West Orange HS alum Alex Gouin picked by Arizona Diamondbacks

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WEST ORANGE (updated Monday July 11) – Playing for a Major League Baseball team is a dream for many players.

Alex Gouin took another step toward achieving that dream.

Gouin, a 2010 West Orange High School graduate, was picked up by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday, July 3.

The 5-foot-11, 200-pound right-handed pitcher was in the midst of his second year with the independent Rockland Boulders when the Diamondbacks bought his contract with the Boulders. Gouin was scheduled to report to the Diamondbacks’ Single-A affiliate in Hillsboro, Ore. on Tuesday, July 5.

Gouin was the starting winning pitcher in his debut July 10. He allowed two runs on five hits and two walks, striking out 11, in seven innings in the 10-2 win over Eugene, Ore.

Gouin, who will turn 25 on Sept. 8, was 3-1 with a 3.16 earned run average in seven games with four starts with the Boulders this season. In 37 innings pitched, he allowed 27 hits and eight walks for a miniscule 0.946 WHIP (walk-hits per innings pitched), striking out 25. Gouin last season went 8-4 with a 3.84 ERA in 18 appearances with 14 starts.

According to lohud.com, Gouin was born in Cuba and emigrated to the United States when he was 9.

After a standout baseball career at WOHS, Gouin continued his career at the University of Hartford. In his final season at Hartford, Gouin set the school single-season record with nine saves as the team’s primary closer, earning America East All-Conference Second Team honors.

Gouin pitched against the Cuban National team on June 26 in which he allowed seven runs, six earned, in six innings in a loss during the Cuban National team’s swing through the Can-Am League. But Gouin bounced back in his next start with eight scoreless innings of five-hit ball as he recorded the win, 3-1, against the Trois-Rivieres Aigles on July 1. It was Gouin’s final start with the Boulders before the Diamondbacks bought his contract two days later.

  Alex Gouin