SALINAS >> It wasn’t just a change in lifestyle. It was a commitment that Alan Gonzalez made to himself nearly a year ago to alter his direction as a baseball player.

Dropping 58 pounds from his 6-foot-3 frame provided the Palma High pitcher more stamina to go deeper into games.

Yet, what no one could have predicted was the enhanced velocity from the 18-year-old’s right arm, as Gonzalez hit 92 mph on the radar gun last week — eight miles faster than last year.

“I have been around this game for 30 years and have never seen progression like that,” Palma baseball coach Brian Neff said. “It’s unheard of. We don’t know what his ceiling is.”

Gonzalez, who returns to the mound on Tuesday at St. Francis of Watsonville, has not allowed an earned run this spring for Palma, which has rattled off eight straight wins.

“It’s insane to believe I have a 0.00 earned run average after five starts,” Gonzalez said. “It’s not realistic to think I can go an entire season without giving up an earned run. But I have thought about it.”

The University of San Francisco-bound hard-throwing pitcher hasn’t given up a lot of hits either, allowing three in his past three starts.

In his past 15 innings of work, Gonzalez has struck out 29 hitters, including 13 in a redemption game of sorts against Christopher.

Last year Gonzalez was tagged four runs in two innings in a season opener against Christopher, then was charged with six over two-plus innings in a playoff loss to them.

“I wanted my payback and to prove myself,” Gonzalez said. “Even though it was a nonleague game, it meant a little more to me. That was a game I wanted to finish.”

Gonzalez would have to settle for six shutout innings as Neff doesn’t want his pitchers throwing more than 85 pitches — at least early in the season.

“My coaches have set up a good pitching program for the school,” Gonzalez said. “I’ve learned the importance of arm care. I owe the coaching staff a lot for my success.”

While part of Gonzalez’ development is the maturation process, he also took it upon himself to get in better shape, going from 261 pounds 12 months ago to 203 this spring.

“He was just going through the motions last year,” said Gonzalez’ brother Omar, a first baseman at MPC. “He wasn’t working hard. He didn’t have goals. I told him if you want to play at the next level, he’d have to outwork everyone.”

Gonzalez remembers that conversation with his brother Omar, who also dropped more than 30 pounds last season — and his dad about rededicating himself to the game.

“Omar and my dad asked me, ‘do you really like baseball?’” Gonzalez said. “Well, put your all into it. Don’t have any regrets. I took it upon myself to change things. I got locked in.”

And Gonzalez got himself in better shape by hiking, running and changing his eating habits over the past 12 months, while getting in the weight room and increasing bullpen sessions.

“There was a point around this time last season where I told myself ‘If I don’t start trying to be a better baseball player, I won’t be playing in college,’” Gonzalez said. “That’s been my dream.”

A trimmed-down Gonzalez began seeing his stamina on the mound improve over the summer. Redefining his mechanics enhanced his velocity.

Not only is Gonzalez throwing the ball harder and effectively using four different pitches, but he’s cut down on his walks, showcasing better control in painting the corners and hitting his spots.

“He has a real good feel for the ball right now,” Neff said. “His command of his pitches has been really special. Alan is throwing three pitches for strikes, keeping hitters off balance.”

Mixing in his fastball with a slider, curve and change-up, Gonzalez has allowed just five hits in 23 innings, having thrown four plus innings in his past four starts.

“No question his velocity is a big factor this spring,” Neff said. “But what has helped him is his ability to go later into games without fatigue. He’s in really good shape.”

The beauty of having four pitches that Gonzalez feels confident in throwing is that if one isn’t working, he can go to any of the other three for strikes.

“Right now, I can use my slider or change-up to set up a hitter or close them out,” Gonzalez said. “All my pitches are strikeout pitches. My fastball has a whole lot of rise.”

Perhaps a sign of things to come came in Palma’s preseason opener when Gonzalez and Jackson Harris combined on a no-hitter in a 10-0 win over Stevenson.

“Last year I’d be gassed by the third inning,” Gonzalez said. “I’m not feeling fatigued this year. I feel strong even in the later innings. The work I’m putting in is paying off.”

What is helping keep his pitch count down and enabling him to go deeper into games has been his control, as evident by Gonzalez walking just one, while striking out nine against Salinas.

Jumping ahead in counts, three of his four wins this year have come against teams that reached the postseason last year.

“He’s meticulous as far as arm character,” Neff said. “He does something each day to take care of his arm. He’s been doing that for the last 10 months.”

Ironically, as Gonzalez began shedding pounds, the transformation of his body began to affect his mechanics and control when throwing the ball.

“I couldn’t throw any strikes in the beginning,” Gonzalez said. “My body wasn’t used to being skinny. I had to fix my mechanics. I began bullpen sessions twice a week — something I’m still doing today.”

Somewhat overshadowed by Gonzalez’ dominance on the mound has been his effort at the plate for the Chieftains, as he leads the team homers and extra base hits.

Gonzales has driven in 19 runs over 12 games in the cleanup spot, while hitting .391. He’s also among the team leaders in walks, compiling a .463 on-base percentage.

“He’s been so good on the mound that people don’t see his hitting numbers,” Neff said. “He’s in the No. 4 hole. He can do damage. He has a good sense of the strike zone.”

Taking a different approach to hitting this year, Gonzalez will get in the backyard with his dad and hit a bucket of baseballs after practice.

“My dad has helped me so much,” Gonzalez said. “Hitting isn’t going to happen in college. So let’s swing hard and see what happens. I’m not too worried about the outcome. I don’t feel any pressure. I’m up there having fun.”

As dominant as Gonzalez has been through the first half of the season, Palma’s eight-game winning streak — six shutouts — has created a lot of energy at practice.

“The two losses to Hollister were a wakeup call,” Gonzalez said. “No one panicked. We believe in ourselves. There is great team chemistry. And I’ve got the best defense in the county behind me.”