White Sox Minor Keys: June 5, 2019

Nick Madrigal (Clinton Cole / FutureSox)

It might’ve taken a month longer than expected, but Nick Madrigal is heading to Double-A.

The White Sox promoted last year’s first-round draft pick to Birmingham on Wednesday, right after a three-week stretch that looks like what the Sox expect Madrigal to provide going forward, in one shape or another.

A four-game slump during the first half of May sent his average down to .250 on May 12. However, he rebounded to hit .307/.372/.427 with three doubles, two homers, seven walks, two strikeouts and 11 stolen bases over his last 19 games in Winston-Salem.

On the whole, he hit .272/.346/.377 over 49 games with Winston-Salem, striking out just six times over 218 plate appearances.

The chief concern beyond the numbers was whether he could pull the ball when the opportunity presented itself. He spent his first half-season in the pros dinking singles to right with minimal impact, and he started this season in a similar fashion. But as he started getting weeks of 2019 under his belt, the spray chart started to even out more.

This will be the thing to follow as Madrigal takes his first hacks in Double-A. Unlike the previous crop of prospects that advanced from Winston-Salem, Madrigal shouldn’t have to worry about Regions Field suppressing his might, because it’s not a part of his game. He might struggle to hit even two homers there, but the bigger outfield should allow him to find open spaces. The question is whether he can turn around advanced pitching, even if he has to settle for gap power at this level.

Charlotte 6, Gwinnett 5

  • Daniel Palka went 0-for-4.
  • Zack Collins, 2-for-4 with a strikeout.
  • Seby Zavala went 1-for-4 with a homer and two strikeouts.
  • Danny Mendick, 0-for-2 with a walk.
  • Carson Fulmer: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 25 of 28 pitches for strikes(!)

Birmingham 4, Jackson 3

  • Luis Robert’s hitting streak came to an end after going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
  • Jon Jay went 1-for-4.
  • Luis Gonzalez, 1-for-4 with a double and a strikeout.
  • Gavin Sheets matched last year’s home run total with his sixth during a 2-for-4 day. He struck out once.
  • Blake Rutherford went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
  • Ti’Quan Forbes, 1-for-4.
  • Laz Rivera was 2-for-3.
  • Blake Battenfield: 6 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 7 K, 1 HR
  • Alec Hansen: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
  • Zack Burdi: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K

Delmarva 3, Kannapolis 0

  • Lenyn Sosa and Romy Gonzalez were both 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
  • Bryce Bush went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
  • Amado Nunez had half of Kanny’s hits while going 2-for-3.
  • Jhoandro Alfaro, 0-for-3 with a strikeout.

DSL White Sox 5, DSL Reds 3

  • Anthony Espinoza went 1-for-5 with a double and two strikeouts.
  • Wilber Sanchez was 1-for-5 with a double as well.
  • Alberto Bernal walked once and struck out thrice.
  • Jefferson Mendoza doubled and struck out.
  • Ronaldo Guzman: 4 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 2 WP
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roke1960

Hansen in the 7th/8th and Burdi in the 9th to close out a 1-run win. Sounds like the 2020 White Sox!

5742mail

Shouldn’t you promote the most worthy first. Ian Dawkins has been consistent all year and is on a 20 game hit streak. Robert is hitting 340 in AA, a pitching friendly park and should be called up. This organization is one that I don’t understand, subplot maybe I do just wishing its not so.

Brett R. Bobysud

Madrigal is worthy.

Right Size Wrong Shape

No. You should do what’s best for your most important prospects. Let Ian Dawkins play in the All-Star game, it might be the only one he ever gets to play in.

mikeyb

He’s a 23 year-old LF with 2 HRs at Low-A.

Lurker Laura

Maybe Sheets is starting to do something? Madrigal in Bham should be interesting. Lots of room there for a speedy guy to get doubles.