J.M. Gold

Jon-Michael Gold was born in Belleville, New Jersey but attended Toms River North (New Jersey) High School. During his senior year, baseball scouts flocked to Raider Stadium to watch the 6-foot-5 fireballing right-hander, who was listed by Peter Gammons as the number two high school prospect in the country. Gold made a verbal commitment to St. John’s University but when the Brewers selected him 13th in the 1998 MLB Amateur Draft, Gold decided to turn pro.

Gold signed for $1.67 million and reported to Ogden (Utah) in the Rookie Pioneer League. He made five starts, pitching to an ERA of 2.51. Gold earned a promotion to Beloit (Wisconsin) in the Single-A Midwest League for 1999. Gold was named to the Eastern Division squad for the MWL All-Star Game but did not play. The final stats showed a 6-10 record and an inflated ERA of 5.40. His BB rate was an awful 10.7%, perhaps one of the reasons that he returned to Beloit for the 2000 season.

His 2000 season ended after only seven starts (3-1, 2.91) after he was diagnosed in mid-May with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow and underwent Tommy John surgery a month later.

Gold returned to the mound in late June 2001. Pitching for the Brewers team in the Arizona Rookie League, Gold lasted 0.2 innings in his return and gave up four hits and three runs. Ouch. After three more starts, he moved up to Ogden, where he had begun his professional career three years earlier. He made seven starts and had some success, striking out batters at a rate of 36% while walking only 7.7%, a vast improvement over the previous year.

Hoping to see more in 2002, the Brewers moved Gold to High-A High Desert (California) in the California League. Gold battled pneumonia and stayed at extended spring training before heading for California. Adding to his woes, Gold was robbed at gunpoint in California after a 16-inning game. After just seven starts for High Desert, he was shut down for the season as he underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder in mid-August.

Gold returned to High Desert in 2003 and began the season in the bullpen, as the organization wanted their pitcher to build up arm strength. Gold once again struggled with shoulder issues and spent time on the disabled list and pitched in only 11 games (three starts) that season.

In October 2003, Gold underwent his third major surgery as his surgeon repaired a torn rotator cuff, damaged labrum, and cleaned up the shoulder capsule. The Brewers released J.M. Gold in May 2004.