<![CDATA[With the Philadelphia Phillies having pitching struggles this season, good news could be coming on the way. According to Chris Branch of The News Journal, starting pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez will begin a rehab assignment today with Single-A Clearwater.
This is good news for the Phillies organization as Gonzalez is the prize pitcher that they acquired last summer. Gonzalez who is a Cuban defector was signed last August to a three year, $12 million contract.
If Gonzalez’s rehab appearances go well don’t expect him to be immediately be pushed into the starting rotation. He could see some time in the bullpen which is struggling for the Phillies. If the Angels and Mets series didn’t prove that to you, then you must not be watching the same team everybody else is.
The reason why Ruben Amaro Jr. is encouraged about Gonzalez’s rehab assignment is that his fastball is now topping out 95 mph. In spring training, his fastball was only in the high 80’s. If Gonzalez can help this bullpen, I’m all for it. I’m still on the Ken Giles’ bandwagon as well it’s only a matter of time before he comes up.
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