Luis Gonzalez, a rookie outfielder with the San Francisco Giants, heard the same question over and over while growing up in Arizona: “Are you the son of Diamondbacks World Series hero Luis Gonzalez?”
Gonzalez was born in Mexico but moved to Tucson as a child and attended Catalina Foothills High School.
When he moved, the local MLB team’s star player shared his name, as Gonzalez the D-back played for Arizona from 1999-2006.
“Growing up in Tucson, Arizona, and having the name and just playing ball, everyone thought I was his son,” Gonzalez explained to MLB Network’s Matt Vasgersian this week.
Reigning NL Rookie of the Month Luis González joined the #PregameSpread to discuss his successful May and experience growing up in Arizona with the same name as @Dbacks legend @Luisgonzo20.@SFGiants | #SFGameUp pic.twitter.com/ZIpxtBaviK
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) June 7, 2022
The two ball players have no relation, but Gonzalez found a way to have fun with the questions. He started replying that he was, indeed, the son of Luis Gonzalez.
“I got it so much I was like, ‘You know what, that is my father.’”
He did not lie, though. His father’s name is also Luis.
The 26-year-old is a left-handed hitting outfielder, like the Gonzalez whose No. 20 sits above Chase Field.
Gonzalez performed like an All-Star in May, batting .368 in 23 games to win National League Rookie of the Month.
His Giants will take on the D-backs in a three-game starting July 4.