Promotions for White Sox prospects Jake Petricka and Nestor Molina

White Sox prospects RHP Jake Petricka and RHP Nestor Molina both received promotions this morning. Petricka goes from High-A Winston-Salem to Double-A Birmingham. Molina goes from Birmingham to Triple-A Charlotte.

Petricka, a 2010 second round pick, did not exactly impress with his results this season for the Dash. In five starts, he was 2-3 with a 5.62 ERA and his peripherals didn't tell a much different story: 24 IP, 27 H, 12 BB, 24 K. Between this season and last season, his overall numbers at Winston-Salem are 18 GS, 91.2 IP, 98 H, 38 BB, 70 K. Baseball America ranked Petricka as the fourth best White Sox prospect this past offseason.

Molina, acquired from the Blue Jays in the Sergio Santos deal, had good numbers overall for Birmingham but did give up a lot of hits: 6 GS, 36.1 IP, 45 H, 5 BB and 25 K. His first couple starts of the season were shaky but his next four were much better. Baseball America ranked Molina as the second best White Sox prospect.

Neither Eric Stults nor Jose Quintana are long-term answers for the starting rotation. The Molina promotion, while perhaps not directly connected to Chris Sale's demotion to the bullpen, certainly would line Molina up for the currently vacant 5th starter spot at some point later this season (assuming adequate performance for the Knights).