Image courtesy of Seth Stohs (photo of Stephen Gonsalves)
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Let’s get right to it. Before we get to our Top 5 starting pitchers for the month of August, here is that extensive list of others who deserve to be recognized for a strong month. Actually, there are a ton of honorable mentions AND I had to do a Top 6 starters just to write more about another Twins starting pitching prospect. This is a good thing (even if it's more work!).
HONORABLE MENTION
- Jordan Balazovic - GCL - 6 GS, 2-1, 2.33 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 27.0 IP, 25 H, 4 BB, 13 K
- Tyler Beardsley - Elizabethton/Cedar Rapids - 5 GS, 2-2, 2.57 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 28.0 IP, 22 H, 7 H, 17 K
- Miguel DeJesus - GCL/Elizabethton - 5 GS, 0-2, 2.74 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 23.0 IP, 16 H, 9 BB, 17 K
- Clark Beeker - Elizabethton - 6 G, 3 GS, 1-1, 1.52 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 23.2 IP, 15 H, 5 BB, 26 K
- Ryan Eades - Chattanooga - 6 G, 4 GS, 1-0, 2.22 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 24.1 IP, 22 H, 5 BB, 24 K
- Tyler Fox - GCL - 5 G, 4 GS, 1-0, 1.96 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 23.0 IP, 19 H, 6 BB, 15 K
- Nick Greenwood - Rochester - 5 GS, 3-1, 2.25 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 36.1 IP, 30 H 5 BB, 17 K
- Bo Hellquist - 6 G, 5 GS, 3-2, 2.43 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 29.2 IP, 26 H, 5 BB, 23 K
- Tyler Wells - 5 GS, 4-1, 2.57 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 28.0 IP, 20 H, 9 BB, 31 K
- Keaton Steele - 5 GS, 3-2, 1.91 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 33.0 IP, 28 H, 5 BB, 22 K
- Cody Stashak - 3 GS, 0.0, 0.54 ERA, 0.96 WHIP, 16.2 IP, 13 H, 3 BB, 10 K
THE TOP SIX STARTING PITCHERS
#6 -
Dereck Rodriguez
- Ft. Myers - 5 GS, 2-2, 1.87 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, 33.2 IP, 27 H, 3 BB, 18 K
The first two months of the season were really tough for Rodriguez. He struggled to throw strikes and command the strike zone. He was hit often and hit hard. Then in early June, a switch flipped and he turned it on. Soon after, he was promoted to Ft. Myers and he's been very good there. He's been throwing a lot more strikes and hasn't been getting hit as hard. He's got a few fewer strikeouts, as you'd expect from a higher level, but his command is much improved.
#5 -
Lachlan Wells
- Cedar Rapids Kernels - 4 GS, 3-0, 1.46 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 24.2 IP, 18 H, 8 BB, 20 K
Signed out of Australia, Wells has moved quickly to start his career. A year ago, he debuted in the GCL and pitched well. He pitched for Australia in the World Cup at the end of last season. He began this season in extended spring training but before the Elizabethton season started, he was moved up to the Kernels. He has been terrific since. He continues to grow. The left-hander stands 6-1 and 186 pounds but he still has room to grow. In 12 starts with the Kernels, Wells (19) is 6-4 with a 1.77 ERA.
#4 -
Eduardo Del Rosario
- Cedar Rapids Kernels - 5 GS, 3-0, 1.69 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 26.2 IP, 21 H, 7 BB, 34 K
Like Wells, Eduardo Del Rosario began the season in extended spring training after a solid 2015 in the Gulf Coast League. He was promoted in June to the Kernels and really struggled early, but he appears to be figuring some things out. As you can see from the numbers, he had a terrific month of August. Del Rosario is a wiry sort. He is 6-0 and about 160 pounds. Overall, the 21-year-old is 6-3 with a 3.65 ERA in 15 Kernels starts.
#3 -
Fernando Romero
- Ft. Myers Miracle - 4 GS, 2-1, 1.16 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 23.1 IP, 16 H, 4 BB, 29 K
Like Wells and Del Rosario, Romero began the season in EST. However, he was there because he had missed the two previous seasons with Tommy John surgery and a knee surgery. He was called up to Cedar Rapids in mid-May. He made only a handful of starts before moving up to the Miracle where he didn't miss a beat. He's young and has very few innings above the Gulf Coast League, but he has the stuff of a true ace, something Twins fans have been longing for. He continued his strong showing in August, right up until he was shut down with about two or three starts to go after hitting his predetermined innings limit. After posting a 1.93 ERA in five Kernels starts, he ended his time with the Miracle with a 1.88 ERA in 11 starts.
#2 -
Brady Anderson
- Cedar Rapids Kernels - 5 GS, 3-0, 1.24 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 29.0 IP, 25 H, 6 BB, 17 K
Anderson reported to EST after signing with the Twins as a non-drafted free agent out of Florida Gulf Coast University in Ft. Myers. Likely signed to fill innings in the GCL, Anderson dominated that league. When the Kernels needed a starter in early August, they didn't turn to an Elizabethton starter. Instead, Anderson skipped the Appy League and went into the Kernels rotation. He gave up three runs in five innings in his first outing. Over his final four outings (24 innings), he gave up just one run. Non-drafted signees are typically just happy for an opportunity. However, once given that opportunity, Anderson has fully taken advantage of it.
And the Twins Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Month is...
Chattanooga – LHP Stephen Gonsalves - 5 GS, 3-2, 0.28 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, 34.2 IP, 25 H, 8 BB, 38 K
Gonsalves (22) is the veteran of this group of Top 5 starters. He was solid in Ft. Myers to start this season (5-4, 2.33 ERA), but after one rough outing with the Lookouts - his second with the team - he has dominated Southern League hitters. In his first August outing, he threw six innings with no earned runs. Then he threw a complete game shutout. The next two starts he threw six shutout innings. In once start, he held a no-hitter through six innings.
Aside from a game with a bunch of walks, Gonsalves has figured out a way to get hitters out. In the offseason, he added to his pitch repertoire with a slider/cutter pitch. He said it has been a huge strikeout pitch for him, especially against left-handers. Gonsalves has eaten a lot of innings, though the occasional control issues have kept him from pitching more. He has struck out more in AA than he did in Ft. Myers. With the Lookouts, he went 8-1 with a 1.82 ERA.
In August, Gonsalves allowed hitters to bat just .125/.227/.144 (.371) against him. During the month, he gave up just two extra-base hits, both doubles. He’s also allowed just one home run during his time with the Lookouts as well, and three all season.
Gonsalves has just continued to improve as he has moved up the Twins system. That's what I like to see, certainly what he would like to see, and most important, it's what the front office hopes to see as well. There is a decent chance that Gonsalves will be the organization's #1 prospect heading into the 2017 season. There is a good chance that we will see him in big league spring training, and there is a strong chance that we will see him in a Twins uniform, making starts, sometime during the 2017 season. The Twins have one more spot available for them for the Arizona Fall League. Don't be surprised if that pitcher is Gonsalves.
There were so many strong starting pitching performances in August, but the choice of Stephen Gonsalves was very easy. Feel free to discuss below. Feel free to agree or disagree with the order, if you like as I went back and forth many times, but congratulations these individuals on a terrific month.
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