MEXICO CITY — Victor Gonzalez has pitched in four World Series games and 93 games in the major leagues, but nothing compares to the feeling he felt Sunday afternoon when he took the mound at Estadio Alfredo Harp Hell.
The Yankees relief pitcher from Tuxpan, Mexico, became the first major leaguer to pitch in his home country and in front of his mother, Norma Ortiz.
“The emotions I feel at that moment are so great that I don’t know what to do,” Gonzalez said through an interpreter Monday afternoon. “You want to put on a good show and give a great performance to the fans, so the more pressure you feel, the higher the excitement level. All the emotions, everything combined, it was so much. When I was called, people were clapping and cheering and I didn’t know what to do. I felt like I needed to take off my hat, but I didn’t.”
Gonzalez’s mother, grandparents and wife were all in attendance to watch Gonzalez pitch in the eighth inning of the Yankees’ 4-3 loss to Diablos Rojos del Mexico.
Although the Yankees didn’t have anywhere near a full lineup in the exhibition series, those two games meant the world to Gonzalez.
“To be honest, what I expected and felt was [Sunday] It was completely different,” he said. “I’ve been pitching in the big leagues for a long time and I’ve never felt anything like that.”
Gonzalez found his mother in the stands and said she also seemed nervous.
She’s not a big baseball fan and doesn’t talk much about the game, but the left-hander enjoys it as a distraction.
However, after the game, he was reunited with his family, with his grandfather in tears and giving him a big hug and kiss.
Gonzalez’s teammates knew how much this moment meant to the entire family.
“It’s going to bring tears to my eyes,” catcher Jose Trevino said. “It’s a special moment for everyone. Their parents get to see them grow up. I have kids, so if I could see my son, how much it would mean to me.” I know.” [pitch] It’s my first time in my home country. ”
A few innings before going into the game, Gonzalez sat in the fifth inning bullpen and took his pulse.
“I kept saying to myself, ‘Hey, I’ve got to slow down a little bit.’ You’re going too fast,” he said. “But in the end I was able to get into the game and I can say that the adrenaline level was very high, but I still want to feel it again. I want to feel that emotion. I am enjoying it. The opportunity to have the adrenaline level so high and to relive that moment again. It would be nice to have it again.”
