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Pitcher first former Fireflies player to make The Show

Staff Report //April 20, 2018//

Pitcher first former Fireflies player to make The Show

Staff Report //April 20, 2018//

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Merandy Gonzalez, a right-handed pitcher and a 2017 South Atlantic League All-Star, became the first former member of the Columbia Fireflies to play in a Major League Baseball game on Thursday. Merandy, who was traded to Miami from the New York Mets’ system in July 2017, threw two scoreless innings for the Marlins against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Gonzalez, 22, struck out Lorenzo Cain after being added to Miami’s roster the day of the game. He was called up from Double A Jacksonville when reliever Chris O’Grady went on the disabled list.

In 69 2/3 innings in Columbia, Gonzalez went 8-1 with a 1.55 ERA and 65 strikeouts. He started for the Southern Division in the Sally League All-Star game last June, working a 1-2-3 first. He was promoted to the Mets’ high-level Class A club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., for the second half of the 2017 season.

“It’s amazing to see our first former player reach the Major Leagues,” Fireflies team President John Katz said in a news release. “Merandy was baffling opposing hitters less than a year ago at Spirit Communications Park. It’s a great day for Merandy and the Fireflies, and we’re anxiously anticipating our next player to make his MLB debut.” 

The Mets signed Gonzalez as a free agent in 2013.