Mariners All-Star prediction no. 3 – Marco Gonzales
Marco Gonzales had had a rough Spring Training, but he has improved year after year so I am not worried. The Gonzaga product posted a 6.32 ERA in 15.2 innings. He allowed 22 hits and 11 runs.
The reason why I am not worried is because of the downward decline of numbers. His allowed wOBA, xBA, xwOBA, exit velocity, hard-hit percentage, and xERA have been decreasing since his MLB debut in 2015. Although his numbers aren’t improving at a steep rate, they are improving.
Here are some of his advanced metrics highlights from last season
- Exit velocity: 84th percentile
- Hard-hit percentage: 65th percentile
- xwOBA: 64th percentile
- xERA: 64th percentile
- Walk rate: 99th percentile
If those numbers don’t make you excited for Marco’s continuous improvement, I don’t know what will. I have been a huge Gonzales fan and this is the year where he deserves a little more recognition in the MLB and represents the Mariners at the All-Star game for the first time.
The 29-year-old had the stats to make the All-Star team last year, so if he can at the minimum repeat last season, he should be wearing a special edition jersey and cap in July. Now onto the fourth All-Star prediction.