A loud crack of the bat signaled a powerful hit drilled down the left-field line that was fumbled by the opposing team's third baseman, which allowed Greenville Drive outfielder Bryan Gonzalez to score in the bottom of the ninth.
His teammates greeted him with a Gatorade shower at first base before continuing the celebration by exploring the night life in South Carolina. However, Gonzalez opted to stay behind in his room for a very important FaceTime call with his son.
The Santo Domingo native began playing baseball when he was eight, and it was the only career path he ever considered. Gonzalez signed with the Red Sox as a free agent in July of 2018, at 16 years old. Once he signed his name on the dotted line, Gonzalez was able to stay close to home in the Dominican Republic, as he reported to the Red Sox training academy in the area for the first stop in his professional career.
“I was really excited to get going, especially with the opportunity to play in the United States,” Gonzalez said. “But I thought about just trying to go with the flow and have fun also.”
However, his focus had to shift in March of 2019, when Gonzalez and his girlfriend at the time welcomed a son into the world.
Gonzalez met his son’s mother, Monica Ruiz*, while attending school in the Dominican. Shortly after meeting the two began dating. But, almost one year into the relationship everything took a turn as a missed period signaled a potential pregnancy.
“We went to the hospital to get a test and see the results together, and I was very nervous,” Gonzalez said. “When the test came back positive I just thought, now it is time to step up and be responsible.”
Months later the couple welcomed a boy named Liam.
Roughly a year into navigating parenthood the amount of responsibility weighing on Gonzalez grew exponentially, as his son’s mother decided to take a job opportunity outside of the Dominican Republic and leave Liam behind.
Though Ruiz sporadically checks on Liam over FaceTime, she only sees him in person when she comes back to the Dominican Republic to visit.
“She told me that she was going to move and left Liam with me,” Gonzalez said. “I told her that she can do what she needs to because I was always going to take care of my son, and was excited to have him with me.”
Come spring, Gonzalez had to depart for the States to continue his career with the Red Sox. This meant leaving Liam somewhere he was more comfortable, in the care of his grandparents. But, Gonzalez contributes financially with each paycheck to make sure that his parents can give Liam everything he could possibly need.
“He now is old enough to understand that daddy is gone because he is working,” Gonzalez said. “But I FaceTime him after every single game so I can talk to him and he knows I am here for him.”
Gonzalez mentioned former teammates Felix Cepeda and Juan-Daniel Encarnacion are also fathers and understand what each other are going through.
“It is something we can talk about because we all know what it is like to have to be away for such a long period of time and balance that part of life.” Gonzalez said.
Liam is now five years old and is in his first year of school. He continues to stay in the Dominican Republic with his grandparents throughout the year, with Gonzalez joining them during the offseason. When he is home, Gonzalez enjoys teaching Liam how to play baseball and helps him with his homework.
The best part of Gonzalez's year is winter ball, when he suits up for Leones del Escogido in the Dominican Winter league. This way, the three can be part of a roaring crowd instead of having to wait for a FaceTime call afterwards.
“Liam loves to yell 'Daddy, hit a home run for me!'when he is in the stands,” Gonzalez said. “I love having them come watch me in person, it is the best feeling.”
*Name was changed for privacy reasons
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