Luis Gonzalez


‧ Position: Infielder.

‧ Height: 5-foot-11.

‧ Weight: 170 pounds.

‧ Bats: Right.

‧ Throws: Right.

‧ Age: 24.

‧ Acquired: From Cleveland for $50,000 in Rule 5 winter draft Dec. 15, 2003.

‧ Status: In contention for utility infield job with Benji Gil and Denny
           Hocking.

‧ Career highlights: Played six positions for Class AA Akron in 2003 and
                      finished sixth in the Eastern League in hitting, with
                      a .318 average . . . Has compiled a .290 average in pro
                      ball with a .351 on-base percentage.

‧ Personal: Originally signed by the Indians out of his native Venezuela at
             age 18 . . . Plays for Oriente in Venezuela during the winter.
             Team won league title and participated in the Caribbean Series
             at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, last month. Single.

‧ Who had the biggest impact on your career?
             "Luis Aponte, the former big-league pitcher. He got me into the
              (Cleveland) academy in Venezuela. He ran the academy, and signed
              me to my first contact."