Stephen Gonsalves
photo by Tim Evearitt
The Southern League has announced that Chattanooga Lookouts’ All-Star Stephen Gonsalves has been named its Player of the Month for the month of August.
This is the southpaw’s second accolade this year after also being selected as the League’s Pitcher of the Week for the week of 8/15-21.
This month the lefty has been sensational, only allowing one earned run in 32.2 innings. Gonsalves also compiled four wins and 37 strikeouts in his five starts this month.
Of his five outings his best came on 8/11 when the Twins number four prospect faced off against the Montgomery Biscuits and did not surrender a hit in six innings. He also struck out nine batters on his way to his sixth win of the year.
Gonsalves’ stellar month added to what was already a great first Double-A season. In 12 games he has struck out six or more batters 10 times including a season-high 11 on 7/12 against Tennessee. Since his debut on June 25th he has fanned 84 batters which is the fifth most in all of Minor League Baseball during that span.
Along with posting dominant strikeout numbers the staff ace has also kept opponents off the base paths. In his 71.1 innings he has held opponents to a .170 average which is the second lowest average against in all of Double-A Baseball in that time frame.
Thursday night, Gonsalves aims to increase his four-game win streak to five as the Lookouts face off against the Jackson Generals on the road at 8:05 p.m.
Chattanooga is battling for a playoff spot as they trail Montgomery by three games for the top spot in the Division.
Fans who want to listen to tonight’sgame can tune in to 98.1 the Lake. The team’s broadcasts return to their regular home of 96.1 the Legend Friday.
Stephen Gonsalves
photo by Tim Evearitt