Remembering Mets History (2008) Former Mets Pitcher Geremi Gonzalez Struck & Killed by Lightning

 May 25th 2008: On this day in Punta Palma, Zulia in Venezuela, former Mets pitcher Geremi Gonzalez was struck by lightning & killed at a local beach. Gonzalez was just 33 years old.

Gonzalez pitched three games for the 2006 Mets. He was a journeyman pitcher who pitched  with the Chicago Cubs (1997 & 1998) going 11-9 in 1997. He did not play in 2001 then went to the Tampa Rays (2003-2004). 

Trivia: He was the pitcher in the game where the Cubs' Sammy Sosa bat exploded & proved to be corked.

 In '04 he was 0-5 with a 6.97 ERA. Geremi then spent 2005 with the Boston Red Sox going 2-1 in 28 games but posted a 6.11 ERA. 

He signed with the Mets prior to the 2006 season. He began the year at AAA going 1-2 in six starts
posting a 1-2 record. He got his first start on May 13th in Milwaukee. He went five innings, allowing three runs, including HRs to Ricky Weeks & Prince Fielder. He earned no decision in the Mets 9-8 win.

His next start was in the subway series, Friday night game at Shea Stadium. In that game he allowed six runs on six hits in three innings of work. But his opponent that night Randy Johnson also gave up six runs, serving up HRs to Carlos Beltran & Xavier Nady. It was in this game that David Wright hit a walk off single against Mariano Rivera scoring Paul Loduca.

In his final Mets start, he pitched three innings at Shea Stadium, earning no decision in the Mets 5-3 loss to the Phillies. In three games he had a 7.71 ERA with eight strike outs & six walks in 14 innings of work.

On May 26th, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Mike Adams, who never played a game for the Mets.

In his six-year career Geremi went30-35 with a 4.93 ERA in 131 games 83 starts. He struck out 354 & walked 238 in 572 innings of work. After his MLB career he was pitching in Japan.

It was said that at the time of his death, he had personal items on him that were to be sold on line.