White Sox Minor Keys: July 17, 2018

Intimidators Stadium in Kannapolis (Jim Margalus)

After an unimpressive, injury-interrupted pro debut in the Arizona Rookie League, Nick Madrigal joined the Kannapolis Intimidators and looked every bit the fourth-overall pick. He went 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base in his A-ball debut.

Our man in Charlotte Jonathan Lee was on hand and captured video. Madrigal walked in his first PA, then came through with his first A-ball hit his next time up. It’s the kind of hit that he seemed to drop into right field in every at-bat I caught during the College World Series:

He grounded out to second in his second at-bat, dropped a double down the right-field line in his third, then singled to center his last time up to cap off a strong first impression with the Intimidators.

He played second base, which didn’t seem to be the White Sox’ initial plan for him coming out of the draft. We’ll see if that changes.

Charlotte 6, Pawtucket 5 (11 innings)

  • Nicky Delmonico went 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
  • Eloy Jimenez, 1-for-5 with a homer and a strikeout.
  • Jose Rondon went 0-for-5 with a strikeout.
  • Jordan Guerrero: 6 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 3 K
  • Ian Hamilton: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
  • Carson Fulmer: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K

More:

*Jonathan then headed down to Charlotte for the nightcap and saw Eloy Jimenez do this:

Kannapolis 10, Hagerstown 9

  • Nick Madrigal went 3-for-4 with a double, walk and stolen base.
  • Luis Curbelo, 0-for-4 with a walk.
  • Evan Skoug had his first big game in a long time: 2-for-4 with a triple and a double.
  • Andrew Perez: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
  • Will Kincanon: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 WP

DSL D-backs1 6, DSL White Sox 2

  • Jose Rodriguez went 1-for-3.
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Gus

Nice stick work by the new guy. Like to see that.

I’m pretty jealous of the day J Lee had.

jose robcada

interesting that madrigal batted 3rd as opposed to 1st, i thought of him as a future leadoff guy… he played 2b in azl as well

varrows

It’s his first game in low A ball. I’ll go out on a limb and say that I don’t think his spot in the batting order or his defensive position is set in stone quite yet.

MrStealYoBase

Here’s hoping they keep him at 2B. The issues with Anderson’s defense are overblown and the Sox would be unwise to move him off short. People keep talking about putting him in center but it’s not like we need more outfielders. Moncada, on the other hand, could be a great 3B. He’s got the arm and would probably benefit from playing a more instinctual position in the infield.

MrTopaz

I don’t know that 3rd base can be considered a more instinctive position for Yoan, so much as, out of Moncada, Madrigal and Anderson, Yoan is the #Thiccest and most looks the part. I think Josh was saying on Twitter awhile back that Moncada’s main problem when playing third for Boston in 2016 was an inability to make accurate throws, which doesn’t make me clamor for a limited run of “Mocada at third” theater.

Josh Nelson

Yes, Moncada would need to work on his throws from third base. Spring Training is the perfect setting for that in the future.

sgp2204

His “issues” at 3B are way overblown IMO. Boston threw him into the deep end and everybody overreacted to a 35 inning sample size. With an actual offseason of work (rather than a whopping 95 minor league innings at the end of the year), I’m sure he’ll be fine throwing the ball from third to first. 

PauliePaulie

Doesn’t make sense to move Moncada to third for one year, because he’ll just be displaced by Arenado in 2020.

Brett R. Bobysud

I think Madrigal starting at 2B for Kannapolis has more to do with the fact that Curbelo has been much more effective defensively at SS than he had been at 3B and they want to keep him where he’s been best, whereas Madrigal can probably be effective at either 2B or SS at this level.

soxfanpa

I also think just psychologically, letting someone play out a season at a position in which they found success as opposed to trying to flip someone midway through a season and increasing the likelihood of struggles, is probably a good way to build confidence rolling into a year of transition in 2019 (if they do end up moving him).

lil jimmy

In the minors, they move middle infielders all over the diamond. He likely will see time at 3rd as well.

sgp2204

Zangari has his third multi-homer game in his last 8. Guess it’s time to factor him into the 2020 plans.