'So much emotion': Gonz¨¢lez pitches in front of family in Mexico
Bryan Hoch
@BryanHochMEXICO CITY -- Victor González thought he had experienced the greatest thrills his chosen sport had to offer, jogging out of the bullpen to pitch in four World Series games. He¡¯d proven unflappable, even picking up the victory in the clinching game of the Dodgers¡¯ 2020 championship.
Yet as Gonz¨¢lez stood in the left-field bullpen during the fifth inning of Sunday¡¯s exhibition at Alfredo Harp Hel¨² Stadium, he pressed two fingers to his neck, surprised to find his pulse racing. He was minutes away from pitching in front of his mother and grandfather for the first time as a professional.
¡°There is so much emotion you feel in the moment. You don¡¯t know what to do,¡± Gonz¨¢lez said through an interpreter. ¡°The level of excitement is so high, the amount of pressure you feel. You want to put on a good show.¡±
Of all the experiences the Yankees¡¯ two-game series with the Diablos Rojos del Mexico has provided, having Gonz¨¢lez take the mound in his home country before friends and family was one of the most memorable.
Gonz¨¢lez registered a strikeout and a lineout on the first two batters he faced before Juan Carlos Gamboa reached on a throwing error by shortstop Max Burt. Franklin Barreto singled to left field, and Robinson Can¨® -- his swing still sweet at 41 years of age -- followed with a run-scoring single to center field.
¡°I just kept telling myself, ¡®Man, I¡¯ve got to slow it down a little bit. I¡¯m going too fast,¡¯¡± Gonz¨¢lez said.
Gonz¨¢lez retired the next hitter to end the frame, and being charged with the unearned run hardly mattered to the 28-year-old. Gonz¨¢lez walked off the mound to cheers and chants of his name, resisting an urge to wave or doff his cap.
¡°I¡¯ve pitched in the big leagues for quite some time now and I¡¯ve never had that kind of sensation,¡± Gonz¨¢lez said. ¡°The feelings that I had [Sunday] on the mound were completely different.¡±
Gonz¨¢lez still lives in his hometown of Tuxpan, Mexico, which is approximately 3 1/2 hours by car from Mexico City. That made the Yankees¡¯ trip the most convenient opportunity yet for his mother, Norma Ortiz, and grandfather, Miguel, to see him pitch in person.
¡°When I looked at her, I think she was nervous,¡± said Gonz¨¢lez, whose wife, Carolina, was also among 15 family members in attendance. ¡°My granddad gave me a big hug and a big kiss after the game; he was crying. The last time he saw me pitch, I was a young kid.¡±
Sunday¡¯s contest was also meaningful for Jonathan Lo¨¢isiga, with the Nicaraguan right-hander pitching in front of his mother for the first time as a Yankee.
¡°I¡¯m proud of that opportunity to come here and for my mom to see me pitch for the first time, it¡¯s a beautiful moment she will be able to cherish,¡± Lo¨¢isiga said through an interpreter.
Gonz¨¢lez was one of three Mexican-born players on the Yankees¡¯ travel roster for this series. Right-hander Luis Serna and infielder Jared Serna, who were born in San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico, and Guaymas, Mexico, respectively, also made the trip.
The Yankees made a pitching change before Monday¡¯s game, tabbing the 19-year-old Serna to start the second exhibition.
¡°He¡¯s someone we think really highly of in our organization,¡± manager Aaron Boone said. ¡°I got to see him a couple of times this spring. He looks like he¡¯s got a chance to be really good. We¡¯re excited about his future and for him to be able to pitch in his home country.¡±
While Giancarlo Stanton, Jose Trevino and Anthony Volpe lent star power to the event (Stanton even wore a lucha libre wrestling mask during Monday's batting practice!), Gonz¨¢lez was celebrated like a returning hero.
The understated hurler smiled, almost sheepishly, when he emerged from the third-base dugout before Monday¡¯s game and heard loud chants of his surname: ¡°GON-ZAL-EZ! GON-ZAL-EZ!¡±
¡°It means a lot,¡± Gonz¨¢lez said. ¡°How happy everybody seems being part of this experience, it¡¯s incredible. I hope that everyone gets the opportunity to come here. I¡¯m sure that the Mexican fans would really love the experience of having big league teams here.¡±