Alex Gonzalez is a former professional baseball player who played as a shortstop in Major League Baseball (MLB) for over a decade. He was born on February 15, 1973, in Cagua, Venezuela. Gonzalez began his professional baseball career in 1991 when he signed with the Florida Marlins as an amateur free agent. He spent several years in the minor leagues before making his MLB debut with the Marlins in 1998.
Gonzalez quickly established himself as a solid defensive player, known for his strong arm and quick reflexes. He also showed promise as a hitter, batting .258 with 20 home runs and 69 runs batted in (RBIs) in his rookie season. Gonzalez continued to improve over the next few years, earning a reputation as one of the best defensive shortstops in the league.
In 2003, Gonzalez was traded to the Chicago Cubs, where he played for two seasons. He then spent a year with the Montreal Expos before being traded to the Boston Red Sox in 2006. Gonzalez played a key role in the Red Sox's World Series championship that year, hitting a game-winning home run in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series.
After his stint with the Red Sox, Gonzalez played for several other teams, including the Cincinnati Reds, Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers, and Detroit Tigers. He continued to be a reliable defensive player throughout his career, earning a Gold Glove award in 2010 while playing for the Braves.
Gonzalez retired from professional baseball in 2014, finishing his career with a .243 batting average, 157 home runs, and 688 RBIs. He also had a career fielding percentage of .971 and was known for his ability to turn double plays.
Overall, Alex Gonzalez had a successful career as a professional baseball player, earning a reputation as one of the best defensive shortstops of his time. While he was never a superstar hitter, he was a consistent contributor to his teams and played a key role in several playoff runs.
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