Twins Spring Training 2019: Second round of cuts sends top prospects to the other side of the complex

After the Twins’ 10-4 victory over the Pirates on Tuesday, the team’s brass optioned four players to minor league camp. Stephen Gonsalves, Nick Gordon, and LaMonte Wade Jr. will be starting the season with Triple-A Rochester, while Luis Arraez has been sent to Double-A Pensacola.

Gonsalves, the only player of the four with major league experience, pitched in seven games for the Twins last year, starting four and appearing after opener Gabriel Moya thrice. He won a pair, lost a pair, and recorded a 6.57 ERA. In two appearances this spring, he gave up six hits and two runs in five innings.

Gordon, the fifth overall draft pick in 2014, split his February and March between second base and shortstop, playing 16 innings closer to the first baseman and 28 innings a bit further away. He batted .300 this spring with a double and triple, but still waits to make his big league debut.

Wade finished his spring with a three-run triple to break the Pittsburgh game open in the ninth. He batted .296, slugged .556, and wore a nameplate with the dot next to the “JR.”, which was weird to see.

While Arráez (pronounced “arise”) only batted .167 in his first major league camp, he sported an OBP of .375 thanks to a team-leading five walks. He hasn’t yet made the rankings in the Twinkie Town prospect vote, but as a member of the 40-man roster, he’ll certainly look to stand out in Pensacola.