White Sox Minor League Update: June 18, 2017

The Kannapolis Intimidators started the season 1-7.

On Sunday, they clinched the first-half Sally League Northern Division championship.

The Intimidators wrapped up the title with a record of 39-29 by beating West Virginia, 5-3. While they finished even with the Lakewood BlueClaws (40-30) in terms of games, they held a winning percentage edge by three whole thousandths of a percentage.

This might be one reason why the Intimidators held off on promoting their best performers like Alec Hansen, Joel Booker, Bernardo Flores, and others, even with nobody blocking them in Winston-Salem. By winning the first-half title, Kannapolis guaranteed a spot in the Sally League postseason, which can mean an extra week’s worth of games for low-level prospects in need of reps. With no other full-season affiliates jockeying for postseason consideration, the White Sox have to take the extra games where they can get them.

Other teams that closed out their first halves on Sunday:

• Birmingham Barons: 26-43; last place in Southern League North
• Winston-Salem Dash: 24-46; last place in Carolina League Southern

Between the All-Star breaks and the start of the Pioneer League season, we’ll probably see roster upheaval over the coming days. Be on the lookout for a Great Falls Voyagers season preview when the roster becomes official.

Top prospects at a glance

• Yoan Moncada: 2-for-4, SF, BB, 2 K
• Reynaldo Lopez: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
• Zack Burdi: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 2 HR
• Luis Alexander Basabe: 0-for-4, BB, K
• Zack Collins: 0-for-3, BB, K

Indianapolis 12, Charlotte 11

• Yoan Moncada went 2-for-4 with a sac fly, walk and two strikeouts.
• Jacob May was 1-for-5 with a sac bunt and strikeout.
• Nicky Delmonico was 0-for-2 with three walks.
• Adam Engel was 1-for-4 with a double, walk and two strikeouts.
• Danny Hayes went 1-for-5.
• Rymer Liriano had a monster day, going 4-for-4 with two homers and a walk.
• Reynaldo Lopez: 5.1 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
• Zack Burdi: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 2 HR

Birmingham 7, Jackson 2 (8 innings, rain)

• Eddy Alvarez went 2-for-4 with a walk.
• Nick Basto wore the collar and silver sombrero.
• Trey Michalczewski was 0-for-2 with a walk, sac fly and strikeout.
• Alfredo Gonzalez went 0-for-4 with a K.

Buies Creek 5, Winston-Salem 4 (10 innings)

• Luis Alexander Basabe was 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
• Johan Cruz was 0-for-5 with a K.
• Zack Collins, 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
• Luis Martinez: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

Kannapolis 5, West Virginia 3

• Joel Booker went 2-for-3 with an HBP and a stolen base.
• Jameson Fisher, 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
• Micker Adolfo was 1-for-3 with his eighth homer, a walk and a strikeout.