White Sox Minor Keys: April 16, 2019
If the White Sox ever want to test life in the majors without Adam Engel, two center fielders in Charlotte are trying to convince the Sox that they’re valid options.
One is Ryan Cordell, who opened the season on the 25-man roster and is carrying a .323/.344/.581 line in seven games with Charlotte. That line, however, is mostly the product of a 5-for-5 night where he hit for the cycle.
Charlie Tilson has been the steadier of the two. He had another three-hit night on Tuesday, his fourth multi-hit game of the season. He’s batting .381/.471/.571 with more walks (eight) than strikeouts (seven) over 11 games, and he’s 2-for-2 on the basepaths as well. The White Sox outrighted him off the 40-man roster, but he may claw his way back on if he carries this performance into May.
Charlotte 10, Gwinnett 6 (10 innings)
- Charlie Tilson went 3-for-5 with a walk and a stolen base.
- Ryan Cordell, 1-for-5 with two strikeouts.
- Seby Zavala was 1-for-5 with three strikeouts.
- Danny Mendick entered as a defensive sub and drew a walk.
Birmingham 3, Jacksonville 1
- Joel Booker and Luis Gonzalez both were 0-for-5 with a strikeout.
- Laz Rivera went 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout. He stole a base.
- Micker Adolfo was 0-for-3 with two walks and two strikeouts. He was picked off/caught stealing.
- Ti’Quan Forbes went 1-for-2 with a double and two walks.
- Jimmy Lambert was stout for a second straight start: 6 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 1 HR
Wilmington 4, Winston-Salem 3
- Luis Robert singled twice, got plunked once, struck out once, stole a base and was caught stealing.
- Nick Madrigal went 1-for-4.
- Codi Heuer: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K
Delmarva 6, Kannapolis 4
- Steele Walker went 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base.
- Lenyn Sosa wore the collar with a silver sombrero.
- Luis Curbelo went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Jonathan Stiever: 5 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
Other that BHam, it looks like there is some actual prospect development occuring.
Hypothetically, if you were to move Robert up to Birmingham in the near future but the crop of outfields currently in AA are still scuffling, how would you handle the logjam?
Joel Booker is a little old for AA and is off to a fairly good start – if that holds, you could send him to Charlotte. Then you have to figure out what to do with Tilson, Cordell, Guyer and Delmonico (all of whom have a current OPS above .800). My knee-jerk reaction would be to release Guyer in that scenario because he’s a known commodity and the other Charlotte OFs represent younger, comparable depth players.
Or would you send one of the slumping Barons outfielders (the Barrens, henceforth) back down to Winston-Salem? Perhaps Rutherford based on age alone?
Steele Walker to Winston-Salem
Luis Robert to Birmingham
Joel Booker to Charlotte
Guyer/Tucker released
Daniel Palka and Adam Engel down
Charlie Tilson and Ryan Cordell up
Steele Walker to Winston-Salem
Joel Booker to Charlotte
Luis Robert to Birmingham
Buyer &Tucker released
Is Tilson’s CF Defense back on track? I remember he looked awful in Chicago defensively. If thats the case we’d still, regrettably, need Engel.
Need him for what? 68 wins instead of 65?
*65 wins instead of 68
ouch
+1 for “Barrens”. That’s good.
I just looked at the Birmingham Barons’ position-player stats and you should not do the same.
Micker Adolfo’s strikeout rate is only 41.6%
Our leadoff hitter is currently checking in at 31%. He’ll fit right in.
No more plunking Luis Robert, please.