White Sox Minor League Update: April 11, 2017

While Zack Collins is off to a predictably strong start at the plate in the Carolina League, he’s also faring well when it comes to thwarting basestealers. The official count says he’s 4-for-5 in gunning down runners. One he’s credited for didn’t involve him, as it was a CS stemming from a pickoff. On the other hand...

The lone successful steal came with men at first and third on Monday  —  Collins pocketed the ball after bluffing to second. Sure, it’s early, but Collins is trending the right way, and others are noticing.

That’s from an article written by Winston-Salem Dash broadcaster Brian Boesch. He talked to Collins and White Sox catching instructor John Orton about Collins’ early success, and he dug up a bunch of details, such as:

Last season, Collins would angle his left foot and left shoulder too far to the left when he jumped out of his crouch. At times, he would be pointing toward the shortstop’s original position, instead of closer to second base. The results were not surprising, as Collins allowed 16 stolen bases in 19 tries.

A pitching-esque theory helped Collins this offseason — close the left shoulder, and the throw will improve. Orton and Collins worked on this early in Spring Training, and the desired results came quickly.

The whole article is worth your time. Now, as for the daily business:

Top prospects at a glance

• Yoan Moncada went 1-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.
• Reynaldo Lopez: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 10 K, 2 HR.
• Zack Collins went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.

Durham 4, Charlotte 3

• Yoan Moncada went 1-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.
• Nicky Delmonico went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts.
• Willy Garcia singled twice, walked once, struck out twice and stole a base.
• Danny Hayes doubled twice, walked once and struck out once.
• Reynaldo Lopez: 5.1 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 10 K, 2 HR.

More:

• Baseball America’s Josh Norris was at the game, and his tweets from the evening are worth perusing.

Winston-Salem 6, Down East 1

• Alex Call went 2-for-5 with a double and a strikeout. He also stole a base and was picked off.
• Aaron Schnurbusch moved up and the order, and with success: 2-for-5 with two strikeouts, as well as a steal.
• Zack Collins went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
• Johan Cruz went 2-for-3 with an inside-the-park homer, a double and a walk.

Rome 2, Kannapolis 1

• Joel Booker singled, walked, struck out twice and stole a base.
• Jameson Fisher went 2-for-2 with a walk and a sac fly.
• Chris Comito: 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K

More:

• Micker Adolfo went on the disabled list, potentially from a pitch to the hand.