Yasmani Grandal left Tuesday night's loss in Toronto with what Pedro Grifol described as a back spasm that won't require a roster move. But Grifol was too optimistic on Yoán Moncada's day-to-day back issue earlier this month, and Grandal battled back problems all of last year, so it's worth checking in on how Carlos Pérez is doing. You know, just in case.
Pérez looks like Pérez in the early going, as he's hitting .240/.305/.453 over his first 20 games of the season with the Charlotte Knights. The most noteworthy development at the moment is his walk rate, which is at a career high 8.5 percent in the early going. The worst thing going for him? Opponents have swiped 20 stolen bases in 27 attempts over 14 games.
As I said in my Prospect Week write-up of Pérez, he's fine for a third catcher, and he probably deserves an extended shot with some second-division MLB team just to see how exploitable his flaws are. I just didn't count on the White Sox being that second-division team.
Norfolk 9, Charlotte 5
- Carlos Pérez went 3-for-4 with a double and a walk.
- A.J. Alexy is still a mess: 3 IP, 2 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 5 BB, 1 K, 1 HR, 1 WP, 23 of 55 pitches for strikes.
Tennessee 6, Birmingham 1
- José Rodríguez went 1-for-4 with a strikeout and a CS.
- Luis Mieses went 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
- Yoequli Céspedes singled, walked, struck out twice and was picked off.
- Adam Hackenberg was 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Matthew Thompson: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 7 K, 2 HR, 1 WP, 49 of 74 pitches for strikes.
Winston-Salem 3, Hickory 2 (Game 1, 7 innings)
- Terrell Tatum went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
- Loidel Chapelli, 0-for-3 with a K.
- DJ Gladney homered and singled twice in his three trips.
- Wilfred Veras went 1-for-3.
- Wes Kath, 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
- Noah Owen: 2.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 1 K, 26 of 49 pitches for strikes.
Notes:
*Wilfred Veras was named the South Atlantic League Player of the Week after going 11-for-27 with three homers, three doubles, tow walks and two stolen bases over six games in Asheville.
Winston-Salem 5, Hickory 2 (Game 2, 7 innings)
- Terrell Tatum singled twice, walked once, bunted once and was caught stealing.
- Loidel Chapelli went 0-for-2 with a walk and an HBP.
- DJ Gladney went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Wilfred Veras hit a sac fly and struck out thrice.
- Wes Kath wore the collar and silver sombrero.
Highlights:
*Tatum delivered a literal knockout blow in a frightening collision at first base after his sac bunt.
Carolina 7, Kannapolis 4
- Jordan Sprinkle singled and struck out four times.
- Brooks Baldwin went 1-for-3 with a walk.
- Chase Krogman is pitching now: 0.2 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 1 K, six of 14 pitches for strikes.
