Gonzales started in right field, batted leadoff and went 2-for-5 with a run scored for Double-A Portland on Tuesday.
The 19-year-old Gonzales appeared in his first game at the Double-A level. He was promoted to the Sea Dogs on Monday after mashing at High-A Greenville, where he posted a .271/.391/.463 slash line with 17 home runs, 12 doubles, 11 steals and 59 RBI over 89 games. He entered the organization as a first baseman and looks like one, but Gonzalez has transitioned to outfield the last two seasons, getting playing time at all three spots.
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Red Sox's Justin Gonzales: Promoted to Double-A
Rotowire
Gonzales was promoted to Double-A Portland on Sunday, Ari Alexander of 7 News Boston reports.
Gonzales will make the jump to the Double-A level after batting .271 with 17 home runs, 58 RBI, 68 runs scored and 11 stolen bases over 350 at-bats in 89 contests with High-A Greenville this season. The 19-year-old is an incredibly impressive batter for his age, and he is considered to be one of Boston's top overall prospects.
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Red Sox's Justin Gonzales: Reaches double-digit homers
Rotowire
Gonzales went 3-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run for High-A Greenville on Thursday.
Gonzales sent the first pitch he saw over the fence in right-center field to lead off the bottom of the first inning. It was his 10th home run of the season and third in the last five games. He became the 10th prospect in Boston's system to reach double-digit homers. Gonzales has made an effort to lift the ball more in 2026, and he continues to keep his groundball rate (46.1 percent) down while hitting more flyballs (27.2 percent) and line drives (26.7 percent).
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Red Sox's Justin Gonzales: Lifting ball more
Rotowire
Gonzales is slashing .276/.344/.517 with two home runs and a 21.9 percent strikeout rate in 32 plate appearances for High-A Greenville.
Gonzales' inability to consistently lift the ball in the air has been the one thing holding him back from ascending way up prospect lists, and so far his 45.5 percent groundball rate and 31.8 percent flyball rate are career-best marks. These early adjustments have allowed him to produce a career-best .241 ISO and .517 SLG through this tiny sample. Gonzales is the second-youngest hitter at High-A, behind Rainiel Rodriguez, so he could climb into a lofty spot on prospect rankings by season's end if he can maintain these early batted-ball trends.
