Article: Twins Minor League Starting Pitcher Of The Month - April 2015

[Seth Stohs]

Yesterday, we looked at the top minor league relievers in the Twins farm system in April. Today, we turn our attention to the starting pitchers who got off to a strong start. There were some really good ones. As you see, there are four honorable mentions who posted an ERA below 2.20. That can tell you how well the top four performed during the month.With that, let's get to know these starting pitchers. Below are the Top 4 Starting Pitchers for April.

 

We begin with a few players deserving of mention.

• Rochester LHP Taylor Rogers – 4 GS, 2-0, 2.00 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 27.1 IP, 20 H, 10 BB, 23 K
• Ft. Myers RHP Ryan Eades – 3 GS, 1-0, 1.50 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 18.0 IP, 16 H, 4 BB, 9 K
• Cedar Rapids LHP Mat Batts – 4 GS, 2-1, 2.19 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 24.2 IP, 16 H, 5 BB, 24 K
• Cedar Rapids RHP Felix Jorge – 3 GS, 1-1, 1.50 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 18.0 IP, 11 H, 5 BB, 24 K

TOP 4 STARTING PITCHERS IN APRIL

 

Number 4 – Chattanooga – RHP D.J. Baxendale - 4 GS, 2-0, 1.07 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 25.1 IP, 21 H, 6 BB, 24 K

 

 

When he has been healthy, DJ Baxendale has been a very good starting pitcher. The problem is that he hasn’t been healthy for a couple of years, really since the beginning of the 2013 season. He appears to be at 100% again to start the 2015 season, and he is pitching very well for the Lookouts. He’s got a full mix of pitches and has been able to miss bats this year as well.

Number 3 – Rochester – LHP Pat Dean - 3 GS, 2-0, 0.90 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 20.0 IP, 12 H, 5 BB, 22 K

 

Dean was the Twins third-round pick in the 2010 draft out of Boston College. By the end of the 2011 season, he was pitching in AA. However, aside from six starts in 2013, he has remained in AA the last two years. This year, he has made the move to AAA, but he wasn’t even in the Red Wings starting rotation to start the season. However, Trevor May got promoted before he made a start and Dean took his place. He’s been lights out through April. In his first three starts, he had allowed just two earned runs in 20 innings. In nearly 500 innings between High-A and AA, he averaged 4.9 strikeouts per nine innings. So his 22 strikeouts in 20 innings is noteworthy.

Number 2 – Ft. Myers – RHP Chih-Wei Hu - 4 GS, 3-0, 1.50 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 24.0 IP, 14 H, 3 BB, 28 K

 

Hu gave up two runs in five innings in his first start of the season. In his next three April starts, he gave up two earned runs in 19 innings. He was a bit of a surprise in 2014 when he spent two-and-a-half months in Extended Spring Training. He went 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA in three starts with Elizabethton. He moved up to Cedar Rapids where he went 7-2 with a 2.29 ERA. Hu will be 21 years old throughout the 2014 season. He’s got all the pitches, including a palm ball. He throws 91 to 93 mph and touches 94 and 95, and everything he throws moves a lot. Opponents hit just .167 against him in April and he had more than a strikeout each inning. Most months, that would earn him the Pitcher of the Month award.

 

And the Twins Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Month is:

 

Cedar Rapids Kernels – LHP Stephen Gonsalves - 3 GS, 2-0, 0.90 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, 20.0 IP, 11 H, 2 BB, 30 K

 

The Twins got, potentially, the steal of the 2013 draft when they selected lefty Stephen Gonsalves in the fourth round of the draft. He dominated in the GCL and at Elizabethton that year. In 2013, he made 14 starts between Elizabethton and Cedar Rapids and was very good.

After making eight starts for the Kernels at the end of 2014, he returned to Iowa to start this season. He gave up a run in six innings in his first start. He has gone seven innings in each of his three starts since. In his 20 April innings, he issued just two walks and struck out 30. Opponents hit just .174 against him during the month.

He has been impressive on several levels. First, just look at those April numbers again. They’re remarkable. Secondly, the San Diego native says that he had never made a start when the game time temperature is under 60 degrees.

Gonsalves said, “I was pretty fortunate. My first two starts I pitched with warm weather and was able to sit during the colder days for my body to adjust. Other than that, it was just about being aggressive inside with the fastball because no one wants to get their hands busted in this weather.”

He’s been quite aggressive in his pitch mix early in the season. “I’ve been able to get away with 75% fastballs here, just being down in the zone, going early in. Then 25% changeups away to follow up.”

He likes to give credit to his catchers for his success. He worked with a good one last year and continues into 2015.

“I believe working more with (Mitch) Garver last year was the big difference. Other than the league itself, picking his brain for those final two months was a big help in plan-of-attack. I’ve been able to introduce that to (Brian) Navarreto this year."

Gonsalves has a lot of confidence. He also has a very high baseball IQ. Teammates talk about his knowledge of how to pitch and he has a plan. He has set some goals for himself for 2015.

“My goals for the season are to get my K/BB ratio to 4/1, and maybe even drop below one walk per nine (innings).”

I would be surprised if the 20-year-old spends much more time in Cedar Rapids. As soon as there is a need in Ft. Myers, he should be the first one promoted. Right now, he is posting the types of numbers that say there might not even need to be a need with the Miracle for him to be promoted. That said, Gonsalves is thinking even bigger.

“Level-wise, I’m always thinking as far as possible, so getting to AA would be truly amazing.”

Amazing? Yes. Surprising at this point? Not really.

 

Please feel free to post your comments on Gonsalves, Hu and the rest of the Twins minor league starting pitchers that pitched well in April. How do you feel about the rankings? We’ll be back tomorrow with the Minor League Hitter of the Month of April.

 

Click here to view the article

[h2oface]

Why can't I get excited that the starting pitcher of the month is pitching in low A?

[clutterheart]

 

“I’ve been able to get away with 75% fastballs here, just being down in the zone, going early in. Then 25% changeups away to follow up.”

 

Wait, what?  He only is throwing 2 pitches and most of it is his fastball?  I thought he was supposed to be working on a breaking ball?  Is he being stubborn and refusing the coaching staff's orders?

 

This doesn't seem encouraging.  I am glad he found control of his fastball but as he progresses he is going to need more than 2 pitches and is going to have to throw a breaking ball over for strikes.

[Gagne Fan]

You chose the right 4 but have them in the wrong order...

 

Dean

Baxendale

Hu

Gondalves

 

The level they pitch at has a lot to do with how impressive the accomplishment is. Dean and Bax did it at AAA + AA. Bax also started the AA season on a 18+ scoreless steak (30+ if you count his last 2 starts in the FSL playoffs).

You however have shown to be biased to the "Top" prospects, so your order is not surprising.

The great thing about baseball is the game doesn't know if you are a 1st rounder or 39th rounder, it only know performance and production.

[Gagne Fan]

Just did some quick research on your picks for Pitcher of the Day....

Did you know that Baxendale is the ONLY pitcher who was named Pitcher of the Day after every one of his starts in the Month of April. Your #1 choice was only named POD in 2 of his 4 April starts....interesting !!

[Gagne Fan]

Guess I'm changing my order to

 

Bax

Dean

Hu

Gonsalves

[Dantes929]

Remember 2011 and 2012 when we were promoting guys to the Twins with minor league ERA's north of 4, or even 5?     I look forward to seeing Hu pitch with the Twins as much as I do Meyer or Berrios.

[JaleelWhite FanClub]

I'm pumped for my boy Hu! Hard to argue with Gonsalves at #1. I can't wait till he moves up to Ft. Myers and we get to see him, Hu, Slegers, Eades, and hopefully soon after Stewart back at the top of the rotation.

[Tibs]

 

You chose the right 4 but have them in the wrong order...

Dean
Baxendale
Hu
Gondalves

The level they pitch at has a lot to do with how impressive the accomplishment is. Dean and Bax did it at AAA + AA. Bax also started the AA season on a 18+ scoreless steak (30+ if you count his last 2 starts in the FSL playoffs).
You however have shown to be biased to the "Top" prospects, so your order is not surprising.
The great thing about baseball is the game doesn't know if you are a 1st rounder or 39th rounder, it only know performance and production.

Seth is the last person I would expect to be biased towards top prospects. Check out other articles he has written if you truly believe that.

 

Gonsalves put up better numbers than the rest of the pitchers while also being the youngest in relation to league average age with the exception of Hu.

[Seth Stohs]

 

You chose the right 4 but have them in the wrong order...

Dean
Baxendale
Hu
Gondalves

The level they pitch at has a lot to do with how impressive the accomplishment is. Dean and Bax did it at AAA + AA. Bax also started the AA season on a 18+ scoreless steak (30+ if you count his last 2 starts in the FSL playoffs).
You however have shown to be biased to the "Top" prospects, so your order is not surprising.
The great thing about baseball is the game doesn't know if you are a 1st rounder or 39th rounder, it only know performance and production.

 

I appreciate the comments, and no doubt, the higher the level of competition, the more difficult it is. That said, pitchers can only pitch at the level they are pitching at. 

 

I love that last sentence and 100% agree with it. I think it you asked 95% of the people on this site if I'm one who is biased toward top prospects, I'm guessing that most would disagree. Maybe in prospect rankings (because that's about prospect status), but not in these reports.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Remember 2011 and 2012 when we were promoting guys to the Twins with minor league ERA's north of 4, or even 5?     I look forward to seeing Hu pitch with the Twins as much as I do Meyer or Berrios.

 

I agree. I'm excited because he pitches differently that really anyone else in the organization. His utilization of the palm ball makes him different. He gets so much movement on pitches. I'm very much intrigued by him.

[sane]

 

Why can't I get excited that the starting pitcher of the month is pitching in low A?

Ran out of Viagra?

[sane]

 

You chose the right 4 but have them in the wrong order...

Dean
Baxendale
Hu
Gondalves

The level they pitch at has a lot to do with how impressive the accomplishment is. Dean and Bax did it at AAA + AA. Bax also started the AA season on a 18+ scoreless steak (30+ if you count his last 2 starts in the FSL playoffs).
You however have shown to be biased to the "Top" prospects, so your order is not surprising.
The great thing about baseball is the game doesn't know if you are a 1st rounder or 39th rounder, it only know performance and production.

You have to factor in AGE with level. An 18-yr-old tearing up AA is better than a 26-yr-old tearing up AAA.

[Seth Stohs]

Honestly, I don't factor any of that stuff into the monthly awards. They're not designed and just aren't prospect lists. Age-to-level of competition isn't a factor. It's players performing at the level they are assigned. At least that's my opinion... 

 

We'll do a mid-season prospect list that will factor that information, and the Twins will need to make decisions to move people up as they see fit.

 

But Pitcher/Hitter of the Month is based on performance...

 

That said, there are many purposes of these lists. First and foremost, for me at least, is recognition of the players who performed (regardless of prospect status). It's also to create discussion about these guys, but also about the "award." Not everyone will agree with my ranking, and that's fine, but it can always be discussed.

[sane]

 

Honestly, I don't factor any of that stuff into the monthly awards. They're not designed and just aren't prospect lists. Age-to-level of competition isn't a factor. It's players performing at the level they are assigned. At least that's my opinion... 

 

We'll do a mid-season prospect list that will factor that information, and the Twins will need to make decisions to move people up as they see fit.

 

But Pitcher/Hitter of the Month is based on performance...

 

That said, there are many purposes of these lists. First and foremost, for me at least, is recognition of the players who performed (regardless of prospect status). It's also to create discussion about these guys, but also about the "award." Not everyone will agree with my ranking, and that's fine, but it can always be discussed.

You are right. Player/Pitcher of the month, by definition is a measure of performance only. I just hope that if Joe Mauer gets injured;  goes to the GCL for rehab; and bats .340, he doesn't beat out the 18-yr-old kids for that award.

[goulik]

The game I watched was not 75% Fastball, 25% Changeup...at most 50% fastballs and I'm pretty sure there was more going on there than those two pitches...

[Seth Stohs]

 

You are right. Player/Pitcher of the month, by definition is a measure of performance only. I just hope that if Joe Mauer gets injured;  goes to the GCL for rehab; and bats .340, he doesn't beat out the 18-yr-old kids for that award.

 

It is confined to minor league players, not Major League players on rehab assignment.

[Shane Wahl]

I actually believed that no argument against Gonsalves would be possible.

 

Anyone know about the FB velocity for him right now?

[jokin]

 

I actually believed that no argument against Gonsalves would be possible.

 

Anyone know about the FB velocity for him right now?

 

I would have voted Gonsalves, but like Gonsalves in the MWL, Hu is also two years young for the FSL, with numbers fairly close, but a slight shade lower, to Gonsalves' numbers.  Baxendale is in his 3rd trip to AA, and as we have found out all too often over the recent years, with respect to Dean, those AAA numbers are often very misleading.

 

Gonsalves is currently on pace to break into the Mid-Season Top 100 rankings, the other three, not so much.

Edited May 5, 2015 by jokin

[TRex]

 

Gonsalves is currently on pace to break into the Mid-Season Top 100 rankings, the other three, not so much.

I am not so sure... Hu has been getting a lot of attention lately, and those who make rankings always love dominating High-A guys (especially young ones).

[jokin]

 

I am not so sure... Hu has been getting a lot of attention lately, and those who make rankings always love dominating High-A guys (especially young ones).

 

How do they usually vote about guys with a "trick pitch"?

Edited May 5, 2015 by jokin

[TRex]

Is a palmball a 'trick' pitch? I understand that it isn't thrown much (at all) anymore, but it isn't as if it were an eephus pitch or screwball. It was my understanding that it was just a particular grip for a changeup.

 

The history of the palmball from Wikipedia (emphasis mine):

 

In baseball, the palmball pitch is a type of changeup. It requires placing the baseball tightly in the palm or held between the thumb and ring finger and then throwing it as if throwing a fastball. This takes some of the velocity off the pitch, intending to make the batter swing before the ball reaches the plate.
Notable pitchers who have been known to throw the palmball include Steve Farr, Robinson Tejeda, Edwar Ramírez, Dave Giusti, Bob Stanley, Orlando Hernández, reliever Tony Fiore, Bryn Smith, Kenneth Brown and 1990s reliever Joe Boever. Philadelphia Phillies and former Toronto Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay was known to have thrown a palmball early in his career, though he rarely used it later on.
Second on the All-Time saves list, Trevor Hoffman, made his palmball changeup his "out" pitch.[1]
In earlier decades, the palmball was thrown by Ewell Blackwell, NL MVP winner Jim Konstanty, Cy Young Award winner Jim Palmer, and Satchel Paige. In 1968, Red Sox starter Ray Culp turned his career around by developing a palmball. Culp went 16-6 in 1968 and topped the Red Sox in wins from 1968-70.

Edited May 5, 2015 by TRex

[Steven Buhr]

 

I actually believed that no argument against Gonsalves would be possible.

 

Anyone know about the FB velocity for him right now?

He's been pretty consistently sitting low 90s, up a few ticks from a year ago. His manager believes he'll add more velo and eventually be a "94-95 guy."

 

He worked out harder over the offseason than he ever has before. Will be real interesting to see what another year like that will do with his fastball.

 

As for his pitch mix, he tends to be almost strictly fastball-change up the first time through the opponents' order. As he starts facing the same guy the 2nd or 3rd time, he's more likely to show the breaking balls. I like the approach and it has obviously been effective.

[Mike Sixel]

I like that these awards are about performance, not about how good of a prospect a player is. There are other ways to discuss that. Let's just recognize and admire good performance, regardless of "prospectiness"......

[sane]

In earlier decades, the palmball was thrown by Ewell Blackwell.

 

If Ewell Blackwell threw a palmball, it was likely from the sidearm slot. Blackwell was successful to to his length and arm angle which sometimes made RH hitters relieve themselves.