Former I-Cub pitcher Gonzalez dies

Former Iowa Cub pitcher Geremi Gonzalez was killed by a lightning strike in Venezuela Sunday.

Gonzalez, who spent parts of two seasons with Iowa, was a signed by the Chicago Cubs in 1991 as a nondrafted free agent.

The Maracaibo, Venezuela native, Gonzalez made his triple-A debut with Iowa in 1997, posting a 2-2 record with a 3.48 ERA in 10 games with the I-Cubs.

Gonzalez made forty-three starts with the Chicago Cubs in '97 and 1998, combining for an 18-18 record before returning to Iowa again in 1999.

In his final season with the I-Cubs, Gonzalez posted a 0-1 record with a 4.50 ERA in just three games.

During his 15 years of professional baseball, Gonzalez pitched for five Major League teams, including the Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers and most recently the Toronto Blue Jays.

His 11 wins with Chicago in 1997, were the most of by any Cub pitcher that season.

In 131 career Major League games, Gonzalez posted a 30-35 record with a 4.93 ERA in 572.2 innings.

Gonzalez was 33 years old.