Chances are, Chi Chi Gonzalez is going to begin the season in the minors and hopefully spend much of the season there because all the Rangers' starters stay healthy and effective.
But on Thursday, the young righty who made his big-league debut last year, put together a strong outing against the Reds in a Cactus League win by throwing five shutout innings with two strikeouts — his first two Ks of the spring.
There lies the problem with Gonzalez, whose book says he has no out pitch and pitches to contact too much.
Even still, Gonzalez put together a nice outing.
“I finally did what I was preaching,” Gonzalez said. “I finally threw more strikes, quality strikes, got ahead and got a couple of punch outs. Now it just gives me confidence to do the same thing, that I have the answer when I am doing bad. I performed well.”
With 10 days before the regular season begins, the Rangers' fifth starter derby is still up in the air, but Gonzalez made a push on Thursday.
