Farm Fortnight: White Sox farm system makes first roster adjustments

It only took a few weeks for the White Sox to start reorganizing some sections of their minor league rosters.

Up top, the Charlotte Knights traded Travis Jankowski and released Cal Mitchell to clear up an outfield picture that was cluttered with non-roster invitees and DFA'd players who cleared waivers. They also received Tyler Schweitzer from Charlotte to shore up the rotation, and Wikelman González is reportedly on the way as well, although his role is less clear.

The Birmingham Barons replaced Schweitzer with Shane Murphy, and we'll see if he get his own spot in the rotation after González's promotion, or if he continues being the bulk boy in relief of Grant Taylor.

Winston-Salem gets the biggest individual boost with the addition of Braden Montgomery, who didn't have much of an issue putting his stamp on games at Kannapolis despite the long layoff due to his ankle injury at Texas A&M. The Cannon Ballers backfilled their outfield by reaching into the extended spring training ranks for Abraham Nuñez.

One player who hasn't yet moved upward is Tim Elko. He's made himself a household name -- at least the households with CHSN -- by laying waste to International League pitching while Andrew Vaughn is considered the least valuable regular in Major League Baseball by both FanGraphs (-1.0 WAR) and Baseball-Reference.com (-1.2). Those skeptical of Elko's plate coverage -- or off-plate coverage, as it were -- might want to pump the brakes, but it's hard to slow down the momentum when the major league roster isn't providing any resistance.

Charlotte Knights

• Last two series: 1-5 vs. Nashville; 5-1 @Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
• Record: 12-15
• Next two series: vs. Norfolk, vs. Memphis
• Individual stats

There's nothing like April in Charlotte to put Sergio Santos' stoicism to the test. The Knights lost nine consecutive games and 11 of 12 over series against Jacksonville and Nashville, but pulled out of their nosedive by winning five of six against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

At least the Knights remembered they play in the league's friendliest offensive environment. They lead the International League in homers by a healthy margin (43; Nashville is second with 34). On the flip side, they've allowed the second-most homers in the IL, and are first in walks. They closed out the Nashville series with a 14-11 defeat, but won the sixth game of their Scranton series 13-12, with Dominic Fletcher of all people recording the save.

Speaking of Fletcher, he survived an outfield shuffle caused by a glut of outrightings, and more major league experience is heading Charlotte's way. Nick Maton cleared waivers and was assigned to Charlotte, and Josh Rojas will be starting a rehab assignment. Sometimes it seems like the Knights are a sovereign entity with a 40-man roster of their own, but their page only shows 34 names.

Position Players

*Colson Montgomery had started to climb out from under a horrendous start to his season with a six-game hitting streak through the Nashville series, but he followed that up by going 1-for-21 in five games against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He has struck out at least once in all of the 23 games he's played this season, and it seems like the White Sox are running out of ways to sound unconcerned about it.

*Kyle Teel didn't get to the majors before Edgar Quero, but his consolation prize is unfettered playing time behind the plate with Charlotte. His bat has responded in kind, as he's hitting .300/.391/.400 over his last 10 games.

*Tim Elko accelerated his rampage over the International League over the last two weeks, hitting .342/.429/.976 with eight homers in 11 games against Nashville and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Five of those homers have come in the last four games, and with Vaughn playing so poorly in Chicago, Elko's timing couldn't be better in all aspects.

*Bryan Ramos does not have his timing yet, as he's 3-for-27 on the season after coming off the injured list for his elbow injury.

Pitchers

*Nick Nastrini threw one of the best starts by a White Sox farmhand all season with six shutout innings against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday, allowing just two hits and two walks. Because he's legally prohibited from inspiring confidence, he didn't make it out of the first inning on Sunday, throwing just 11 of 36 pitches for strikes.

*Jairo Iriarte was able to complete an inning against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in his most recent start, but nothing more after throwing 37 pitches. He's topping out at 94 most nights, and his control is getting away from him, too.

*Tyler Schweitzer went from piggybacking on Grant Taylor's starts at Birmingham to getting his own starts in Charlotte. He gave up five runs over 4⅓ innings in his Triple-A debut on Wednesday, but let's see how he settles in.

*Among other arms, Justin Dunn currently has the best case for spot starts in Chicago based on his performance thus far, as he's allowed just one run over his last 11 innings.

Birmingham Barons

• Last two series: 2-4 vs. Biloxi; 4-2 @Rocket City
• Record: 11-9
• Next two series: vs. Pensacola, @Columbus
• Individual stats

The International League is a Royal Rumble, while the Southern League remains genteel. The average IL team averages 4.74 runs a game, while the Montgomery Biscuits lead the SL at 4.55. The Barons have thrived in this environment the last two years, at least when they're rolling out a rotation teeming with top pitching prospects.

That said, it's surprising to see the Barons leading the Southern League in walks with 108 over 176⅔ innings, and even Noah Schultz has battled bouts of wildness. Also, the rotation has lost some of its depth via the promotions of Schweitzer and González. Schweitzer is a valuable minor league rotation stabilizer, González not so much.

Position Players

*Jacob Gonzalez has reached base 14 times over the last seven games, but all of his nine hits are singles. The plate approach is rock-solid, but the impact remains lacking.

*Wilfred Veras, conversely, has nearly as many homers as the rest of the Barons roster combined (5). Both his walk rates and strikeout rates are career highs, so he's turned into more of a Three True Outcomes guy than I would've thought possible.

*DJ Gladney hasn't played since last Tuesday, when he was lifted after trying to run out a dropped third strike.

*William Bergolla ran a ton during the Rocket City series, swiping six bases in six games. He's also playing shortstop nearly everyday. If Gonzalez's lack of power is turning the middle infield into a competition over who's the better William Bergolla, William Bergolla is winning.

*Rikuu Nishida is now back to playing regularly, starting five of six games in each of the past two series, and appearing as an in-game replacement when he wasn't in the original lineup. He's bouncing between second base and left field.

Pitchers

*Noah Schultz is alternating unimpressive starts with shutout starts, throwing five shutout innings in each of his even-numbered outings. The odd-numbered ones account for the bulk of the damage in his line above.

*Hagen Smith continues to be the only person who can trouble Hagen Smith in Double-A, as opponents are hitting .133/.316/.200 against him thus far.

*Grant Taylor is showing Smith-like tendencies, as opponents are hitting just .111/.304/.139 against him in 47 plate appearances. He's thrown three shutout innings in three of his four starts, but he's walked at least two batters in all four of his outings.

*Riley Gowens wasn't immune from Daily Debacle duties, as he threw just 15 of 35 pitches for strikes when he failed to complete one inning in a loss to Biloxi on April 19. He's been effective in his other three outings.

*Wikelman González is reportedly joining Schweitzer in Charlotte, although not because he's been effective. Perhaps the White Sox are already considering his relief path, because he's giving up more than a free base an inning when factoring in the three HBPs.

*Peyton Pallette had three consecutive appearances marred by the long ball, but he's recovered his last three times out, striking out 11 against four baserunners over five innings against Biloxi and Rocket City.

Winston-Salem Dash

• Last two series: 2-4 @Greenville; 2-4 vs. Rome
• Record: 7-15
• Next two series: @Greensboro, vs. Bowling Green
• Individual stats

The Winston-Salem Dash are tied with the league's worst record despite a positive run differential, as they're +3 on the season. Fire Pat Leyland.

They're second in the South Atlantic League at 5.57 runs per a game, and the arrival of Braden Montgomery doesn't figure to hurt that number. It's been a slog on the pitching side despite a combined no-hitter and a handful of encouraging individual performances, and losing Murphy's strike-throwing abilities to Birmingham paves the way for even wilder swings.

Position Players

*Sam Antonacci has maintained his pace of getting plunked every other night, as he's up to 10 HBPs in 20 games. That's how he carried a .441 OBP over the last two series despite hitting just .250.

*Jeral Perez has tapped into his power over the last two series, with four homers, a triple and three doubles over 11 games. He's also struck out 16 times, so it remains to be seen whether he's just learning the league or trading some contact for slugging.

*Samuel Zavala had eight walks to just three hits when we last checked up on him. He now has more hits than walks, but that's because he stopped walking. He drew just one free pass against 12 strikeouts. He did rack up all four of his extra-base hits during this time, so his production is taking a different form of unsatisfying.

*Jackson Appel is starting two out of three games behind the plate, but his hitting took a step back (.241/.333/.310).

Pitchers

*Lucas Gordon combined to throw 11 scoreless innings over the last two series, allowing just four hits and three walks while striking out 11. He's running a seven percent walk rate in Winston-Salem after seeing it balloon to 16 percent over nine games in High-A last year.

*Aldrin Batista hasn't pitched since Opening Night, but at least we now know why. The White Sox shelved him due to a stress fracture in his elbow that's going to knock him out of action for 2-3 months, but there's no ligament damage.

*Seth Keener might have to get ready for relief work if this keeps up.

*Tanner McDougal is still walking too many guys, but at last he's regained his effectiveness at High-A, as he's limited the opposition to one run in three of his five starts.

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers

• Last two series: 2-4 vs. Columbia, 4-2 @Myrtle Beach
• Record: 11-10
• Next two series: vs. Augusta, vs. Carolina
• Individual stats

In a matter of 3½ weeks, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers have already turned over a majority of their outfield. George Wolkow remains, but instead of seeing Braden Montgomery and Nick McLain alongside him most of the time, promotions and attrition means it's time for Abraham Nuñez and Nathan Archer instead. That might hurt their team slugging percentage a little bit, but it won't hamper their ability to run wild. They lead all of Minor League Baseball with 76 stolen bases in just 21 games.

On the pitching side, they're second in all of Minor League Baseball with 30 HBPs, but their overall control numbers are no longer the worst in the Carolina League. A decent last turn through the rotation helped reduce the number of erratic relievers used per game.

Position Players

*Braden Montgomery earned a promotion to Winston-Salem with his performance.

*Caleb Bonemer made an appearance on Baseball America's Hot Sheet after hitting .382/.532/.618 over 10 games against Columbia and Myrtle Beach the past two weeks. He took a fastball to the head on Friday, but was back in the lineup on Sunday, hopefully no worse for the wear.

*Javier Mogollón cooled off after the hottest start in Kannapolis, but he's seen worse (.200/.319/.425, 25.5 percent strikeout rate). If his down weeks no longer come with comically high strikeout rates, you can consider it progress.

*Ronny Hernandez has seen his strikeout rate jump by nearly 10 percent, but he had room to whiff more in pursuit of power. The extra-base hits are not yet flowing.

*George Wolkow isn't hitting for power, either, and that's unusual. The strikeout rate is down to a respectable 28.4 percent, and he's already matched last season's stolen base total, but ideally his production isn't supposed to resemble Juan Pierre's.

*Nick McLain didn't play during the Myrtle Beach series and is now on the injured list, putting a five-game hitting streak on pause.

*Casey Saucke is out for the year with Tommy John surgery.

*Ryan Burrowes has played shortstop in just two of his last eight games, perhaps because he committed four errors in those two games, so his window may be closing.

*Lyle Miller-Green is slugging .846 against lefties, so lopsided platoon splits are how he's getting by thus far.

*Abraham Nuñez arrived to take the place of McLain, and with Montgomery out of the Kannapolis picture, I'm also keeping an eye on Nathan Archer, a 12th-round pick out of Bowling Green who's hitting .296/.377/.444 with eight steals in 15 games.

*Jordan Sprinkle has stolen 20 bases in 16 games while hitting .420/.547/.460. He's 24 years old and this is his third stint in Low-A, but he's living his best life.

Pitchers

*Christian Oppor has been dynamite in two of his three appearances, and while he was touched up for four runs over 3 ⅔ innings in the lone clunker, he filled up the strike zone (no walks, 50 of 73 pitches for strikes).

*Luis Reyes turned in the best start of his professional career his last time out, allowing just one run on three hits and two HBPs over 5⅓ innings while striking out nine. Let's see if there's more where that came from.

*Pierce George hasn't allowed a run in four of his seven appearances. In the other three, he's allowed 11 runs over 2⅔ innings, failing to retire any of the seven batters he faced against Myrtle Beach on Wednesday.

*Blake Shepardson was placed on the Development List, so we won't have him to kick around for the time being.