Melvin Gonzalez pitched well enough for 5 seasons, high-A
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Elmira hurler Melvin Gonzalez went out and threw a one-hitter in this June 1991 game, striking out four and walking one, The Elmira Star-Gazette wrote.
More importantly, Gonzalez told The Star-Gazette, his team won.
"I was ready to pitch today," Gonzalez told The Star-Gazette. "Before the game, I was thinking that it was important that I win the game. It didn't matter to me about losing the no-hitter. I just went to the mound to pitch good and win the game."
Gonzalez pitched that game in his third season as a pro. He went on to see five. He topped out at high-A.
Gonzalez' career began in 1989, taken by the Red Sox in the 38th round of the draft out of his native Puerto Rico. Gonzalez was also credited as Papo Gonzalez.
Gonzalez started with the Red Sox in the rookie Gulf Coast League. He went 0-1, with a 3.03 ERA over 14 outings, two starts.
He then returned to the GCL in 1990 for 14 more outings, 12 starts. He went 9-1 overall, with a 3.04 ERA.
For 1991, he moved to short-season Elmira and went 5-5 in 20 outings, 10 starts, with a 3.72 ERA.
He then saw an abbreviated 1992 season between the GCL and high-A Winter Haven, eight outings, three starts. He saw high-A Fort Lauderdale in 1993, 21 outings, two starts. That 1991 campaign proved his last as a pro.
- Elmira Star-Gazette, June 27, 1991: Pioneers win 3rd straight, 3-0
Made the Majors:1,481-31.8%
Never Made Majors:3,183-68.2%-X