White Sox Minor League Update: May 20, 2017

In an accounting move that followed in the ripples of the Luis Robert signing, the White Sox traded Alex Katz to the Baltimore Orioles for a pair of international bonus pool slots amounting to $756,300. That money will increase the size of the White Sox’ bonus pool, which will in turn decrease the amount of overage tax the team has to pay when the Robert deal is finalized.

Katz, a 5-foot-11-inch lefty reliever, was a 27th round pick out of St. John’s University in 2015. He struck out 57 batters over 55 innings last year, most of which came at Kannapolis. He then returned to the Intimidators for the start of this season, where he has battled control problems.

The move is more intriguing from the Orioles’ side, because it’s the third time in six weeks they’ve traded international bonus pool spots for minor-league relief depth. The bonus pool slots they traded for Katz amount to more than they spent on July 2 signings last year ($260,000).

Top prospects at a glance

• Luis Alexander Basabe: 1-for-4, K
• Zack Collins: 0-for-2, K

Norfolk 8, Charlotte 7

• Jacob May went 1-for-4 with a sac bunt and a strikeout.
• Nicky Delmonico, 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.
• Danny Hayes went 2-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
• Adam Engel, 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.

Winston-Salem 7, Carolina 4

• Luis Alexander Basabe went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
• Zack Collins was 0-for-2 with two walks.
• Trey Michalczewski, 1-for-3 with a walk.
• Johan Cruz was 0-for-4.

Hickory 4, Kannapolis 0

• Joel Booker and Jameson Fisher were both 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
• Micker Adolfo was 1-for-4 with one strikeout.
• Jimmy Lambert: 7 IP, 9 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 WP

Tennessee at Birmingham PPD