RADIO
Nick Gonzales Drawing Attention After Recent Lengthy Hitting Streak
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Nick Gonzales has been drawing more attention on the waiver wire in fantasy baseball leagues because of his recent hot streak at the plate. Gonzales has gone 0-for-8 so far in two games to begin the month of August, but he ended July on a 15-game hitting streak in which he went 25-for-66 (.379) with two home runs, five doubles, eight RBI, and 11 runs scored in 67 plate appearances. The 27-year-old's hot streak has boosted his overall line in 2026 to .312/.366/.405 with a .771 OPS, six home runs, 50 RBI, 61 runs scored, and five stolen bases across his 407 at-bats in his fourth year in the big leagues with the Bucs. With rookie infielder Konnor Griffin (finger) most likely sidelined until the final month of the regular season, Gonzales should remain locked in as Pittsburgh's primary third baseman, and if he stays hot at the plate, he will continue to be picked up in more leagues. The former first-rounder from New Mexico State University is currently rostered in 57% of Yahoo leagues. He already has a career high in RBI and needs just two more home runs to set a new career high in that category as well.
Source: Baseball Reference
Source: Baseball Reference
Nick Gonzales Emerging as a Priority Waiver-Wire Target Amidst July Surge
Across 422 plate appearances in 2026, Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Nick Gonzales is hitting .315/.370/.411 with six home runs, 47 RBI, 59 runs scored, and four stolen bases. The 27-year-old has emerged as Pittsburgh's everyday third baseman in recent weeks amidst a surge at the plate in July. Across 99 plate appearances this month, Gonzales is hitting .385 with three home runs, 12 RBI, and 15 runs scored. Gonzales' power upside is minimal, as he's posted just a 3.2% barrel rate and 36.4% hard-hit rate. However, Gonzales profiles as a steady source of batting average for fantasy managers who should continue to rack up counting stats in an everyday role in the solid Pittsburgh lineup. He also brings multi-positional eligibility in most fantasy leagues, which makes him useful roster depth. Where available, Gonzales profiles as a priority waiver wire target.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Murf Gray's Second Home Run at Double-A was a Grand One
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman prospect Murf Gray was recently promoted to Double-A, his second promotion of the season already, and he's collected a hit in three of the first four games for Altoona, including his second home run at that level on Tuesday, which was a grand slam. Not only that, the Pirates' third-ranked prospect is showing patience, drawing three walks compared to just two strikeouts so far with the Curve. The Fresno State product was a 2025 draft pick, 73rd overall, but is seeing time in professional baseball for the first time this season and has not disappointed. Across all three levels this year, the 6-foot-3 slugger owns a .323/.405/.610 slash line with 25 home runs, and though he tended to chase pitches in college, he is striking out at just a 19.2 percent rate while drawing walks at a 10.5 percent rate, so it looks like he's developed in that area. At this rate, the 22-year-old could be in the mix for an MLB debut next year, and his dynasty arrow is pointing up at the moment.
Source: MiLB.com
Source: MiLB.com
Nick Gonzales Should Not Be Available in 12-Team Leagues
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Nick Gonzales picked up two more hits and scored twice in Sunday's 7-1 win over Cleveland. He also homered in Saturday's opener and now sits at .311 with five home runs, 55 runs, 44 RBI, and four steals over 351 at-bats. Only 40% of Yahoo leagues have him rostered, a low number for a hitter who ranks third in the National League in hits. The average is doing most of the work here. Gonzales has only five homers and four steals, so this is not broad category juice. He keeps putting the ball in play, owns a .370 on-base percentage, and qualifies at second base, third base, and shortstop. Some pullback is possible, with a .282 expected average behind the .311 mark. Even then, this kind of useful, flexible bat belongs in 12-team leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nick Gonzales Can Help With Infield Depth Off the Waiver Wire
Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman/third baseman Nick Gonzales can be a great fill-in addition off the waiver wire if you need help at multiple infield spots. He has spent most of the year at the hot corner, but has other eligibility as well in most formats. The 27-year-old has been a utility man most of his career, but has taken a nice step forward in a regular role over the past several weeks. Since June 1, Gonzales has been hitting .314 with three homers, 24 runs scored, and 17 RBI in 37 games. He has moved all over the batting order during that span, starting as the leadoff hitter and the cleanup hitter as the Pirates shuffle different combinations. He has a .364 wOBA since June 1 and just a 17.8% K%. His contact numbers and solid counting stats production are good enough to earn him a roster spot in most standard-sized leagues. He doesn't have elite power or stolen base potential, but if you need a batting average booster who can score runs and chip in countable stats, Gonzales is worth a look as long as he remains in an everyday role.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nick Gonzales a Must-Add While the Bat Is This Hot?
Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Nick Gonzales is making it harder to explain why he is still available in so many leagues. He is batting .312 with four home runs, 49 runs, 40 RBI, and four steals through 317 at-bats, and the bat has stayed hot into July. Gonzales is 13-for-27 over his last seven games and 22-for-54 with two homers, 11 runs, and seven RBI over his last 15. The appeal is not just one hot week. Gonzales qualifies at second base, third base, and shortstop in RotoBaller's rankings, which makes the production easier to fit into fantasy lineups. The power is still more useful than exciting, with a 2.8% barrel rate, so managers should not add him expecting a home-run surge. But a .300-plus bat with runs, RBI, a few steals, and that much eligibility should be rostered. Gonzales is at 30% on Yahoo and belongs in 12-team leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Nick Gonzales a Steady Infield Target in 12-Team Leagues?
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Nick Gonzales has provided a steady batting-average floor in a regular role at third base. He is hitting .295/.351/.370 with three home runs, 35 RBI, 44 runs, and four stolen bases over 292 at-bats. Gonzales has remained productive over his last 30 games, batting .279 with three homers, 13 RBI, and 21 runs. He has usually hit fourth when in the lineup. Fantasy managers should not expect much power, though. Gonzales owns an 85.7 mph average exit velocity, 37.8% hard-hit rate, and 3.0% barrel rate, so average and runs remain the main reasons to roster him. His eligibility at second base, third base, and shortstop adds value, although Pittsburgh sat him against right-hander Aaron Nola on June 29, showing that his playing time is not completely locked in. Only 24% of Yahoo leagues currently roster Gonzales. He is a solid addition in 12-team formats for fantasy managers seeking average, runs, and infield flexibility.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jack Brannigan to Make MLB Debut, a Top Add Head of Call-Up?
Pittsburgh Pirates infield prospect Jack Brannigan has a locker room in the team's major-league clubhouse and is expected to be recalled from Double-A Altoona on Thursday, according to Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Brannigan will get his first major-league call-up after hitting .231/.347/.517 with an .864 OPS, 11 home runs, 21 RBI, 25 runs scored, and two stolen bases in the rookie-level Florida Complex League and with Single-A Bradenton, High-A Greensboro, and Altoona. Per MLB Pipeline, the 25-year-old 6-foot, 201-pounder is the team's No. 22 prospect. Injuries have been an issue in Brannigan's minor-league career, but when he's healthy, he has an interesting mix of speed and raw power, and he's also athletic on the infield at third base and shortstop. Brannigan will need to cut down on his strikeouts at the big-league level if he wants to find an everyday role. For now, he's an intriguing prospect to watch in dynasty/keeper leagues, but he's expected to come off the bench for the Bucs.
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Kevin Gorman
Source: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Kevin Gorman
Nick Gonzales Emerging as Sneaky Multi-Position Waiver Target
Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Nick Gonzales is making a case for more fantasy attention in deeper leagues. Through his first 67 games, the 27-year-old is hitting .296 with two home runs, 31 RBI, 38 runs, four stolen bases, and a .711 OPS. Gonzales has also remained useful lately, batting .300 with two homers, nine RBI, 14 runs, and one steal over his last 15 games. The power ceiling is limited, and Gonzales has cooled off over his last seven games, so he is not a must-add in shallow formats. However, his batting average, steady run production, and multi-position eligibility give him solid fantasy value in deeper 12-team leagues. Available in nearly three-quarters of Yahoo leagues, Gonzales is a strong target for fantasy managers in deeper formats who need infield depth and a boost in batting average.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
