Stephen Gonsalves
(Monday Starter)
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 40 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 55 | Overall: 55
Gonsalves was an intriguing, albeit a bit inconsistent, Draft prospect from the Southern California high school ranks back in 2013 and the Twins saw enough in the southpaw to go above pick value to sign him away from his San Diego commitment in the fourth round. Since then, the only thing that's slowed him from developing into one of the better lefty prospects in the game was a minor shoulder issue that delayed the start to his 2017 season in Double-A, though he still pitched well enough to reach Triple-A for the first time.
The 6-foot-5 southpaw uses a combination of pitchability and deception that allows his largely solid-average stuff to play up and miss bats consistently. He'll largely pitch with his fastball in the low 90s, with the ability to reach for an extra tick or two on occasion, thrown with good riding life. His changeup remains his best secondary pitch, one he throws with good sink and effectively keeps down in the zone. His curve should give him a third Major League average offering when all is said and done.
Gonsalves did a much better job of commanding the baseball in 2017 and improved control of all his pitches should allow him to have continued success at the upper levels of the system. He has the ceiling of a solid mid-rotation starter.
(Monday Starter)
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 40 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 55 | Overall: 55
Gonsalves was an intriguing, albeit a bit inconsistent, Draft prospect from the Southern California high school ranks back in 2013 and the Twins saw enough in the southpaw to go above pick value to sign him away from his San Diego commitment in the fourth round. Since then, the only thing that's slowed him from developing into one of the better lefty prospects in the game was a minor shoulder issue that delayed the start to his 2017 season in Double-A, though he still pitched well enough to reach Triple-A for the first time.
The 6-foot-5 southpaw uses a combination of pitchability and deception that allows his largely solid-average stuff to play up and miss bats consistently. He'll largely pitch with his fastball in the low 90s, with the ability to reach for an extra tick or two on occasion, thrown with good riding life. His changeup remains his best secondary pitch, one he throws with good sink and effectively keeps down in the zone. His curve should give him a third Major League average offering when all is said and done.
Gonsalves did a much better job of commanding the baseball in 2017 and improved control of all his pitches should allow him to have continued success at the upper levels of the system. He has the ceiling of a solid mid-rotation starter.
