Marwin González facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marwin González |
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González with the Orix Buffaloes in 2023
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| Utility player | |||
| Born: March 14, 1989 Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela |
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| Professional debut | |||
| MLB: April 6, 2012, for the Houston Astros | |||
| NPB: March 31, 2023, for the Orix Buffaloes | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| MLB: October 5, 2022, for the New York Yankees | |||
| NPB: September 25, 2024, for the Orix Buffaloes | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .252 | ||
| Home runs | 107 | ||
| Runs batted in | 415 | ||
| NPB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .203 | ||
| Home runs | 13 | ||
| Runs batted in | 40 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Marwin Javier González, born on March 14, 1989, is a former professional baseball player from Venezuela. He was a "utility player," which means he could play almost any position on the field! He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for teams like the Houston Astros, Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, and New York Yankees. He also played in Japan for the Orix Buffaloes in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB).
Marwin started his journey in baseball when he was signed by the Chicago Cubs in 2005. He made his big league debut with the Houston Astros in 2012. A highlight of his career was winning the World Series with the Astros in 2017. He was so versatile that he played every position in MLB except for catcher.
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Marwin González's Baseball Journey
Starting with the Cubs
Marwin González began his professional baseball career with the Chicago Cubs. He was signed as an international free agent on November 23, 2005. For several years, from 2006 to 2011, he played in the Cubs' minor league system.
He worked his way up through different levels of minor league baseball. By 2011, he reached the Triple-A level, which is just one step below the major leagues. Early in his career, he mainly played as an infielder. Later, in 2009, he also started playing in the outfield.
Playing for the Houston Astros
On December 8, 2011, Marwin was chosen by the Boston Red Sox in a special event called the Rule 5 draft. However, the Red Sox quickly traded him to the Houston Astros. This trade brought him closer to playing in the major leagues.
Making His MLB Debut
In 2012, Marwin González made it onto the Houston Astros' Opening Day roster. This meant he was officially a Major League Baseball player! That year, he played 80 games for the Astros. He also spent some time playing in Triple-A.
In 2013, he continued to split his time between the Astros and their Triple-A team. A memorable moment happened on April 2, 2013. Marwin broke up a perfect game attempt by Yu Darvish of the Texas Rangers. He got a hit with two outs in the ninth inning, stopping Darvish from making history.
Key Seasons with Houston
Marwin spent the next five seasons, from 2014 to 2018, playing only in MLB for the Astros. He became a very important player for the team. In 2015, he hit his first career walk-off home run. This is a home run that ends the game immediately, giving his team the win.
He also set a unique record by hitting his first 25 MLB home runs without anyone else on base. This streak ended in 2016 when he hit a home run with a teammate on second base.
Winning the World Series
The 2017 season was a huge year for Marwin and the Astros. He had an excellent year at the plate, hitting for a high average. In Game 2 of the 2017 World Series, Marwin hit a crucial home run in the ninth inning. This tied the game, and the Astros went on to win in extra innings.
The Astros eventually won the World Series, becoming MLB champions for the first time ever! It was a very exciting time for the team and their fans.
Later, it was found that the Astros had broken MLB rules during the 2017 season. Marwin apologized for his part in what happened.
Final Season with Astros
In 2018, Marwin continued to be a versatile player for the Astros. After the season ended, he became a free agent, meaning he could sign with any team he wanted.
Overall, during his time with the Houston Astros, Marwin played in 795 games. He hit 76 home runs and had 292 RBIs. He was known for being able to play almost any position on the field. By the end of 2016, he had played every position for the Astros except for pitcher and catcher.
Time with the Minnesota Twins
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In 2019, Marwin González signed a two-year contract with the Minnesota Twins. He continued to be a valuable utility player for them. That year, he played in 114 games, hitting 15 home runs.
The 2020 season was shorter than usual due to special circumstances. Marwin played in 53 games for the Twins that year. After the season, he became a free agent again.
Short Stint with the Boston Red Sox
In 2021, Marwin signed a one-year contract with the Boston Red Sox. He made history by being the first player in modern MLB history to start at four different positions in his team's first four games of the season! He played left field, second base, third base, and first base.
He even made his first-ever appearance as a pitcher in a game on June 13, 2021. He didn't allow any runs to score during his time on the mound. Later that season, he was released by the Red Sox.
Return to the Houston Astros
After leaving the Red Sox, Marwin signed a minor league contract to return to the Houston Astros in August 2021. He was added back to their major league team in September. He played a few regular-season games and even appeared as a pinch hitter in the 2021 World Series. After the season, he became a free agent once more.
Playing for the New York Yankees
In March 2022, Marwin González signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees. He impressed them enough to make their Opening Day roster for the 2022 season. He played in 184 games for the Yankees that year.
Adventures in Japan: Orix Buffaloes
On December 29, 2022, Marwin decided to try playing baseball in Japan. He signed with the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). In 2023, he played in 84 games for the Buffaloes.
He made history again in Game 5 of the Japan Series. Marwin hit a home run, becoming only the fifth player ever to hit a home run in both the MLB World Series and the Japan Series!
On September 26, 2024, Marwin González announced that he would retire from baseball at the end of the season.
Marwin's Personal Life
Marwin González is married to his wife, Noel. They got married in 2010. Together, they have four children: Eliana, Brooks, Dallas, and Isabella. During the baseball off-season, the family lives in Houston.
See also
In Spanish: Marwin González para niños
- List of Major League Baseball players from Venezuela
