Gonsalves

[Loosey]

Through 6 innings today Gonsalves has given up 1 hit and struck out 10 with 0 walks on only 74 pitches.  Complete domination of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.  This sort of performance has become a trend for him this season.  He has given 2 runs in his 19 innings and counting while striking out 29 and walking only 1!

 

I know it is a somewhat small sample size, but it would appear he is ready to move up to High A.  I think a few people have pegged him for Twins minor league pitcher of the year, and they appear to have picked wisely as he is turning into the pitcher many believed him to become when he was once projected as a 1st round pick a few years ago.

 

If he can get to AA by season's end it will be a very successful season for him and we could possibly be seeing another very nice prospect on the verge of making the Twins better in the future.

 

 

[nytwinsfan]

Now 7 innings and 11 Ks. Couple more games like this and he'll find himself in Fort Myers.

 

[bulldozier14]

He looks way better than the competition. The only single was a bunt single- absolutely nothing hit hard.

 

Does anyone have any information on his use of the breaking ball? I know that was overpowering people with his fastball in the bit of the game I watched, but I don't know how well his off-speed stuff was working. I might go back and watch some more of his pitches on MiLB.TV later. 

[gunnarthor]

Pretty good start.  Now has 10 starts at A ball under his belt.  If his next four are also awesome, I would think they'd push him up.  

[diehardtwinsfan]

I don't have the stats handy, but I don't remember him being bad last year. I suspect he's going to be in line for a mid-season callup.

[John Bonnes]

Adding clips from the Kernels' minor league report today. Emphasis mine:

 

 

 

Gem by Gonsalves leads Kernels to sweep

Stephen Gonsalves allowed one hit and struck out 11 in seven innings as the Kernels blanked Wisconsin 3-0.

GRAND CHUTE, Wis. – Stephen Gonsalves allowed just one hit and struck out 11 in seven innings on Thursday afternoon as the Kernels completed the three-game sweep with a 3-0 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. The lone hit was a bunt single in in the fourth inning and was the only hit for the home team on the day as Trevor Hildenberger tossed two perfect innings for his first save. The Kernels have won four games in a row and begin a home series v. Kane County on Friday at 6:35 p.m.

Gonsalves (2-0) has now struck out at least nine in all three of his starts, totaling 30 strikeouts and 11 hits-allowed in 20 innings this season. Wisconsin had three base runners on Thursday. Gonsalves retired the first 10 hitters before Brandon Diaz reached with a bunt single that rolled up the first base line in the fourth inning. Gonsalves then hit Dustin DeMuth with a pitch. Following the hit batter, Gonsalves retired the next 10 Timber Rattlers before walking Elvis Rubio in the seventh inning. That was the final Wisconsin hitter to reach base.

All in all, the southpaw went seven scoreless innings and allowed one hit while striking out 11, walking one and hitting one batter. Twice in the game, Gonsalves struck out four batters in a row.

 

Hmm. So the kid had a perfect game through 3.1 IP and then someone bunts for a hit against him. And then he hits the next batter? I can't imagine he would want to put two guys on with one out in a close game, but I also can't imagine he was too happy losing a dominant no-hitter to a bunt single. Hmm. 

 

By the say, if you were wondering (I was) that walk today was only his second walk of the season. Which gives him a 15:1 K:BB ratio.

 

Blink. Blink. 

 

Any chance we see a promotion long before midseason? With those kind of stats, he sure doesn't look like he has much to prove at Low A.  I wonder where he'll spend his 21st birthday on July 8th?

 

[nytwinsfan]

 

Adding clips from the Kernels' minor league report today. Emphasis mine:

 

 

Hmm. So the kid had a perfect game through 3.1 IP and then someone bunts for a hit against him. And then he hits the next batter? I can't imagine he would want to put two guys on with one out in a close game, but I also can't imagine he was too happy losing a dominant no-hitter to a bunt single. Hmm. 

 

By the say, if you were wondering (I was) that walk today was only his second walk of the season. Which gives him a 15:1 K:BB ratio.

 

Blink. Blink. 

 

Any chance we see a promotion long before midseason? With those kind of stats, he sure doesn't look like he has much to prove at Low A.  I wonder where he'll spend his 21st birthday on July 8th?

Well, if Kohl Stewart is out longer than 7 days on the DL (obviously hoping that is NOT the case), then it seems like Gonsalves would be the logical pitcher to take his place at FM soon.

[Seth Stohs]

The kid is so good. He's not only really talented and gifted, but he is incredibly polished too. He knows how to pitch. He gets it. He's worked with big leaguers. He was a steal in the fourth round, and he knows it. he's got a bit of a chip on his shoulders, but he could be a good one.

[nytwinsfan]

 

The kid is so good. He's not only really talented and gifted, but he is incredibly polished too. He knows how to pitch. He gets it. He's worked with big leaguers. He was a steal in the fourth round, and he knows it. he's got a bit of a chip on his shoulders, but he could be a good one.

Sounds awesome. No wonder the Twins went over slot to get him. I keep hearing his changeup is great, but his breaking ball(s) need work. That seems like the opposite of what you usually hear. Wonder why that is.

[Hrbowski]

I see that he credits Strasburg for his good start to the season.

[2wins87]

 

Adding clips from the Kernels' minor league report today. Emphasis mine:

 

 

Hmm. So the kid had a perfect game through 3.1 IP and then someone bunts for a hit against him. And then he hits the next batter? I can't imagine he would want to put two guys on with one out in a close game, but I also can't imagine he was too happy losing a dominant no-hitter to a bunt single. Hmm. 

 

By the say, if you were wondering (I was) that walk today was only his second walk of the season. Which gives him a 15:1 K:BB ratio.

 

Blink. Blink. 

 

Any chance we see a promotion long before midseason? With those kind of stats, he sure doesn't look like he has much to prove at Low A.  I wonder where he'll spend his 21st birthday on July 8th?

 

I'm generally not in favor of retribution HBPs in any situation, but I couldn't really blame him if he was upset there.

 

I know it's only 3 games but he's put up video game numbers so far.  I don't know what else he has to prove in single-A.  I hope he's in Fort Meyers before mid-season.

[goulik]

He pitched the game I went to last week and he was mixing up his pitches pretty good, it wasn't just all fastballs. Every pitch changed speeds and most were strikes. There were three hard hit balls all game, one leading to a run but he had them swinging silly at off speed stuff. Most of all, he seemed to know how to pitch to each guy in a way that made them look off balance and uncomfortable in the batters box. His hardest pitch was 93 on the radar gun but Seth pointed out that the position of the gun means you should probably add a couple MPH to what the scoreboard said.