Farm Fortnight won't be taking its traditional form this week due to vacation, but I'll be using the Minor Keys over the next four days to provide brief summaries of key prospect progress. We'll start in Charlotte, which no longer includes Gavin Sheets, who made a successful debut with the White Sox during their 7-6 victory on Tuesday.
Sheets' departure leaves Jake Burger as the unquestioned headliner, and he's having no problem shouldering the burden. He's raised his average over .300 by hitting .404/.440/.702 over 50 appearances during the past two series, and it's up even more after a sensational opening to this week.
On the flip side, Blake Rutherford went 4-for-40 with a homer, two walks and 12 strikeouts over 43 plate appearances against Jacksonville and Nashville, dragging his OPS below .600. Throw in some unimpressive play in right field, and I'm not sure what he offers. Luis González isn't doing much more, although promotions to Chicago are a good reason why he's not in a groove in Charlotte.
The pitching all took positive turns, with Reynaldo López capping the last two weeks with 11 strikeouts over six innings against Nashville out of nowhere. Considering he entered that start with a 9.17 ERA, it's safe to say he needed that. Jimmy Lambert continues to post nice peripherals in abbreviated outings while Jonathan Stiever will get another shot to post two encouraging outings in a row for the first time this season the next time out.
Among relievers, Nik Turley seems like the guy most deserving of a roster spot if Evan Marshall needs to miss time, what with his 24 strikeouts against 13 baserunners (seven hits, six walks) over 15⅔ innings. Jace Fry has the edge of being on the 40-man roster and pitching decently himself, albeit with the walk clusters that tend to make his outings an adventure. Tyler Johnson hasn't found what he had two years ago, and Alex McRae lost his roster spot when Fry's rehab stint ended.
Charlotte 5, Norfolk 4 (13 innings)
- Jake Burger had a perfect night at the plate: 4-for-4 with a homer, double and two walks.
- Blake Rutherford went 2-for-4 with a walk and a sac fly.
- Luis González went 0-for-4 with two walks, a sac bunt and three strikeouts.
Chattanooga 4, Birmingham 0
- Romy Gonzalez went 0-for-2 with two walks.
- Micker Adolfo wore the collar and silver sombrero.
- Carlos Pérez went a plain ol' 0-for-4.
- Ti'Quan Forbes went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Blake Battenfield: 5 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Winston-Salem 14, Greenville 5
- Yoelqui Céspedes went 4-for-6 with three doubles, a strikeout and a stolen base.
- Yolbert Sanchez went 2-for-6 with two strikeouts.
- Luis Curbelo was 1-for-6 with a homer and a strikeout.
- Duke Ellis wore the golden sombrero during an 0-for-5 night.
- Luke Shilling: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR
Charleston 16, Kannapolis 10
- Jose Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with a double.
- Bryan Ramos was 2-for-5 with two doubles.
- Luis Mieses went 1-for-4 a sac fly and a strikeout.
- Harvin Mendoza went 1-for-5 with a homer.
- Caberea Weaver was 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.
- Chase Krogman went 1-for-2 with a homer and two walks.
- DJ Gladney was 0-for-4 with a K.
