Henry Gomez started well at AAA, then hit a rough spot; His career ended soon afterward, short of bigs

Henry Gomez had about as successful a start as he could have to begin his AAA career in August 1993 - he threw a complete game for a win, The Toledo Blade wrote.

His second start came with some mistakes, though, mistakes that helped lead to a 5-2 loss to Ottawa, The Blade wrote.

"He got those three pitches up and they jumped all over them," Toledo pitching coach Jeff Jones told The Blade. "Actually, the rest of the fastballs, - most of the pitches he threw - were down."

Gomez first made AAA and made that second start - in his eight professional season. That second AAA start, however, also turned out to be one of his final appearances as a pro. He never made the majors.

Gomez' professional career began in 1986, signed by the Cubs as a free agent out of his native Venezuela. Gomez was also credited by his formal name, Henrique Gomez.

Gomez started with the Cubs at rookie Wytheville. He went 2-5 over 16 outings, six starts. He threw a two-hitter in August, but still took a 1-0 loss.

He moved to short-season Geneva for 1987. He went 3-3 there over 10 starts. He then played at single-A Charleston for 1988. He went 6-14 there over 27 starts, with a 3.98 ERA.

With Charleston, he threw another two-hitter that July, this time a win. He also threw three three-hitters, according to his Peoria card back.

Gomez first arrived at Peoria in 1989 for an abbreviated, three-game campaign. He returned there for the full season in 1990. He started 29 games, went 7-12 and had a 4.06 ERA.

He had a bad outing for Peoria in July 1990, including giving up a two-run double. His 29 starts that year was tied for most starts in Peoria history.

He made AA Charlotte for 1991 and went 5-8 over a mix of starting and relief. He then played 1992 in Mexico, at Mexico City. For 1993, he signed with the Tigers and played at AA London and AAA Toledo.

In that first start at AAA, in August 1993, Gomez gave up nine hits in the complete-game effort against Columbus. He also gave up a two-run home run to Kevin Maas, The Blade wrote, then didnt give up anything again until the ninth. Gomez got into six total games at Toledo that year, to end his career.

• Toledo Blade, Aug. 16, 1993: Mud Hens' Gomez has memorable debut
• Toledo Blade, Aug. 22, 1993: Ottawa wins 2nd in a row over Mud Hens

1990 Minor League Tally
Players/Coaches Featured:3,197
Made the Majors:1,157-36.2%
Never Made Majors:2,040-63.8%-X
5+ Seasons in the Majors: 480
10+ Seasons in the Minors:283