MEXICO CITY -- Victor González thought he had experienced the greatest thrills his chosen sport had to offer, jogging out of the bullpen to pitch in four World Series games. He’d proven unflappable, even picking up the victory in the clinching game of the Dodgers’ 2020 championship.
Yet as González stood in the left-field bullpen during the fifth inning of Sunday’s exhibition at Alfredo Harp Helú Stadium, he pressed two fingers to his neck, surprised to find his pulse racing. He was minutes away from pitching in front of his mother and grandfather for the first time as a professional.
“There is so much emotion you feel in the moment. You don’t know what to do,” González said through an interpreter. “The level of excitement is so high, the amount of pressure you feel. You want to put on a good show.”
Of all the experiences the Yankees’ two-game series with the Diablos Rojos del Mexico has provided, having González take the mound in his home country before friends and family was one of the most memorable.
González registered a strikeout and a lineout on the first two batters he faced before Juan Carlos Gamboa reached on a throwing error by shortstop Max Burt. Franklin Barreto singled to left field, and Robinson Canó -- his swing still sweet at 41 years of age -- followed with a run-scoring single to center field.
“I just kept telling myself, ‘Man, I’ve got to slow it down a little bit. I’m going too fast,’” González said.
González retired the next hitter to end the frame, and being charged with the unearned run hardly mattered to the 28-year-old. González walked off the mound to cheers and chants of his name, resisting an urge to wave or doff his cap.
“I’ve pitched in the big leagues for quite some time now and I’ve never had that kind of sensation,” González said. “The feelings that I had [Sunday] on the mound were completely different.”
González still lives in his hometown of Tuxpan, Mexico, which is approximately 3 1/2 hours by car from Mexico City. That made the Yankees’ trip the most convenient opportunity yet for his mother, Norma Ortiz, and grandfather, Miguel, to see him pitch in person.
“When I looked at her, I think she was nervous,” said González, whose wife, Carolina, was also among 15 family members in attendance. “My granddad gave me a big hug and a big kiss after the game; he was crying. The last time he saw me pitch, I was a young kid.”
Sunday’s contest was also meaningful for Jonathan Loáisiga, with the Nicaraguan right-hander pitching in front of his mother for the first time as a Yankee.
“I’m proud of that opportunity to come here and for my mom to see me pitch for the first time, it’s a beautiful moment she will be able to cherish,” Loáisiga said through an interpreter.
González was one of three Mexican-born players on the Yankees’ travel roster for this series. Right-hander Luis Serna and infielder Jared Serna, who were born in San Luis Rio Colorado, Mexico, and Guaymas, Mexico, respectively, also made the trip.
The Yankees made a pitching change before Monday’s game, tabbing the 19-year-old Serna to start the second exhibition.
“He’s someone we think really highly of in our organization,” manager Aaron Boone said. “I got to see him a couple of times this spring. He looks like he’s got a chance to be really good. We’re excited about his future and for him to be able to pitch in his home country.”
While Giancarlo Stanton, Jose Trevino and Anthony Volpe lent star power to the event (Stanton even wore a lucha libre wrestling mask during Monday's batting practice!), González was celebrated like a returning hero.
The understated hurler smiled, almost sheepishly, when he emerged from the third-base dugout before Monday’s game and heard loud chants of his surname: “GON-ZAL-EZ! GON-ZAL-EZ!”
“It means a lot,” González said. “How happy everybody seems being part of this experience, it’s incredible. I hope that everyone gets the opportunity to come here. I’m sure that the Mexican fans would really love the experience of having big league teams here.”