Pirates’ Nick Gonzales Positioned to End Year in Exclusive Group of .300 Hitters

Pittsburgh Pirates infielder Nick Gonzales enters the final day of the 2026 Major League Baseball season batting .302. He is one of only seven qualified hitters across the league currently hitting .300 or better. Gonzales has an opportunity to become the first qualified Pirates hitter to conclude a season with a .300 average since teammate Bryan Reynolds achieved the feat in 2021.

Gonzales' offensive surge represents the best statistical hitting year of his career despite a difficult positional transition. After the Pirates signed Brandon Lowe to play second base, the 27-year-old moved to third base, where he recorded 11 errors and minus-15 defensive runs saved across 112 games.