Upon his arrival at Red Sox camp, David Ortiz is an unmistakable presence. Even in retirement, the legendary Hall of Fame slugger remains a commanding figure, often literally towering over the active players who seek his counsel.
Therefore, it was quite a striking image a few weeks ago when Ortiz found himself gazing upwards at a 19-year-old who managed to make even Big Papi seem diminutive.
Standing at an imposing 6-foot-6 and weighing 277 pounds, Justin Gonzales is a colossal Red Sox minor leaguer who has emerged as one of the club’s most exciting prospects this spring. Currently ranked as the organization’s No. 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline, the outfielder has already recorded astonishing exit velocities during his limited appearances with the major league squad, registering some of the hardest-hit balls in the game.
He has certainly captured Ortiz’s attention, with the former slugger expressing his belief that Gonzales possesses the qualities of a future star.
“My goodness, he’s a giant kid,” Ortiz conveyed to the Herald from Fort Myers. “I hope he maintains his health and continues to work incredibly hard; he possesses so many tools to become a superstar.”
Initially signed as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic for $250,000 before the 2024 season, Gonzales quickly made an impact, earning the club’s Latin Program Player of the Year award in his inaugural year. He made his American debut in 2025, hitting .281 with four homers, 23 doubles, 12 stolen bases, and a .753 OPS across 93 games, primarily at Low-A Salem.
Gonzales also showcased his power at the 2025 Futures at Fenway South event, launching a massive home run over JetBlue Park’s Green Monster, and is slated to play in the upcoming Spring Breakout showcase.
However, it is his recent contributions with the big league squad that have truly set Gonzales apart.
Throughout spring training, the Red Sox regularly call up a number of minor leaguers to act as reserves and fill-ins. With nearly the entire major league outfield absent for the World Baseball Classic, many of the team’s top outfield prospects have received even more opportunities than usual.
Yet, no one has made an impression quite like Gonzales, who astonished the baseball community on March 2 in Dunedin with a single that left his bat at an astounding 117.3 mph. According to Statcast, this was the second-hardest hit ball by any MLB player this spring up to that point, and as noted by MLB.com’s Ian Browne, it would have ranked as the 31st hardest-hit ball in the majors during the entire 2025 season. To put that into perspective, this places him in the company of superstars such as Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
In a phone interview with the Herald earlier this week, Gonzales admitted he didn’t expect such a feat, especially not so soon.
“Very surprised,” Gonzales stated, with assistance from Red Sox player development manager Justin Frometa for interpretation. “Obviously, I’m going to keep working hard, and hopefully, God willing, I know there’s more power in the tank because I’m aiming for 120-plus.”
Beyond that blazing single, Gonzales also recorded a 110 mph lineout to the shortstop in his initial game with the big league club on Feb. 26. Most recently, he contributed an RBI single in the team’s rain-shortened 2-0 victory over the Rays on March 7.
“I gain so much knowledge being up here,” Gonzales remarked about his time with the major league team. “You get to observe how big leaguers conduct their business, how they behave, and how they carry themselves, so it’s a significant learning experience for me.”
“The more we see him, the better it will be for him,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora noted. “He’s a good kid too, he enjoys playing the game, so we’ll keep him around.”
While no one disputes Gonzales’ immense potential, he still has considerable development ahead to fully refine his natural abilities. One key area of focus has been reducing his ground ball percentage, which stood at a notable 57.4% last year according to FanGraphs, and instead prioritizing hitting the ball in the air more frequently.
Beyond the Red Sox’s hitting coaches, this guidance has also come from Ortiz, who has taken his fellow Dominican Republic countryman under his wing.
“He’s like a father to me,” Gonzales shared. “Speaking with David, he’s such a humble legend, right? You open your ears and truly listen to him because you understand what he has accomplished in this game. Ultimately, in my conversations with David, he reminds me that big guys like us don’t need to force hitting the ball hard; it happens naturally. We just need to find the barrel and lift the ball into the air. If we can achieve both of those things, everything else will fall into place.”
Ortiz indicated he sees a great deal of himself in the young slugger.
“I’ll tell you what, I was a kid exactly like that,” Ortiz remarked. “When I was his age, I didn’t envision myself becoming what I am today, or what I was during my playing career. You worked at it, you were disciplined, and that’s what gets you there. So once you combine that with the God-given talent you possess, you can become anything you desire, you just have to keep working.”
While it will likely be a few years before Gonzales is ready for the major leagues, the young slugger has previously visited Fenway Park as part of the club’s minor league awards presentation towards the end of 2024. He described it as a “beautiful and wonderful experience” he will never forget, and he frequently dreams of one day returning to take the field in a Red Sox uniform.
“I’m constantly thinking about how thrilling that will be,” Gonzales said. “My ambition is to get there and hit many home runs when I do.”
USA and Dominican Republic Prepare for Epic Showdown
Despite a tougher road than anticipated, Team USA successfully navigated pool play and defeated Canada in Friday’s World Baseball Classic quarterfinals, setting the stage for a monumental clash against the Dominican Republic in Sunday night’s semifinals.
It’s no exaggeration to suggest this contest could showcase the most extraordinary assembly of baseball talent ever gathered for a competitive game.
The sheer star power expected to be on display Sunday at loanDepot Park in Miami promises to be nothing short of spectacular. Paul Skenes, widely regarded as the game’s premier young arm and the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, will confront a Dominican Republic lineup projected to feature superstars such as Juan Soto, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Manny Machado, and Junior Caminero, among others. Meanwhile, the Dominican Republic will endeavor to contend with an American lineup spearheaded by Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, Bobby Witt Jr., and numerous other elite players.
Considering the youth of some of these teams’ stars — Roman Anthony and Caminero could still have two decades of major league baseball ahead of them — the full scope of these rosters’ ultimate greatness will not be known for many years. However, would anyone be surprised if these two teams collectively produced 10 or more future Hall of Famers? It wouldn’t shock me, and it’s even conceivable that this game could rival the 1932 World Series between the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs, whose rosters boasted 13 future Hall of Famers.
This promises to be a game for the ages, and regardless of the outcome, baseball enthusiasts everywhere should relish the magnificent spectacle the World Baseball Classic has evolved into.
Smith Named White Sox Opening Day Starter
Shane Smith, a native of Danvers and a former star at Governor’s Academy, has truly experienced an remarkable journey, emerging as one of baseball’s most improbable success stories in recent years.
After overcoming a series of injuries that restricted his playing time at Wake Forest to only a handful of innings, Smith went undrafted in 2021. Yet, he rapidly ascended through the minor league ranks, eventually joining the Chicago White Sox as the No. 1 overall selection in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft. Smith seized his major league opportunity with the White Sox, quickly establishing himself as Chicago’s top starter and earning All-Star recognition as a rookie.
Now, Smith has officially been designated as the White Sox’s Opening Day starter. He will take the mound against the Brewers when Chicago commences its regular season on March 26.
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