On Opening Day, Yomiuri Giants pitcher Dicky Gonzalez was laboring away in the minors.
Little did he know that just a few months later he would not only break into the ichi-gun team, he'd emerge as one of the top hurlers in the Central League early this season.
In his first five games with the Giants, Gonzalez is 5-0 with a 1.56 ERA and has yet to issue a walk in 34 2/3 innings.