Gio Gonzalez takes the mound in emotional homecoming

By Josh Land

Nationals

April 25, 2015, 8:00pm

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MIAMI - When Nationals left hander Gio Gonzalez takes the mound today, he will not only be feeling the pressure of stopping his team's four-game losing streak but also the emotions of pitching in Marlins Park about 20 minutes from where he grew up.

"Most of Hialeah is coming out," Gonzalez said. "It's pretty exciting. I'm pretty nervous, just pitching in front of the home crowd is always nice."

Hialeah, Fla., is a city just northwest of Miami that has the highest percentage of Cuban and Cuban American residents of any city in the United States. It's also some very tough living, with a median household income of just $29,492.

That's where Gonzalez was born and, some would say, was lucky to make it out of. The Marlins will recognize Gonzalez and Hialeah this afternoon.

"It's exciting to see that the Marlins have made a day called Hialeah Day on the day I pitch," Gonzalez said. "You have the mayor coming out. It's a pretty cool event that's gonna take place here."

It's actually inspiring to listen to Gonzalez talk about the importance of today's start. It's obvious the honor is not lost on Hialeah's native son.

"It's one of those moments," Gonzalez said. "I was just the kid that grew up in a small, little city. Just being in an area where not too many kids have a chance or an opportunity to play in the big leagues. To be one of them is pretty cool, especially when you have friends and family that support you and (have) followed you throughout your career."

Some of the large contingent of support Gonzalez will have in the stands of Marlins Park will be represented by the baseball team from Hialeah High School where Gonzalez starred and won two state championships. In fact, as a freshman, Gonzalez started the title game.

A photo posted by Gio Gonzalez (@giogonzalez47) on Jan 25, 2015 at 12:21pm PST

So this past winter, Gonzalez decided to go back and start working with the team. For him, it was an amazing experience and something he said would have never happened when he was coming through the ranks 15 years ago.

"The kids are unbelievable," Gonzalez said. "Obviously, there's some rough patches they go through and it's still part of being a kid. Just seeing that spark and that joy and just to see these kids go out there and play hard, it just brought back memories when I was kid. All the struggles and excitement. Being In always puts a smile on your face, especially when they look up to you and you're kinda like a role model to them. You want to show them want to do and being an adult. Respect the game, keep your head down and play hard."

Gonzalez has kept track of their season and, of course, the kids are on top of each of his starts. He sees it as a privilege to be where he's at and part of his responsibility to continue to help the youth from his hometown.

"I always try to come back and try to feed these kids as much knowledge as I got from what baseball has given me from maturing and respecting and trying not to big league anything," he said.

"They're still kids. They're gonna have bumps in the road. That's the excitement part of giving them hope and letting them know that, 'Hey, you got a chance.' You know a small kid from Hialeah like myself just giving you some joy and excitement to look forward to. All is not lost."

So beyond all of excitement surrounding Hialeah Day, Gonzalez also will be toeing the rubber against his favorite team from childhood. It's something that's still surreal to him.

"I grew up watching the Marlins when I was a kid and now I'm pitching in Marlins Park against the Marlins," Gonzalez said. "It's almost still sleeping, still in a dream. It's almost never supposed to happen."