Gonzalez assigned to DSL Red Sox2.
	07/02/2018	Boston Red Sox signed free agent RHP Wilkelman Gonzalez to a minor league contract.