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Phegley, Rienzo, and Surkamp sent to Charlotte; three others sent to minor league camp

We have our first real casualties of the spring.

By Steve_p
Ed Zurga

The White Sox have announced the following moves today.

  • Josh Phegley, Andre Rienzo, and Eric Surkamp have been optioned to Charlotte
  • Chris Beck, Andy Wilkins, and Cody Winiarski have been reassigned to minor league camp

Phegley and Rienzo are the first big moves so far this spring.  Although the moves are not entirely surprising, they each spent several months as starters for the 2013 White Sox.  Robin Ventura announced yesterday that Tyler Flowers would be the starting catcher so there was no reason to keep Phegley around.  Rienzo also needs to get his work in to start for Charlotte and work on his control issues that showed up again this spring.

Eric Surkamp, an offseason pickup from the Giants, wasn't expected to make the team this spring.  He'll head to Charlotte to add starting depth there.

Chris Beck only appeared in one game with the major league squad this spring.  As the second round pick from 2012, Beck made it to Birmingham by the end of last season.  While his low strikeout totals at high-A Winston-Salem were a concern, his strikeout rates improved after a promotion to Birmingham at the end of the season.  This will be something to watch this season.

MATC-Madison's Cody Winiarski has been progressing through the organization as a reliever.  After missing 2012 due to surgery to remove a rib, he picked up ten saves for Winston-Salem during 2013.  He was promoted to Birmingham in August where he picked up three saves in seven games without giving up a run.  The Sox are really taking a liking to Winiarski, and he could end up on the major league team before the end of the season.

Andy Wilkins has been one of the stars of the major league camp this spring.  Although playing first base with the White Sox isn't a great career path for this season, he gave the Sox something to think about for next season by hitting .467/.600/.667 this spring. He'll need to continue this at a reasonable level this season at Charlotte to contend for a DH or first base spot with the Sox next season.

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