Is this the real Nicky G? To say Nick Gonzalez is on a tear would be an understatement. The spark plug infielder has a 13 game on-base streak that includes eight multi-hit games, including going 2-for-5 in the trouncing of the Reds yesterday. He’s raised his OPS from .578 before the streak to a respectable .771 with the second-best batting average in MLB at .336. If you’re looking to be critical about him, this streak has come with very few extra base hits -- just two of his 23 hits, both doubles, But when he comes to the plate, I’ve taken to expecting him to get a hit, especially with men on base (.860 OPS) and even more so with RISP (1.013 OPS). So, uh, is this our guy? Is this Freddy Sanchez reincarnate, ready to take over 3B for the foreseeable future? Potential Finally Realized Gonzales was billed as one of the best pure hitters in the nation as a New Mexico State junior in 2020, leading to his being drafted seventh overall by the Pirates in 2020. I still remember how his Baseball America pre-draft scouting report ended: “Scouts see him developing into an All-Star level second baseman who competes for batting titles at his peak.” He hit all through the system from 2021-2023 with a surprising amount of power (12, 18 and 14 HR respectively). When he premiered in 2023, expectations were running high. But in his first three seasons, he never fully turned the corner. His .675 OPS in 900 PA was unremarkable. The difference between his prodigiousness in the minors and the results for the Pirates is stark in all ways, but one category that continues to plague him to this day is walks. He had a strong 11.4% walk rate in the minors, but less than half that in the majors (5%). This season it has modestly improved to 7.1%. Underlying Data is Iffy Looking at his .442 batting average over this stretch, it probably won’t surprise you to know that Fangraphs and Statcast don’t believe this level of production is sustainable. Gonzo has a .418 BABIP for the season, which is just a wee bit inflated (just a touch). He also has an exit velocity (14th percentile) and barrel % (3rd percentile) that suggest he isn’t hitting the ball hard enough to keep this going. He has just one barrel all season thus far. He is exhibiting incredible bat-to-ball skills, but his bat speed (26th percentile) suggests this could turn off at any point. Think Adam Frazier post-trade to the Padres in 2021. But unlike Frazier, who had so many seeing eye and bloop singles, Gonzalez’s line drive % and hard hit % (just over the 95 mph threshold) are up for the season. But at the same time, his other Statcast metrics are all well-below career norms, suggesting the truth is probably somewhere in the middle of all this offensive output. He is likely to be more sustainable as the season goes on, even if this high output recedes a bit. Bottom Line 📌 Is this the real Nicky G? Well, sort of. He was always a better hitter than his first 900 plate appearances in the major leagues suggested. But he is benefitting from a healthy amount of luck during this 13 game streak. What isn’t a mirage is his defense, which has been really respectable at 3B. His range is in the 89th percentile, and his arm strength is a passable 43rd percentile. There’s no need to swap him out with newly returned Jared Triolo because he’s embarrassing himself out there. Far from it. Offensively, the data points at a .285/,350/.400 profile that will work just fine at 3B this year. He has potential to outperform this should he start barreling balls with increased exit velocity at career norms. Call it a ceiling of .300/.370/.430. His is just an extremely unique profile from others in the Pirates lineup, which also makes him differentiated and useful for a team of boppers. I’m buying Nick Gonzalez as the Pirates starting 3B for 2026, and you should too.

In honor of a very successful Opening Weekend at PNC Park, we're giving away this team-autographed poster. RT for your chance to win! 🏴‍☠️

If this is real and isn’t an April Fools thing then I am livid

🚨 OPENING DAY IS HERE! 🚨 We’re kicking it off with a YEAR-LONG GIVEAWAY with some HUGE autographs 👀 If the Pirates make the playoffs:
→ Brandon Lowe, Bryan Reynolds & Oneil Cruz autographed cards If Paul Skenes wins the Cy Young:
→ Paul Skenes autographed card If Konnor Griffin wins NL Rookie of the Year:
→ Konnor Griffin autographed card HOW TO ENTER: Follow Like
Retweet Winners & prizes will be PUBLICLY announced at the end of the season! #LetsGoBucs

I am proud to continue my support of the Gary Sinise Foundation and its mission to honor and serve our nation’s defenders, veterans, first responders and their families. I will again donate $100 for every strikeout I record during the 2026 season. In an effort to make the most impact possible, I have increased my campaign goal to $150,000. I invite you to join me on my mission to raise money for this amazing cause.  To kick off this campaign, I will personally meet and thank the individual that makes the largest donation between the launch of this campaign and the Pirates home opener on April 3. This individual will be thanked with a batting practice meet and greet and tickets to stay and enjoy a home or away game during the 2026 season. The meet and greet experience is for a mutually agreeable game date during the 2026 season. In the event that there are multiple donors with tied donation amounts, up to two prizes will be awarded to the first two donors. Please donate at link in my bio! Thank you for your support and go Pirates!  @GarySiniseFound

Would love to know why the Pirates never start the season at home. It’s so ridiculous. The weather might possibly suck in New York in late March too. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Terrible hire by the @steelers. So disappointed in the franchise....

REPOST THIS for a chance to win FOUR tickets to Paul Skenes Bobblehead Day on April 18th! Our 2026 single-game tickets go on sale January 14 at pirates.com/tickets

He is in first place right now for special teams but needs your help to keep him there. Retweets count as votes. Help him out. #ProBowlVote  Ben Skowronek #ProBowlVote  @BennySkow

Ben Skowronek is currently the leading vote-getter for special team player. Retweets count as votes. #ProBowlVote @BennySkow #Steelers #NFL

Chris Boswell is not currently in the top 10 leading Pro Bowl vote-getters for kickers and that needs to change. Retweets count as votes so make sure to RT this! #ProBowlVote #ChrisBoswell #Steelers #NFL

This is not a knee-jerk reaction... This is going on 9 years without a playoff win This is 3 playoff wins in 13 years This is another below-average offense This is another underperforming defense This is a lack of adjustments This is a lack of aggressiveness This is a defeated team It's time to move on from Mike Tomlin. #Steelers

REPOST THIS now for a chance to win a signed jersey from 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner, Paul Skenes!

#IDontWantToOverreactBUT and I dont want to keep placing blame on coordinators because 1 guy hires them and oversees everything but a certain guy has been a DC at 3 places and all 3 of those teams got worse at defense each year.

TEEEEEEEEEEEEEEJJJJJJJJJ WHATTTTTTTTT

Hot start.

Win an Elmer T. Lee Barrel Selection Experience valued at $18,000 sazeracbarrelselect.com/char… #elmertlee #sazeracbarrelselect

Good afternoon @YouTubeTV, I’d love to setup my custom quad box for NFL games prior to the clock turning 1pm. Just something to think about. Thank you

RT @RapSheet: Sources: The #Steelers and All-Pro edge TJ Watt have agreed to terms on a long-term deal to make him the NFL’s highest-paid d…

YouTube, please allow us to disable and hide all shorts. Thanks. Alternatively, can someone make a browser extension that just hides all shorts? Sincerely, Everyone with executive function