The Miami Marlins added depth to their pitching pipeline on Monday when they claimed right-hander Wikelman González off waivers from the Chicago White Sox.
Shortly after the claim, the club optioned the 24-year-old to Triple-A Jacksonville, filling an open spot on the 40-man roster without needing a corresponding move.
González, born March 25, 2002, in Maracay, Venezuela, brings a mix of major-league experience and remaining developmental upside.
The 6-foot, 220-pound righty first signed with the Boston Red Sox as an international free agent in 2018. He advanced steadily through their system before the White Sox acquired him in December 2024 as part of the package sent to Chicago in the trade that brought left-hander Garrett Crochet to Boston.
In 2025, González reached the majors with the White Sox and made a solid first impression out of the bullpen. He posted a 1-0 record with a 2.66 ERA across 16 relief appearances, striking out 25 batters in 20⅓ innings while walking 12. His strikeout rate hovered near 29 percent, showing the power arsenal that had long drawn scouting attention, even as command issues occasionally surfaced.
This season proved more difficult. González spent the bulk of 2026 at Triple-A Charlotte, where he compiled a 6.57 ERA over roughly 24⅔ innings.
The underlying numbers remained mixed: a strong strikeout rate near 29 percent was offset by a walk rate that stayed elevated around 11 to 13 percent.
A higher batting average on balls in play and lower strand rate helped inflate the ERA. He also dealt with some injury time, including a stint on the injured list earlier in the year.
The White Sox designated González for assignment on August 8 to clear a 40-man roster spot. Two days later, the Marlins stepped in with the waiver claim.
Miami sits in the middle of a competitive National League landscape and continues to look for arms who can contribute either immediately or after further refinement in the minors.
By optioning González to Jacksonville, the Marlins give him a chance to sharpen his command in a new organization while keeping him available for a potential call-up later this season.
For González, the move represents a fresh start. Still pre-arbitration eligible and with one option remaining this year, he enters a system that has shown willingness to develop young pitching talent.
If he can tighten his control and recapture the form that produced a sub-3.00 ERA in his debut season, the Venezuelan right-hander could yet carve out a meaningful role in the majors.
The Marlins clearly saw enough potential in his combination of age, experience, and stuff to take a chance when the opportunity arose.
