Former Major Leaguer, Raul Gonzalez, named Manager for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers for the 2026 season.

Gonzalez, the Puerto Rico native, was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 17th round of the 1990 Major League Baseball draft at the age of 17. González made his Major League debut for the Chicago Cubs on May 25, 2000. He made his final MLB appearance on June 21, 2004, for the Cleveland Indians. Beginning in 2011, Gonzalez served as an advance scout for the Detroit Tigers, a hitting coach for the Boston Red Sox (Gulf Coast League) and Kansas City Royals (Burlington Royals), and an AZL hitting coach for the San Diego Padres. Recently, during the 2023-2024 season, he served as the Assistant Hitting Coach for the Arizona Complex League (ACL) Guardians.

Gonzalez will make his managerial debut with the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in 2026. Gonzalez said, “I am honored to be a part of the 2026 Mahoning Valley Scrappers. My mission, alongside the staff around me, is to prepare these young athletes for the next level - professional baseball. We’re excited to bring some great talent to Niles, Ohio.”