This Red Sox prospect’s home run sparked an all-out brawl.
After blasting a homer for High-A Greenville during their 13-6 win on Wednesday, Justin Gonzales exchanged some words with Rangers affiliate Hub City’s catcher Cal Stark before things quickly devolved into a benches-clearing brawl.
Gonzales — who is the Red Sox’s No. 3-ranked prospect, according to MLB.com — took his time around the bases to admire the blast before Clark threw up his hands as the outfielder crossed home plate.
Despite being held back by his teammates during the scuffle, Gonzales broke free at one point and slapped Stark in his mask.
Gonzales was ejected from the game for his actions, though any details of a further suspension have yet to be released.
Gonzales, 19, has quickly risen up the ranks for Boston since being signed as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic in 2024.
Through 73 games in High-A this season, Gonzales has posted an impressive slash line of .263/.379/.443 with 13 home runs and 40 RBIs.
“That’s something that I like to do,” Gonzales told MLB.com through an interpreter in late April. “I try to hit the ball hard, and also that’s something that I’ve been working on, trying to be more consistent hitting the ball hard.”
One of Gonzales’ most projectable characteristics is his towering six-foot-five, 210-pound stature, with MLB Pipeline listing his projected big-league arrival in 2028.
“That body, look at him,” former Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Gonzales in March, according to MLB.com. “He’s only 19. Lucky for him, he’s playing baseball. He was born in the Dominican. If not, he would be playing tight end for somebody.
“He’s a freak athlete.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
