The "Phillies New Ace" Story

It was an ordinary day.  I had the choice of watching a college football game or watching the Phillies.  Decided to give the Phils a chance since I have been a fan for years and I just know they are going to be in contention again next year.  But, after watching them fall behind by a couple of runs, I decided to turn the Penn State football game back on again.  I have been reading in the last day or two about the new player that the Phils had just signed. 

New Phillies pitcher, Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez

 Name is Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez and he is from Cuba.  Big 26 year-old who they are going to pay $12 million for the next three years.  They were going to play him $48 million for 6 years, but that was before he had to have bone spurs removed from his elbow.  Gonzalez pitched for the Cuban National Team in the 2009 and 2011 World Cup where his record was 3-1 with a 2.91 ERA.  Struck out 36 batters in 34 innings.  Then I read conflicting reports as to when and where he would begin pitching for the Phils.  One report said that he was a hopeful for the 2014 starting rotation while another report said that he may make his major league debut real soon, since the Phils are going nowhere and a trial-by-fire in the majors would be the way to go.  Even saw the dates and teams he would pitch against the remainder of this year. His fastball hits the low to mid 90s and he also shows a change up, curveball and forkball.  Miguel was playing for the Artemisa Cuban team when he was caught trying to defect in January of 2012.  He was suspended from playing at the time and eventually succeeded in defecting from Cuba to El Salvador in 2013 then moving to Mexico.  He then pitched in a few games for the Toros de Tijuana where American scouts were watching.  On August 30 he signed with the Phils and I am anxious to see him pitch this year.  Here's hoping he can find a place in the starting rotation for next year.  Phils certainly can use some new blood in the lineup.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.