White Sox Minor League Update: August 11, 2018

Top performances from top prospects abound, as Alec Hansen made his debut after a demotion

Charlotte Knights 8, Rochester Red Wings 0

Charlie Tilson: 1-for-5, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Ryan Cordell: 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 0 K

Eloy Jimenez: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K

Jose Rondon: 3-for-5, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Seby Zavala: 2-for-5, 1 R, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 1 K

Michael Kopech: 7 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 K **MVP**

Carson Fulmer: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 1 K

I do not mention check marks often, but that curveball checks every single mark Rick Hahn has ever thought of, and Kopech’s start only got better. He finished with seven shutout innings and an 81 game score. Better yet, it was another start without a walk. The other check mark breaker, Eloy Jiménez, hit his 10th home run with the Knights in the third inning. Bruce Levine reported that he would be up this week, but — stop the presses — that did not happen. Really, Charlotte only needed Eloy and Kopech today but alas, the Knights crushed Rochester. They had 15 combined hits, as six batters had multiples. Fulmer closed out the shutout with a nice inning, and no runners allowed.

Montgomery Biscuits 8, Birmingham Barons 1

Luis Basabe: 0-for-4, 0 BB, 2 K

Joe Booker: 1-for-4, 0 BB, 1 K

Zack Collins: 1-for-4, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Alex Call: 1-for-4, 0 BB, 0 K

Kodi Medeiros: 4 ²⁄₃ IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 4 BB, 8 K

Jose Ruiz: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K **MVP**

Not a particularly good way to start a stint with a new team from Kodi Medeiros, who has not looked sharp in terms of production and control of his pitches. He did have a high strikeout total, but his outing was far from a success. But after a day with 18 runs and 10 in one inning, the Barons bats fell silent. They were able to get eight runners on base, but none of them scored. Call and Mitch Roman were able to provide the only extra-base hits, both doubles. Meanwhile, the best performance was out of the bullpen. Ruiz went two innings of perfect pitching, lowering his ERA to 3.38 in AA.

Winston-Salem Dash 4, Potomac Nationals 0

Luis Robert: 0-for-3, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Luiz Gonzalez: 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K

Nick Madrigal: 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K

Blake Rutherford: 1-for-2, 1 R, 2 BB, 0 K

Gavin Sheets: 0-for-3, 1 BB, 0 K

Laz Rivera: 2-for-3, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K

Alec Hansen: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

Lincoln Henzman: 3 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K **MVP**

It was a planned shortened start for Hansen, as he tries to find his command after his demotion. He did not allow any runs, but still walked two people in two innings, which, I guess, is an improvement. Meanwhile, Henzman piggybacked off of Hansen’s start to add three shutout innings. The offense did not dazzle, but it was enough for a comfortable win. The first runs came in a three-run sixth, when Gonzalez and Rivera both drove in runs. Madrigal added an RBI in the seventh inning and, of course, he did not strike out.

Kannapolis Intimidators at Lexington Legends

Idaho Falls Chukars 12, Great Falls Voyagers 10

Romy Gonzalez: 1-for-6, 2B (10), R, 2 RBI, 3 K

Lenyn Sosa: 2-for-5, 2 2B (12), R

Bryce Bush: 1-for-3, 2R, RBI, 2 BB, K, SB (2), E (3)

Gunnar Troutwine: 2-for-3, 2B (3), R, 4 RBI, 2 BB

Amado Nunez: 0-for-4, R, BB, 4 K

Alex Destino: 4-for-5, 2 3B (5), 2 R, 2 RBI **MVP**

Konnor Pilkington: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 33 game score, 34 pitches/22 strikes

Davis Martin: 3 IP, 3 H. 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Devon Perez: 1 ²⁄₃ IP, 6 H, 5 ER

Michael McCormick: 1 ¹⁄₃ IP, 3 H, 4 ER, BB, 3 K, HR. blown save, loss

It was highly touted college pitcher night to start out for the Voyagers. Martin and Pilkington combined for three earned runs and five strikeouts in five innings, a fine start as they left with a 8-3 lead. The eight runs came in two four run innings, both led by Troutwine, who had a three-run double and a sac fly to tally four RBIs. Destino was also a hitting star, with two triples among his four hits. This game was blown by Perez and McCormick, though, as Idaho Falls put two runs up in the sixth, three in the seventh, and four in the eighth to win.

DSL Reds 9, DSL White Sox 2

Sidney Pimental: 2-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 0 K, 2 SB **MVP**

Jose Rodriguez: 2-for-4, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Wilber Perez: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K

After a blowout win yesterday, the favor is returned by the DSL Reds, as they crush the DSL White Sox. Pimental, who is finally getting game action, continued his successful first week with two hits and two stolen bases. He is now hitting .412 in his five games played. Rodriguez added two hits of his own but beyond those two, there was not much production from the plate — which did not help Perez. He was not as successful in this game, but he performed well enough to get hand the game to the bullpen in decent shape.