FARMINGTON – Yan Gomes made history in 2012 when he debuted for the Toronto Blue Jays, becoming the first Brazilian-born player in Major League history.
Gomes’ career and his many accomplishments were celebrated Monday night at Ricketts Park where Gomes became the latest inductee to the Connie Mack World Series Hall of Fame.
Gomes, 39, played in the CMWS in the summer of 2006 as a member of the Florida Bombers. Following that, Gomes was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 2008 (MLB) draft, but chose to extend his collegiate career at the University of Tennessee and later at Barry University, where he was honored as the All-South player of the year and a Division II All-American.
After one season at Barry, the Toronto Blue Jays drafted Gomes in the tenth round of the 2009 MLB draft, and he signed on June 19 with an $85,000 signing bonus.
During his tenure in Major League Baseball, which included a six-season stay with the Cleveland Indians as well as the Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics and Chicago Cubs, his biggest accomplishment was being able to play in front of his family.
“Getting to see my kids watch me play was really awesome,” Gomes said before his formal induction ceremonies prior to the start of a first round game of the CMWS. “Getting to have them at the field, was incredible, and winning a World Series, getting to be in two of them, and spending some time in the playoffs was awesome.”
Gomes recalled his days playing in the Connie Mack World Series and his prep collegiate baseball career at Miami’s Southridge High School in Miami.
“Just trying to remember like what it all used to look like, and, it’s all coming back,” Gomes said. “I just remember how talented this tournament was and how awesome it was to get to play against people from different parts of the country.”
Gomes career in the big leagues saw him record a .246 batting average with 137 home runs and 517 runs batted in.
Gomes said his experience in the Connie Mack World Series was a true indicator of the potential he had to continue his path with baseball.
“That was the first time that you know and recognize that there’s a ton of other talent out there,” Gomes said. “Having a good, decent tournament with a good team that I was with made me realize that baseball could be a thing.”