| Stephen Gonsalves | |
| Team: | Free agent |
| Position: | Pitcher |
| Birth Date: | 8 July 1994 |
| Birth Place: | San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Bats: | Left |
| Throws: | Left |
| Debutleague: | MLB |
| Debutdate: | August 20 |
| Debutyear: | 2018 |
| Debutteam: | Minnesota Twins |
| Statyear: | 2021 season |
| Statleague: | MLB |
| Stat1label: | Win–loss record |
| Stat1value: | 2–2 |
| Stat2label: | Earned run average |
| Stat2value: | 6.21 |
| Stat3label: | Strikeouts |
| Stat3value: | 20 |
| Teams: | |
Stephen William Gonsalves (born July 8, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox. Listed at 6feet and 218lb, the throws and bats left-handed.
Gonsalves attended Cathedral Catholic High School in San Diego, California.[1] He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the fourth round of the 2013 Major League Baseball Draft.[2] He was expected to be selected earlier in the draft, but was suspended from his senior season for nearly a month after lying to his dean to cover for his roommate smoking marijuana.[3] Gonsalves had committed to play college baseball for San Diego.[4]
Gonsalves signed with the Twins and made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast Twins. He was later promoted to the Elizabethton Twins.[5] He posted a combined 2–1 win–loss record with a 0.95 earned run average (ERA) in eight games between both clubs. In 2014, he pitched for Elizabeton and the Cedar Rapids Kernels where he went 4–3 with a 3.02 ERA in 14 games between both teams. He spent 2015 with Cedar Rapids and the Fort Myers Miracle, where he pitched to a combined 13–3 record with a 2.01 ERA in 24 games.
Pitching for the High-A Fort Myers Miracle and Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts in 2016, Gonsalves was named the Twins Minor league Pitcher of the Year in 2016 after posting a 13–5 record, 2.06 ERA, and 155 strikeouts over his 140 innings in 24 starts.[6] After the season he played in the Arizona Fall League but only appeared in 4 games due to a shoulder strain.[7]
The same injury caused him to miss the start of the 2017 season. He returned to pitch for the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts and the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings where he went 9–5 with a 3.27 ERA in 20 games. The Twins added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[8] Gonsalves began the 2018 season with Rochester and made his major league debut on August 20, 2018.[9] He lasted for 1.1 innings gave up 6 hits, 4 runs, 2 walks, he also had 3 strikeouts, and ended that game with an ERA of 27.00. He finished the season winning 2 games and losing 2. He played in 7 games and had an ERA of 6.57.[10]
Gonsalves was slated to begin the 2019 season pitching for Triple-A Rochester but was placed on the injured list with an arm injury before the season began.[11] [12] After one start, he was returned to the injured list on May 25, 2019.[13] Gonsalves began a rehab assignment in the Gulf Coast League on August 10, 2019.[14]
On November 4, 2019, Gonsalves was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets.[15] He was designated for assignment on July 23, 2020.[16]
Gonsalves was claimed off waivers by the Boston Red Sox on July 25, 2020.[17] The Red Sox designated Gonsalves for assignment on August 19; he was sent outright to the team's alternate training site on August 26.[18] In early November 2020, he was re-signed by the Red Sox to a minor-league deal.[19] He began the 2021 season in Triple-A with the Worcester Red Sox.[20] On August 31, Gonsalves was promoted to Boston's major-league roster,[21] pitching in relief that evening against the Tampa Bay Rays.[22] He was returned to Triple-A on September 13 and removed from the 40-man roster.[23]
On December 3, 2021, Gonsalves signed a minor league contract with the Chicago Cubs.[24] In 2022, he made 8 appearances for the Triple–A Iowa Cubs, logging a 4.26 ERA. In 2023, Gonsalves split the season between Iowa, the High–A South Bend Cubs, Single–A Myrtle Beach Pelicans, and rookie–level Arizona Complex League Cubs, accumulating a 5.72 ERA with 44 strikeouts across 22 games. He elected free agency following the season on November 6, 2023.[25]
On January 17, 2024, Gonsalves signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers[26] and was assigned to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Baseball Club to start the season.[27] In 15 appearances for Oklahoma city, he struggled to a 6.00 ERA with 23 strikeouts across 18 innings of work. On May 24, Gonsalves was released by the Dodgers organization.[28]
On May 28, 2024, Gonsalves signed a minor league contract with the Colorado Rockies.[29] In 17 appearances for the Triple–A Albuquerque Isotopes, he struggled to a 7.41 ERA with 23 strikeouts over 17 innings of work. Gonsalves was released by the Rockies organization on August 6.[30]