How Matt Gage's winding journeyman career through minors, Mexico led him back to SF Giants

"It was the spring of 2019, and Gage had just finished his second start with Mexico City's Diablos Rojos of the Mexican League. In his first start Opening Day in the newly built Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu he gave up five runs and recorded four outs. His next was no better: two innings, six runs. He hadn't pitched well enough to stick in the United States, and he wasn't pitching well enough to stick in Mexico."

"He found success with the Diablos Rojos. He made a mechanical tweak during the pandemic with the help of his wife. He transitioned from starter to reliever and earned his second shot in America. It's all led him back to the Giants, the team that originally drafted him more than a decade ago. And with San Francisco, the 32-year-old has a 0.82 ERA and is finally experiencing his first extended run of major-league success even as the team has fallen out of contention."

Matt Gage struggled early in 2019 with Mexico City's Diablos Rojos, allowing multiple runs in consecutive starts and facing potential career uncertainty. He persevered and later achieved success with the Diablos Rojos. During the pandemic he implemented a mechanical pitching tweak with assistance from his wife and converted from starter to reliever. That transition earned him a second opportunity in the United States and a return to the San Francisco Giants. At age 32 he posted a 0.82 ERA and experienced his first sustained major-league run despite the team falling out of contention.

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