MLB rumors: 5 prospects who can help the Twins in 2019

2. LHP Stephen Gonsalves

Gonsalves is starting the season on the Triple-A injured list with a flexor/pronator strain in his left elbow, with no timeline for his recovery. He got his first taste of the big leagues last year, with a 6.57 ERA and badly reversed rates (5.8 K/9, 8.0 BB/9) over seven appearances (four starts).

That control trouble was a continuation of his struggles in that area in Triple-A last year, as Gonsalves posted a career-worst 4.9 BB/9 over 19 outings (18 starts) there. Outside of that he was pretty good though, with a 2.96 ERA and a 8.5 K/9 for Rochester with a 2.76 ERA and a 9.0 K/9 overall while allowing less than six hits per nine innings between Double-A Chattanooga and Rochester last year.

The Twins are rightly exercising caution with Gonsalves’ elbow, and it’s not a stretch to connect the ligament strain to his control struggles in 2018. To the latter end he has worked with pitching coach Wes Johnson to fix his mechanics (in particular his lower half), along with doing some different fastball grips in an effort to increase velocity. The elbow issue could also be a residual of changing some aspects his delivery.

If (when?) the Twins are looking to promote a starter out of the minors, Gonsalves should be first in line as long as his elbow strain is behind him.