Impact Gonzales will miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season after having flexor tendon surgery in September, so declining the option was a given. He'll enter free agency as he continues the rehab process.
NOVEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE
MARCO GONZALES #27 - PITCHER - PITTSBURGH PIRATES
1-1 W-L •
1.60 WHIP •
4.55 ERA
1-1 W-L
1.60 WHIP
4.55 ERA
Free agent after option declined The Pirates declined Gonzales' (forearm) $15 million club option for 2025 on Monday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Undergoes surgery Gonzales underwent flexor tendon repair surgery on his left forearm Friday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact Gonzales is expected to need 12 months before returning to play, meaning he will likely be sidelined for most, if not all of the 2025 campaign. The Pirates are expected to decline his $15 million team option for next season, and the 32-year-old southpaw may pursue a two-year deal in free agency.
SEPTEMBER 13 • ROTOWIRE
Slated for flexor tendon surgery Gonzales will undergo left flexor tendon surgery in early September and be sidelined for 9-to-12 months, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Impact It's the second forearm surgery for Gonzales in less than a year, as he had an operation last August for a nerve issue. The lefty was ready in time for Opening Day after last year's surgery, but the upcoming one will be more invasive and he could be sidelined until around midseason. Gonzales, who turns 33 in February, will be a free agent this offseason after the Pirates decline a $15 million club option on him for 2025.
AUGUST 28 • ROTOWIRE
Moved to 60-day IL Gonzales (forearm) was placed on the 60-day injured list Monday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Impact The Pirates found out earlier in the day that Gonzales would require a trip to the injured list, and after reviewing the extent of the injury, the club has elected to shut him down for the rest of the season. He'll finish the year with a 4.54 ERA and 1.60 WHIP with 23 strikeouts over 33.2 innings of work. Pittsburgh selected the contract of Ryder Ryan in a corresponding move.
AUGUST 13 • ROTOWIRE
Headed to IL Gonzales will be placed on the 15-day injured list due to a left forearm strain, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Impact Gonzales struggled mightily in his last start Wednesday against the Padres, but the team neglected to report any injury news until Monday. It's still too early to know when Gonzales could return to the starting rotation, and Stumpf notes that the team is still gathering more information on the southpaw's injury to determine a rehab plan.
AUGUST 12 • ROTOWIRE
Struggles again Wednesday Gonzales allowed five runs on eight hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 4.2 innings in a no-decision against San Diego on Wednesday.
Impact Gonzales was staked to a 2-0 lead after the first inning but couldn't hold it. He gave up a solo shot to Jackson Merrill in the second frame and a three-run blast to Kyle Higashioka in the fourth, then was pulled with one out in the fifth after surrendering a go-ahead single to Merrill. It was Gonzales' third straight start of fewer than five innings, and he's posted an ugly 8.49 ERA and 2.31 WHIP during that span.
AUGUST 8 • ROTOWIRE
Solano leads Padres against the Pirates after 4-hit outing
The San Diego Padres take on the Pittsburgh Pirates after Dónovan Solano had four hits against the Pirates on TuesdayAUGUST 7 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Can't get through three frames Gonzales did not factor into the decision in a loss to Arizona on Saturday, allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks over 2.1 innings while striking out one.
Impact Gonzales didn't have his best stuff Saturday, allowing multiple baserunners in all three innings in which he appeared before being relieved by Dennis Santana. It marked the shortest outing of the season for the lefty while the four runs he surrendered on the night also marked a season high. Gonzales has failed to make it through five innings in back-to-back starts and carries a meager 9:4 K:BB in July to go along with a 5.25 ERA.
JULY 28 • ROTOWIRE
Decent in defeat Gonzales (1-1) took the loss Sunday against Philadelphia, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk across 4.2 innings. He struck out four.
Impact Both runs against Gonzales came in the second inning, when he allowed a leadoff single to Alec Bohm and a double to Edmundo Sosa to put two runners in scoring position with one out. Weston Wilson brought in Bohm on a sacrifice fly, then Garrett Stubbs plated Sosa on a base hit. While Gonzales hasn't been dominant in his two starts since being activated from the injured list, he's been reliable, yielding three runs on 13 hits and one walk across 9.2 innings. The 32-year-old is slated to face the Diamondbacks in Arizona next weekend.
JULY 22 • ROTOWIRE
Pirates host the Phillies on home winning streak
The Pittsburgh Pirates, on a three-game home winning streak, host the Philadelphia PhilliesJULY 21 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Collects win in return Gonzales (1-0) picked up the win Friday in a 4-1 victory over the White Sox, allowing one run on seven hits over five innings. He struck out four without walking a batter.
Impact The veteran lefty pitched well in his return to the big-league rotation, but Gonzales appeared to be in danger of taking a tough loss until the Pittsburgh offense got rolling in the fifth inning. He tossed an efficient 60 pitches (45 strikes) in his first big-league action since Apr. 13, and with more rest coming over the All-Star break, Gonzales should be ready for a normal workload when he next heads to the mound.
JULY 13 • ROTOWIRE
Marco Gonzales leads Pirates to win over White Sox in first game back from injured list The last time Marco Gonzales threw a pitch in a major league ball game, the Pirates had a winning record and rookie phenom Paul Skenes was s...
JULY 13 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Gonzales returns from injury to help the Pirates win their 2nd straight, 4-1 over the White Sox
Marco Gonzales made a promising return to the rotation hours after coming off the injured list and the Pittsburgh Pirates won their second straight, 4-1 over the White Sox on Frida...JULY 13 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Officially actived The Pirates reinstated Gonzales (forearm) from the 60-day injured list. He'll start Friday's game against the White Sox.
Impact Gonzales has been shelved since April due to a forearm strain, but he's been cleared to return and will immediately step into the rotation. Gonzales did struggle during a pair of rehab starts at Triple-A, recording a 6.14 ERA across 7.1 innings, but he'll likely have some room for error against a White Sox team that has struggled to produce runs.
JULY 12 • ROTOWIRE
Set to start Friday Gonzales (forearm) will be activated from the 60-day injured list and start Friday's game against the White Sox, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Impact Gonzales hasn't pitched since April 14, when he suffered a forearm strain in his throwing arm. After a long rehab process capped off by a pair of starts with Triple-A Indianapolis, Gonzales will finally make his big-league return. The 32-year-old yielded five runs in 17.0 innings before sustaining the injury but struggled with Indianapolis, surrendering five runs on seven hits and five walks across 7.1 innings. He'll face a White Sox team that has scored the fewest runs per game in MLB this season.
JULY 12 • ROTOWIRE
Completes second rehab start Gonzales (forearm) struck out three and allowed four runs on four hits and four walks over 4.1 innings in his rehab start with Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday.
Impact Gonzales tossed 62 pitches (35 strikes) in the start, his second with Indianapolis since beginning his rehab assignment Monday. According to Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said that Gonzales (forearm) has built up his pitch count enough to be considered for one of the two spots in the rotation that opened up when Jared Jones (lat) and Bailey Falter (triceps) were both recently placed on the 15-day injured list. Quinn Priester tossed five innings of one-run ball in his rehab outing this past Tuesday with Indianapolis and will likely be activated from the IL before Gonzales, but the Pirates could still bring back the veteran southpaw from the 60-day IL at some point during next weekend's series versus the White Sox to close out their first-half schedule.
JULY 7 • ROTOWIRE
Slated to face hitters Gonzales (forearm) will throw live batting practice at Double-A Altoona on Wednesday, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.
Impact After throwing a handful of bullpen sessions since the beginning of June, Gonzales will now go up against live minor-league hitters as the next step in his rehab process. Assuming all goes well Wednesday, the 32-year-old lefty will likely begin playing in rehab games with Altoona shortly afterward.
JUNE 23 • ROTOWIRE
Pirates left-handers Martin Perez, Ryan Borucki and Marco Gonzales inching closer to returns A few significant hurdles still remain, but a trio of key Pirates left-handers are trending toward joining the club in the near future. Ryan...
JUNE 18 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Tosses bullpen session Gonzales (forearm) threw a 20-pitch bullpen session Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
Impact Wednesday's session marked Gonzales' first time throwing off a slope since hitting the injured list. He's expected to continue to ramp up with side sessions before heading out on what will presumably be a lengthy rehab assignment.
JUNE 13 • ROTOWIRE
Pirates injury update: Oneil Cruz to work through ankle issues; Ryan Borucki, Marco Gonzales remain on shelf Oneil Cruz provided a brief scare to many Pirates fans Monday evening. After smacking a single to right field in the bottom of the sixth inn...
MAY 8 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Where the Pirates could go in wake of Gonzales' injury PHILADELPHIA -- The Pirates came into this season with questions about how much starting pitching depth they have. Now it might be time for...
APRIL 14 • MLB.COM
Pirates place LHP Marco Gonzales (forearm) on 15-day IL The Pittsburgh Pirates placed left-hander Marco Gonzales on the 15-day injured list Sunday with a left forearm muscle strain.The Pirates rec...
APRIL 14 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM
Philadelphia Phillies square off against the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday
The Philadelphia Phillies face the Pittsburgh Pirates on SaturdayAPRIL 13 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Allows two runs over six innings Gonzales did not factor into the decision Sunday against the Orioles, allowing two runs on five hits over six innings. He struck out four.
Impact Gonzales allowed two runs to cross in the fourth inning but otherwise kept things clean, earning a quality start in his second start with the Pirates. He left with a one-run deficit, but a late comeback salvaged a win for the Bucs and took Gonzales off the hook for what would have been a tough-luck defeat. Gonzales, whom the Pirates traded for in the offseason from Seattle, needed just 77 pitches to complete six innings and has now allowed just three runs over 11 innings in his two outings with Pittsburgh.
APRIL 7 • ROTOWIRE
Pirates and Orioles meet, winner takes 3-game series
The Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles play on Sunday with the three-game series tied 1-1APRIL 7 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
