After touching on Charlotte's top prospects on Wednesday in lieu of a proper Farm Fortnight, it's Birmingham's turn in the barrel.
Position Players
Micker Adolfo: He keeps on keeping on, with startling consistency from fortnight to fortnight.
- June 1-13: .256/.341/.564
- June 15-27: .233/.327/.558
Likewise, his May and his June stats were basically the same:
- May: .238/.322/.500, 9 BB, 31 K over 90 PA
- June: .227/.313/.523, 9 BB, 36 K over 99 PA
He could be promoted to Charlotte, but I could also see the White Sox thinking it might make more sense to see him try to lower that strikeout rate closer to 30 percent before foisting a promotion on him.
Carlos Pérez: He set a career high with his fourth homer, which doesn't sound impressive but represents progress nevertheless. His .258/.303/.374 line includes the highest ISO he's posted in the states. He had a strong second half ofJune, so he's showing some improvement, even if it's the halting form.
Ti'Quan Forbes: He hit .314/.364/451 over the first 14 games of June before missing nine games. He returned to the field against Chattanooga and has hit safely in all three games back.
Romy Gonzalez: He seems to suffer from stage fright. His hot start out of the gate in 2021 was doused by a 2-for-30 stretch from May into June. A similarly torrid stretch this past month has been negated by an 0-for-22 stretch that dragged into July. It averages out to .224/.333/.456 over 40 games, but he's never been that player for any smaller stretch of the season, which makes him the anti-Micker.
Pitchers
Kade McClure: The 5.17 ERA doesn't impress, but two of his last three outings do the job, as he threw five shutout innings against Mississippi on May 15, and Pensacola on May 26. In between, he got roughed up for five runs over 10 outs against Mississippi. That's a 3.38 ERA over those three starts, so he's on the right track.
Konnor Pilkington: He's thrown exactly five innings in seven of nine starts, and one of the starts that didn't get there was shortened by rain. He allowed just eight hits over 22⅔ innings in June. He's been Birmingham's best starter, and he's showing a more dominant edge as of late.
Jason Bilous: What I said about McClure applies to Bilous, as he's throwing a pair of sterling five-inning outings aren't a stumble against Pensacola his last three times out.
Blake Battenfield: The previous owner of the "Birmingham's Steadiest Starter" title yielded his scepter after three outings that might represent regression for an arsenal that doesn't overpower. After giving up 12 runs over his first seven outings, he's allowed 16 over his last three.
Norfolk 7, Charlotte 6
- Blake Rutherford posted his third consecutive multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a double and a walk.
- Luis González went 1-for-5 with a solo homer.
- Jonathan Stiever: 4 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 2 HR, 1 WP
- Tyler Johnson: 1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 1 WP
Birmingham 4, Chattanooga 1
- Romy Gonzalez went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Micker Adolfo singled twice and struck out twice.
- Ti'Quan Forbes went 2-for-4 with a homer.
- Jason Bilous: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K
Greenville 16, Winston-Salem 3
- Yoelqui Céspedes homered and struck out thrice.
- Yolbert Sanchez went 2-for-4 with his fourth homer.
- Lenyn Sosa, 1-for-4 with a double.
- Luis Curbelo was 1-for-3 with a walk.
- Bailey Horn opens his High-A career with a 189.00 ERA: 0.1 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 1 HR
Charleston 10, Kannapolis 2
- James Beard went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
- Jose Rodriguez was 0-for-4 with a K.
- Bryan Ramos went 2-for-3.
- Luis Mieses, 1-for-4.
- DJ Gladney was 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
- Harvin Mendoza went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Chase Krogman went 1-for-3 with a double, walk and strikeout.
ACL Indians 10, ACL White Sox 4 (7 innings)
- Elijah Tatis wore the collar and silver sombrero.
- Wilber Sanchez went 1-for-3 with a stolen base.
- Benyamin Bailey singled, walked, struck out and stole a base.
- Logan Glass struck out all three times, as did Misael Gonzalez.
