Gio Gonzalez is a former professional baseball player who played as a pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was born on September 19, 1985, in Hialeah, Florida, and attended Monsignor Edward Pace High School in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Gonzalez was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the first round of the 2004 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Oakland Athletics in 2008 and played for them until 2011. During his time with the Athletics, Gonzalez was named to the All-Star team in 2011 and finished fifth in the American League Cy Young Award voting that same year.
In 2012, Gonzalez was traded to the Washington Nationals, where he played until 2018. During his time with the Nationals, Gonzalez was named to the All-Star team in 2012 and finished third in the National League Cy Young Award voting that same year. He also helped lead the Nationals to the playoffs in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2017.
After his time with the Nationals, Gonzalez played for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018 and the New York Yankees in 2019. He became a free agent after the 2019 season and signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins in 2020. However, he did not play in any MLB games that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout his career, Gonzalez had a record of 131 wins and 101 losses with an earned run average (ERA) of 3.70. He also had 1,668 strikeouts in 1,814 innings pitched. Gonzalez was known for his curveball and changeup, which helped him become a successful pitcher in the MLB.
Off the field, Gonzalez was involved in various charitable organizations, including the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy and the Gio Gonzalez Foundation, which supports underprivileged youth in the Miami area.
In April 2021, Gonzalez announced his retirement from professional baseball. He stated that he was grateful for his career and the opportunities he had to play for various teams throughout the MLB.
⚾