This week:
- I was going to lead off with the revitalization of Jack Egbert, who has been impressive since his return to a starting role. However, last night, after another impressive beginning, he took a line drive to his pitching hand and left the game. Charlotte is notoriously tight-lipped about injuries so no further info available at this point. In eight starts, Egbert had far better results than as a reliever: 43 IP, 32 hits, 5 BB, 35 K.
- Carlos Quentin will be starting his rehab assignment for the Knights tonight, where he is scheduled to play three innings.
- Carlos Torres will be representing the Knights at the AAA All-Star Game. His line has been very good this season: 86 IP, 67 hits, 35 BB, 84 K. Cole Armstrong also somehow made the team.
- Promotions: Jhonny Nunez to Charlotte; Henry Mabee to Birmingham; Gregory Infante to Winston-Salem; and Nevin Griffith to Kannapolis.
- Tyler Flowers: .286/.431/.533. Read this interview with him by Sox Examiner.
- Flowers and Dayan Viciedo were granted permission from the White Sox to participate in both the Futures Game on July 12 and the Southern League All-Star Game the following night. The Barons are hosting the latter game this season.
- Bryan Morgado, the third round pick out of Tennessee with control issues, had quite a day pitching in the Cape Cod League: 5 IP, 1 hit, 1 BB, 13 K. His price may be going up.
- As The Cheat noted earlier this week, the White Sox were silent at the opening of the signing period for international free agents. The organization has long done a poor job in this facet, for a variety of reasons. However, it appears that they may have played the role of the blind squirrel with a nut named Miguel Gonzalez. This 18 year old catcher out of Venezuela piqued my interest last season while playing in the DSL because of his excellent plate discipline. He's made a splash so far in his stateside debut for Bristol, adding some power (in a small sample size) to his numbers: .429/.467/.750.
- Josh Phegley, first round supplemental pick, was assigned to Kannapolis. The catcher has so far appeared in three games, all at DH, as he works himself back into catching shape and familiarizes himself with the pitchers. So far, as expected, he hasn't had much trouble adjusting to professional hitting.
- Sox Machine gives his midseason prospect rankings for Charlotte and Birmingham and Winston-Salem and Kannapolis.
- Nick Ciolli and Kyle Colligan have both had no trouble with Pioneer League pitching. These two outfielders are going to be putting pressure on some of the laggards at higher levels.
- Tyler Kuhn isn't one of those laggards. He's been hitting very well since his promotion to the Dash: .400/.419/.475.