MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia University senior catcher/third baseman Ivan Gonzalez has been drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the eighth round of the 2019 MLB Draft.
 
Gonzalez is the 92nd draft selection in Mountaineer history since the first draft was held in 1965, and the 22nd in coach Randy Mazey's seven seasons. He is the 13th player picked in the top 10 rounds. The White Sox drafted Gonzalez with the 230th overall pick.
 
"It's a true blessing, dreaming as a kid of getting that call and then having it actually happen," Gonzalez said. "It hasn't really set in yet; it's a surreal moment after all the hard work. To see my name on that board is amazing. I am excited to go to join the White Sox organization and head to Arizona to see what they have planned for me and to begin my professional career."
 
Gonzalez joins junior right-handed starter Alek Manoah as Mountaineers selected in this year's draft. Manoah was the 11th overall pick by the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday night.
 
The Round Rock, Texas, native, is the fifth Mountaineer ever selected by the White Sox and the second in as many years after shortstop Jimmy Galusky (WVU 2015-18) was picked in 2018.
 
Gonzalez concludes his West Virginia career as one of the most consistent catchers in team history. He ranks No. 3 in career history in sacrifice flies (15), No. 4 in games played (211), fielding chances (1,498) and putouts (1,291), No. 5 in at-bats (753), No. 6 in starts (199) and tied for No. 8 in hits (230). He hit nine home runs and had 108 RBIs with a .410 slugging percentage and a .374 on-base percentage.
 
An All-Big 12 Second Team honoree in 2019 as a senior and a freshman All-America selection in 2016, Gonzalez was recognized with All-Big 12 Honorable Mention accolades in 2016 and 2018 and was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team in 2016.
 
In his senior season, Gonzalez broke the WVU record for fielding chances, with 566, while his 60 games played and starts both rank No. 6 in program history. He was second on the team with a .397 on-base percentage and 35 walks, third with a .294 batting average, 63 hits and 15 doubles and added 31 RBIs, three home runs, a .407 slugging percentage and five stolen bases.
 
In 2018, Gonzalez finished fourth on the team with 11 doubles, fifth with 51 hits, 25 RBIs and 18 walks and hit .255 with one home run, a .325 slugging percentage and a .320 on-base percentage in 53 games played.
 
As a sophomore in 2017, Gonzalez was second on the team with a .317 batting average and fourth with a .444 slugging percentage. He had 65 hits, five home runs, nine doubles, one triple, 29 RBIs and 12 walks in 55 games.
 
In his Freshman All-America campaign, Gonzalez led the team with a .381 batting average and a .437 on-base percentage. In 43 games, he had 51 hits, 23 RBIs, nine doubles, three triples and 16 walks. Gonzalez's six sacrifice flies are tied for No. 4 in a single season in team history.
 
The MLB Draft continues with rounds 11-40 on Wednesday, which will be broadcast on MLB.com.
 
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