SF Giants release former White Sox outfielder, MLB Rookie of the Month
The SF Giants have released outfielder Luis González, according to a report by Robert Murray of FanSided. González was designated for assignment when the Giants called up outfielder Wade Meckler (Giants Top 22 Prospect) and outrighted to Triple-A after clearing waivers. The 28-year-old never appeared in a big-league game with the Giants this season and hit just .248/.350/.352 in 152 plate appearances in the minors.
González was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of the University of New Mexico, and steadily climbed the minor-league ladder. He made his big-league debut with Chicago during the 2020 season but appeared in just 13 MLB games from 2020-2021 because of a combination of organizational depth and injuries.
The Giants claimed the Arizona native off waivers during the 2021 season when the White Sox had designated him for assignment while he recovered from shoulder surgery. San Francisco stashed him on the 60-day injured list with hopes he could help the team down the line. It paid off in 2022.
González cracked the Giants big-league roster early in the season and hit .347/.384/.485 in 112 plate appearances through May, earning him Rookie of the Month honors. However, his performance faded as the year went on. Giants manager Gabe Kapler said González's production dipped because he playing through a lower back strain that forced him to finish the year on the injured list. Nevertheless, he finished last season with a .254/.323/.360 line, adding 17 doubles, four home runs, and 10 stolen bases in 98 games. Then, before he could make an impact in 2023, González was sidelined by back surgery.
González is a well-rounded defensive outfielder, capable of playing in all three spots. He also has posted a .755 OPS against right-handed pitchers in the majors. Given his defensive versatility, there's a good chance that Luis González is able to latch on with another MLB organization soon, even if that's not with the SF Giants.
