Murilo Gouvêa

Murilo Gouvea

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 200 lb.

• Born September 15, 1988 in Jundiaí, São Paulo Brazil

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Murilo Gouvea has pitched in the minors (as high as AAA) and for the Brazilian national team.

Gouvea made his pro debut in 2007 with the DSL White Sox 2, going 3-5 with a save and a 4.33 ERA; in 43 2/3 IP, he struck out 56 but walked 29. He fell to 4-1, 7.28 for the 2008 Bristol Sox then appeared in 3 games for Brazil in the 2008 Americas Baseball Cup. He was torched for four runs while retiring no one in relief against Mexico but did better in his other two outings. In a start against the Dutch Antilles, he dueled Raymond Martes well, allowing one run in 4 1/3 IP but reliever Marcelo Arai lost it in the 8th. He then tossed two shutout innings, fanning three, as Brazil's top hurler in a 6-1 loss to Panama. He split 2009 between Bristol (0-1, 5.82, 15 BB, 27 K in 21 2/3 IP), the Kannapolis Intimidators (6 R, 1 ER in 3 IP) and the Greeneville Astros (1-2, 3.77), moving from the Chicago to the Houston Astros chain mid-year.

In 2010, Gouvea was was 1-3 with a 6.30 ERA for the Tri-City ValleyCats, but whiffed 56 in 40 innings. He split 2011 between the ValleyCats (6 H, 5 R in 2 2/3 IP, 0-1) and the Lexington Legends (1-3, Sv, 3.98, 83 K in 74 2/3 IP. In 2012, the right-hander was an effective middle reliever for Lexington, going 2-7 with 4 saves and a 3.71 ERA in 50 games, striking out 87 in 77 2/3 IP and allowing 62 hits only.

He then was on Brazil's roster for the 2013 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers. He excelled in that event. In the opener, he threw 3 1/3 perfect innings to maintain a 3-2 lead over host Panama, fanning three, before tiring and allowing two hits (to Carlos Ruiz and Carlos Lee); Kesley Kondo took over and held on. In the finale, he again got the nod, relieving Rafael Fernándes with a 1-0 lead over Panama in the 6th and retiring seven of eight batters he faced before turning it over to closer Thyago Vieira in a 1-0 upset win as Brazil made the World Baseball Classic for the first time. Gouvea had certainly done his share; for all four qualifiers, he tied Justin Schumer for 5th in ERA (four other pitchers at 0 worked more innings) and he tied MLB veteran Shawn Hill for 6th in WHIP.

In the 2013 World Baseball Classic itself, he struggled. He allowed only two hits and fanned four in 6 1/3 IP but walked five and gave up four runs. In a game that decided whether Brazil would clinch a spot in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, he relieved Oscar Nakaoshi with a 1-0 lead over China in the 5th and threw three shutout innings but tired in the 8th, allowing three on with one out. Vieira relieved but let all three inherited runs score, handing Gouvea a crucial loss. For the Classic, he tied Sam Deduno and Chris Oxspring for second in walks, one behind Edison Volquez.

Gouvea missed the 2013-2014 minor league seasons with injury, including having Tommy John surgery. He returned in 2015 to allow one run in four innings for the Fresno Grizzlies but Houston then let him go. In the 2016 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers, he again impressed for Brazil. In his lone outing, he relieved Bo Takahashi in the 5th with a 1-0 deficit against Israel and threw three shutout innings before turning the ball over to Felipe Sales; Brazil did not score, though, and fell by the 1-0 margin. Scotty Burcham got the lone hit off him and Ike Davis the lone walk while he retired former major leaguers Ryan Lavarnway, Josh Satin, Cody Decker and Nate Freiman.

He was Brazil's ace in the 2016 South American Championship, ahead of major league veteran Andre Rienzo. He allowed two hits, two walks and one unearned run (fanning seven) in six innings in a win over Argentina and fellow former US pro Federico Tanco. In the finale, he got the nod against Argentina and pitched Brazil to its first South American Championship title in 11 years, with five hitless innings (walking three), allowing no runs and whiffing five before Felipe Fukuda took over in a 10-4 victory. Gouvea was named the tourney's All-Star P but did not take the MVP, which went to teammate Felipe Burin.

Sources

• 2012 Astros Media Guide
• 2008 Americas Baseball Cup
• World Baseball Classic
• 2016 South American Championship Final Report
• Baseball Jobs Overseas