Michael Vela Gonzalez (born May 23, 1978) is an American former professional
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding t ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw ...
. He played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
(MLB) for the
Pittsburgh Pirates,
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in Bos ...
,
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...
,
Texas Rangers,
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
, and
Milwaukee Brewers.
Professional career
Pittsburgh Pirates
Gonzalez was traded twice prior to his MLB debut. First, on July 22, 2003, where he was traded by the
Pittsburgh Pirates with
Scott Sauerbeck
Scott William Sauerbeck (born November 9, 1971) is a retired left-handed Major League Baseball relief pitcher.
High school career
Sauerbeck attended Northwest High School in Cincinnati, and played baseball, basketball, and soccer graduating in ...
to the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eigh ...
for
Brandon Lyon and
Anastacio Martinez. Second, on July 31, 2003, where he was traded back to Pittsburgh with
Freddy Sanchez and cash for Brandon Lyon, Anastacio Martinez and
Jeff Suppan
Jeffrey Scot Suppan (; born January 2, 1975), is an American former professional baseball pitcher and current professional baseball coach who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Boston Red Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, ...
.
Gonzalez converted all 24
save attempts during the
2006 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates before having his season end early because of an elbow injury.
Gonzalez was traded to the Atlanta Braves with
Brent Lillibridge
Brent Stuart Lillibridge (born September 18, 1983) is an American former professional baseball utility player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs ...
for
Adam LaRoche
David Adam LaRoche (born November 6, 1979) is an American former professional baseball first baseman who played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks ...
and
Jamie Romak on January 17, .
Atlanta Braves
After experiencing a drop in velocity on his fastball in excess of in a game versus the
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C.. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. From 2005 to 2007, the team played in RFK Stadiu ...
, the Braves quickly took precautionary measures and placed him on the
disabled list on May 16, 2007, with a left elbow strain. After several
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to form pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes of the body. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and radio waves ...
s showed no damage to his elbow, a more specialized MRI was performed that indeed revealed a slight ligament tear. On May 25, 2007, it was announced that his elbow would require
Tommy John surgery and, consequently, he would miss at least the rest of the 2007 season, and possibly the first half of the season. In 17 innings with the Braves in 2007, Gonzalez posted a 1.59
ERA
An era is a span of time defined for the purposes of chronology or historiography, as in the regnal eras in the history of a given monarchy, a calendar era used for a given calendar, or the geological eras defined for the history of Earth.
Comp ...
with a 2–0 record and 2 saves.
Gonzalez made his return on June 18, 2008, pitching a perfect 9th inning and recording a save against the
Texas Rangers.
On January 19, 2009, Gonzalez avoided arbitration and signed a one-year $3.45 million contract.
Baltimore Orioles
On December 16, 2009, Gonzalez agreed to a deal with the
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...
for two years and $12 million.
On December 19, 2009, Gonzalez officially signed with the Baltimore Orioles.
On April 14, 2010, Gonzalez was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained left shoulder.
Texas Rangers
On August 31, 2011, Gonzalez was traded to the
Texas Rangers in exchange for
Pedro Strop. In 2011, he was a combined 2–2 with a 4.39 ERA and 1 save. Gonzalez made his postseason debut with the Rangers in 2011 until the team lost the
2011 World Series
The 2011 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2011 season. The 107th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the American League (AL) champion Texas Rangers and the Natio ...
to the
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
.
Washington Nationals
On May 10, 2012, the Washington Nationals agreed to terms with Gonzalez on a 1-year, minor league deal. The Nationals called Gonzalez up to the majors on June 3.
Milwaukee Brewers
On December 29, 2012, Gonzalez agreed to a one-year $2.21 million deal, pending a physical.
Second stint with Washington
Gonzalez returned to the Washington Nationals in 2014, agreeing to a minor league contract on March 4. He was released on July 5, 2014.
Toros de Tijuana
On April 8, 2016, Gonzalez signed with the
Toros de Tijuana
The Toros de Tijuana (or Tijuana Bulls) are a Mexican Baseball team based in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. They are members of the Mexican Baseball League and play their home games at Estadio Chevron.
Team history
Original Attempt
The fran ...
of the
Mexican Baseball League
The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country.
The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five t ...
.
References
External links
, o
Retrosheet o
Pura Pelota (Venezuelan Winter League)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gonzalez, Mike
1978 births
Living people
Aberdeen IronBirds players
Altoona Curve players
American baseball players of Mexican descent
American expatriate baseball players in Mexico
Atlanta Braves players
Augusta GreenJackets players
Baltimore Orioles players
Baseball players from Texas
Bowie Baysox players
Gulf Coast Orioles players
Gulf Coast Pirates players
Indianapolis Indians players
Lynchburg Hillcats players
Major League Baseball pitchers
Mexican League baseball pitchers
Milwaukee Brewers players
Mississippi Braves players
Nashville Sounds players
Norfolk Tides players
Pawtucket Red Sox players
Pittsburgh Pirates players
Richmond Braves players
San Jacinto Central Ravens baseball players
San Jacinto College alumni
Sportspeople from Corpus Christi, Texas
Syracuse Chiefs players
Texas Rangers players
Tiburones de La Guaira players
American expatriate baseball players in Venezuela
Toros de Tijuana players
Washington Nationals players