Victor Gonzalez No Longer Invisible
During the current season with all of its oddities I have been most interested in a few of the Dodger players. That is, not the big boys but those most recently to the scene. I have already written about Will Smith who might just be my new favorite Dodger. He is a player and I love his clean cut appearance and work ethic but as a high draft pick he
During the current season with all of its oddities I have been most interested in a few of the Dodger players. That is, not the big boys but those most recently to the scene. I have already written about Will Smith who might just be my new favorite Dodger. He is a player and I love his clean cut appearance and work ethic but as a high draft pick he is not a surprise to me.
Beyond Will, I am pleased that Zach McKinstry has signed his time card to MLB. It will not be this year but he has demonstrated he can be a MLB player. Next year he will get a turn although it might not be with the Dodgers, depending on what happens with Kike Hernandez. I am delighted with another player I have followed closely since his time with the Loons in 2015. Who could have guessed he would currently have a K/BB ratio of 23/2 at the MLB level? Victor Gonzalez had to battle his way through pretty much unnoticed on a path littered with obstacles, some of them seemingly self-inflicted.
Gonzalez was signed as an international free agent out of Tuxpan, Mexico way back in 2012. He was part of the same signing group as the much heralded Julio Urias. Both left-handers were scouted by legendary scout Mike Brito whose most famous discovery was another left-hander – Fernando Valenzuela. The two young left-handers were not teammates on their paths to MLB through the Dodgers minor league system. They had been teammates in Mexico as 15-year-olds on the Diablos Rojos del Mexico in the Mexican Baseball League and now are teammates again.
Whereas Urias had an explosive beginning to his professional career, Gonzalez stumbled at the starting line. He did provide a bit of a fleeting glimpse of what might be to come in his 2013 season with the Arizona League Dodgers. He posted a 3.79 ERA over 38 innings along with 45 strikeouts and 12 walks.
His second season on the Dodger farm did not go as well. With the Ogden Raptors in 2014 he posted an unsightly ERA of 6.09 over 54.2 innings giving up 79 hits while striking out 45 and walking 22. However, that was as an 18-year-old. Perhaps things would even out in 2015 with the Loons as Julio Urias had dominated at the Class-A level.
Gonzalez did moved on to the Loons for the 2015 season. Things again did not go well and on the season he posted a 5.49 ERA giving up 75 hits over 57 innings pitched with 16 walks and 45 strikeouts.
His 2016 season with the Loons seemed to be a good step forward. He final stats showed an ERA of 3.61 which was about middle of the pack for the league. He pitched 94.2 innings allowing only 79 hits and struck out 104, second only to Dennis Santana on the the Loons staff. The new issue was control as he walked 44.
Another bump in the road came in 2017 as he had to submit to the surgeon’s knife with the now-so-common Tommy John surgery which wiped out his 2017 season and most of 2018. At the same time Julio Urias had anterior capsule surgery. They rehabbed together and lived together in Arizona. Although they were similar in age Urias became a mentor to Gonzalez.
Gonzalez returned to the Great Lakes Loons in June of 2018, now still at Class-A in his fifth professional season. It was a season to forget. In six starts, he recorded a 5.61 ERA over 25 2/3 innings. Opponents hit .314 with an .819 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. After giving up five runs in 4 2/3 innings against the Dayton Dragons he left the scene and flew home to Mexico. At that moment he didn’t want to play baseball anymore.
“I didn’t want anything to do with baseball,” González said in Spanish. “I didn’t want to play baseball. I couldn’t do things right. I was already 22 and I couldn’t improve. I stayed in the same leagues. I couldn’t advance.”
Back home in Tuxpan he was resolved to give up baseball but with the encouragement of friends he contacted the Dodgers to see if he could play in Mexico. The Dodgers wanted him to pitch in the minors under their watch so perhaps with some reluctance he returned and was sent to Ogden, the rookie-league affiliate. His frustration didn’t cease as he allowed 13 runs in eight innings across four appearances with the Raptors.
“I’d come out after pitching and I’d cry,” González said. “I left the games crying because I couldn’t throw strikes.”
He pitched in the Mexican League following the minor league season and found some solace with the veterans in the league such as long time major leaguer Sergio Romo, who lent their advice. He reported to spring training thinking the Dodgers would release him if he didn’t pitch well.
Something happened on the way to ball park in 2019.
After initially struggling in his return in 2018, Gonzalez rose through three levels in 2019. The 6-foot, 180-pound left-hander got his first taste of Double-A and Triple-A and thrived. In 89.2 innings among three levels, he recorded a 2.31 ERA with 93 strikeouts. He walked 32. Pitching as a starter and reliever, he dominated left-handed hitters, holding them to a .152 average. Instead of being released he was put on the 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. So what happened with the previously discouraged Gonzalez? Perhaps it was maturity as the tools were always there. Will Rhymes explained.
“Coming off Tommy John . . . he just came out on a mission,” farm director Will Rhymes said. “His velo was a tick up. He was up to 98 (mph) last year during parts of the season. He’s got a deceptive look from the left side. It’s a pretty full arsenal. He has a firm slider, curveball and a good changeup.”
Rhymes also mentioned that Gonzalez has the weapons to get hitters out from both sides of the plate, but it is Gonzalez’s ability to dominate lefthanded hitters that could be his path to the big leagues.
“I think that’s it,” Rhymes said. “He’s a really good strike-thrower. We’d like to see him continue to work on his pitches, maybe developing some more swing-and-miss stuff and really just keep growing into his stuff.”
It should not be forgotten that Gonzalez and Julio Urias rehabbed together and roomed together during that time. The time together was good for both players providing a brother like bond between them. Now they are brothers in blue. This from Urias,
“Honestly, and I tell you this with my whole heart, I feel like he’s the best friend I’ve had so far in baseball since I came here,” Urías, 24, said in Spanish. “From the minor leagues through my entire trajectory, I feel like he’s the best friend I’ve had. I try to give him a lot of advice because he’s gone through a lot of family difficulties. I’ve tried to be there with him like a brother.”
Urías shared what he learned about being a big leaguer, how to behave in the clubhouse and stay positive when things go sideways.
“I’d lose myself quickly,” González said. “Whatever little thing happened in the game and I didn’t want to pitch anymore. So, I went about learning those things.”
“He would tell me I have a lot of potential to play good baseball. Now we’re together here on the same team,” González said. “It’s very emotional because he’s my best friend. It’s a big thing — very emotional to share this moment with him.”
On July 31, 2020 two years after he told the Dodgers he didn’t want to play baseball anymore, González took the mound at Chase Field against the Arizona Diamondbacks for his major-league debut. He gave up one run on three hits in one inning.
“For him it’s just the more he gets out there, I think the more comfortable he’ll be,” Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior said. “He’s obviously got a high ceiling and a lot of upside. Victor’s going to help us.”
How much has he helped the Dodgers in 2020? In 15 appearances over 20.1 innings he has posted a 1.33 ERA along with a 0.74 WHIP while striking out 23 and walking 2. Right-handed batters in 39 plate appearances hit .205 against Gonzalez while left-handers in 35 plate appearances hit .143. On the season he gave up only two extra base hits, both doubles.
Victor Gonzalez became the fifth Mexican left-handed pitcher to make his debut with the Dodgers behind Fernando Valenzuela (1980), Dennys Reyes (1997), Víctor Álvarez (2002) and the now fourth starter Julio Urías (2016).
More from Dodger Talk
Margot and Glasnow – New Dodgers
Not all trades work out. Specifically, I am talking about Ryan Pepiot and Jonny LeDuca for Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot. It’s easy for a fan to look at a glass half full or a glass half empty. I prefer to think that there is no glass. Every trade is “Risk vs. Reward.” In the…
May 2, 2021 : Beaty and Pollock Slam the Brewers
May second, 2021 . The Dodgers were playing the last game of a four-game set in Milwaukee. The Dodgers had lost the previous three games to the Brewers. The day before, they lost in 11 innings, 6-5. They were 1-6 in their last seven games. They were a half-game out of first…
Oh, the Irony!
Once again, Bruce Bochy demonstrated why he is a genius. Bochy’s strategy was this: After his starter gave up five runs in 4.2 IP, he told the bullpen not to give up any runs the rest of the way. No one else on the planet would have thought of something so ingenious. Then, in…
It's Over Now!
I like to break things down to their simplest form, and here is why the Dodgers were swept in the NLDS: They could not score more than two runs a game. In 162 games, the Dodgers averaged 5.6 runs a game, but in this three-game series, they scored just two runs a game. They were…
Discussion (111)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Urias did a great job for 3 innings. We pay Treinen for his late innings shutdown. I will come back to my original sentiment about starting Buehler instead of CK. I was okay with this until the announcers began to talk about the blisters and said it was still an issue with Walker. No way would I have started him knowing this.
Now bring in Kersh to pitch the 8rh!
Corey Cigar!!
Hand blows the save, Yankees 10-9 top of the 9th.
ALL!!!!!!
It’s October again. Time to Mendoza up! A crappy starter gives us five walks in two innings and we can only score three! And then once again good pitching shuts down the “vaunted” Dodger bats! When will it ever end!!!!
This is a hard watch
Muncy.
The Dodgers have got to hit better than this. Just three hits in five innings.
I got it. Lets go Dodgers
They are not broadcasting the game
SD and CHC upset. A 3 game series is indeed dangerous. Yankees just came from behind to take the lead. They could sweep.
Here we go, first step all the way to the World Series.
Good article Harold Uhlman, it’s an good example that we should never give up,
it’s a shame that no one mentioned it !
Maybe you should save it for another day.
So Devin Williams won’t be pitching in this series? That is awesome news because I believe the only way the Brewers can beat the Dodgers is by taking a lead late into the game and using Williams and Hader to close it out.
So now all I’m worried about is Hader.
Avoid Hader with a lead and the Dodgers will be fine.
Well I’m about half serious that the new extra inning rule should be extended in the playoffs too. I typically love pitchers duals but the Reds – Braves 13 inning job was BORING. The Reds can’t hit and ran the bases like the Keystone Cops. How Joey Votto didn’t score from 2nd on a sharp single to left is a mystery to me. He was an adventure all day. 33 strikeouts, zero situational hitting, zero moving runners, zero bunting (the Braves have zero sac bunts this season) and zero runs until the bottom of the 13th. I have no idea how many runners LOB. Earl Weaver would have been proud. Sit back and wait for the winning homer, that never happened. 33 K’s is totally ridiculous. Bauer’s performance was why I wanted to avoid the Reds starting pitching at all costs. But they couldn’t hit a bull in the ass with a bag of ice.
Don’t fully understand having Gore added. I’m a very firm believer that “You got to dance with who brung you, swing with who swung you.” Personally, I would also have taken Floro over Kelly. But then again, I’m not the one getting paid the big bucks to make these decisions. Nor will I suffer the consequences if they go sideways.
Nightmare start for the Padres. You lose Clevinger and Dinelson Lamet for the first series, and then you give up 6 runs in the first 3 innings. May exhaust their bullpen. However, their offense may bring them back.
I am still TJ’d over Floro not being on roster. Hope he is added to the next round. He earned a place this round though and I thought he improved a lot from last year.
Here’s the thing about Floro, in his career he has lopsided splits he’s good against right handed batters and bad against left-handed batters but this year he has reverse splits. That may be why he was left off the roster. Doc might be uncomfortable using Floro.
I don’t like Kelly I wish she was left off the roster too.
I might sound like a broken record but the bullpen is going to make or break the Dodgers in the playoffs.
Anyone still wish we had Ryu? I’m happy with Urias, May, Gonsolin with Gray in the pipeline. And all four of those guys together will make less than Ryu for the next few years!
If anyone wants to know why I think having Gore on the roster is wasting a spot. his season stats. 2 games no at bats, and ZERO steals. I would be willing to say they he is not going to steal a single base in this 3 game series. I doubt he will even get into a game
Big bat Twins go against The Cheaters who were without Verlander, and Greinke only goes 4.0 IP in Game 1. The Twins? They score 2 runs on 7 hits in two runs.
Probable NL MVP Freddie Freeman comes up big with a walk off single 1-0 game in 13. Reds are going to have nightmares as to why they could not pull this one off.
I just got around to reading the Gammons article in The Athletic. Here are a few paragraphs that I think are very telling about the Dodger Organization:
“The Dodgers’ pitching has been the best in the National League, with Kershaw their only starter over 26 years old. Kershaw is one of four pitchers — along with Kenley Jansen, Pedro Báez and Julio Urías — who were in the organization when Friedman took over the Dodgers in October 2014. Of the position players, Justin Turner and Joc Pederson were the only ones currently on the 40-man roster who were already there.
All the rest have been drafted and/or developed since Friedman’s arrival. “Andrew hasn’t changed at all between Tampa and Los Angeles,” says Jeff McAvoy, who has worked for Friedman with both teams. “The willingness and capacity to listen is an important part of leadership, and he listens really well. Everyone has a voice, players included. He gives them a platform and allows freedom. He doesn’t mind contrary opinions and is always adaptable.”
“The thing that is so important about the Dodgers is that they are built on collaboration,” says Will Rhymes, who is the team’s director of player development. “The scouting and development departments always work together, which isn’t always the case; sometimes they clash when there are disagreements on why a player isn’t performing as expected. Josh Byrnes oversees both, and he’s a genius as well as a tremendous person to work with. What he, Billy Gasparino and the scouting staff do in the draft is tremendous. Look at Dustin May in the third round. Tony Gonsolin in the ninth round. Look at the international scouting, Urías and Victor González.
“Andrew preaches patience. In some organizations, they have certain things they want in terms of pitching deliveries and pitching. Everything here is about the individual, finding out what he does best, then try to find ways to improve on that.”
Gonsolin is a classic example. At St. Mary’s University, he was an outfielder/pitcher. He wasn’t drafted as a junior. The next year, after a four-year career and a 7-13, 4.06 ERA season, the Dodgers took him in the ninth round. Now, he’s up to 97 mph with an unhittable changeup/split, and in the postseason may be their rover, used in any situation required.
Friedman made the call and he wants Gore, I’d rather have McKinstry.
I would get Bauer, especially if he doesn’t change his mind and only wants a 1 year deal, you never have enough pitching and I don’t want to see him with the Padres.
Time to find out how good this Dodger team is. Play Ball.
I think Jeff nailed it on why Kelly is on the roster. His teammates love him and know he has their backs. Now, if he can just pitch…
We haven’t needed Gore before now, I don’t see why we need him now. I’d rather a guy who actually helped us win get the opportunity to play in the post season. Floro over Kelly for similar reasons.
I’d like Bauer. I doubt we get him for reasons STB mentioned. We have an outstanding starting staff lined up. Spend the money elsewhere. Like maybe Hendriks.