Gio González
From BR Bullpen
Giovany A. González
- Bats Right, Throws Left
- Height 5' 11", Weight 180 lb.
- High School Monsignor Pace High School, Hialeah High School
- Debut August 6, 2008
- Born September 19, 1985 in Hialeah, FL USA
[edit] Biographical Information
Left-handed pitcher Gio González was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the first round of the 2004 amateur draft. He was the 38th player selected, in the supplemental first round.
González was let go by his high school, Monsignor Pace, when they were ranked #1 in the nation late in 2004. He had transferred to the school prior to his senior year and became the team's star hurler. His mother, Yolanda, got into an argument with the coach, Tom Duffin, about the limited playing time for Gio's younger brother, Max. After that conflict, both brothers were dismissed from the team.
He was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies following the 2005 season as part of a trade that brought Jim Thome to the White Sox. A little over a year later, he returned to Chicago in a deal that sent Freddy Garcia to the Phillies.
The southpaw made 12 starts between Bristol and Kannapolis in his first year of professional baseball. He surrendered just one home run and fanned 63 opponents. He won 5 games with a 1.87 ERA for Kannapolis in 2005, and was promoted to Winston-Salem, where he tacked on 8 more wins. Gonzalez struggled with control during his time with the Reading Phillies in 2006. He walked 81 opponents in 154 1/3 innings pitched, but was still awarded a spot in the Futures Game.
The Miami native's return to the White Sox organization was a success. Prior to the season, Baseball America ranked Gonzalez the third best prospect in Chicago's system. He earned a 9-7 record and a 3.18 ERA with the Birmingham Barons in 2007. In 150 innings, Gonzalez struck out 185 batters, gave up just 116 hits, and lowered his walk total to 57. He was named a Southern League All-Star. Gonzalez had averaged better than 10 strikeouts per nine innings in four minor league seasons at that point.
In January of 2008, González was traded to the Oakland Athletics with Fautino De Los Santos and Ryan Sweeney in return for Nick Swisher. He made his major league debut for the Athletics on August 6, 2008, in a losing start against the Toronto Blue Jays.
