White Sox Minor Keys: May 4, 2021

Truist Field in Charlotte (Jonathan Lee)

The Minor Keys are back, baby!

Thanks to the combination of the White Sox finally contending and the lack of a minor league season last year, we might have a number of Sox Machine members who aren’t familiar with the Minor Keys, our daily rundown of the previous day on the farm.

Here’s the deal: Every morning we go through the box scores and sum up the performances from key prospects, and maybe some big games from off-the-radar types. We’ll add highlights if there are any, and recap any other newsworthy developments.

The prospects included on a daily basis are subject to change, whether fringe prospects play themselves onto the radar or off the page. If you have any personal favorites, feel free to make their cases in the comments, and add anything you saw that fellow Sox Machinists might need to see.

With that aside, here’s how Opening Day unfolded.

Gwinnett 10, Charlotte 9 (12 innings)

  • Blake Rutherford went 1-for-4 with a homer, two walks and two strikeouts.
  • Jake Burger was 0-for-3 in his return to affiliated ball, and was replaced after five innings. Wes Helms said Burger “felt something pull in his quad.”
  • Gavin Sheets was 2-for-5 with a homer, walk and strikeout.
  • Jimmy Lambert: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, 1 HBP, 22 of 41 pitches for strikes.
  • Tyler Johnson took the loss in the 12th: 1 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 1 K

Highlights:

*Rutherford’s homer:

*Sheets’ homer:

Rome 11, Winston-Salem 5

  • Duke Ellis’s pro debut was forgettable: 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.
  • Same for Yolbert Sanchez’s first game stateside: 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
  • Bryce Bush went 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.
  • Lenyn Sosa was 3-for-5.
  • Luis Mieses showed unusual power, going 2-for-5 with a homer, triple and two strikeouts.
  • Harvin Mendoza was 0-for-2 with a walk.
  • Lazaro Leal replaced him and singled in his only trip.
  • Davis Martin had to work: 2 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 4 K, 66 pitches.
  • Luke Shilling finally threw a pro pitch in his fourth season after his draft year: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K

Notes:

*Here’s Mieses’ homer:

*And here’s a look at Lenyn Sosa:

Down East 8, Kannapolis 4

  • Cabera Weaver went 1-for-5 with two strikeouts, and was caught stealing.
  • José Rodriguez doubled twice, singled once and struck out twice.
  • Bryan Ramos was 1-for-4 with a walk.
  • Chase Krogman homered, singled and struck out twice.
  • DJ Gladney went 0-for-2 with a walk and an HBP.
  • Benyamin Bailey went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
  • Sam Abbott singled and struck out thrice.
  • Lency Delgado went 1-for-2 with a strikeout.
  • Andrew Dalquist: 1.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Notes:

*Dalquist’s run came was a walk that came around on wild pitch and throwing error that allowed the runner to get to third, and scored on a sac fly.

*Finally, Kannapolis’ park used for Kannapolis baseball.

Birmingham vs. Biloxi PPD

They should have good weather for a doubleheader today, and I’ll be there for it.

(Photo by Jonathan Lee)

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asinwreck

Waking up to a Minor Keys is one of those little details that makes it seem like the world is functioning. Thanks Jim.

ParisSox

I missed these!

Jake Burger. Sheesh.

GrinnellSteve

I’m grieving about Burger. I want so much for him to succeed.

Foulkelore

Another tip for those new to Minor Keys: the game scores double as direct links to the box scores, which can be quite handy.

BHMSoxFan

Welcome to Birmingham!

burning-phoneix

Sorry, Jim. As a fan of a contending team, I don’t pay attention to the minors. 😉

(Hope Rake Muscleford breaks out and provides some much needed OF depth)