Former Phillies pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez was killed in a car accident Friday in Havana, Cuba. The news was originally reported by el Nuevo Herald, a Miami-based Spanish newspaper. Gonzalez was 34 years old.
Gonzalez was a very successful pitcher in Cuba. Over eight seasons there, Gonzalez had a 3.79 ERA against some of the best talent in Cuba. He was generally considered a top free agent coming out of Cuba which is why most reports had him initially signing with Philadelphia for almost $60 million. This was before concerns about his throwing arm arose.
Gonzalez left his family in Cuba and took up resident in Mexico after his successful defection in 2013.