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You don’t notice it here, because he’s still pictured with Kannapolis, but upon promotion to Winston-Salem Bryce Willis has been a supernova of hits.
Tiffany Wintz/South Side Sox

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White Sox Minor League Update: August 10, 2023

Bryce Willits continues to mash since his call-up to High-A

By Salina Rae Silver
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We begin tonight’s coverage in Triple-A, where ... YEESH!

Our affiliated Knights lost against the Gwinnett Stripers by the miniscule margin of 16 runs. Lefty Nate Fisher did not have his best stuff on the mound in relief of recently acquired Luis Patiño. Fisher, to his credit, wore it by getting the Knights to the sixth inning to spare the short relief — and didn’t walk anybody! However, he DID give up three round-trippers and 11 hits en route to a 10-earnie performance in his 3 2⁄3 innings.

Luis Patiño reached his pitch limit after the first 1 1⁄3 innings, and allowed three runs on three hits. What’s encouraging about his performance is three punchouts in that limited workload, and the three runs he gave up can be traced to just one major misstep, a three-run blast from Chadwick Tromp.

Offensively, Clint Frazier continued to make his case for another call to the big leagues. He delivered a 102-mph solo blast in the first inning that was a thing of beauty. He also added a walk and an additional RBI on the night while finishing play bolstering his team-leading OPS of .934.

Recently promoted and chronically slept-on catcher Adam Hackenberg delivered his first home run in Triple-A, a solo shot off of Braves prospect Darius Vines, as the Knights DH.

Other performers of note include White Sox org newcomer Korey Lee, who continues to hit in Triple-A, with two knocks in five ABs. Adam Haseley also collected a pair of hits out of the leadoff spot, including a three-bagger.

A rough night, indeed, but one that saw admirable fight from the home team. Let’s decide on an MVP!

Poll

Who was the Knights’ MVP in the loss?

This poll is closed

  • 25%
    Adam Haseley: 2-for-5, 3B, R, K
    (5 votes)
  • 30%
    Clint Frazier: 1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K
    (6 votes)
  • 40%
    Korey Lee: 2-for-5, 2 K
    (8 votes)
  • 5%
    Luke Farrell: 1 IP, 2 H, R, K
    (1 vote)
20 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who was the Knights’ LEAST valuable player on the night?

This poll is closed

  • 18%
    Luis Patiño: 1 1⁄3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, BB. 3 K, L
    (3 votes)
  • 6%
    Tyler Naquin: 0-for-4, K
    (1 vote)
  • 75%
    Nate Fisher: 3 2⁄3 IP, 11 H, 10 R, K
    (12 votes)
16 votes total Vote Now

Comparatively more encouraging results out of Double-A Birmingham tonight, who have caught fire now that practically every prospect of note is wearing the Bham pinstripes!

Birmingham won a tight contest against the Montgomery Biscuits today. The deciding play was a bases-loaded HBP inflicted by Nelson L. Alvarez that forced in the deciding run. Jonah Scolaro closed the door after entering two frames prior, delivering 2 1⁄3 innings of scoreless ball during which he punched out two, walked one, and collected the “W” on the night. In its totality, the Barons pitching staff was sharp the whole contest. Starter Jonathan Cannon covered five innings, surrendering four hits but walking nobody while fanning four in a two-run outing. Garrett Schoenle pitched an erratic but scoreless inning and two-thirds that saw him issue three walks before handing the ball over to Scolaro.

Offensively, Terrell Tatum continued to rake. He recorded another multi-hit game in the win, notching a single, a double, a game-tying RBI, a stolen base, and a walk. Luis Mieses added another two hits of his own, and neither of the slugging duo went down on strikes in their combined seven official at-bats. Top prospect Bryan Ramos collected a double, a walk, and a caught stealing on the night while No. 1 prospect Colson Montgomery had an uncharacteristically rough showing at the plate, striking out twice in four appearances while walking once.

A hard-fought victory deserves recognition. Let’s anoint an MVP.

Poll

Who was the Barons’ top performer?

This poll is closed

  • 0%
    Bryan Ramos: 1-for-3, 2B, BB, CS
    (0 votes)
  • 0%
    Luis Mieses: 2-for-4
    (0 votes)
  • 50%
    Terrell Tatum: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB, SB
    (11 votes)
  • 18%
    Jonah Scolaro: 2 1⁄3 IP, 0 R, 0 H, BB, 2 K, W
    (4 votes)
  • 18%
    Jonathan Cannon: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 4 K
    (4 votes)
  • 13%
    Garrett Schoenle: 1 2⁄3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 0 K
    (3 votes)
22 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who would have been better off on the bench tonight?

This poll is closed

  • 85%
    Colson Montgomery: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K
    (12 votes)
  • 0%
    Sebastian Rivero: 0-for-3, BB, K
    (0 votes)
  • 0%
    Moisés Castillo: 0-for-3, RBI, K
    (0 votes)
  • 14%
    Wilfred Veras: 0-for-3, R
    (2 votes)
14 votes total Vote Now

Baseball giveth, baseball taketh away. High-A Winston-Salem saw a late-inning rally fall short in a tough loss.

Reliever Vince Vannelle surrendered the deciding run in the ninth inning. His opposite number, Jonathan Hughes, delivered two innings of nearly pristine ball en route to collecting the win for the Rome Braves. The Braves jumped on Winston-Salem early, scoring three runs (two earned) against Tommy Sommer. Sommer didn’t walk any, but likewise failed to record a strikeout. Everhett Hazelwood came on in relief of Sommer in the second and pitched a wild 2 1⁄3 innings of ball, walking three and surrendering three hits en route to a four-run performance. He struck out three, as well.

Relievers Noah Owen and Johnny Ray combined for 3 2⁄3 scoreless innings, each issuing a walk and the former fanning two batters.

On the offensive side of the ball, Bryce Willits ballooned his season OPS to a video game-like 1.171 with a three-hit performance, his third multi-hit effort in three games since his call-up from Kannapolis. He was among a quartet of Dash hitters who recorded multi-hit games. Caberea Weaver mashed a grand slam in the fourth to go along with a single out of the 9-spot in the order. Mainstays Troy Claunch and DJ Gladney accounted for the other two multi-hit performances. Claunch drove in one, scored one, and walked in his productive night behind the dish. Gladney barreled up a triple and drove in two from the cleanup spot.

The admirable fight from a potent Winston-Salem team fell short, but honors are still due. Let’s crown an MVP!

Poll

Who was Winston-Salem’s silver lining in the loss?

This poll is closed

  • 35%
    Bryce Willits: 3-for-5, 2 R, K
    (6 votes)
  • 5%
    DJ Gladney: 2-for-5, 3B, 2 RBI, K
    (1 vote)
  • 0%
    Troy Claunch: 2-for-3, R, RBI, BB
    (0 votes)
  • 47%
    Caberea Weaver: 2-for-4, R, HR, 4 RBI
    (8 votes)
  • 5%
    Noah Owen: 2 2⁄3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, BB, 2 K
    (1 vote)
  • 5%
    Johnny Ray: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, K
    (1 vote)
17 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who was the Dash’s cold cat on the night?

This poll is closed

  • 22%
    Shawn Goosenberg: 0-for-4, R, BB, 3 K
    (2 votes)
  • 0%
    Wes Kath: 0-for-2, R, BB, 2 K
    (0 votes)
  • 44%
    Tommy Sommer: 1 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 0 K
    (4 votes)
  • 33%
    Everhett Hazelwood: 2 1⁄3 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 BB, 3 K
    (3 votes)
  • 0%
    Vince Vannelle: 1 IP, 2 H, R, BB, K, L
    (0 votes)
9 votes total Vote Now

Kannapolis outhit its opponent, but a five-run Wood Ducks ninth would sink the Cannon Ballers late in this one.

Kannapolis was largely in control throughout the duration of regulation in this contest. Closer Billy Seidl was not sharp in the ninth, however, and took the “L” and blown save in his lone inning pitched. He walked three, surrendered five runs (all earned) and struck out two. Seidl has been relatively reliable this season as Kannapolis’ closer and will hope to bounce back in his next opportunity.

Cannon Ballers pitching was on-point for the first eight innings, however. Starter Shane Murphy logged four innings of one-run ball while punching out five. Ethan Hammerberg and Logan Lyle each followed with a pair of scoreless innings to bridge the gap to Seidl.

Jordan Sprinkle spearheaded the Cannon Ballers’ offensive effort, driving in two of Kannapolis’ four runs on two hits out of the 5-spot in the order. Jhoneiker Betancourt mashed the sole home run in the contest and finished with two hits and a walk on the night. Catcher Juan Gonzalez continued the long-running trend of offensive production from behind the plate, notching two hits of his own and scoring a run in the process.

All in all, a hard loss for the team from Kanny. Let’s recognize the best and worst efforts in the loss.

Poll

Who was Kannapolis’ top performer?

This poll is closed

  • 20%
    Jordan Sprinkle: 2-for-5, 2 RBI, K
    (2 votes)
  • 40%
    Jhoneiker Betancourt: 2-for-3, HR, RBI, R, BB
    (4 votes)
  • 10%
    Juan González: 2-for-4, R
    (1 vote)
  • 10%
    Shane Murphy: 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K
    (1 vote)
  • 10%
    Ethan Hammerberg: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K
    (1 vote)
  • 0%
    Logan Lyle: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K
    (0 votes)
  • 10%
    Jacob Gonzalez: 1-for-3, R, BB, RBI, K
    (1 vote)
10 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who was Kanny’s cold cat?

This poll is closed

  • 0%
    Mario Camilletti: 0-for-4, BB, K
    (0 votes)
  • 12%
    Ryan Galanie: 0-for-4
    (1 vote)
  • 87%
    Billy Seidl: 1 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 2 K, BS, L
    (7 votes)
8 votes total Vote Now

And finally, let’s venture out to the desert to check out the ACL Sox!

Rehabbing starter Norge Vera took the tough-luck loss in this one, surrendering two runs in the first, neither of which were earned. His ERA remains nonexistent in his rehab. Pitchers Jake Peppers and Zach Franklin each turned in strong scoreless innings in relief, the former striking out two and the latter fanning three.

Top rookie league prospect Ryan Burrowes struck out three times from the leadoff spot, but also notched two hits and a run. He was responsible for the two errors in the field in the contest. Edrick Felix drove in all three of the ACL Sox runs with a three-run blast in the seventh to left field. Bat-to-ball prodigy Mikey Kane continued his hot start in the ACL, collecting a hit, a walk, and his first stolen base in professional ball.

All in all, a bit of a pedestrian showing in Arizona. Let’s give credit where it’s due and attribute blame where necessary.

Poll

Who was the ACL Sox’s bright spot in the loss?

This poll is closed

  • 28%
    Ryan Burrowes: 2-for-5, R, 3 K, 2 E
    (2 votes)
  • 14%
    Edrick Felix: 1-for-5, 3 RBI, 2 K, R
    (1 vote)
  • 14%
    Mikey Kane: 1-for-3, BB, SB
    (1 vote)
  • 28%
    Norge Vera: 1 2⁄3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, L
    (2 votes)
  • 0%
    Jake Peppers: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K
    (0 votes)
  • 14%
    Zach Franklin: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
    (1 vote)
7 votes total Vote Now

Poll

Who was the ACL Sox’s LEAST valuable player?

This poll is closed

  • 80%
    George Wolkow: 0-for-4, 3 K
    (4 votes)
  • 0%
    Norge Vera: 1 1⁄3 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, L
    (0 votes)
  • 0%
    Dominic Tamez: 0-for-4, K
    (0 votes)
  • 20%
    Mark McLaughlin: 2 1⁄3 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
    (1 vote)
  • 0%
    Ronny Robles: 1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 K
    (0 votes)
5 votes total Vote Now
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