All-Star Shortstop Gonzalez Bought by Angels
May 22, 2014 - American Association (AA)
Lincoln Saltdogs News Release
LINCOLN -- The Saltdogs are proud to announce that the contract of league hits leader Maikol Gonzalez was sold to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Thursday.
Gonzalez, Lincoln's starting shortstop and lead-off man, is currently tied for the league lead with 15 hits and tied for third with four stolen bases through seven games.
The Saltdogs have now sold 21 players to Major League Baseball organizations since the American Association's expansion in 2011, eight more than any other club in the league.
The 28-year old from Naples, Fla. is hitting .417 with a home run and team-leading seven RBI.
Lincoln acquired Gonzalez in the offseason from the El Paso Diablos, a player that Saltdogs manager Ken Oberkfell had been coveting the past two years.
"[Gonzalez] is the best shortstop in the [American Association], hands down," Oberkfell said on KFOR 1240. "He might be the best player in the league."
Gonzalez will report to the Arkansas Travelers (based out of Little Rock), the Angels' Double-A affiliate in the Texas League.
Born in San Francisco, Venezuela, Gonzalez began his professional career in the Colorado Rockies organization in 2008. He hit .337 and stole league-leading 47 bases for El Paso in 2013.
The Saltdogs, at 4-3 and atop the Central division, open their home schedule at Haymarket Park Friday night at 7:05 p.m. against Winnipeg.
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