Pirates' Nick Gonzales Suffers Freak Injury on Home Run, Hits 10-Day IL

The Pittsburgh Pirates faced an unexpected setback during their opening day matchup against the Miami Marlins. Infielder Nick Gonzales, a promising young player expected to shine in his third year, suffered a freak injury that has sidelined him for at least 10 days.

Gonzales, who played 94 games last season with a .270 batting average and a .709 OPS, hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning of Thursday’s game. But instead of celebrating, fans watched as he hobbled around first base. Talk about bittersweet moments—one second you're the hero, the next you’re limping away.

Manager Derek Shelton confirmed that Gonzales sustained a "non-displaced fracture of the left ankle," an injury initially caused by fouling a ball off his ankle during spring training. He’s been placed on the 10-day injured list, and Enmanuel Valdez was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill the roster spot.

At just 25 years old, Gonzales has shown versatility by playing both second base and shortstop. A first-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, he debuted in 2023 and has steadily improved. Last season, he hit seven home runs with 49 RBIs in 387 plate appearances—a solid showing that had fans hoping for even greater success this year. Baseball Reference projected him to hit .259 with 49 RBIs in 406 plate appearances for 2025. Those predictions will have to wait now.

It’s tough luck for Gonzales and the Pirates, especially so early in the season. While injuries are part of the game, there’s no denying the sting of losing a key player to such an odd mishap. Hopefully, Gonzales bounces back quickly and continues to prove why he was a first-round pick.