MINNEAPOLIS -- Stephen Gonsalves, the Twins' fourth-round pick in the 2013 Draft, was named the left-handed pitcher on MLB Pipeline's Team of the Year.
The Team of the Year, as selected by the MLB Pipeline staff, recognized one player from each position in the field, as well as a designated hitter, a right-handed starting pitcher, a left-handed starting pitcher and a relief pitcher. In order to be eligible, a player had to spend roughly half the season in the Minor Leagues.
Gonsalves, the No. 3 prospect in the Twins' organization, according to MLBPipeline.com, was 13-5 with a 2.06 ERA, 155 strikeouts and 57 walks in a combined 24 starts between Class A Advanced Fort Myers and Double-A Chattanooga.
The 22-year-old southpaw was impressive after he was promoted to Chattanooga on June 22, posting a sparkling 8-1 record with a 1.82 ERA in 13 starts and 10.8 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
He was particularly dominant in August, when he went 4-0 in five starts, including a six-inning hitless start on Aug. 17. He only allowed one earned run in 32 2/3 innings in the month.
"He's had a nice year," said Twins manager Paul Molitor. "Good numbers. He's on track, he's making progress, he's getting promoted, and he's doing the things you want to see a young kid do."
According to MLB Pipeline, Gonsalves finished among the Minor League leaders in opponents' average (fourth), ERA (seventh), WHIP (11th) and strikeouts (13th). He has never recorded an ERA higher than 3.19 at any level of the Minors in four years in the Twins' organization.
Worth noting
• The Twins placed third baseman Trevor Plouffe on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday after he left Tuesday's game with a strained left oblique and intercostal, sustained on a swing. It is his third DL stint of the season.