Mets Relief Pitcher: Gonzales Germen (2013-2014)

Gonzalez Germen was born on September 23rd, 1987 in La Romana, Dominican Republic. The six foot, two right hander was signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent in 2007.

He pitched at low levels of the minors through 2011, with the Gulf Coast Mets, Kingsport Mets & Savannah Sand Gnats. In 2012 he began the year in Florida with the St. Lucie Mets going 3-0 with a 3.04 ERA.

He moved on to AA Binghamton going 8-12 with a 4.49 ERA. He ended the year at AAA Buffalo (1-0) compiling a total of 12 wins on the year, tying Zack Wheeler for most Mets wins in the farm system.

In 2013 Germen started out at AAA Las Vegas, where he struck out 51 batters in 44 goings, going 3-4 with four saves. He posted a 5.52 ERA in 35 games.

Germen got his big league call up in early July & debuted as the sixth pitcher in an 11 inning loss to the Pirates in Pittsburgh. German walked two batters in the 12th inning, then gave up the game winning hit to Jordy Mercer. 

On July 20th he pitched 1.2 innings of middle relief against the Philadelphia Phillies & earned his first career win, as the Mets went on to a 5-4 victory.

He saw steady action out of the pen for New York in August, earning his first big league save on August 15th against the Padres in San Diego. The next day he blew a save chance, when in the 8th inning he gave up a base hit to Chris Denorfia tying the game. Pedro Feliciano served up a walk off HR to Will Veneble in the 9th.

On September 1st, as the Mets were ready to sweep a series in D.C, but a late inning Nats rally denied them. Germen took the Sunday Night Baseball loss, as the Nats scored three runs in the 8th, topping off with a Jason Werth RBI double.

He finished the year at 1-2 with a 3.93 ERA, 33 strike outs & 16 walks in 34 innings in 29 games.

He began 2014 with the Mets, seeing middle & late relief action. On April 25th he blew save against the Marlins but the Mets did win 4-3 over Miami. His ERA began to creep up, hitting 4.78 (in 21 appearances) by early July. As other relievers pitched better, Germen was sent down to AAA Las Vegas. 

By early August he was 2-0 in Las Vegas, with an ERA below one in ten games. He returned to the Mets on August 19th & would pitch in four more games on the season. He finished off three of them, closing out the year with no record & a 4.75 ERA in 25 appearances.

That winter his contract was sold to the AL New York team, then to the Texas Rangers. From he was let go there & spent 2015 with the Chicago Cubs & then the Colorado Rockies as a mid reliever.