Announcement
The Gomes family is loaded with talent. Jonny's older brother Joey played for the Atlantic League Newar Bears in 2007 after playing AA ball in the Padres organization during 2006. The Devil Rays drafted Joey in 2002 and traded him to the Padres in the December '05 Rule V Draft. He was the star of the Rays Visalia Oaks High-A affiliate in 2005 batting .325 with 12 Home Runs and 86 RBIs. He played Little League at PALL, Junior League at Valley, and was an All League Selection at Casa Grande High School. Joey played college ball at College of Marin and Santa Clara University, earning First Team All-American honors in 2002 before being selected as an 8th Round Draft Pick by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Joey was named the Hudson Valley “Player of the Year” and made the NY-Penn League All Star Team his first year in professional ball. In 2004, Joey hit in 22 straight games, tying the Tampa Bay Organization record for 2nd most consecutive games with a hit. By the way... not a single error in 79 "opportunities". (Whoa Joey... those are some impressive stats!) He was promoted to the AA Montgomery Biscuits for part of the 2004 season where he hit .270 with two HRs and 8 RBIs.
Joey ended his 2005 season with the Visalia Oaks with a .325 batting average, a .383 OBP and a .460 slugging average. That summer, he had an incredible streak, reaching base safely in over 30 consecutive games! If you get to know him, Joey will tell you how important a high OBP (on base percentage) is in the majors.
Joey's 2007 season was also outstanding. An an outfielder and DH for the Newark Bears, he batted .320 during the regular season... 5th in the League! He had 11 HR, 20 extra base hits and an .872 OPS. Joey had a 17 game hitting streak and three multi home run games. He slugged .497 for the Bears entering the playoff stretch. Joey was the hero of the final game of the Atlantic League Championship Series, hitting a 2 out two RBI double on the heels of a double play to break a tie and give the Bears the lead.
