Minnesota Twins

Twins pitching prospect Gonsalves back and faster than ever

Published Jun. 8, 2017 5:07 p.m. ET

Dave Heller

The Minnesota Twins are reshaping their franchise with an injection of youth and prospects.

Every Thursday for the rest of the season, FOX Sports North will take a closer look at some specific young players -- as well as noting others who might be stepping up -- measuring, highlighting and evaluating their progress.

This is the 6th edition of the 2017 Young Twins Tracker.

Lewin Diaz (age 20/Low-A)

Last week: 6 games, 22 AB, 4 H, 1 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, 0 SB, 2 BB, 4 K, .182 BA.

Season: 56 games, 214 AB, .280 BA, .325 OBP, .486 SLG, .811 OPS, 21 2B, 1 3B, 7 HR, 25 R, 34 RBI, 0 SB, 13 BB, 35 K.

Notable: Diaz had hits in four of six games last week but hasn't had a multiple-hit game since May 28.

Stephen Gonsalves (age 22/Double-A)

Last week: 1 games (1 start), 1-0, 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 8 K

Season: 4 games (4 starts), 1-2, 2.45 ERA, 22 IP, 13 H, 2 HR, 5 BB, 26 K, .167 OBA, 0.82 WHIP

Notable: The left-hander says his shoulder problems are behind him and he's now pitching more with his body than his arm, the result being an uptick in how hard he throws (he says to 90-94 mph this year after hitting 88-92 mph in 2016). He picked up his first win of the year on June 5, throwing a season-high 96 pitches.

Nick Gordon (age 21/Double-A)

Last week: 5 games, 24 AB, 7 H, 2 2B, 3 R, 4 RBI, 1 SB, 1 BB, 6 K, .292 BA.

Season: 54 games, 220 AB, .305 BA, .374 OBP, .477 SLG, .851 OPS, 16 2B, 5 3B, 4 HR, 34 R, 31 RBI, 4 SB, 24 BB, 51 K.

Notable: Gordon had his first four-hit game of the season with a 4 for 6 day vs. Jackson on June 6. He also knocked in two runs in that contest.

Tyler Jay (age 23/Double-A)

Season: 2 games (0 starts), 0-0, 4.50 ERA, 2 IP, 1 H, 1 HR, 3 BB, 2 K, .143 OBA, 2.00 WHIP

Notable: Jay, who was activated from the disabled list May 23, was put back on the DL on June 1 due to left shoulder impingement.

ByungHo Park (age 30/Triple-A)

Last week: 6 games, 20 AB, 0 H, 0 R, 0 RBI, 0 SB, 4 BB, 14 K, .000 BA.

Season: 29 games, 112 AB, .188 BA, .266 OBP, .339 SLG, .605 OPS, 8 2B, 0 3B, 3 HR, 10 R, 9 RBI, 0 SB, 11 BB, 37 K.

Notable: Well, let's just say Park did not have a good week and, while we acknowledge there might be interest in him, his time in the Tracker might be coming to an end if he can't turn things around.

Fernando Romero (age 22/Double-A)

Last week: 1 game (1 start), 0-0, 7 IP, 8 H, 5 R (2 ER), 0 BB, 8 K

Season: 11 games (10 starts), 4-5, 3.51 ERA, 59 IP, 57 H, 2 HR, 22 BB, 57 K, .249 OBA, 1.34 WHIP

Notable: We're adding this hard-throwing right-hander to the Tracker this week. Romero missed two full seasons due to an elbow injury before coming back last season and pitching 16 games in Single-A. Over his last three starts, Romero has allowed two earned runs in 19 innings on 13 hits and five walks while fanning 20.

Kohl Stewart (age 22/Double-A)

Season: 6 games (6 starts), 0-4, 5.63 ERA, 24 IP, 26 H, 1 HR, 22 BB, 14 K, .280 OBA, 2.00 WHIP

Notable: Stewart remains on the disabled list (placed there May 10, retroactively to May 8) due to left knee tendinitis.

Others: Four Chattanooga players were selected a Southern League All-Stars: OF Eddie Corcino, Gordon, Romero and OF LaMonte Wade (9th round, 2015). The All-Star Game will be played June 20. … Six Cedar Rapids players were named Midwest League All-Stars: P Clark Beeker (33rd round, 2016), 3B Travis Blankenhorn (3rd round, 2015), Diaz, C/DH Mitchell Kranson (9th round, 2016), SS Jermaine Palacios and P Sean Poppen (19th round, 2016). … Rochester OF Zack Granite (14th round, 2013) is making a case to be a weekly addition to the Tracker. Last week he was 14 for 30 (.467) with 3 doubles, 3 triples, 9 runs and 4 steals. … Red Wings LHP Nick Turley had 22 K in 12.1 IP. … Chattanooga RHP Felix Jorge had a 0.992 WHIP and 2.70 ERA with 15 K in 13.1 IP. … Lookouts 3B Dan Gamanche hit .308 with4 double, a triple and 11 RBI.

Statistics courtesy milb.com

Dave Heller is the author of the book Ken Williams: A Slugger in Ruth's Shadow as well as Facing Ted Williams - Players From the Golden Age of Baseball Recall the Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived and As Good As It Got: The 1944 St. Louis Browns