WINNIPEG – The Winnipeg Goldeyes signed former major league catcher Miguel Gonzalez on Monday.
Gonzalez reached the big leagues with the Chicago White Sox in the 2013 season. He only appeared in five games where he went 2-for-9 at the plate but Baseball America ranked Gonzalez as the best defensive catcher in the White Sox’ organization for five consecutive seasons.
Gonzalez, 27, played both double-A and triple-A in the Detroit Tigers system last season. He split time between the International League’s Toledo Mud Hens and the Eastern League’s Erie SeaWolves. The Venezuelan native hit .220 with four homers and 12 RBI.
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While his offensive numbers don’t exactly jump off the page, it’s behind the plate where he’s excelled. Gonzalez finished with a caught stealing rate of at least 30 percent every year from 2008-2016. That’s well above the American Association’s caught stealing average of 20 percent.
“I’m thrilled to add a catcher like Miguel,” Goldeyes manager Rick Forney said in a media release.
“His experience will be invaluable to the pitching staff. It was very important for me to add a second catcher that has the ability to shut down the running game.”
The Goldeyes already had catcher Jesse Baker under contract. Gonzalez is the 17th player to sign with the Goldeyes for the 2018 season. Spring training begins on May 6.
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