Bio

Matt Gonzalez signed with Gateway on June 5, 2018, for his first season with the Grizzlies and his third as a professional.

A former sixth round pick of the Atlanta Braves in the 2016 MLB Draft, Gonzalez reached the Class-A Advanced Florida Fire Frogs of the Florida State League in 2017 — he was teammates with current Grizzlies outfielder Justin Ellison. Gonzalez accumulated a .672 OPS in 110 games in Atlanta's system — he hit three home runs and drove in 39.

Prior to joining the professional ranks, Gonzalez had a spectacular four-year career at Georgia Tech. He was a First Team All-ACC selection as a senior in 2016, a Second Team All-ACC choice in 2014 and 2015, and a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-America pick in 2013. As a senior, Gonzalez led the Yellow Jackets with a .378 batting average and ranked in a tie for the team lead with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs. At Tech's 2016 NCAA Regional in Gainesville on June 3, Gonzalez tallied his 300th career hit; he became only the third Yellow Jacket all-time to reach that plateau.

Gonzalez was also a three-time participant in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League — a summer collegiate circuit for elite amateur players. He played for the Bourne Braves in 2013 and the Harwich Mariners in 2014 and 2015. As a Cape League All-Star in 2014, Gonzalez' East Division squad featured three outfielders who have already made the major leagues: the Cubs' Ian Happ (Univ. of Cincinnati), the Phillies' Scott Kingery (Univ. of Arizona, now an infielder with Philadelphia), and the Nationals' Andrew Stevenson (LSU).

In 2013, at the Cape League's annual Fenway Park workout for MLB scouts, Gonzalez hit five batting practice home runs over the Green Monster — tied for the most of any player at the workout.