Jose Gonzalez (minors08)

Jose Luis Gonzalez Franco
listed as Jose Franco for most of his career in the minors; also listed at times as Jose Gonzales

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 185 lb.

• Born November 17, 1977 in Chiriqui Panama

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Jose Gonzalez pitched for six years in the minor leagues and for the Panamanian national team. He was 22-19 in the minors.

Gonzalez broke in with the 1996 DSL Yankees, going 5-1 with a 2.72 ERA. In '97, Jose improved to 6-4, 1.91 for the DSL Yanks. In 1998, he went 3-2 with a 2.10 ERA in a third season in the DSL. Gonzalez finally came stateside in 1999, with the Staten Island Yankees. He was 3-3 with 5 saves and a 2.83 ERA in 30 games that year, allowing only 29 hits in 41 1/3 innings while whiffing 58 batters.

In 2000, the Chiriqui native split time between Staten Island (Sv, 0 R in 5 2/3 IP) and the Greensboro Bats (3-3, 17 Sv, 3.07, .211 opponent average, 47 K in 44 IP). Gonzalez spent 2001 with Greensboro and fell to 2-6, 5.14 with a .282 average allowed, ending his minor league career with his only bad season out of six.

Gonzalez walked four and allowed 3 runs in 2 2/3 IP for Panama in the 2001 Baseball World Cup. In the 2005 Baseball World Cup, the right-hander had a 1-1, 4.70 record. He got the win over the Chinese national team. In the semifinals, he faced the Cuban national team, getting the start against another Gonzalez, Yulieski Gonzalez. Cuba pounded Panama 15-2, with Jose lasting 2 innings and allowing 5 hits and 5 runs (3 unearned). His bullpen was no better against the mighty Cubans.

Sources

• Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database
• Defunct IBAF site
• SABR database
• 2000-2002 Baseball Almanacs