White Sox Minor Keys: April 4, 2019
The affiliates are back in action, and so are White Sox Minor Keys.
If this is your first season, the Minor Keys are recaps of the day on the farm. We run down the box scores and performances from key prospects, with links to video if we have ’em. They also serve as an open thread for any prospect news and discussion that’s on your mind.
For instance, here’s how it’ll look without the preamble above…
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After going homerless in 140 appearances at Winston-Salem last year, Luis Robert wasted no time filling that column in 2019.
Robert left the yard twice in the Dash’s 9-4 victory at Frederick. While the Keys aren’t equipped for webcasts, the Carolina League Prospects Twitter account lived up to its name, as it presented videos of both homers. Here’s No. 1:
And here’s No. 2:
Robert also drew a walk, stole a base and struck out twice in his five trips to the plate from the leadoff spot, so he seems to be flaunting his fully operational toolbox.
Charlotte 12, Durham 11
- Zack Collins homered twice, tripled and struck out twice in his Triple-A debut.
- Danny Mendick was 1-for-5 with a three-run homer in his first game for Charlotte.
- Nicky Delmonico went 2-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Zach Thompson: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
- Ian Hamilton: 1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
More:
*Had Robert not stolen the headlines, it would’ve been Collins’ night. Here’s his first homer:
And here’s his second:
Winston-Salem 9, Frederick 4
- Luis Robert homered twice, walked once, struck out twice and stole a base.
- Nick Madrigal was 0-for-3 with two walks and two stolen bases.
- Carlos Perez went 1-for-4.
- Lincoln Henzman only lasted five batters, apparently getting in an accident covering first base on the first play of the game. His line: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 0 K
- Zach Lewis picked up the slack: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K in relief for the win.
Rome 9, Kannapolis 1
- Lenyn Sosa and Bryce Bush both went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in their full-season debuts.
- Luis Curbelo (playing second) was 0-for-4 with an error.
- Steele Walker went 1-for-2 with a walk and an HBP.
- Amado Nunez (playing first) was 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Jonathan Stiever: 3 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 2 HR
- Jason Bilous: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Birmingham at Biloxi PPD
Man, I’m pretty confident that Collins’ bat is going to play in the majors. I saw the 2nd home run from a different angle and the bat speed looks great. Let’s figure out a position that he can play.
I’ve always thought that too. his eye and power alone should at least make him a 3-outcome guy, no?
Maybe he will be the Mid-20’s version of Adam Dunn. Then we can dump him as he approaches 30. The reverse ChiSox transaction.
He doesn’t have Dunn’s power or athleticism.
A 3-outcome guy with a league average ceiling if he has to move to 1B/DH.
I think Robert also threw out a runner at the plate. Don’t undersell the toolbox!
I didn’t see an account of that play to know whether it was arm strength or a relay, but there’s this:
Was probably a tweener ball that Ripken thought he would catch.
I’m going with backhanded stop in the gap followed by 110 mph laser to get a hustling Ripken at second.
what good is an imagination if you don’t use it.
Anyone watch the game and see how Collins looked behind the plate? Obviously not a night for the Knights pitchers but still could be informative.
Take a gander at those dingers, my frent.
I hate to have to beat a dead horse but the challenge with this going to be making sure these guys are all productive major leaguers at the same time to maximize the competitive window before the first wave starts hitting free agency. That’s why this off-season was such a disaster. They should’ve started improving the roster this winter so that Collins, Cease, Robert, and Madrigal are the finishing touches to a contender in 19/20 and help expand the window. Now these guys are needed to all hit and hit quickly just order to make the team competitive. Then you’ve got maybe ‘21-‘23 before Moncada, Giolito, and Lopez need to be extended? Rodon hits FA before that.
Agreed!
I think the challenge is making sure all these guys are productive major leaguers.
First they have to be productive minor leaguers.
There was a lot of talk about draft pick value. “Screw the second pick. It ain’t worth shit.”
Fangraghs to today, offers pick by pick values.
#3 pick 38.2 million
#45 pick 6.7 million
#81 pick 2.7 million
$6.7m amortized over 10-11 years.
Looks like Abrams went 0-fer at NHSi this week.