Miguel Alfredo González
González in 2015 spring training
Pitcher
Born: (1983-09-23)September 23, 1983
Havana, Cuba
Died: November 23, 2017(2017-11-23) (aged 34)
Havana, Cuba
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
September 3, 2014, for the Philadelphia Phillies
Last MLB appearance
September 27, 2014, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
Win–loss record0–1
Earned run average6.75
Strikeouts5
Teams

Miguel Alfredo González Puebla (September 23, 1983 – November 23, 2017) was a Cuban professional baseball pitcher. He played in the Cuban National Series, for the Cuban national baseball team, and in 2014 for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Professional career

Cuban baseball career

González pitched for La Habana in the Cuban National Series from 2007 through 2009. He played for the Cuba national baseball team in the 2009 World Port Tournament and 2009 and 2011 Baseball World Cups.[1] He was playing for the Artemisa team when he was caught trying to defect in January 2012 and he was suspended from playing in the league at that point.[2] He succeeded in defecting from Cuba to El Salvador in 2013, and then moved to Mexico.[3]

American baseball career

González pitched in some games for the Toros de Tijuana of the Liga Norte de México as a showcase for American scouts,[4] including those from the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs.[5][6] On July 26, 2013, stories in the press reported that González agreed to a six-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, worth $60 million.[7] However, the Phillies never confirmed the report and subsequent reports mentioned that the deal might not happen.[8] On August 30, 2013, the Phillies announced they had signed González to a three-year, $12 million contract with a vesting option for 2017.[9]

González pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015 Spring Training

Entering spring training, it was still unknown whether he would be a member of the big league starting rotation, bullpen, or whether he would start the season with the Phillies Class AAA affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.[10] Ultimately, he opened the season on the 60-day disabled list (DL) "after not exactly impressing in a poor spring";[11] the official reason for his placement on the DL was "right shoulder tendinitis".[12] Upon returning from injury, Gonzalez ascended through the Phillies' minor league system on a rehab assignment, compiling 54 strikeouts in 46+1⁄3 innings pitched. Used primarily out of the bullpen in his rehab stint, Gonzalez completed his minor league assignment with a 3.11 earned run average (ERA) and .231 opponent batting average. Deemed healthy and ready to begin his MLB career, Gonzalez was activated and assigned to the Phillies on September 2 as part of the roster expansion call-ups.[13] He recorded a 6.75 ERA in 5+1⁄3 innings pitched in the major leagues.[14]

A poor spring training in 2015 led to the Phillies outrighting González to the minor leagues and removing him from the 40-man roster.[15] He was released by the Phillies on April 1, 2016.[16]

Death

González was killed in a traffic accident in Havana, Cuba, on November 23, 2017.[17]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Seven teams watching Cuban prospect throw in Mexico". Mlb.mlb.com. June 6, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Cuba Loses Pitcher Miguel A. González". Havanatimes.org. February 2, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  3. ↑ "Cubano Miguel Alfredo González "viene por el home"" (in Spanish). Martinoticias.com. August 5, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Atlanta Braves Interested in Signing Cuban Defector Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez". Sportsmedia101.com. July 18, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  5. ↑ Hernandez, Dylan (June 6, 2013). "Dodgers eyeing Cuban pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez". Latimes.com. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  6. ↑ Danny Knobler. "Dodgers, Cubs, Red Sox, others watch Cuban pitcher Gonzalez". Cbssports.com. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Phillies reach deal with Cuban prospect Gonzalez". Mlb.mlb.com. July 26, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  8. ↑ Schreiber, Andy (August 6, 2013). "Deal for Cuban Might Not Happen At All « The Zo Zone". Zozone.mlblogs.com. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  9. ↑ Adams, Steve. "Phillies Sign Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez: MLB Rumors". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
  10. ↑ Zolecki, Todd (February 13, 2014). "Miguel Gonzalez: Man of Mystery". The Zo Zone - MLBlogs Network. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  11. ↑ Wilson, Brad (March 31, 2014). "Philadelphia Phillies have too many 'ifs' to be much more than a .500 team - if that". The Express-Times. Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  12. ↑ Gross, Stephen (March 28, 2014). "Philadelphia Phillies roster anything but set". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  13. ↑ Kring, Jake (January 20, 2016). "Phils' callups could include Franco, Gonzalez". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  14. ↑ "Notable Cuban defectors to play in MLB". Newsday. December 18, 2014. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  15. ↑ Lombardo, Matt (April 1, 2015). "Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez outrighted to Iron Pigs along with Phillippe Aumont". NJ Advance Media. Retrieved April 1, 2015.
  16. ↑ Todd, Jeff (April 1, 2016). "Phillies Release Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved April 1, 2016.
  17. ↑ Trezza, Joe (November 24, 2017). "Former Phils RHP Gonzalez dies in accident". MLB.com. Retrieved November 26, 2017.
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