Rochester Red Wings’ pitcher Gonsalves setting table

It seems only right Minnesota Twins top pitching prospect Stephen Gonsalves made his Triple-A debut when Rochester debuted a uniform and namesake inspired by (arguably) the area’s most iconic food dish.

Gonsalves, 23, made his first start with the Red Wings on Plates Night —Aug. 10 — and like the famous meal represented on his jersey that night, the San Diego native has all the necessary ingredients to compete and potentially help Rochester — or Minnesota — make a late-season playoff push.

“Moving up from rookie ball to Triple-A, the big difference I’ve noticed in the level of talent; everyone’s just a call away from making the big leagues,” Gonsalves said. “With that being said, a big part of the mental game is not focusing on the next promotion or recall for the betterment of whatever team I’m asked to play for.”

Standing 6 feet, 5 inches, the southpaw has four main pitches at his disposal: fastball, slider, curveball and change-up. His slider is a relatively new addition to his repertoire, but essential to have — the meat sauce, ketchup, mustard and onions — in his game. His fastball and change-up are his tried-and-true pitches he can rely on when the rest of his game struggles — the burger patties or hot dogs. His curveball is what he has focused on honing since being drafted, and has the potential to be a difference maker — the macaroni salad and home fries. When mixed together, a formidable force.

“At this level, I can’t just get away with only throwing fastballs and change-ups like I’m still in high school,” Gonsalves said. “As a starter, once you move up in the ranks you need to be able to throw three or four pitches for strikes if you’re planning to go deep into ballgames.”

After overcoming a shoulder injury to start the season, Gonsalves went 8-3 with a 2.68 ERA for Double-A Chattanooga. He recorded 96 strikeouts to 23 walks, allowing 26 runs and 67 hits in 87 innings. In two starts with Rochester, he is 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 13 innings.

“I think (having) the injury helped me out this year,” Gonsalves said of a shoulder strain in his throwing arm. “I spent a lot of time with the rehab coordinator in Chattanooga on learning how to better use my entire body to pitch and help myself focus on staying healthy through proper preparation.

“Before that, being the young guy that I am, all I felt I really needed was a little hot tub time to be ready to go. The injury opened my eyes to always getting a proper warmup done and throwing with the correct mechanics more consistently.”

Gonsalves was drafted by Minnesota in the fourth round of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft, five rounds prior to catcher Mitch Garver. The pair have been on the same teams at various times over the course of the past five seasons, with one constant remaining the same.

“As my catcher the past five years, Mitch has always been called up before I have and I always catch up to him shortly after,” Gonsalves said. “We’ve developed a rapport; being the great hitter he is, he helps guide me through which pitches I should be throwing at different counts.”

Garver was called up Friday to Minnesota to replace an injured Robbie Grossman after exclusively playing with Rochester this season. If history repeats itself once again, the Gonsalves-Garver connection could appear in Minneapolis very soon.

Barring a last-second call-up, Gonsalves is set to start for Rochester as the team faces Louisville at 2:05 p.m. Sunday on the road. With 16 games remaining in the regular season, Rochester controls its destiny as the owner of a narrow lead over Lehigh Valley in the International League wild-card race.

In the meantime, there is one thing Gonsalves must do.

“I still need to have my first Garbage Plate,” Gonsalves said. “I was only in Rochester for a few days before our current road trip, so I haven’t had a chance to try one. It’s on the top of my to-do list when we get back.”