White Sox Minor League Report: May 20, 2018

Columbus Clippers 2, Charlotte Knights 1

Charlie Tilson: 1-for-4, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Jake Elmore: 0-for-4, 0 BB, 1 K

Matt Skole: 1-for-4, 0 BB, 1 K

Patrick Leonard: 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 1 K

Tyler Danish: 4 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K **MVP**

With a game like today in Charlotte, news of who the starting pitcher will be next Thursday ruled the day. Now, it is Carlos Rodon, but today’s buzz speaks to how little impact the Knights have in terms of top-end prospects, minus Michael Kopech, compared with the lower levels. Tyler Danish garners the MVP today in a spot start, after Dylan Covey was promoted to replace Carson Fulmer. Danish’s four innings were the most he’d pitched this season. Danish has put together a successful year in AAA, with a 3.66 FIP, but he has fallen off the prospect radar for a reason: He only has a 6.65 K/9 with a 3.13 BB/9. Tilson scored the lone run for the Knights; he is currently riding a four-game hitting streak and has gotten a base knock in 10 of the last 12 games.

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Montgomery Biscuits 10, Birmingham Barons 4

Tito Polo: 0-for-5, 0 BB, 1 K

Zack Collins: 3-for-4, 2 HR, 1 BB, 0 K **MVP**

Eloy Jimenez: 2-for-3, 1 BB, 0 K

Seby Zavala: 0-for-1, 0 BB, 0 K

Matt Rose: 0-for-4, 0 BB, 0 K

Jameson Fisher: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 0 BB, 1 K

Jordan Guerrero: 4 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 5 BB, 1 K

Ryan Burr: 2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K

Ian Hamilton: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K

The Barons also had a tough day but their pitching took the biggest lumps. All four pitchers Birmingham used walked at least one batter, and walked (10) more batters than they struck out (seven). However, the bats did provide some pop. The four runs scored each came off of solo home runs. Zack Collins was able to connect for two of those homers. He has raised his batting average considerably the past month, to .244. The progression of Collins’ BABIP was sure to raise his average, but now his power seems to be following suit. Collins has five of his seven home runs this season so far in May.

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Game 1: Down East Wood Ducks 10, Winston Salem Dash 5

Luis Alexander Basabe: 1-for-4, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 2 K

Alex Call: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 0 K

Blake Rutherford: 0-for-4, 0 BB, 0 K

Micker Adolfo: 0-for-2, 1 BB, 1 K

Gavin Sheets: 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 1 K **MVP**

Yeyson Yrizarri: 0-for-2, 0 BB, 1 K

Luis Martinez: 4 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 7 K

Another minor league team, another loss. Like the Knights, the Dash needed to use their bullpen for a spot start in the first game of the doubleheader. Unfortunately, the two bullpen arms allowed 10 runs in six innings. Gavin Sheets provided some offensive production, and while he still may be without a home run on the season, he raised his batting average to .275 today. He has been in a slump recently, with only three hits in the past week, but that was with a .111 BABIP.

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Game 2: Down East Wood Ducks 7, Winston Salem Dash 0

Joel Booker: 0-for-3, 0 BB, 0 K

Alex Call: 1-for-3, 0 BB, 0 K

Luis Alexander Basabe: 1-for-3, 0 BB, 0 K

Micker Adolfo: 1-for-2, 1 BB, 0 K **MVP**

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

Drew Hasler: 4 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

Welp, the nightcap was even worse for the Dash. This time, the bats couldn’t provide even a glimmer of success. Only Micker Adolfo reached base twice, on a single and walk. He is the last of the top prospects with a batting average better than .300 in Winston-Salem, after the 7-0 loss. Micker is still sporting a career-high walk percentage (11.2%) and a career-low strikeout percentage (27.1%). He is clearly an improved hitter, but his BABIP is more than .400, which does not bode well for his future batting average.

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Game 1: Kannapolis Intimidators 2, Hickory Crawdads 1

Luis Gonzalez: 1-for-3, 0 BB, 0 K

Laz Rivera: 3-for-3, 0 BB, 0 K **MVP**

Craig Dedelow: 0-for-3, 0 BB, 1 K

Tate Blackman: 1-for-3, 0 BB, 1 K

Anthony Villa: 1-for-2, 1 HR, 0 BB, 1 K

Justin Yurchak: 0-for-2, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Parker Rigler: 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

A win! The second win on the day for the Sox organization was a tight one for the I’s. There was not much offense to go around, but Parker Rigler and Robbie Ross Jr. were able to keep Crawdad hitters in check in the 2-1 win. Both Kannapolis runs came in the second, on an Anthony Villa home run and a Johan Cruz RBI ground out. However, Laz Rivera keeps on piling up hits this season. His batting average is now .367, with a .922 OPS. He is batting an eye-popping .417 so far in May, but did come into todays game with a .435 BABIP. Though a regression is in order, Rivera is sporting a wRC+ of 190 this month and continues to be one of the most productive prospects at any level for the Sox.

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Game 2: Kannapolis Intimidators 5, Hickory Crawdads 5 SUSPENDED

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

Laz Rivera: 1-for-3, 1 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Tate Blackman: 2-for-3, 3 RBI, 0 BB, 1 K

Evan Skoug: 1-for-3, 1 R, 0 BB, 0 K

Justin Yurchak: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 1 K

Zach Lewis: 2 ²⁄₃ IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 1 K