Behind the Fence: Gonsalves and the End of Spring Training 4/1/16

[Bob Sacamento]

The time has finally come for baseball to finally count! But before the players left for the colder weather up north, there was a final wrap up of Spring Training against the Boston Red Sox this weekend. Stephen Gonsalves started off the Hi-A game for the Fort Myers Miracle against the Hi-A Salem Red Sox who sent out a formidable lineup that included some of the minors top prospects in Yoan Moncada, Andrew Benetendi, Rafael Devers, and Nick Longhi. The lefty did not disappoint the fans in the stands, Steve was out to pitch only two innings so that he could work on his curveball, and it was pretty one getting several swings and misses. In his two innings he gave up weak contact, struck out four, with his fastball sitting at 91mph but bumping it up to 95mph a couple times. Right now, the changeup is his best offspeed pitch as it just tumbles and falls out of his hand. While the curve and slider are both works in progress that he's used in the past to give the hitter a different look; that could all change this year.
 

Video: Stephen Gonsalves pitching (views from behind during warmups, 1B line, behind the plate vs Austin Rei, behind the plate vs. Yoan Moncada
 
 
Gonsalves was followed on the rubber by Raul Fernandez (3 innings), Luke Bard (2 innings), and Luke Westphal (2 innings). Bard was sitting 91-93mph with his fastball, hit 94 once, the big thing for him was his command of his pitches was present.
 

Video: Luke Bard pitching (view from 3B line)

The offense in the game was few and far between but the highlight was back to back homeruns by Nick Gordon and TJ White. Gordon has looked great this spring, showing off his added muscle as well as his fielding prowess at SS. There is no question that Little Flash has all the tools to stay at SS the further he climbs the ladder.
 
Video: Nick "Flash" Gordon going yard!
 
On the other fields on Friday, Fernando Romero looked great in his five innings of work against the EXST, Romero's fastball sat at 95 mph and bumped it up to 98 mph several occasions and his slider was sharp. I talked to Fernando AKA "Paul" (inside joke) after his start, he said he felt great and could have gone another inning. He was more upset that I didn't get him on video. Starting for the Lo A club was Randy LeBlanc, the righty doesn't have overpowering stuff sitting 88-90mph for the game but was painting corners and working up and down in the zone - the things he has to do well to survive as a pitcher.
 

Saturday was the last day of official Spring Training and I watched the Hi-A and Lo-A clubs battle it out again this time at JetBlue where Kohl Stewart got the start for the Miracles squad. Stewart's fastball was 89-91 mph with good sinking action, Kohl's problem was leaving offspeed "meatballs" up in the zone. At this point, I still don't know what to think of him as a pitching prospect but I know what I think about him off the mound...the exact opposite of Stephen Gonsalves. Concerning the Low A game, there wasn't much offense as the Red Sox 18 year old uber pitching prospect Anderson Espinoza was on the mound. If you haven't heard of the kid get ready to, his fastball was sitting 95-96 mph with a peak of 98 mph and he mixes in plus offerings of a changeup and a slider. All in all, it was a great spring training, I'll have updates periodically throughout the year on the extended spring training, Gulf Coast League and Instructs!!

 

Shameless plugs: follow me for more pictures and videos on Twitter, Flickr, and YouTube

 

[DocBauer]

Care to elaborate on Gonsalves vs Stewart in your opinion?

[Halsey Hall]

Seems Tyler Jay charts a lot. It's snowing up here, you lucky guy!

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Care to elaborate on Gonsalves vs Stewart in your opinion?

On the field, both have great stuff, I've seen Stewart throw some good side sessions yet it doesn't seem to translate into game action.  Miracles Pitching Coach Bonilla has been tinkering with Kohl's mechanics in order to keep his pitches down in the zone and to stay in a downward plane. Stewart's success is in his sinking action and keeping the ball down, if it's up in the zone it's a meatball. Based on the effort that he throws, one would think he's sitting around the mid 90's when in reality, Stewart's FB has been sitting 89-91mph and topping out at 93 mph.  

 

 Gonsalves' delivery is little effort, he has good command and control of his fastball, his changeup is already a strong offering and his curveball has really been coming along this Spring.  The biggest difference I see in game action is Stephen's pitchability, he works the plate well hitting his spots, mixing up pitches, and outguessing the hitters.

 

Here's the isolated video of Gonsalves making one of MiLB's top prospect's Yoan Moncada look foolish

 

Off the field, the two are night and day, Gonsalves is nice, approachable, good natured kid who talks it up with fans and kids.  Definitely gives off the West Coast vibe.  As Seth can attest, one can just sit and talk to Steve and he treats you as one of the guys.  On the other hand, Kohl comes off as very abrasive, distant, keeps to himself, if you can get one word out of him that's more than most.  Just his personality, I don't fault him but it does make it really hard to root for him (one of the very few in the organization).

[Bob Sacamento]

 

Seems Tyler Jay charts a lot. It's snowing up here, you lucky guy!

Yeah was almost 90 over the weekend, it's cooled down to mid 80's though.  Yeah well he's tired of it it looks like LOL

 

[Halsey Hall]

Off the field, the two are night and day, Gonsalves is nice, approachable, good natured kid who talks it up with fans and kids.  Definitely gives off the West Coast vibe.  As Seth can attest, one can just sit and talk to Steve and he treats you as one of the guys.  On the other hand, Kohl comes off as very abrasive, distant, keeps to himself, if you can get one word out of him that's more than most.  Just his personality, I don't fault him but it does make it really hard to root for him (one of the very few in the organization).

You are right on the money there!  Stewart just doesn't seem to like people.

[FormerMinnasotan]

 

On the field, both have great stuff,

Miracles Pitching Coach Bonilla has been tinkering with Kohl's mechanics in order to keep his pitches down in the zone and to stay in a downward plane. Stewart's success is in his sinking action and keeping the ball down, if it's up in the zone it's a meatball. Based on the effort that he throws, one would think he's sitting around the mid 90's when in reality, Stewart's FB has been sitting 89-91mph and topping out at 93 mph.

 

Gonsalves' delivery is little effort, he has good command and control of his fastball, his changeup is already a strong offering and his curveball has really been coming along this Spring. The biggest difference I see in game action is Stephen's pitchability, he works the plate well hitting his spots, mixing up pitches, and outguessing the hitters.

 

 

Off the field, the two are night and day, Gonsalves is nice, approachable, good natured kid who talks it up with fans and kids. Definitely gives off the West Coast vibe. As Seth can attest, one can just sit and talk to Steve and he treats you as one of the guys. On the other hand, Kohl comes off as very abrasive, distant, keeps to himself, if you can get one word out of him that's more than most. Just his personality, I don't fault him but it does make it really hard to root for him (one of the very few in the organization).[/quote

 

I just hope Kohl's attitude isn't just because he is a 1st round pick. Personally I don't mind a bulldog type of pitcher, but to me the results have to match the attitude. IMO, Gonsalves looks to have a better pro career as he is marginally better at getting strike outs than Stewart and induces as much weak contact as Stewart as evidenced by the 4 home runs given up last year. I hope both do well of course, but if Gonsalves' curveball is much better and his fastball is what it sounds like he could end up better than Stewart. I am not as impressed by sinker ball pitchers as unless they throw mid-upper 90's (ala Brandon Webb and Kevin Brown) sinker ball pitchers are back of the rotation starters.

[ShouldaCouldaWoulda]

 

I just hope Kohl's attitude isn't just because he is a 1st round pick. Personally I don't mind a bulldog type of pitcher, but to me the results have to match the attitude. IMO, Gonsalves looks to have a better pro career as he is marginally better at getting strike outs than Stewart and induces as much weak contact as Stewart as evidenced by the 4 home runs given up last year. I hope both do well of course, but if Gonsalves' curveball is much better and his fastball is what it sounds like he could end up better than Stewart. I am not as impressed by sinker ball pitchers as unless they throw mid-upper 90's (ala Brandon Webb and Kevin Brown) sinker ball pitchers are back of the rotation starters.

 

I completely agree with your take on sinker pitchers and I have been in the belief that Stewart will not contribute much, it at all to the MBL club. I have thought that for a few years and the belief is only solidifying.

 

On his attitude, I wonder if it is just his natural personalty since a kid, or if there is more behind it. The comment about being a 1st rounder attitude might be right, but it might be due to thinking something else. It is possible that he is bitter and jaded having been a 1st rounder and having high expectations, but that he knows he has not been meeting them and that others are disappointed in him. He could just assume everyone he comes in contact with is 'down' on him as a prospect, which could just make him want to avoid others. Knowing that he might not become what he thought he would might have killed his confidence and love for the game. Could just be thinking, "What if I chose football?! Did I make a big mistake?"

 

Or, he COULD just be an A-hole (not calling him one, so don't go overboard on reacting to this please.) In any case, I hope the kid figures it out and ends up being more than just a guy who creates weak contact on the ground. Hard to get too excited about that, especially with the velocity being what it is now...not like it is going to increase, but likely will decrease. Prove us all wrong KS, please.

 

 

[nicksaviking]

Thanks for the insight Bob.

 

For my money, I could care less about Stewart's personality, I do however care about his velocity. Looks like we are severely lacking on both fronts though.

 

The Twins do seem to care about personality however, I'm not at all saying a surely attitude is causing a problem, but if it was, I'd expect the Twins to give fewer chances than to a guy with an attitude more inline with what we tend to picture for the Twins.