Merandy Gonzalez Becomes First Former Fireflies Player to Reach the Major Leagues
April 20, 2018 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Columbia Fireflies News Release
Perhaps the most dominant stretch of his minor league career took place during his time as a Firefly from April 9-May 3, 2017. The righty chased a SAL record over his first five outings of the season: Gonzalez heaved 28.2 consecutive scoreless innings, which ended up falling just 11 shut-out innings shy of the league mark (39.2 IP). This stretch earned Gonzalez the South Atlantic League Player of the Month award for April.
"I am extremely proud of Merandy and enjoyed working with him," Columbia pitching coach Jonathan Hurst said. "He was so focused on getting better each and every start with us [in 2017]. A very coachable guy that earned this opportunity. I see him as a starting pitcher, but if you were to talk to him now, he wouldn't care what his role was. He's made it to the big leagues and that's the most important thing."
Gonzalez was promoted to the advanced-A Mets affiliate for the second half of the 2017 season before being traded a month later. Overall, the 22-year-old finished 2017 with a remarkable 13-3 record and 1.66 ERA in 22 games - 20 of which were starts - pitching for Columbia and the advanced-A St. Lucie Mets and Jupiter Hammerheads (Miami).
The Mets originally signed the 6-foot right-hander in 2013 as a non-drafted free agent. Baseball America labeled Gonzalez as New York's "breakout prospect" for 2017 and he's currently ranked as one of the top right-handed pitchers in the Marlins organization.
FROM COLUMBIA TO THE SHOW:
RHP Merandy Gonzalez (Miami) - April 19, 2018 - 2 scoreless innings @ Milwaukee
WHO'S NEXT? FORMER FIREFLIES WITH METS TRIPLE-A AFFILIATE IN LAS VEGAS:
LHP P.J. Conlon
INF David Thompson
• Discuss this story on the South Atlantic League message board...
South Atlantic League Stories from April 20, 2018
- Suns Come from Behind in Friday Win - Hagerstown Suns
- Frost's Three-Run Shot Lifts I's over Greenville - Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
- Lexington Falls in Game Two After Hagerstown Grand Slam - Lexington Legends
- 'Birds Engine Stalls against Lakewood - Delmarva Shorebirds
- Late-Inning Homer Helps Power Outlast Tourists on Friday - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Braley Fans Career-High 9 in Win vs 'Dogs - Greensboro Grasshoppers
- Columbia Bounces Back, Cavallaro Wins Again - Columbia Fireflies
- Howard Fans Nine, BlueClaws Steal Five in 5-2 Win - Jersey Shore BlueClaws
- Power Outlast the Tourists 6-5 - Asheville Tourists
- RiverDogs Drop Another Nail Biter in Greensboro - Charleston RiverDogs
- Drive Defeated 4-1 by Intimidators - Greenville Drive
- 7th Inning Home Run Sinks GreenJackets - Augusta GreenJackets
- Delgado's Dinger Lifts Rome to 5-4 Win - Rome Emperors
- West Virginia Power: Game Notes (April 20) - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Fireflies Roster Move and Game Notes: April 20 vs. Hickory (Game 15) - Columbia Fireflies
- BrewFest CharlieWest III to Host 21 Breweries in 2018 - Charleston Dirty Birds
- Merandy Gonzalez Becomes First Former Fireflies Player to Reach the Major Leagues - Columbia Fireflies
- Back to Basics, RiverDogs Settle in for Four-Game Homestand - Charleston RiverDogs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
