Norberto González
| Norberto González | |
|---|---|
González pitching for the Cuban national team at the 2013 World Baseball Classic | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: 10 October 1979 Cienfuegos, Cienfuegos Province, Cuba | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| Teams | |
| |
Medals |
Norberto González Miranda (born 10 October 1979) is a former baseball player who was a left-handed pitcher for the Cuban national baseball team and Cienfuegos of the Cuban National Series, where he played for 18 seasons.
Representing Cuba, González was a two-time Olympic medalist, winning gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics and silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He also won a silver medal at the inaugural edition of the World Baseball Classic in 2006.
Career
González was born on 10 October 1979 in the city of Cienfuegos, Cuba. He made his debut in the Cuban National Series in 1998 with Cienfuegos.[1][2]
In the 2005–06 Cuban National Series, pitching alongside national team stalwarts Yosvani Pérez and Adiel Palma, González maintained a 3.97 ERA and notched 90 strikeouts in 133 innings. However, his record was only 6–10, as Cienfuegos stumbled to a 35–54 record.[3] In 2009, he reached 100 wins in the Cuban National Series.[4]
González announced his retirement at the end of the 2012–13 Cuban National Series after 16 seasons with Cienfuegos, and a record of 139 wins and 121 losses.[5][6] However, in April 2014 it was reported that González would join Italian Baseball League team Netunno 2, where he played in 2014 and 2015.[7][8][9]
International career
In 2006, González was selected to represent Cuba at the inaugural World Baseball Classic, where he played as a reliever.[10] He substituted Vicyohandri Odelín (who had replaced starter Ormari Romero) in the final game against Japan in the first inning after Romero and Odelín allowed four runs. He pitched 3.1 innings, giving up no runs, and was replaced by Yadier Pedroso in the fifth inning. Cuba would go on to lose the game 6–10.[11][12]
González was part of the Cuban team that participated in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and 2013 World Baseball Classic.[13][14][15]
Personal life
González has two sons, Andy and Alex, who also play baseball. In June 2024, he and his sons left Cuba for the Dominican Republic, where they settled in Santo Domingo to train at the Yuan Pino Academy, hoping to sign with a Major League Baseball team.[2][16]
References
- ^ "Norberto González: "Soy feliz y lo seré más cuando mis hijos hagan lo que yo no pude hacer"". Pelota Cubana USA (in Spanish). 1 March 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Ex lanzador Norberto González sale de Cuba con sus dos hijos en busca de un contrato". Periódico Cubano (in Spanish). 15 June 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ "Béisbol Clasificatoria Pitcheo" (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2006-10-21.
- ^ López Viera, Luis (24 November 2009). "Norberto González ingresa al club de las cien victorias en el béisbol cubano". Cubadebate (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ "Anuncia su retiro el lanzador Norberto González". Béisbol en Cuba (in Spanish). 30 July 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ "Se retira en Cuba el lanzador Norberto González". MLB.com (in Spanish). 30 July 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ "Anuncian que Pedroso y Norberto se van al béisbol italiano". Cubadebate (in Spanish). 3 April 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ "Norberto González jugara en Italia". Béisbol de Cuba (in Spanish). 2 April 2014. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ "Nettuno 2 confirms Norberto Gonzalez, Osman Marvel, announces Jose Flores". mister-baseball.com. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ "Roster de Cuba para el Clásico". ESPN Deportes (in Spanish). 28 February 2006. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ "Japan Beats Cuba in First World Baseball Classic". The New York Times. Associated Press. 20 March 2006. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ García, Alexander (4 October 2023). "El Clásico Mundial de Béisbol 2006: la peor final". Swing Completo (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ "Cuba anuncia a sus 28 jugadores para II Clásico Mundial" (in Spanish). Reuters. 18 February 2009. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ "Nómina del Equipo de Cuba - II Clásico Mundial de Béisbol". Radio Rebelde (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ "Norberto González, el orgullo de lanzar en tres Clásicos Mundiales". Mesa Redonda (in Spanish). 17 January 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
- ^ "Dos hijos de destacado expelotero cubano salen del país con el sueño de llegar a Grandes Ligas". CiberCuba (in Spanish). 15 June 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2025.
External links
- Career statistics from MLB · Baseball Reference (Minors)