The time is nearing to buy up shares of Oakland A’s outfielder Carlos Gonzalez. The season numbers are still a little light to help a fantasy team, but there are plenty of reasons to think he’s turning it around. Gonzalez is one of the game’s best hitting prospects, and he’s showing a veteran’s poise in clutch situations.

The prototype for an A’s offensive player, Gonzalez came to Oakland in the preseason trade for right-hander Dan Haren. While other acquisitions Dana Eveland and Greg Smith have been more solid contributors in 2008, Gonzalez was the crown jewel of the deal. He has the body of a young Carlos Beltran and is an excellent five-tool athlete.

Gonzalez is also maturing before our eyes and guaranteeing himself playing time with stellar defensive play in center and right field. The 22-year old also has the makings of an OPS machine with potential for 25 home runs and a handful of stolen bases. But, most impressive of all, he has an “it” factor and a knack for delivering in the clutch.

Take the 2008 season, for example. He’s showing the typical rookie growing pains, striking out four times as often as he walks as he faces a steep learning curve, but he’s also hitting .364 with runners in scoring position and consistently driving in runs.

While the big breakout performance has avoided him thus far, he has reached base safely in 16 of his last 19 games and driven in 11 runs over that stretch. It is also worth noting that Gonzalez’s two homers and two stolen bases have each come in the last nine games.

And one last note, Gonzalez doesn’t seem to have that one “kryptonite split” that will seriously hold him back. When he got called up on May 29, he had a higher average against left-handed pitching (.318) than against righties (.283) for Triple-A Sacramento. So far in Oakland, he has a .258 average on the road and a .250 average at home.

The bottom line is, Gonzalez is making progress. In fantasy, by the time a young prospect puts an exclamation point on his steady improvement, everyone knows about him. It is important to anticipate that breakout effort, especially in deeper leagues where competition is heated on the waiver wire.

Dustin Hockensmith is editor of ImaginaryDiamond.com. He can be contacted at dhockensmith[at]fantasysports101.net.