Minnesota Twins Minor League Stars of the Week

This week we go into the Minnesota Twins minor league organization to find the shining talent that we name the Minor League Stars of the Week.  Read on to see who we have named for this week's stars and take a moment to answer the poll and comment on any other players you feel that should have been named.

• Cedar Rapids (A - Low) - Stephen Gonsalves (P) - This week's star from the Kernels has been such a rising star in Cedar Rapids that as of this week, Stephen has been promoted to the Fort Myers Miracle.  In his final start as a Kernel on Monday, Gonsalves dominated with a closing performance in Cedar Rapids against the Clinton LumberKings.  Gonsalves took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and only allowed one hit over seven innings.  Stephen struck out eleven LumberKings hitters, the fourth time this season that he has had ten or more strikeouts in a start.  He finished his 2015 stint with the Kernels with some very impressive numbers including a 6-1 record, a 1.15 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and a 77 SO/15 BB ratio over 55 innings pitched.  Gonsalves was very deserving of the promotion and we look to see his continued excellence for the Fort Myers Miracle in 2015.
• Fort Myers (A - High) - Chih-Wei Hu (P) - Our star from the Fort Myers Miracle this week is Chih-Wei Hu.  With the promotion of Stephen Gonsalves to Fort Myers, along with Ryan Eades, Kohl Stewart, and Aaron Slegers, there is a lot of very good pitching on the Miracle roster but Hu continues to lead the way.  In his lone start last week against the St. Lucie Mets, Hu pitched six innings and allowed only one earned run on five hits, striking out four.  For the season Hu continues to impress with a 5-0 record, a 1.15 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, .185 batting average against, and a 46 SO/10 BB ratio over 47 innings pitched.  Hu already has had one opportunity to pitch this season for the Rochester Red Wings and with continued performances like this, it won't be long before he receives a full promotion to either Chattanooga or Rochester.
• Chattanooga (AA) - Jorge Polanco (SS) - This week our star from the Chattanooga Lookouts is Jorge Polanco.  Polanco has really started to heat up recently, hitting .348 in his last 10 games.  He has also scored eight runs, driven in five, and stolen two bases over that span.  With the recent offensive struggles that Danny Santana has experienced for the Twins, Polanco may be a call-up in the waiting as he has already performed at the major league level in 2014 and his numbers suggest he may be ready again.  For the season, Polanco is hitting .318 with seven doubles, one triple, 4 home runs, and 24 RBI's so he has definitely shown that he is ready to perform for the Twins again if given the opportunity.
• Rochester (AAA) - Taylor Rogers (P) - This week's start from the Rochester Red Wings was also named the Batavia Downs Player of the Week, Taylor Rogers.  In Rogers lone start last week against Durham, Taylor pitched seven innings, allowed two earned runs, and had three strikeouts.  His 47 strikeouts ties him for the team lead with Tommy Milone and also places in sixth in the International League through Sunday's action.  For the season, Rogers is 4-3 with a 3.34 ERA and has a 47 SO/20 BB ratio over 62 IP.  With Milone and Pat Dean, the Red Wings have some solid starting pitching and Rogers is another piece of that puzzle.  The Twins are starting to amass a number of pitching prospects which hopefully can help the major league club stay a winning team for years to come.