Black Sox Beat Writer
Chicago Sports Online
Black Sox starter Luis 'Viper' Gonzáles tore the meniscus in his right knee during the May 15 game with Nashville and will be lost to the team for 3-4 months.
Luis 'Viper' Gonzáles
“We had hoped his injury travails were behind him, but clearly they were not,” said team trainer Wakie Mellouk. “At least it’s not his elbow. We’ll help him get through this, and maybe get him back out there in September – or maybe we’ll wait until next season. Whatever is best for Luis.”
Gonzáles had started the season as the Black Sox closer, but struggled in that role.
When Manuel Peña got off to an ineffective start this season, Gonzáles moved into the starting rotation with inconsistent results. Still, scouts liked what they saw of his potential as a starter, grading him at 50/65 with 8/8 stuff; 6/6 movement; and 6/6 control.
Whether the injury stunts his development is a major question going forward, though.
“It’s not like the Sox are brimming with pitching talent once you get past Amayas Moelling and Juan Nicto,” said Malcolm Wilkes, the Frick Heartland columnist for BBA Weekly. “They need Gonzáles to come back strong.”
The Sox have already lost AAA starter Vito Reyes, who normally would have been called up to replace Gonzáles, for more than a year to elbow surgery.
Reliever Brian Smith was called up from Carolina to fill the roster spot, and Peña likely will move back into the rotation - at least for now.