White Sox Minor Keys: June 17, 2021

Chris Getz says it’s merely coincidental that Jake Burger made his professional debut at second base one week after the White Sox lost Nick Madrigal for the season with an injury. The way Charlotte manager Wes Helms tells it via Our Man in Charlotte, the topic had been broached a week before Madrigal’s hamstring disaster, an innocent time when second base appeared to be thoroughly solved.

Believe him or not, this kind of willingness to experiment with positions is what I was getting at when I suggested that it might be worth rotating Yoán Moncada at second once in a while. This is fine as well. Moncada, Burger, whoever, it’s just good to see a proactive attempt to supplement a thin position internally, even if it might present uncomfortable immediate returns.

For one night, the game took it easy on him. He saw five easy chances and handled them all. Here’s the first:

The second chance:

Here’s No. 3:

The fourth:

And even his first attempt at turning a double play featured plenty of time to get it right, which it was, thanks to the reach of Gavin Sheets.

It was as though the Knights were able to set the difficulty level to “beginner,” and while Burger may not be a prototypical shape seen on the pivot, he converted all chances into outs, which is all you can ask right now.

The question from here is how regularly the White Sox will ask this of him. Helms said that he likes Burger’s footwork, but the biggest issue will be making quick exchanges and redirecting throws at angles unfamiliar to him as a third baseman. Helms added after the game that he thinks Burger can get comfortable at the position in 25 games, so now we’ll see whether those 25 games are happening over a 30-day stretch, or the remainder of a season. Burger sounds like he’s approaching the challenge with his trademarked enthusiasm either way.

Charlotte 9, Jacksonville 3

• Luis González went 0-for-2 with two walks, and was caught stealing.
• Gavin Sheets was 1-for-2 with a double and two walks.
• Jake Burger played second and went 1-for-4 with a homer and two strikeouts.
• Tim Beckham now has five homers over his last three games, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
• Mike Wright continues to treat Truist Field as no big deal: 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 WP, 1 HBP.

Highlights:

*Burger homered, too:

Mississippi 7, Birmingham 1

• Romy Gonzalez went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
• Micker Adolfo, 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
• Carlos Pérez went 1-for-4.
• Ti’Quan Forbes doubled and struck out twice.
• Blake Battenfield finally tasted defeat: 4.2 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 2 HR

Winston-Salem 5, Greensboro 3

• Yolbert Sanchez went 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
• Lenyn Sosa singled twice and struck out twice.
• Duke Ellis went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base.

Kannapolis 5, Down East 3

• Jose Rodriguez wore the golden sombrero during an 0-for-5 night.
• DJ Gladney’s was silver, and he went 0-for-5 as well.
• Chase Krogman walked twice, got plunked once and struck out twice.
• Bryan Ramos got back on track, going 2-for-4 with a double and an HBP.
• Luis Mieses went 1-for-5 with a K.
• Caberea Weaver went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
• Harvin Mendoza had his first big night of the year at either level, coming a triple short of the cycle during a 3-for-4 night.
• James Beard went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.

(Photo by Laura Wolff / Charlotte Knights)

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