Stephen Gonsalves, 22, Chattanooga/Rochester
He missed almost two full months of the season, not making his first start until May 20th, but once he was on the mound, Stephen Gonsalves was the absolute truth for the Lookouts all season long. Gonsalves came into the season as a borderline top 100 candidate, and at the midseason point, he was still borderline top 100 due to the lack of evidence that was out there around July 1st.
Gonsalves made 20 appearances on the season, throwing 110 innings, allowing a 3.27 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, and a 31/118 BB/K ratio. I’ve had multiple scouts from the Southern League tell me that this summer Gonsalves was the most polished, mature, poised, and/or prepared pitcher on the mound when he went into a game. Of note, even though he was hit a bit hard in Rochester, Gonsalves never once “gave in” during those games.
Of all the pitchers in the vaunted Chattanooga rotation, Gonsalves is probably the one I’d put my money on to open 2018 in Minnesota. He has the mound presence already to handle working at the back of a major league rotation.
Others of note: Nik Turley, 27, Chattanooga/Rochester/Minnesota; Anthony Marzi, 24, Cedar Rapids/Fort Myers; Fredderi Soto, 19, DSL; Bryan Sammons, 22, Elizabethton/Cedar Rapids; Lachlan Wells, 20, GCL/Fort Myers; Charlie Barnes, 21, Elizabethton/Cedar Rapids; Lewis Thorpe, 21, Fort Myers/Chattanooga; Jesus Toledo, 17, DSL
Turley’s run was very fun to watch this season, and guys like Marzi and Sammons both had excellent seasons from less than expected spots, as Marzi was signed from independent ball, and Sammons was a senior sign draft pick, so for both of them to have the success they did was very impressive, to say the least.
Next: Right-Handed Reliever