Former Philly pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez dies after accident

Credit: Dennis Grombkowski

Credit: Dennis Grombkowski

Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez, the Cuban pitcher who defected from his home country to the United States four years ago, died Thursday after an auto accident in his home country.

The 34-year-old pitcher signed a multi-year deal with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2013. The righthander was known for his fastball when he pitched for the Cuban national team before defecting to El Salvador on his way to coming to the United States.

Gonzalez signed a six-year $48-million deal with the Phillies, but according to Yahoo Sports, he later took a three-year $12 million contract after it was discovered he had arm trouble.

The Cuban native pitched in 2014 despite arm trouble, with a 6.75 and only six appearances for the Phillies.

Gonzalez was the first Cuban player signed by the Phillies. Another Philly, star Roy Halladay, died in a plane crash in the Gulf of Mexico in early November.

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