June 7, 200421 yr The Sox chose Gio Gonzalez with the #38 pick (a supplemental pick). According to draftniks, he has a nasty curveball. He was kicked off his high school team over some goofy incident involving a request to have his brother put on the team (according to draft analysts).
June 7, 200421 yr Author From baseball america... Giovanny Gonzalez Dismissed From High School Team By Alan Matthews May 4, 2004 Less than a week before the Florida state playoffs began, one of the nation's top high school teams got rid of its best player. Giovanny Gonzalez, the ace lefthander for Monsignor Pace High in Opa Locka, Fla., was dismissed from the team along with his brother Max. Their dismissals came after a public argument between their mother Yolanda and Pace coach Tom Duffin that witnesses say stemmed from Max' lack of playing time. After transferring from Hialeah High before the season, Gio Gonzalez quickly became Pace's ace. Max, a junior catcher and outfielder, struggled to get playing time on the talented team. The situation had been discussed before but apparently reached a breaking point after Pace's regular season finale April 29, an 8-0 win over Florida Christian. Max did not play, and a witness said Mrs. Gonzalez and Duffin got into an argument that spread to the dugout, involving both Gio and Max. "We're going to the playoffs and there was too much distraction going on," Duffin said later. "I did everything in my power to try and live with the situation, and it got to the point where it was a distraction and we had to move on. "There was team policy rule that was broken, and the integrity of the baseball program is not going to be threatened and there's not one man that is bigger than the program. Every parent received a packet of the rules, and unfortunately it was something that just was not being treated the way we outlined it before the season started. There can not be exceptions made and we had to make the decision." Yolanda Gonzalez declined comment. Gonzalez' father, Max Sr., said: "We don't know what happened. The coach hasn't told us anything. The coach never talked to my wife." So Gio Gonzalez, one of the top high school pitchers in this year's draft class, will not get a chance to show scouts what he can do during the playoffs, which start this week, and Pace will try to win without its best player. "(Gio) wasn't happy (with the decision)," Duffin said. "I mean, here's a kid who's on top of his game and of course he's not going to be happy about it. "I've agonized over this and my whole objective as a coach was to do what is right for the kids . . . But ultimately as the leader of that team, I have to protect my program and the integrity of it." "On a personal level, I know that there are some of the kids that feel sorry for him. But they know nothing malicious was done and they're all aware of what the consequences were. This isn't the first time playing time issues have affected the Gonzalez family. Gio pitched in the first of back-to-back state title games as a freshman, leading Hialeah High to two Class 6-A championships. He allowed just 34 hits with 119 strikeouts as a junior, but after 2003 he and Max transferred to Pace, a smaller, private school about 10 minutes down the road. The transfer was precipitated by Gonzalez' parents unhappiness with Max' playing time at Hialeah. "It had nothing to do with Gio," Hialeah coach Carlos Marti said prior to the season. "It was more about his brother and his parents." Duffin, a 1985 graduate of Pace who still holds the school's season record for batting, said the Gonzalez family approached the school about transferring. When they enrolled, Duffin said no promises were made about playing time for Gio or Max. "When they came to me in the summer I made sure everyone understood the expectations," Duffin said. "When they asked for the opportunity to come to Pace, I told them I hold nothing from the past and didn't want to get into (why they transferred) . . . They knew the guidelines and the rules and the regulations here." When preseason practice began, Max was in contention for a starting spot, but Duffin said other players outperformed him and he was relegated to a reserve role. Duffin said the team's morale took a hit, but Pace is still considered a favorite to advance to Tampa, where the state final four will be held later this month. "We have won 24 and only lost one and we have to keep focused on what are job is. They want to get to Tampa and they know it's not going to be easy . . . Gio won six and we were appreciative of those six. He did a great job. But our kids won 18 other games."
June 7, 200421 yr Droppin the HOOK! HOly s***! Check out this kid's curveball. Go to the 1:45 mark - that pitch, you could see the movement. He just drops the hook on this kid, outside corner. Nasty, nasty, friggin nasty! Sign this kid and get his ass to Kannapolis!
June 7, 200421 yr Droppin the HOOK! HOly s***! Check out this kid's curveball. Go to the 1:45 mark - that pitch, you could see the movement. He just drops the hook on this kid, outside corner. Nasty, nasty, friggin nasty! Sign this kid and get his ass to Kannapolis! Don't hate me for this but an 18 yo with that kind of hook is beggin' for elbow trouble.
June 7, 200421 yr Good point, but it's always a crapshoot - injury wise. poorme, my brother told me that he is going to be one of the toughest signings.
June 7, 200421 yr Don't hate me for this but an 18 yo with that kind of hook is beggin' for elbow trouble. Looked like he was smart and used it sparingly to me.
June 7, 200421 yr Looked like he was smart and used it sparingly to me. Yeah, I only saw one hook during that film. I think I saw a couple of botched hooks, but one real nasty like that. I heard that he has the best CB in the draft. That rocks!
June 7, 200421 yr I like what I see. What are the chances we sign this guy? From what I hear he's going to be the toughest we've drafted to sign. I really hope we get him, he looks like he has some very high potential.
June 7, 200421 yr It looks like the Sox took some reaches, and easier to sign guys, so I think their plan was to have some cash to spend on this guy. Atleast I hope. SB
June 7, 200421 yr Sounbds like Mom will hold the Sox hostage until they sign Max also. He is the younger brother though. He's not in the draft.
June 7, 200421 yr Gonzalez, who has signed a national letter of intent to play at the University of Miamiplayed for both Hialeah High School and Pace as a high schooler and is considered one of the top high school left-handers in the nation. He helped Hialeah win state championships as a freshman and sophomore; the team reached the state semifinals when he was a junior. He and his brother Max transferred to Monsignor Edward Pace for his senior year, but both were dismissed from the team shortly before the state tournament because, according to a story in Baseball America, of a dispute between Gonzalez's family and the Pace coach over Max's playing time. Not good
June 7, 200421 yr He reminds me alot of Arnie Munoz as far as a nasty hook and small frame (even though Arnie is smaller.)
June 7, 200421 yr Watching the MLB clip on him, during the man on first base pictures, he actually had multiple moves to first, and even faked looking home on his pick off move. I was wondering what effect his high leg kick might have on base stealing, but it also seemed to be able to shorten his motion home. Consistently hitting low 90s as a left handed high schooler, I would say that signing him should be a priority. SB
June 7, 200421 yr Watching the MLB clip on him, during the man on first base pictures, he actually had multiple moves to first, and even faked looking home on his pick off move. I was wondering what effect his high leg kick might have on base stealing, but it also seemed to be able to shorten his motion home. I liked what I saw there too. The leg kick didnt' seem to be a problem because he switched it up, and it never came back across the other knee, so he can still go to first without it being a balk move.
June 8, 200421 yr Droppin the HOOK! HOly s***! Check out this kid's curveball. Go to the 1:45 mark - that pitch, you could see the movement. He just drops the hook on this kid, outside corner. Nasty, nasty, friggin nasty! Sign this kid and get his ass to Kannapolis! Damn, great post. I like this kid.
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.