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, . MG 4988 Mike González

Atlanta Braves

After experiencing a drop in velocity on his fastball in excess of in a game versus the

, 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

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
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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