The Arizona Rookie League is dead, but the Arizona Complex League is alive. The White Sox's ACL affiliate played one game on Tuesday before COVID-19 protocols on the Brewers' side halted their game on Wednesday, but the break gives us an opportunity to preview the initial roster, at least before this month's draft picks alter the landscape.
Pitchers
Erick Bello: Making his stateside debut after the White Sox signed him for an unspecified amount this past signing period. He's 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds and won't turn 20 for another month and a half.
Ronaldo Guzman: Still projectable at 6 feet and 150 pounds, but he's already got a strong DSL season under his belt after striking out 76 hitters against 29 walks over 51⅔ innings as a 17-year-old in 2019.
Cristian Mena: Signed for $250,000 in 2019. Still listed at 6'2" and 170 pounds.
Position players
Jefferson Mendoza: The $300,000 signing out of Venzuela made a leap as an 18-year-old repeating the DSL two years ago, hitting .305/.391/.484. It'd help if he could have a smooth stateside transition, but he has time on his side as a catcher.
Sam Abbott: He won't get daily write-ups, but this is pretty much his last stand after hitting .119/.339/.190 over 14 games in Kannapolis. He was always expected to be a project after the White Sox signed him away from a water polo project, but the missing 2020 season hurt a lot.
Elijah Tatis: The White Sox's hopes of Tatis Lightning striking twice are put to their first stateside test. All he's done so far is a .187/.300/.213 line as a 17-year-old in the DSL, albeit with a decent idea of the strike zone (13 walks against 16 strikeouts over 25 games).
Wilber Sanchez: He posted a .288/.391/.395 line as a 17-year-old in the DSL in 2019, and doesn't turn 20 until February 2022.
Wilfred Veras: The son of Wilfred Veras signed for $200,000 back during the 2019-20 signing period.
Benyamin Bailey: Kannapolis proved too tough a test for the 19-year-old Panamanian outfielder. Bailey hit .156/.226/.195 over 84 plate appearances in his stateside debut at A-ball, so hopefully the ACL will be a more appropriate level.
Logan Glass: The third-day outfielder named Logan in the 2019 draft who signed, Glass -- signed out of high school in Oklahoma -- hit .284/.342.403 in his AZL debut last year in 2019.
Anthony Espinoza: He hit .263/.347/.332 over 55 games as a 17-year-old in the DSL in 2019.
Charlotte 7, Norfolk 4
- Blake Rutherford singled twice and struck out twice.
- Jake Burger went 2-for-4 with a double.
- Mike Wright: 7 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HR
Chattanooga 4, Birmingham 1 (5 innings, rain)
- Romy Gonzalez went 0-for-1 with a walk.
- Micker Adolfo and Carlos Pérez were 0-for-2.
- Ti'Quan Forbes singled and struck out.
Greenville 5, Winston-Salem 4
- Yoelqui Céspedes went 2-for-3 with a homer, walk and stolen base.
- Yolbert Sanchez went 2-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Lenyn Sosa was 1-for-4.
- Luis Curbelo hit his 10th homer and struck out twice during an 0-for-4 night.
- Davis Martin: 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HBP
- Isaiah Carranza: 3 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR
Highlights:
*Céspedes' homer:
Charleston 8, Kannapolis 5
- Jose Rodriguez went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Bryan Ramos, 0-for-4.
- Luis Mieses went 0-for-3 with an HBP.
- Harvin Mendoza was 3-for-4 with a homer.
- Caberea Weaver wore the collar and silver sombrero.
- Chase Krogman was 1-for-4 with a homer.
- Lency Delgado struck out all four times.
ACL White Sox vs. ACL Brewers Blue, cancelled
(Photo by Ron Vesely/Chicago White Sox)
