EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. – East Stroudsburg University redshirt senior right-hander pitcher CJ Gonzales has signed a contract with the Billings Mustangs, an independent baseball team in the Pioneer League.

Gonzales (Lewiston, N.Y./Lewiston-Porter) finished his career at ESU with a 4-2 record, a 3.57 ERA and four saves across 53 innings of work. In 38 career appearances, he recorded 68 strikeouts and held opponents' batting averages to .218. This season he collected three saves which is tied for 11th most in a single-season and punched out a career-high six batters against Shepherd.

"CJ was one of the hardest working pitchers we've had since he arrived on campus, said head coach John Kochmansky. He earned this opportunity and I'm excited for him to continue his career."

The Pioneer League, which operates in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States, is no longer directly affiliated with Major League Baseball but the MLB has designated it as a partner league. From 1939 to 2020, the Pioneer League was associated with the MLB but after the restructuring of the farm system they were converted to an independent baseball league. The 96-game campaign is set to begin on May 22.

The Mustangs are located in Billings, Montana and play their home games at Dehler Park. They have won 15 league championships and a number of major league stars began their careers in Billings.