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04/26/2004 Archived Entry: "Adrian Gonzalez a Golden Rookie"
By Carlos Fragoso
My baseball Folks, you will get surprised of reading my column today, because I am not going to touch any Mexican League matter, because, these past days, as you probably noticed, Rookie Rangers fiirst baseman, and 2000 # 1 draft pick, got the long expected call up, in April 15, to replace injured Mark Teixeira spot..
I wondered what his feelings was, but I will tell you about mines, since I have been close to Adrian since some years, due to my longtime friendship relationship his father David and I have had, since we were both at junior high and high school, and played little leagues together downthere on our native hometown of Obregon, Sonora, Mexico.
The look for our future lifes, make us apart, he bounding to Tijuana, to work on what he was prepared for, Air Conditioning Engineering and Equipment, where he has been, successful, and myself heading south, to Mexico City to pursue a college education (majored in Chemical Engineering), but baseball kept us in communication..then he moved and make his home to Chula Vista, CA.
David, as been reported was a prospect, physically stronger than average mexican players (6-2), excelled in amateur baseball, up to the point to be included in National teams, but his duties maybe took him away of many international competition.
He loves baseball as we do, and formed an envy family of three, all men, all baseball players, everything in his home gets around it, and his sons inherited the loving and the ability in baseball-
David Jr, the oldest,got a college education while playing college baseball in Riverside well enough to be considered to draft, however, an arm injury kept him away from that possibility..
Edgar, second oldest got also college education at San Diego State, played also for the Aztecs, and Tampa Bay, made him their 26th choice in 2000.Now he is the Frisco RoughRiders (Texas AA) Third baseman..
Adrian, the youngest and most likely looking to David, he reminds me a young David in his playing days, excelled in High School baseball, at East Lake HS, in Chula Vista, to be picked # 1 in the Nation by the Marlins, in 2000..
I shared and enjoyed the happinness of of hearing David,, about Adrian been taken first in the draft,a feeling similar to a father- son relationship, and feeling myself if I were in his shoes.
Afterwards, we spent hours talking about Adrianīs progress in minor leagues, his estimated arrival time to the big show, once I saw him playing with Kane County Cougars, along with his best pal, Miguel Cabrera, his wrist injury, his rehabbing ,his physical program in Arizona, his hopes of being traded to Texas, which were under rejuvenation program, creating a chance for Adrian to make it sooner to the big leagues, to have him included in the 40 man roster, the extensive playing time he had in spring training, plans to go and see his major league debut, but this comes unexpectedly but a rewarding one to make all those dreams come through, but unfortunately for me,, not able to see him physically, but mentally, and watching him play by tv Last sunday April 18th, when he first faced Joel Piņeiro of the Mariners, I felt filled of emotions, like I would be watching my son playing, which in some way I considered him like it.
David and I exchanged some comments by cell phone while he was on the field, trying to get my
self as close as possible to that moment.
I watched and witnessed his first "firsts", but yesterday game against Seattle, was a memorable one, when hit went deep well over right center fence, landing his shot on the second floor of the Arlington Park, and you got to believe me I had a premonition thinking about him hitting a HR, beacuse he was swinging timely, got a double already,, and on his previous at bat he almost tapped Randy Winn.
I called David, he was of course watching the game along with his family, and I joined the celebration down there.
All I wanted to leave here is, to express my happiness and my wishful thinking of watching
Adrian to make all his dreams come through, and to wish him to stay healthy enough to have a long and succesful career in the big leagues, and to prove all his coaches,scouts and organizations,, that they were not wrong, when picked him up as a prospect, a golden rookie, and he just started.
Replies: 2 comments
Excellent! Up close and very personal. Now I know who Adrian Gonzalez is, as a person. Now it is easy to root for him and wish him all the success in the world.
Posted by Tito Rondon @ 04/27/2004 10:17 AM EST
I saw the entire recent series with Seattle (since I live in Washington) and Gonzalez hurt my Mariners. He has a nice looking stroke. Now we'll get to see if he can make the necessary adjustments all rookies have to make.
Posted by Gary Garland @ 04/27/2004 01:50 AM EST
