We’re only a fortnight and a half into the season, meaning that all it takes is one good week to erase a bad first two and put the season performance back on track.
Take Micker Adolfo, who even with an inconsequential Sunday showing resuscitated his season line to where it needs to be over the Barons’ six-game series with Montgomery. He went 8-for-18 with two homers and two doubles. More importantly, he struck out just three times against a walk and an HBP.
Here’s what he brought into the week, and here how he leaves it:
| Time | PA | BA | AVG | SLG | BB% | K% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thru 2 weeks | 44 | .175 | .250 | .400 | 9.1 | 36.4 |
| Now | 64 | .259 | .328 | .552 | 7.8 | 29.7 |
One caveat: Montgomery has a below-average pitching staff in terms of runs per game, and it also trails the eight-team Double-A South in strikeouts, with “just” 148 over 147 innings. That used to be an impressive total, but the Biscuits’ 23.1 percent strikeout rate is considerably lower than the league’s rate of 27 percent. We’ll have to see whether six straight games against one opponent with a pronounced weakness creates more pronounced streaks at the individual level.
Durham 8, Charlotte 7
- Luis González went 2-for-5 with a strikeout and a stolen base.
- Blake Rutherford was 3-for-5 with a strikeout and a stolen base.
- Jake Burger also went 3-for-5 with a strikeout, with two of his hits doubles.
- Gavin Sheets was 1-for-5 with a strikeout.
Birmingham 5, Montgomery 4
- Ti’Quan Forbes matched his home run total from 2019 while going 1-for-3 with his third homer and a walk.
- Romy Gonzalez went 2-for-3 with a homer and a walk.
- Micker Adolfo, 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Carlos Pérez was 1-for-3 with an HBP.
Winston-Salem 11, Jersey Shores 5
- Lenyn Sosa went 1-for-5 with three strikeouts.
- Yolbert Sanchez walked and flied out, after which he was lifted from the game.
- Luis Curbelo went 2-for-5 with his sixth homer and fourth double, striking out once.
- Luis Mieses was 2-for-5 with a double.
- Duke Dellis went 1-for-5.
- Harvin Mendoza, 1-for-3 with two walks.
- Luke Shilling: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Columbia 4, Kannapolis 2
- Lency Delgado walked once and struck out his other four trips.
- José Rodriguez went 0-for-4 with an HBP and a K.
- Bryan Ramos was 0-for-4 with a walk and a K.
- Benyamin Bailey went 2-for-5 with two strikeouts.
- Sam Abbott was 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
The guy who is starting to become interesting quickly is Burger. Great to see with all that dude has been through. He is really starting to kill it, 6 homers already in like 60 at bats, and a +.900 OPS. He only plays 3b, I wonder if they will ever consider putting him in the outfield. Otherwise he plays the wrong position to help the Sox no matter how good he is, unfortunately. If they can’t convert him to outfield, they might be able to swap him for another similar value outfield prospect (or major league outfielder for a team that is selling) for a team that wants a young 3b. Hope he turns out to be a damn good hitter, he seems like an ideal trade chip in that he plays a position that does not fit their team well. They could sure use a really good outfield prospect who is a level above Rutherford, Adolfo, etc. Would be great if Burger has an outstanding year and moves into top 50 MLB prospects to get some attention and solidify his value.
It’s pretty exciting as to how nicely Burger is beginning the season. Your comments are spot-on. Rutherford and Sheets are also seeming to come around a bit more to what we have thought they may become. Going down a level to Double A, I wasn’t aware that Konnor Pilkington had been promoted from the Dash. He has had a fine start to the season, of which I am glad because I have never given up on him. Alec Hansen also has started the season fairly strongly; I hope, yet doubt, that he will return to his form of four years ago. I am pulling for him.
Would be great if Rutherford or Sheets emerges but I think Sox minor leagues are pretty thin as far as outfielders with much real upside. With Vaughn up, the Sox actually do not have a single player among top 100 prospects. Hopefully Cespedes gets past his visa issues and can start to play soon, he might wind up being the best they have. Of top 100 prospects, like 25 are outfielders. If Burger hits like he has, they might be able to get one of them that they like for him, which would probably be a lot better than anything they are likely to get from Rutherford or Sheets (or they would be in top 100 themselves), realistically. I’m excited for Burger for same reasons as Carlos Rodon, overcoming multi year injuries is never an easy thing, with a lot of physical pain, emotional turmoil, and uncertainty. Great to see guys who are making great comebacks! : )
Isn’t Abreu’s contract up after next season? If you leave Vaughn in the outfield we could use a 1B.
I am intrigued by Ti’Quan Forbes’ start to the season.
Jake Burger is going to be the Sox’s big 2022 mid season acquisition.