With Minor League Baseball's non-complex short-season leagues eliminated, the only way a team that believes more is more can add affiliates is by splitting/doubling up on squads in Arizona or the Dominican Republic.
For instance, the Arizona Complex League has 18 teams representing 15 organizations, with the Brewers, Giants and Royals running two teams make even numbers. The Dominican Summer League encompasses the entire league, and the 30 clubs produce 48 teams.
The White Sox are only running one apiece in each league, and even those teams have its hands full, particularly in the ACL. Those White Sox are 6-17, and the league's second-worst record is supported by the league's second-worst OPS (.683), with five other teams in the bottom half representing the split-squad clubs. They have the fifth-worst runs allowed at 7.21, and split squads account for four of the next five teams above them.
Here's hoping this year's draft class helps stem the tide, particularly when Colson Montgomery and Wes Kath are able to join the fray.
ACL Giants 5, ACL White Sox 0
- Wilber Sanchez and Jefferson Mendoza were both 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
- Logan Glass went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
- Benyamin Bailey was 1-for-3 with a strikeout.
- Wilfred Veras went 1-for-2 with an HBP.
- Elijah Tatis singled twice and struck out once.
- Ronaldo Guzman: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 2 K
DSL White Sox 1, DSL D-backs1 0
- Randel Mondesi doubled, singled, got plunked, and was 1-for-2 on the basepaths.
- Victor Quezada singled, walked and struck out.
- Carlos Hinestroza: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
(Photo by Nick Panico)
