Kernels’ Gonsalves shines in front of boss

CEDAR RAPIDS – If this wasn't his last start as a Cedar Rapids Kernel, it's got to be one of them.

About the only guy pitcher Stephen Gonsalves hasn't impressed this Midwest League season is Minnesota Twins farm director Brad Steil. That's only because Steil hasn't personally observed the ballclub, yet.

That changed Tuesday night, with Steil front and center in the stands behind home plate at Veterans Memorial Stadium to watch Gonsalves obliterate another lineup. He struck out a career-high 12 in six innings, as Cedar Rapids topped Wisconsin, 4-1.

'He was in command of the game and used all of his pitches,” said Twins roving pitching instructor Eric Rasmussen, also getting his first look this season at the lefty. 'He put them away with different stuff. He was unpredictable. He got ahead (in counts) and was unpredictable.”

You don't have to be a baseball savant to tell the 20-year-old Californian has pretty much conquered the low-Class A level. The next step is high-A Fort Myers, and you'd have to believe he'll make it much sooner than later.

Steil was asked what Gonsalves needs to do to get a promotion.

'He's got to keep doing what he's doing,” Steil said. 'We're trying to get him to throw his curveball more, use that. That's one thing he's going to need as he keeps going up the ladder. That's one thing we're working on right now. His opportunity will come in time.”

'That's next season, right?” kidded Kernels Manager Jake Mauer.

Gonsalves (5-1) struck out eight of the first nine Timber Rattlers he faced, including the side in the first and third innings. He pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the fourth with a swinging strike three of Monte Harrison, a highly regarded prospect of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Speaking of highly regarded, that is exactly what Gonsalves has improved his prospect stock to. He lowered his season earned run average to 1.31 here and has given up just 27 hits in 48 innings, striking out 66.

The kid is dealing. His fastball was consistently in the 93 to 95-mile-per-hour range, with his breaking ball and changeup ever improving.

It was way too much for a Wisconsin team that has the MWL's worst record (13-33) and worst offense. The Timber Rattlers came in with a .220 team batting average and have scored the fewest runs in the league.

Gonsalves has thrown 13 innings against them, giving up four hits and no earned runs, striking out 23. Ouch.

'Once you get to two strikes, yeah, you're looking for a strikeout,” Gonsalves said. 'I'm always going fastball first pitch, trying to set them up. My curveball started out pretty good (tonight), though it kind of disappeared a little bit in the later innings. I felt comfortable with my changeup. I have the whole year. So going fastball inside, then changeup, changeup was what contributed to my success tonight.”

He got a wry grin on his face when asked if he felt he's ready for Fort Myers. It was pointed out no one was trying to get him into trouble by asking him that.

'I believe so, but they have the best plan for me,” Gonsalves said. 'I'll always go by their game plan.”

The Kernels (29-17) won despite collecting just six hits and committing three errors. They scored three times in the first inning, including run-scoring hits from Trey Vavra and J.J. Fernandez.

Vavra left the game in the third inning after banging into the tarp down the left-field line chasing a foul ball. It appeared to be a knee injury of some sort, though he did walk off the field under his own power and the injury isn't believed serious.

Vavra leads the team with a .346 batting average.

Catcher Brian Navarreto came off the disabled list before Tuesday's game but left his return game in the seventh inning after bending his thumb back too far on a foul tip. He's expected to be OK.

The teams play again Wednesday night at 6:35.

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