By Jim Hague
It wasn’t exactly the homecoming that Jeff Gogal wanted.
After all, the Kearny native and former Kearny High and Montclair State pitcher had been playing professional baseball since he was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 12th round of the 2004 MLB Draft. Gogal always figured that his next step up the professional ladder would always be in the Marlins’ organization.
And Gogal did get a taste of being so close to the major leagues, pitching three scoreless games for the New Orleans Zephyrs for the Marlins’ Class AAA franchise last season.
But the 28-year-old Gogal reached the crossroads of his pro career in April, when he was released by the Marlins on the last day of spring training.
To read the full story, see this week’s issue of The Observer.
