Minnesota Twins: Ervin Santana back to DL, Stephen Gonsalves to start Monday

The Minnesota Twins received bad news once again regarding Ervin Santana’s finger and send him to the DL, Stephen Gonsalves to start Monday.

The Minnesota Twins just recently worked Ervin Santana back into the rotation after he battled a finger injury for most of the season. The hopes of the Twins front office had to be that Santana would work himself back into his usual form so that they could look to deal him to a starter needy contender. Instead, Santana has struggled and Sunday he was placed back on the disabled list with that same nagging finger injury that landed him there to begin the season.

All offseason it was supposed to be Santana and Jose Berrios who were to lead the Twins pitching staff through a competitive 2018 season. That plan was derailed before it ever began as it was revealed Santana had injured his finger and need surgery before even reporting to spring training.

After a very good 2017 where Santana was able to make 33 starts, tossing 211.1 innings, five complete games with three of them shutouts, and a 3.28 ERA the Twins were expecting big things from the right-hander this season. Instead, July 25th was Santana’s first start and instead of brilliance, it has been scary at times for Santana on the mound.

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In five starts in 2018, Santana has pitched 24.2 innings, allowed 22 earned runs, nine home runs, and now carries an 8.03 ERA. That has led to the Twins shutting Santana down for what very well could result in the rest of the season. With the Twins out of the playoff chase, Santana was really auditioning himself for a trade before August 31st so he could be eligible for a playoff roster. With the call-up the Twins made to take Santana’s place it seems very likely his DL stint may be long term and he may not step back on a mound in 2018.

Stephen Gonsalves to start Monday

Stephen Gonsalves is finally getting the call to the majors we have been waiting for the young left-hander to receive since even late last season. Now the true move for Santana hitting the DL is Robbie Grossman being reactivated from his own DL stint as well as Alan Busenitz being recalled and Johnny Field optioned. As we learned officially after the game, Tyler Duffey was also optioned back to Rochester with the ccall-upof Gonsalves being the corresponding move.

Gonsalves started his season at Double-A Chattanooga after doing very well there in 2017. After four starts and a 1.77 ERA, the left-hander earned his promotion to Triple-A Rochester. Gonsalves’ time in Rochester hasn’t gone without a few bumps along the way, but he has settled in nicely putting and been down right dominant at times as of late as he has put together a 2.96 ERA over 22 starts (23 games total), a 1.196 WHIP, and a 8.5 K/9 rate.

Gonsalves is currently ranked as the Twins number five prospect according to MLB Pipeline. He will also appear in the top 10 of our own Puckett’s Pond prospect rankings later this week. He joins Fernando Romero to form a pair of Twins top young arms to make their MLB debut this season. Gonsalves is certainly one of the players we have been waiting to have the opportunity to step into a role with the Twins. Making Monday’s start appointment viewing for any Twins fan.