White Sox Minor Keys: June 2, 2023
Noah Schultz’s professional debut was worth the wait.
Ten and a half months since the White Sox selected him in the first round of last year’s draft, the 19-year-old lefty made his first appearance in affiliated ball for Kannapolis on Friday night, and he overwhelmed the Fayetteville Woodpeckers over two innings.
Schultz didn’t pitch in games during his draft year because he lost a lot of his senior season at Oswego East to mono, and his ramp-up this year was delayed by a flexor strain. He showed no signs of stress, at least after the first batter.
Schultz gave up a sharp double past a diving Jordan Sprinkle on his second pitch of the game, and then he used his next 27 pitches to retire the next six batters he faced, including five strikeouts and a weak groundout to third.
Jeff Cohen said Schultz threw every fastball at 95 or 96 mph, and his slider was always a threat for a strike. I’d be curious whether he would’ve fared any worse with a less favorable shadows situation, but considering he’s just 19 years old, there’s no harm in a soft introduction.
Jeff talked to Schultz after the game about what he threw: primarily two-seamers and sliders, with one changeup. He’s also showing some advanced polish with his clichés.
Charlotte 4, Nashville 3
- Carlos Pérez doubled, singled twice and struck out once.
- Oscar Colás went 1-for-4 with a double, HBP and a strikeout.
Mississippi 13, Birmingham 7
- Alsander Womack went 2-for-4 with a homer.
- Bryan Ramos went 1-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.
- Luis Mieses doubled twice during a 2-for-5 night.
- Adam Hackenberg was 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
- Cristian Mena: 4.1 IP, 3 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 7 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 2 WP, 37 of 82 pitches for strikes.
Winston-Salem 4, Greensboro 3
- Terrell Tatum went 0-for-4 with a walk, three strikeouts and a stolen base.
- Loidel Chapelli was 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base.
- DJ Gladney, 1-for-5 with a double and a strikeout.
- Wilfred Veras was 4-for-5 with a stolen base.
- Wes Kath, 0-for-3 with a walk and two strikeouts.
- Jonathan Cannon: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
Fayetteville 6, Kannapolis 5
- Jordan Sprinkle went 1-for-3 with a walk and a CS.
- Noah Schultz: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 22 of 29 pitches for strikes.
What in the name of Alec Hanson is going on with Christian Mena?
He read White Sox blogs where some fans started wondering if he was near the Bigs, so he promptly started walking everybody to feel in brand.
You’re never going to make it to the Bigs throwing strikes kid…
Nice start for the kid, he’s got his cliches to a high polish.
Mena is spiraling a bit, are they still using the tacky ball? If so, yikes.
Am I the only one worried a bit that Noah didn’t appear to have an answer when Jeff asked him about his goal/focus is right now with the team. Jeff even helped him, by adding, are you working on a new pitch? Answers such as “Stay healthy” and “Be the best team mate I can” do not resonate to a serious professional development plan, but, hey, this is the White Sox, right? Just throw the ball, stay out of trouble and have fun is probably among the highest advanced development plan they can come up with, right?
As the father of an 18-year-old boy, I think it is possible his answers do not reflect every conversation the organization has had with him
They probably reflect the media training he’s been given, whether by the team or his agency.
Probably this.
Bro, he’s 19 giving an interview after not pitching competitively for over a year. Relax.
Did the Sox cut James Beard?
Just a slight trim.
Schultz is 80% legs, great first impression.