Stephen Gonsalves

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #18 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: After top-seven ERA finishes in the minors in the 2015-16 seasons, Gonsalves battled through shoulder strains at the Arizona Fall League and early in the 2017 season. The loss of a couple of ticks off his already-modest fastball led to some delivery tweaks that ultimately led to command issues last season, both before and after his big league debut.
  
  Scouting Report: Long-levered with generally good mound presence and a three-quarters arm slot, Gonsalves pitches in the high 80s now with an above-average changeup and two average breaking balls. His 1-to-6 curveball has flashed above-average in the past. The fastball used to touch 94 mph with glove-side run, but it’s ticked down though Gonsalves has shown the moxie to pitch through it.
  
  The Future: Gonsalves should get another crack at the back of the rotation in 2019.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #4 prospect in 2018
  Given an above-slot bonus of $700,000 as a fourth-round steal, Gonsalves has justified the Twins' faith after he pitched just 48 innings as a high school senior. Makeup concerns had caused him to drop after he was suspended eight games after covering for a teammate's drug use during a national tournament. A shoulder strain landed Gonsalves on the shelf at the 2016 Arizona Fall League and again last spring, when he missed the first six weeks of the Double-A season. Once he returned, it didn't take him long to show the same smooth repeatable delivery, feel for pitching and advanced command that pushed him up the prospect rankings. Tall with long levers, good mound presence and a three-quarters arm slot, he pitches at 88-91 mph and touches 94 mph with his fastball, which shows glove-side run and plays up due to deception and extension. He reads hitters well and works effectively at the top of the zone. He featured his 1-to-6 curveball more often in 2017, when it was a put-away pitch at times. His slurvy slider is just fringe-average with short tilt, but his changeup earns an above-average future grade due to its late fade and his ability to maintain arm speed. He throws slightly across his body, but his shoulder issues aren't traceable to his mechanics. One of three starters added to the 40-man roster in November, Gonsalves figures to open the year back at Triple-A Rochester. If he continues to hone his command and cut his walk rate, which reached a career-best 2.37 per nine innings in his second crack at Double-A, it shouldn't be long before he is vying for a spot in the middle of the big league rotation.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #2 prospect in 2017
  Drafted in the fourth round in 2013 and signed to an above-slot $700,000 bonus, Gonsalves has moved steadily up the Twins system. He returned to high Class A Fort Myers in 2016 after making 15 starts there at the end of 2015, and he quickly earned a promotion to Double-A Chattanooga in late June. He went 13-5, 2.06 between both levels, with his ERA ranking seventh in the minors and his .179 opponent average ranking fourth. Gonsalves' strikeout rate actually went up a tick--from 9.0 to 10.8 per nine--in Double-A. However, his walk rate nearly doubled from 2.7 per nine to 4.5. Athletic with a loose arm and easy delivery, Gonsalves' 90-91 mph fastball plays up due to his extension and the tough angle created by his low arm slot. He can touch up to 95 mph, but he's effective as long as he works the corners. The command of his fastball lacks consistency and will need to improve. A plus sinking changeup is Gonsalves' best secondary offering and gives him a weapon against righthanded hitters. The Twins had him throw more curveballs in 2016, but it's a pitch Gonsalves still needs to mix in more. While it doesn't project as a plus pitch, his curveball flashes average and should be a usable third option. Gonsalves is also toying with a slider or cutter, but he has enough of an arsenal at present to put hitters away. Gonsalves will likely pitch at Triple-A Rochester at some point in 2017 and could crack the big league rotation as soon as 2018. He has the look of a mid- to back-of-the-rotation starter.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #9 prospect in 2016
  Gonsalves was suspended for eight games as a senior at Cathedral Catholic High and threw just 48 innings. The preseason All-American fell to the fourth round and signed with the Twins for an above-slot $700,000 bonus. He finished fourth in the minors in ERA (2.01) in his first full professional season. Lanky and athletic with a loose arm, Gonsalves is an accomplished surfer with projection to his frame. Ticked off at returning to low Class A Cedar Rapids, he dominated the Midwest League with an 88-92 mph fastball that he can run up to 93-94. Willing to work inside and able to spot his fastball to both sides of the plate, Gonsalves is still working to maintain his delivery deep into outings. His spike curve was his best secondary pitch after a June promotion to high Class A Fort Myers, but his split-change has a chance to be an above-average offering. Intelligent with a strong work ethic and a deep competitive streak, he threw more sliders last season but rival scouts wonder if he might need to go to a cutter due to tight wrists. After seeing his strikeout/walk rate narrow considerably in the Florida State League, where he was rated the No. 16 prospect, Gonsalves could start back at Fort Myers and should reach Double-A Chattanooga by midseason at the latest.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #14 prospect in 2015
  As a senior at San Diego's Cathedral Catholic High, where he was a year ahead of 2014 No. 1 overall pick Brady Aiken, Gonsalves was suspended for eight games after lying to the school's dean about a roommate's drug use during a national tournament in Cary, N.C. That setback dropped the talented lefthander out of an expected draft spot in the late first round. Lanky and athletic, Gonsalves is an accomplished surfer who still has plenty of projection. His average fastball sits at 88-92 mph and will occasionally touch 94, though he needs to command the inner half better. His spike curveball and slider continue to show improvement, while his split-changeup is an average offering with the potential for more. Intelligent with a quiet competitive streak, Gonsalves should advance to high Class A Fort Myers in 2015, projecting as a No. 4 starter unless one of his pitches develops into a plus.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #13 prospect in 2014
  Suspended for eight games during his senior year at San Diego's Cathedral Catholic High, Gonsalves dropped out of a possible spot in the first round after lying to the school's dean about a roommate's drug usage during USA Baseball's National High School Invitational. The preseason All-American fell to the Twins in the fourth round, where they relied heavily on the recommendation of veteran area scout John Leavitt. They signed Gonsalves for $700,000, well above the slot figure of $468,200, and were pleased to see him register 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings at two Rookie-level stops. Lanky and athletic at 6-foot-5 and more than his listed 195 pounds, Gonsalves is an accomplished surfer who still has plenty of projection. His fastball sits at 88-91 mph and will occasionally touch 93, though he needs to command to his glove-side better. His spike curveball showed improvement during his first pro summer, and his split-changeup remains average at best. Intelligent with a quiet competitive streak, Gonsalves should open the year in the rotation at low Class A Cedar Rapids and projects as a future No. 3 starter as he adds strength and polishes his secondary pitches.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #107 prospect in 2013 draft
  After going undefeated in his first three prep seasons and pitching well on the showcase circuit, Gonsalves entered the spring as a potential first-round pick. But his stock has fallen, as scouts have been disappointed with his inconsistent velocity and command this spring, not to mention a two-week suspension in April. Lean and athletic at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds, Gonsalves stands out most for his projection. He touches 91-92 mph with his fastball but sits more comfortably in the 86-89 range, and he needs to do a better job commanding the inner half. He employed an old-school, up-tempo delivery with an arm swing above his head last summer, but he scrapped it for a more conventional delivery this spring to improve his tempo and balance. His spike curveball is below-average, and his lack of feel for the pitch leads some scouts to believe it will never be much better. He also throws split-finger with some fade, but scouts would like to see him develop a straight change. Gonsalves is intriguing because of his body, athleticism and projection, but the San Diego commit has a long way to go.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #14 prospect in 2017
  Gonsalves spent the second half of 2016 in the SL but had his return engagement delayed until late May this season by a shoulder injury. Once healthy, he recorded the lowest walk rate of his career (2.4 per nine innings) en route to an Aug. 10 promotion to Triple-A. Gonsalves pitches at 92 mph and touches 94, but his velocity isn't as remarkable as his pitching style. He works the top of the zone with a deceptive, riding fastball that generates awkward swings and misses and an extreme flyball rate. Unafraid to work inside to righthanders, Gonsalves commands both sides of the plate and mixes in an above-average changeup that plays low in the zone. He struggles to locate a fringe-average curveball but hasn't needed it to hold same-side batters to a .225 average this year and .194 last year. Some observers caution that Gonsalves could struggle with advanced hitters who will lay off his high fastball and make him bring the ball down.
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  Ranked Southern League #13 prospect in 2016
  Gonsalves has carved up full-season competition the past two seasons by recording a 2.03 ERA and striking out 287 batters in 274 innings. He produced results in the SL this season following his June 25 promotion from high Class A Fort Myers, and between both stops he finished among the overall minor league leaders with a 2.06 ERA (seventh), 155 strikeouts (12th) and a 1.02 WHIP (11th). Evaluators, though, see potential trouble brewing for Gonsalves as he faces more advanced hitters in the years to come--unless he can improve his fastball command. Many believe he can do just that because he's a competitive, 6-foot-5 lefthander with an effortless delivery and angle to his pitches. He sits at about 90 mph and can touch 94, but he hides the ball well and thus his effective velocity plays higher. Gonsalves leans on an above-average changeup as his second pitch, and the action on the pitch has improved dramatically in the past season. Gonsalves needs to sharpen his curveball and slider (or develop a cutter) to give him a third weapon. He also needs to improve his control--he walked 4.5 batters per nine innings at Chattanooga--while also finding a way to mix his pitch types and velocities more efficiently. He could be a No. 3 or 4 starter.
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  Ranked Florida State League #10 prospect in 2016
  After spending the second half of 2015 in the FSL, Gonsalves returned to the Miracle this season before earning a promotion to Double-A. He ranked fourth in the minors in opponent average (.179) and seventh in ERA (2.06) while ranking in the top 15 with 155 strikeouts. However, his walk rate nearly doubled after a promotion to Double-A, and his fastball command still has to improve. Gonsalves showed greater efficiency in the FSL. He relies heavily on his 90-91 mph fastball, which at times reaches 95, and plus sinking changeup. His heater jumps on hitters thanks to his effortless delivery and good extension. His size, low arm slot and tough angle to righthanded batters helps him thrive with those two pitches, though the Twins try to get him to use his slider and curveball more often. Fort Myers manager Jeff Smith lauded Gonsalves for his work ethic, competitiveness and makeup.
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  Ranked Midwest League #18 prospect in 2015
  The Twins have taken it slowly with Gonsalves, a third-year pro who spent much of the past two seasons at Rookie-level Elizabethton. He pitched well in an eight-start stint at Cedar Rapids in 2014, but the Twins opted to bring Gonsalves back to the MWL this season. He went 6-1, 1.15 in nine starts with 12.6 strikeouts per nine innings before a promotion to high Class A Fort Myers. Gonsalves' fastball receives average grades. He sits 90-91 mph and dials up to 93 when needed, but because he has length to his stride (he's 6-foot-5), his fastball plays up. He keeps hitters off balance by mixing in his tick above-average breaking ball and average changeup at any point in the count. When the Twins drafted Gonsalves, his combination of a big frame and athleticism led some to project that he would gain velocity. After three pro seasons, though, it appears he will not develop more than average fastball velocity. Regardless, his feel and secondary stuff are good enough for him to project as a No. 4 starter.
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  Ranked Florida State League #16 prospect in 2015
  Gonsalves earned a June promotion from low Class A Cedar Rapids to the FSL and didn't miss much of a beat. Overall, he finished fourth in the minors in ERA (2.01) and sixth in opponent average (.198). He pitched well in the FSL, performing better than any other Fort Myers starter thanks to his lively fastball. An easy motion, loose arm and long levers help Gonsalves pitch with an above-average fastball that touches 95 mph and sits 89-93. He has the ability to pitch to both sides of the plate with his heater and works many hitters by going hard in and soft away with his above-average changeup. He'd rank higher if his breaking ball and command were better. Inexperience is part of his command issue, and he needs to get stronger to hold his delivery together deeper into games. Gonsalves throws both a curveball and a newly-added slider, and both are fringy if not below-average. Scouts have some questions about whether he has the loose wrists to spin even an average breaking ball in the long term, so he may need to adopt a cutter to give hitters another look.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #97 prospect in 2018
• Ranked Baseball America's #99 prospect in 2017

• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Gonsalves is quite a unique prospect. His 87-91 mph fastball manages to get plenty of swings and misses because of deception and his changeup is an above-average pitch. Gonsalves walks too many batters, but his nibbling has worked for him so far because he manages to avoid giving up many hits. He has less hits allowed than walks allowed in Triple-A. Gonsalves is a back-of-the-rotation starter at best, but he is big league ready.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Given an above-slot bonus of $700,000 as a fourth-round steal, Gonsalves has justified the Twins' faith after he pitched just 48 innings as a high school senior. Makeup concerns caused him to drop after he was suspended eight games for covering up a teammate's drug use. Scouting Report: A shoulder strain landed Gonsalves on the shelf at the 2016 Arizona Fall League and again in spring 2017, when he missed the first six weeks of the season at Double-A Chattanooga. Tall with long levers and a three-quarters arm slot, he pitches at 88-91 mph and touches 94 with his fastball, which shows glove-side run and plays up due to deception and extension. He reads hitters well and works effectively at the top of the zone. He featured his 1-to-6 curveball more often in 2017, when it was a putaway pitch at times. His slurvy slider is just average with short tilt, but his changeup earns above-average grades because of its late fade and his ability to maintain arm speed. The Future: Gonsalves figures to open 2018 back at Triple-A Rochester. If he continues to hone his command and cut his walk rate, he should be vying for a spot in the middle of the rotation before long.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Drafted in the fourth round in 2013 and signed to an above-slot $700,000 bonus, Gonsalves has moved steadily up the Twins system. He returned to high Class A Fort Myers in 2016 after making 15 starts there at the end of 2015, and he earned a promotion to Double-A Chattanooga in late June. He went 13-5, 2.06 between both levels, with his ERA ranking seventh in the minors and his .179 opponent average ranking fourth. Scouting Report: Athletic with a loose arm and easy delivery, Gonsalves' 90-91 mph fastball plays up due to his extension and the tough angle created by his low arm slot. He can touch 95 mph, but he's effective as long as he works the corners. The command of his fastball lacks consistency and will need to improve. A plus sinking changeup gives him a weapon against righthanded hitters. The Twins had him throw more curveballs in 2016, but it's a pitch Gonsalves still needs to mix in more. While it doesn't project as a plus pitch, his curveball flashes average and should be a usable third option.
  
  The Future: Gonsalves will likely pitch at Triple-A Rochester at some point in 2017 and could crack the big league rotation as soon as 2018. He has the look of a mid- to back-of-the-rotation starter.