david ortiz is drawing new attention inside Red Sox camp after praising 19-year-old prospect Justin Gonzales during spring training in Fort Myers. In recent days, Gonzales has surged into the conversation with eye-opening power and loud contact in limited big-league fill-in chances. The moment has been fueled by standout batted-ball readings and timely hits in games that have also been affected by weather, including a rain-shortened win over the Rays.
What happened: A 19-year-old prospect’s power forces the spotlight
Gonzales, listed at 6-foot-6 and 277 pounds, has emerged as one of the organization’s breakout names this spring, with his raw physical presence matching the impact of his contact. The outfielder is ranked as the organization’s No. 6 prospect by MLB Pipeline, and his early spring opportunities with the big league group have included exit velocities that place him among the hardest-hit balls recorded by anyone in the sport during the period described.
The defining spring training moment came on March 2 in Dunedin, when Gonzales hit a single measured at 117. 3 mph off the bat. Statcast measured it as the second-hardest hit ball by any player in MLB this spring up to that point. Gonzales followed that attention with more hard contact, including a 110 mph lineout to shortstop in his first big-league game of the spring on Feb. 26.
Most recently, Gonzales delivered an RBI single in a rain-shortened 2-0 win over the Rays on March 7. In another look against the Rays described in spring training coverage, Gonzales opened the scoring with a 100-mile-per-hour RBI single through the left side of the infield in the second inning before a game-ending downpour.
Immediate reactions: David Ortiz calls out “superstar” tools
The buzz around Gonzales sharpened after david ortiz weighed in directly on the teenager’s ceiling, emphasizing both health and work as the key variables. “Oh my god, he’s a big kid man, ” Ortiz said. “I hope he stays healthy and continues working extremely hard, I mean, he’s got so many tools to begin to be a superstar. ”
Ortiz also pointed to the long arc of development and the discipline required for a teenager to translate talent into major league results. “I was a kid just like that, ” Ortiz said. “When I was that age I don’t see myself being what I am today, or what I was when I played. You worked at it, you were disciplined, and it’ll take you there. So once you put that together, plus the God-given talent that you get, you can begin to be anything you want, you’ve just got to keep working. ”
Gonzales, speaking earlier in the week by phone with interpretation help from Justin Frometa, Red Sox player development manager, said the 117. 3 mph single came faster than he expected. “Very surprised, ” Gonzales said. “Obviously (I’m going to) keep working hard and hopefully God willing I know there’s more in the tank because I’m trying to get to 120-plus. ”
He also described the value of spending time around the major league group during spring. “I learn a lot being up there, ” Gonzales said. “You kind of see the way big leaguers go about their business, how they act and the way they handle themselves so it’s a big learning experience for me. ”
Quick context: How Gonzales got here so fast
Gonzales was originally signed for $250, 000 out of the Dominican Republic as an international free agent ahead of the 2024 season and made an immediate impact inside the organization, earning the club’s Latin Program Player of the Year. He made his debut stateside in 2025 and hit. 281 with four home runs, 23 doubles, 12 stolen bases, and a. 753 OPS in 93 games, most of them at Low-A Salem.
What’s next: More showcase looks, more big-league fill-in chances
The Red Sox have been cycling minor leaguers into spring games as backups and fill-ins, and with much of the big league outfield group away for the World Baseball Classic, top outfield prospects have received expanded opportunities. Gonzales is also expected to play in next week’s Spring Breakout showcase, adding another near-term checkpoint for his spring momentum.
For now, the storyline remains simple: david ortiz has publicly put a bright light on Gonzales’ upside, and Gonzales has backed it with measurable, attention-grabbing contact that is already changing how closely the industry watches his at-bats.
