Phillies newest Cuban pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez throws a knuckleball

Share

Over the summer the Phillies reportedly made a huge $40+ million offer to Cuban pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez and seemingly won the bidding war. That was a bit uncharacteristic of the organization as we've come to know them. Then after those initial first reports, we didn't hear anything for a few weeks. Finally, the team announced they did in fact sign the 27-year-old right-hander to a much more team friendly deal in the $12 million range.

Even after the team signed him we didn't hear much more about it. Many wondered if the Phils were actually in a playoff hunt last season if we'd see him make his Philadelphia debut.

Alas, due to a number of issues, Gonzalez hadn't pitched regularly in quite some time and has needed to start a pitching program from scratch so to speak.

He's been down in Clearwater for a while now working with the Phillies staff and CSNPhilly.com Phillies scribe Jim Salisbury finally made the trip down this week to talk with one of the big hopes for the 2014 Phils' staff.

I highly suggest clicking over and reading Sully's entire column on the guy he says has a "classic pitcher's body," but this one nugget was what I chose to highlight:

“I have several pitches,” he said. “Fastball, curveball, changeup, cutter, splitter.”

He paused.

“Knuckleball. Sinker.”

Knuckleball?

Si.”

That’s more than several.

Phillies director of player development Joe Jordan says Miguel should be in good form and ready to compete for a role on the Phillies staff come February. He'll certainly be one of the most watched storylines of spring.

Contact Us