After helping lead NNU baseball to the deepest NCAA postseason run in program history in 2021, John Gonzalez has signed a professional contract to play with the Tijuana Toros of the Mexican League.
 
"I'm excited for the opportunity and to get started," said Gonzalez. "The Mexican League is very competitive, with many players that have seen time in Major League Baseball, so it will be a great step in my baseball career."
 
"I'm super excited for John," said NNU head coach Joe Schaefer. "There aren't many players more deserving than him, and he has worked really hard for this opportunity. John had a short but great career here at NNU and he helped us achieve new heights with both his leadership and performance. I wish him the best and hope he has a great professional career."
 
The Mexican League is made up of 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five teams in each division advance to a four-round postseason tournament that culminates in the Serie del Rey, a best-of-seven championship series between the two division champions.
 
Tijuana plays in the North Division and are the defending Mexican League Champions, winning the Serie del Rey in seven games over the Yucatan Leones last September.
 
The full 2022 roster has not been announced yet, but the 2021 roster had many notable names with MLB experience, including Fernando Rodney, Oliver Perez, Horacio Ramirez, Efren Navarro, Luis Cruz, and Junior Lake.
 
Gonzalez will report to Tijuana on March 9 for physicals, with Spring Training beginning on March 10. The season is slated to begin on March 21.
 
In two seasons with the Nighthawks, Gonzalez compiled a .269 batting average, .436 on-base percentage, and .665 slugging percentage. In 60 games, he had 54 runs scored, 53 hits, 11 doubles, 21 home runs, 54 RBI, and 50 walks.
 
In the NNU career record books, Gonzalez ranks sixth in slugging percentage and seventh in home runs. In 2021, he also set the program record for home runs in a season with 17, and ranks in the NNU single-season top 10 in walks (T-3^rd, 35), on-base percentage (5^th, .507), and RBI (T-8^th, 44).
 
"NNU was a great place to continue my baseball and academic careers and allow my game to develop," added Gonzalez. "Now I'm excited to see how my skills will translate at the next level."