Left-handed pitcher Luiz Gohara, once a highly touted Braves prospect, was among the minor-league players recently released by the Angels.
MLB teams have trimmed their minor-league rosters in the past week. Clubs couldn’t release players during the usual preseason period because league operations ceased in early March. Organizations also cut minor-leaguers around the draft, which is approaching in nine days.
While the Braves cut 30 players last week, the Angels released 39, including Gohara. The 23-year-old southpaw was once one of the more promising pitchers in the Braves system. They acquired him in a 2017 trade that sent outfielder Mallex Smith to Seattle, and Gohara quickly blossomed with the change of scenery.
Gohara made his MLB debut late in the 2017 season. He made five starts, striking out 31 in 29-1/3 innings, leading many in the organization to believe he was primed for a breakout 2018 season.
Yet the intimidating mound presence and gaudy strikeout numbers weren’t seen again. Gohara endured a difficult ensuing offseason. His father died and his mother was battling heart problems. Gohara left the team for over a week during the season to visit his mother, who underwent heart surgery, in Brazil.
Gohara pitched in only nine games across the 2018 season, making one start. He showed up to 2019 spring training in better condition and said he cleaned up his lifestyle, but a left shoulder issue prevented him from pitching at any point in the season. He underwent surgery and ultimately was released in August.
Later that month, the Angels signed Gohara. He never pitched in a game, major or minor leagues. The last update on Gohara came in March, when he reportedly was still “months away” from being able to pitch in games, according to the Orange County Register.
Gohara is free to sign with another club.
