The Keepers - #45 - SP - Gonzalez German

45. Gonzalez German – SP – DSL/Rookie

German was signed in 2007 as a non-drafted free agent.

German had an impressive debut in 2008 with the DSL Mets: 5-2, 1.34, 0.76 in 15 games, 14 starts. Also, 70 Ks in 74.0 IP and only allowed 11-ER, 41-H, and 15-BB. He limited the opposition to a .159 BA and did not give up a home run in 258 at bats against him.

German won the Sterling Award as the top Met player for the 2008 DSL team. Everyone expected him to come stateside in the spring; however, he stayed a part of the DSL Mets to start the season. After dominating in eight starts (5-0, 1.80, 54-K in 45.0-IP), the visa came through and off he went to the GCL Mets, where he first, was shaky, (0-1, 9.00, in one game), and then disabled until the next tolast game of the season, in which he tossed two scoreless innings.

For the entire 2009, Germen went 5-1, 2.29, in ten games, nine starts.

Forecast: We’ve been following Germen since the first time he pitched for the Mets and, in our opinion, he’s the most talented pitcher coming out of the DSL chain in the past two years. There obviously was a shut down injury which we can’t get any info on… by the way, getting info out of the Mets Florida camp is harder than the getting it out of the Russian Mafia. Because of this injury, there’s a good chance he will repeat rookie ball, but I’d sure like to see him in Brooklyn next spring.