White Sox Weekly Minor League Update: Week 19

Charlotte Knights

Charlie Tilson: .125 BA, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 8 K

Ryan Cordell: .292 BA, 2 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 SB

Eloy Jimenez: .238 BA, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 0 BB, 4 K

Jose Rondon: .348 BA, 3 HR, 5 R, 1 BB, 6 K ***MVP of the Week***

Seby Zavala: .375 BA, 3 R, 3 RBI, 0 BB, 2 K

Michael Kopech: 7 IP, 1.19 FIP, 11.57 K/9, 0.00 BB/9

Carson Fulmer: 2 IP, 2.33 FIP, 4.50 K/9, 0.00 BB/9

Spencer Adams: 12 ¹⁄₃ IP, 5.52 FIP, 3.65 K/9, 5.84 BB/9

Jordan Guerrero: 6 IP, 1.50 FIP, 10.50 K/9, 1.50 BB/9

Ryan Burr: 1 IP, 1.33 FIP, 9.00 K/9, 0.00 BB/9

Ian Hamilton: 1 IP, 1.33 FIP, 9.00 K/9, 0.00 BB/9, 1 save

Jose Rondon is starting to generate some prospect following, especially because of his power. In total between AAA and the majors, he has 20 home runs along with 40 extra-base hits in only 95 games. That has led to a 121 wRC+ in AAA and 110 wRC+ on the South Side. In his small stint with the Chicago White Sox, Rondon had a 39.4% hard-hit rate, which would rank in the Top 50 in baseball this year if he qualified, but he also had quite a bit of soft contact (21.2%). Now, it was a very small sample size, but in 2016 with the San Diego Padres, Rondon’s launch angle was only 5.4 degrees. That has doubled this year, which could be a reason for the power surge. What is concerning is the HR/FB rate. This year’s totals in AAA at 22.1%, and 25% in the majors, are far and away the best of Rondón’s career, enough so that he will have to prove his power is real next season. Rondón has been a nice story, but there is not enough data to discern what is really with Rondón’s newfound power yet.

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Birmingham Barons

Joel Booker: .348 BA, 4 R, 4 BB, 6 K, 1 SB

Luis Basabe: .182 BA, 1 HR, 5 R, 5 BB, 8 K, 1 SB

Alex Call: .263 BA, 2 HR, 6 R, 4 RBI, 6 BB, 5 K ***MVP of the Week***

Zack Collins .286 BA 2 HR, 4 R, 8 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K

Bernardo Flores: 10 ¹⁄₃ IP, 7.12 FIP, 1.74 K/9, 0.87 BB/9

Dylan Cease: 5 ²⁄₃ IP, 3.98 FIP, 9.53 K/9, 7.94 BB/9

Kodi Medeiros: 4 2⁄3 IP, 8.81 FIP, 15.43 K/9, 7.71 BB/9

Matt Foster: 2 ²⁄₃ IP, 7.94 FIP, 6.75 K/9, 3.37 BB/9

Jose Ruiz: 3 IP, 0.79 FIP, 12.00 K/9, 0.00 BB/9, 1 save

Zack Collins had been struggling mightily in the second half of the season, but it all ended in one inning. He hit two home runs, including a grand slam, in the ninth inning on Friday. Even with his struggles, Collins’ wRC+ is still at 137, and he is still getting on base 40% of the time. Collins’ walk rate (19.7%) is his best ever in a full-season’s worth of at-bats, but his K-rate is also a new high. The power is down, and that is easily explainable: His line-drive rate (25.8%) is the highest of his career and his fly ball rate (42.1%) is the lowest. That has led to a higher BABIP and higher batting average for Collins, but also a low ISO. Whether or not this is a new approach, Collins’ bat is still something to be excited about. It does not seem like he is close to becoming a good catcher, and maybe an AFL stint wouldn’t hurt in getting him more catching reps — or start the transition to first-base.

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Winston-Salem Dash

Luis Gonzalez: .412 BA, 2 HR, 6 R, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 3 K ***MVP of the Week***

Nick Madrigal: .235 BA, 3 R, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K

Laz Rivera: .286 BA, 2 R, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 2 K

Gavin Sheets: .231 BA, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K

Luis Robert: .286 BA, 5 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 4 K, 3 SB

Blake Rutherford: .333 BA, 2 R, 3 BB, 3 K

Blake Battenfield: 7 IP, 4.53 FIP, 5.14 K/9, 1.29 BB/9

Tyler Johnson: 2 IP, 2.38 FIP, 4.50 K/9, 0.00 BB/9, 2 saves

Lincoln Henzman: 3 IP, 1.38 FIP, 9.00 K/9, 0.00 BB/9

Among all the outfield depth, not only throughout the organization but specifically in Winston-Salem, Luis Gonzalez is having a career year. His walks are down from last season, but in Winston-Salem, he has a 16.9% K-rate, a new low. In Kannapolis this year, Gonzalez hit .300 with a BABIP at .365, but that has improved in Winston-Salem: He has a lower BABIP (.343) with a higher batting average (.305). The power is still questionable, but it has improved in year two, while the ISO keeps climbing with each promotion. Gonzalez’s fly ball rate is back up near 40% in high-A which is why his power and batting average have improved. On top of the power, Gonzalez is going to the opposite field more (near 30% of his batted balls). It seems that his plate approach has vastly improved. Gonzalez has played every outfield position, but it seems like his options are either right or center because of his above-average arm.

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Kannapolis Intimidators

Ian Dawkins: .200 BA, 1 HR, 1 BB, 6 K

Steele Walker: .208 BA, 0 BB, 5 K

Evan Skoug: .000 BA, 0 BB, 4 K

Ramon Beltre: .200 BA, 1 BB, 8 K

Luis Curbelo: .167 BA, 1 R, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 11 K

Justin Yurchak: .000 BA, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 K

Andrew Perez: 2 IP, 4.96 FIP, 0.00 K/9, 4.50 BB/9

Bennett Sousa: 2 ¹⁄₃ IP, 4.32 FIP, 7.71 K/9, 7.71 BB/9

Jake Elliott: 5 ¹⁄₃ IP, 1.96 FIP, 6.75 K/9, 0.00 BB/9 ***MVP of the Week***

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Great Falls Voyagers

Lenyn Sosa: .368 BA, 3 R, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K

Logan Sowers: 1-for-5, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K

Romy Gonzalez: .200 BA, 1 HR, 5 R, 4 RBI, 1 BB, 7 K

Gunnar Troutwine: 3-for-5, 2 R, 6 RBI, 4 BB, 0 K

Bryce Bush: .167 BA, 3 R, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 2 K, 1 SB

Jason Bilous: 3 IP, 4.01 FIP, 6.00 K/9, 3.00 BB/9

Konnor Pilkington: 2 IP, 11.45 FIP, 4.50 K/9, 4.50 BB/9

Davis Martin: 3 IP, 2.78 FIP, 12.00 K/9, 3.00 BB/9 ***MVP of the Week***

Codi Heuer: 3 IP, 4.45 FIP, 9.00 K/9, 6.00 BB/9

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AZL White Sox

Camilo Quinterio: .375 BA, 3 R, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 3 K, 1 SB ***MVP of the Week***

Luis Mieses: .071 BA, 1 RBI, 0 BB, 6 K

Cabera Weaver: .300 BA, 1 R, 1 RBI, 3 BB, 3 K

Lency Delgado: .273 BA, 1 R, 3 RBI, 0 BB, 4 K

Brayan Herrera: 8 IP, 4.02 FIP, 7.88 K/9, 4.50 BB/9

Zack Burdi: 2 IP, 2.24 FIP, 9.00 K/9, 0.00 BB/9

Hunter Kiel: 1 IP, 0.24 FIP, 18.00 K/9, 0.00 BB/9

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DSL White Sox

Jose Rodriguez: .296 BA, 5 R, 2 RBI, 0 BB, 6 K

Harold Diaz: .300 BA, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K

Sidney Pimentel: .412 BA, 1 HR, 5 R, 5 RBI, 1 BB, 3 K, 2 SB ***MVP of the Week***

Francisco Benitez: 2 ²⁄₃ IP, 9.53 FIP, 3.37 K/9, 20.25 BB/9

Luis Rodriguez: 5 IP, 3.13 FIP, 7.20 K/9, 3.60 BB/9

Cristofer Melendez: 4 ²⁄₃ IP, 2.89 FIP, 11.57 K/9, 3.86 BB/9

Wilber Perez: 12 IP, 3.95 FIP, 7.50 K/9, 2.25 BB/9