By MATT FULKS, tbonesbaseball.com
The Kansas City T-Bones have announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Eric Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, started his professional career in the San Diego Padres organization, after the club drafted him in the 24th round of the 2008 MLB June Amateur Draft out of the University of South Alabama.
He reached triple-A Portland in 2010 before spending 2011 and ’12 with Lake Erie of the independent Frontier League. Gonzalez started this season with Camden of the Atlantic League.
In six professional seasons Gonzalez has a 23-18 record with a 4.66 ERA and three saves in 126 games. In 328 1/3 innings, Gonzalez has struck out 266 and walked 84.
Gonzalez, 26, who’s originally from San Juan de la Rambla, Spain, played on Spain’s 2013 World Baseball Classic team. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of South Alabama and a Master’s degree in Sports Administration from a university in Barcelona.
“This gives us an experienced starting pitcher, which we definitely can use,” said T-Bones manager Kenny Hook. “He’s a high strikeout guy who has good command.”
Gonzalez is scheduled to start for the T-Bones and wear number 36 later today when Kansas City plays host to Sioux City at 11:05 a.m. at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
To help make room for Gonzalez, the T-Bones earlier in the week released pitchers Brian Murphy and Devon Pearson.
