This Week in White Sox Minor League Baseball

This week:

• Daniel Hudson takes over as the undisputed top pitching prospect in the organization. While there still seems to be confusion about whether he has a plus fastball or an average fastball or a nice slider or a poor slurve and some don't like his mechanics, all seem to be in agreement that he's good. The numbers over three levels this year certainly back that up: 20 GS, 117.1 IP, 80 hits, 24 BB, 135 K. What is most impressive is that his peripherals have remained essentially unchanged between High A and AA, though he is giving up more flyballs.
• Freddy Garcia had his first rehab start in Kannapolis (3 IP, 2 hits, 1 BB, 3 K) and then promptly returned to the DL. Could be that the Sox are easing him along but three innings against A ballers shouldn't be taking a toll on a guy looking to help at the major league level this season.
• Jared Mitchell: .308/.413/.462.
• Brady Shoemaker has now hit in all of his professional games, up to 28 straight now. The 19th rounder is not really a prospect but he makes following Bristol a little more interesting.
• Interview with Kannapolis' Dan Remenowsky. For the season: 43 IP, 26 hits, 11 BB, 75 K.
• In draft pick news: Tracye Thompson, second round pick, signed for a bonus of $625,000, about $30,000 above slot. He has arrived in Bristol and will be making his debut in the middle of next week. Bryan Morgado continues to impress in the Cape Cod League, going 7 IP, 1 hit, 1 BB, 7 K and 4.2 IP, 5 hits, 3 BB and 8 K in what are probably his final starts this summer. Recommended slot for Morgado is about $320,000.
• Jordan Danks: .282/.371/.421.
• Dayan Viciedo continues to adjust, gradually but steadily. July seems to have been the month where his power stroke began to appear. His season line is now .277/.314/.394 and, with a month or so left in the season, he's got a good chance to raise those numbers to a very respectable level for a 20 year old in AA. He can expect another challenge this fall in the Arizona Fall League.
• Justin Greene was promoted to Winston-Salem after Mitchell signed and hasn't had a good time so far: .188/.304/.250. Older prospects don't get as much time to develop so he needs to turn things around or he's going to get lost quickly.
• Carlos Torres, the man most likely to be keeping a rotation spot warm for Jake Peavy during August, had a shaky return to AAA: 6 IP, 2 hits, 5 BB, 7 K. While he can certainly make overly aggressive hitters swing and miss, more patient (read: MLB) hitters often lay off and he can get into trouble with the walks. The Sox are likely to skip their 5th starter's next start so Torres wouldn't be needed until probably the Mariners series on August 10-12. He's scheduled to start tonight for the Knights. I think the Sox will choose to call up a relief option for the intervening period (after Alexei returns on Sunday/Monday and Lillibridge is demoted) and keep Torres on his regular rotation.
• Tyler Flowers: .256/.289/.419 so far at AAA.

Programming note: The column may be off next week.