Roadrunners Sign Wiki Gonzalez
April 2, 2008 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)
St. George RoadRunners News Release
(St. George, UT. April 2, 2008) -- The St. George Roadrunners of the Golden Baseball League (GBL) have agreed to terms with ex-major league catcher Wiki Gonzalez for the upcoming 2008 season. A native of Venezuela, Gonzalez has seven years of major league experience with San Diego, Seatle, and Washington and was released from major league spring training camp by the White Sox this year.
"This is a great signing for the Roadrunners," said Rick Berry, St. George Roadrunners General Manager. "Having a veteran major leaguer handling our pitchers and calling the game on the field will be a tremendous benefit to the team. In addition, when paired with ex-major leaguer and ace of our staff, Mark Woodyard, it will be a battery that will be hard to top in the GBL this year."
Gonzalez, 33, was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as a 17 year old out of Aragua, Venezuela in 1992. Rising quickly through the Pirates system, he was acquired by the San Diego Padres in the 1996 Rule 5 minor league draft. He flourished in the Padres organization both defensively and with his bat as he hit .300, .388, and .347 before being debuting in the big leagues in 1999. He spent the next five years in the majors with the Padres before being traded in a blockbuster six player deal to the Seattle Mariners for Bryan Sweeney, Jeff Cirillo and cash before the 2005 season. He played a year for Seattle and then played with the Washington Nationals in 2006 and spent all of last season with the Chicago White Sox' AAA team in Charlotte.
"It's great to have Wiki onboard," said Cory Snyder, manager of the St. George Roadrunners. "He's going to make the games even more exciting for the fans and I'm looking forward to his veteran leadership and high level of play."
A legend with baseball fans in Venezuela and a long-time fan favorite in San Diego, Wiki has hit over .300 during seven minor league seasons and also holds the distinction of grounding into a 5-4-3 triple play while playing for the Padres against the New York Mets on his birthday on May 17, 2002.
"I am excited about playing baseball in St. George," said Gonzalez. "The field is very good for a power hitter with always nice warm weather and a great location. The town is beautiful and I hear it has some of the best fans in all of the minor leagues.I'm glad I have the opportunity to play for a great team, a great league and a great manager."
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Golden Baseball League Stories from April 2, 2008
- Roadrunners Sign Wiki Gonzalez - St. George RoadRunners
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