The Baltimore Orioles are in the ALDS against all the odds, and knotted 1-1 they send Miguel Gonzalez to the mound for tonight’s game three. Now, don’t feel bad if you don’t know Miguel Gonzalez. Off The Bench is here to help. Mr. Miguel Gonzalez is a 28 year old rookie from Mexico, who managed to pitch well for the Orioles in the second half (3.25 ERA). He’s a 6 foot 1 inch, 170 pound right hander with a low 90s fastball, a slider at about 84, curveball at about 77, and a changeup at 82 that functions as his out pitch. He looks like an average righty, but has pitched better than that as a Major Leaguer.
In two starts against the Yankees this year, he’s gone 2-0 with 17 strikeouts and 4 runs allowed. That’s enough to make Yankees fans nervous. What’s more, he’s a former Red Sox farmhand. Mr. Miguel was selected in the Rule 5 draft by the Red Sox from the Angels in 2008 before being released by Boston in 2011. After a scout saw him pitching in the Mexican League, Gonzalez signed with Baltimore as a free agent just this March. He’s had a long journey, even more than his transaction history would indicate: he tore his meniscus in 2008, and had Tommy John surgery in 2009.
So, who is Miguel Gonzalez? Miguel Gonzalez is basically a single-player microcosm of the 2012 Baltimore Orioles. I’m excited to see how he does tonight.
-Sean Morash
Stat of the Day: Miguel Gonzalez’s career high in innings pitched is 130. He’s currently at 149.
