Padres acquire Minor League infielder Benji Gonzalez

Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego, CA- The San Diego Padres have improved their minor league infield depth, acquiring infielder Benji Gonzalez from the Pittsburgh Pirates  for  a player to be named later or cash considerations according to Padres.com’s Corey Brock.

Gonzalez will be assigned to Advanced Single A Lake Elsinore and according to Brock the Padres felt that their infield depth in Lake Elsinore needed improvement coming into the season and the addition of Benji Gonzalez gives them that.

Gonzalez was drafted by the Pirates in the seventh-round draft pick in 2008 out of the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy.

Gonzalez is a switch hitting shortstop, who can also play second, third and the outfield.

Gonzalez has spent his entire minor league career between rookie ball and low and advanced Single A. According to scouting reports and stats Gonzalez has the defensive ability to be a solid major league defender at shortstop, but the bat remains a serious question.