Gio Gonz¨˘lez retires after 13 seasons
David Adler
@_dadlerGio González announced his retirement on Thursday after 13 big league seasons.
The 35-year-old left-hander pitched for the A's, Nationals, Brewers and White Sox in an MLB career that began in 2008. Gonz¨˘lez was a two-time All-Star and the Major League wins leader in 2012, and he pitched in five postseasons in Washington and Milwaukee.
Gonz¨˘lez made his announcement in an Instagram post thanking all the organizations he played for.
Gonz¨˘lez's best years came with the Nationals. He spent seven seasons with the Nats, and he was an All-Star and National League Cy Young Award finalist in 2012, when he went 21-8 with a 2.89 ERA and 207 strikeouts. He also placed sixth in the Cy Young Award voting in his last full season with Washington in 2017.
"[To the] Washington Nationals, what an incredible seven years you gave me and my family," Gonz¨˘lez wrote in his Instagram post. "Because of you, I will forever be thankful. You helped me become the man/father I am today, [with] the most unbelievable love I could ever ask for! So happy for the [2019] World Series title [for] your team and fans."
Gonz¨˘lez also thanked the A's for helping him get his first career win and the Brewers for helping him be a part of two last playoff runs in 2018 and '19. He thanked the White Sox for originally drafting him in the first round in 2004 (he debuted with Oakland after being traded three times as a Minor Leaguer) and bringing him back to pitch for them in 2020, the last year of his career.
"The White Sox, full circle, drafted me at the age of 18 and met back up 12 years later," Gonz¨˘lez wrote on Instagram. "Thank you for giving me a chance to put on a Major League jersey and pitch for the team that drafted me. Truly special moment!"
This spring, Gonz¨˘lez -- a Hialeah, Fla., native -- was in camp with the Marlins after signing with them this month, hoping to pitch for his hometown team.
"This was one of my biggest dreams to pitch in front of the home crowd, the whole city of Hialeah and all of Dade/Broward [Counties]," Gonz¨˘lez wrote in his post. "I gave it one last fight ˇ I loved the team and staff, what a great relationship and understanding. Thank you for giving me my final shot."