What was your welcome-to-the-big-leagues moment?
First day in the majors, with Texas in Seattle. I was taking infield, and there was a pop fly down the line in right. I decided to see if I could get to it. What I didn't [realize] was that there was a screen down the line to protect fans from being hit during batting practice. I ran full speed into that screen. Never saw it.
One thing about being in the major leagues that people don't think about?
When we travel across country and arrive at a hotel at five in the morning.
If I were commissioner for a day, I'd ...
make sure that people who work in key positions, like official scorekeepers, played the game.
If I weren't playing baseball, I'd ...
have gone to college and become a mechanical engineer.
LAST WEEK
Gonzalez, 25, had five hits and scored three runs as San Diego swept the Giants.
THIS WEEK
The Padres host the Rockies, against whom Gonzalez has 16 RBIs in 14 games this year.
PHOTO
MARK J. REBILAS/US PRESSWIRE (GONZALEZ ACTION)
PHOTO
LARRY GOREN/ICON SMI (GONZALEZ HEAD SHOT)
