Adrian

Gonzalez

González made the announcement on his personal Instagram account. The 39-year-old first baseman last appeared in the majors with the Mets back in 2018. He played for Team Mexico in the Tokyo Olympics last summer. The first overall selection by the Padres in the 2000 MLB Draft, González was a five-time All-Star selection and four-time Gold Glove Award winner. He finishes with a stellar .287/.358/.485 triple-slash line with 997 runs scored, 317 home runs, 1,202 RBI and six stolen bases across 8,046 plate appearances over 15 seasons since 2004.

Gonzalez then hopes to play for Team Mexico in the 2021 Olympics. He has previously represented his native country in youth competition, the Caribbean World Series, and the World Baseball Classic. “If I can accomplish those four, that’s like the grand slam of representing Mexico,” the 38-year-old former five-time MLB All-Star told the Los Angles Times. “That is the only reason I have not retired yet.”

Gonzalez, 38, hasn’t appeared in the major leagues since 2018 when he played in 54 games for the Mets, but appears poised to represent his home country as one of the highest-profile baseball stars on the Olympic stage this summer.

Gonzalez, one of the top first base prospects in the minors, had surgery in December to repair a three-millimeter ligament tear in his right (non-throwing) wrist.

The Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate at Oklahoma City was eliminated from the playoffs last night, and Gonzalez, who was a member of that team, will now be summoned to Texas where he will provide a much-needed left-handed hitter off the bench.

Gonzalez will make $316,000 as a major leaguer and $76,400 if at Triple-A Oklahoma. Since he didn’t play well in the second half of last year, it’s expected that he’ll return to the minors for the start of this season. He could force his way to the majors with a big month or two at Oklahoma.

Gonzalez’s main competition for the DH job are veterans David Dellucci and Greg Colbrunn, so he has a relatively clear path if he plays well. Once the first overall pick in the 2000 draft, Gonzalez has hit just .284/.345/.418 in 162 games at Triple-A.

GM John Hart said it’s unlikely Gonzalez and Mark Teixeira, who is coming off the DL, will be on the roster simultaneously. Even though he’s headed back to the minors, Gonzalez has helped his outlook by hitting .320 over 25 at-bats.

GM John Hart and manager Buck Showalter have also discussed bringing up catcher Gerald Laird, and pitchers Ryan Snare and Rosman Garcia from Triple-A Oklahoma when rosters expand.

Meanwhile, Phil Nevin continues to show why the Padres were so eager to be rid of him. Gonzalez belongs in the majors, even if it’s just as a part-time player.