White Sox Minor Keys: Aug. 27, 2019

The Winston-Salem Dash have really taken the idea of “playing out the string” to heart. They entered Monday getting shut out in three straight games, and only a Craig Dedelow solo shot interfered with a fourth one. Instead, they lost to Salem by a score of 5-1.

When Steele Walker and Andrew Vaughn don’t hit, the Dash offense isn’t responsive. Walker is 2-for-19 over his last five games since a 10-game hitting streak ended, and Vaughn has four hits in his last 29 at-bats.

Durham 10, Charlotte 6

  • Nick Madrigal went 2-for-4 with a double and an HBP.
  • Luis Robert was 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
  • Zack Collins homered, singled twice and struck out.
  • Yermin Mercedes was 0-for-2 with a walk and a sac fly.
  • Seby Zavala struck out in a pinch-hitting appearance.
  • Danny Mendick went 1-for-4.

Birmingham 11, Tennessee 3

  • Luis Gonzalez went 1-for-4 with two walks and a strikeout.
  • Gavin Sheets was 2-for-5 with a double, walk and two strikeouts.
  • Ti’Quan Forbes went 1-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
  • Luis Basabe, 2-for-5 with two strikeouts and a stolen base.
  • Alec Hansen: 2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 4 K

Salem 5, Winston-Salem 1

  • Steele Walker went 0-for-4.
  • Andrew Vaughn, 1-for-4 with a K.

Kannapolis 5, Hagerstown 4

  • Lenyn Sosa went 2-for-4.
  • Corey Zangari, 1-for-4.
  • Amado Nunez was 1-for-3 with a double and a strikeout.

Great Falls 4, Idaho Falls 3

  • Cabera Weaver went 2-for-5 with a triple, double and two strikeouts.
  • Kelvin Maldonado was 3-for-5 with a strikeout.
  • Harvin Mendoza, 1-for-5 with a double and a strikeout.
  • Luis Mieses and Anderson Comas both were 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
  • Ramon Pineda: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
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Brett R. Bobysud

Would you guys call Sheets’s season up to this point a successful one?

knoxfire30

Not to speak for everyone but I still see his upside being at best a well below average mlb player… a sub 800 ops in AA for a 23 year old isnt a let down season but I fail to see where he is going to excel at the next level. Organizational depth is all I see.

phillyd

You have to put his numbers into context though. The Southern League is a tough hitting environment and his wRC+ for the year is 126. So he has been 26% better than the league average hitter. That being said, I am not that excited.

HallofFrank

This is pretty much my sentiment. He’s a 2nd round 1B, so I wasn’t expecting much. I think he’s made himself worth paying attention to which, in our system, is basically one of the highlights. 

Brett R. Bobysud

His OPS since the very end of May is over 870, he’s carrying a double digit BB% over the same time period, and he’s hit for way more power this season than he has in previous years, in a much tougher environment for hitters. So while I don’t think he’s blown away the competition, I would call his season a success for him.

I’m interested to see what he looks like in the AAA environment.

HallofFrank

Yes, I’d say success. Tough hitting environment. Of hitters who got at least 200 PA in Birmingham this year, only Robert had a higher OPS than Sheets. And over the last 3 months, they look pretty comparable: Sheets (.876) and Robert (.880). 

burning-phoneix

Sub .800 OPS in the Southern League is like a .900 OPS in AAA with the bouncy ball they got up there.

mikeyb

No.

metasox

helps if you weight the second half

texag10

I want to say yes because, as metasox mentions, his 2nd half has been pretty darn good. I think at the very least, we’ve seen some positives this year that leave me optimistic he might be useful.

lil jimmy

He’s surprised me. they tell us that He’s solid in the field. He’s been very steady at the plate, and a run producer. Last year the highest RBI total in the whole system was 63. Sheets is at 81 and counting. His OBP has been very steady .359 in over 1000 at bats, while power has picked up. I would say cautiously optimistic.

jose robcada

absolutely, how can you not?
he has showed us the one thing we wanted to see, power. Yes there was a slump beginning 1-2 months which is typically expected in a A+ to AA jump and since then his numbers are great especially for that ball park (.301/.380/.496 with .876 ops in last 75 games)

Josh Nelson

I hope other MLB teams find it a success so the White Sox can trade Sheets as part of a package to net an upgrade in Chicago.

Brett R. Bobysud

That has crossed my mind as well. Maybe try and package him and a couple other guys to get a corner outfielder or starting pitcher.

Trooper Galactus

That’s why I’d say his season is a success. He’s certainly played up his value instead of vaporizing it like so many of his cohorts in Birmingham did this season.

lil jimmy

That Collins bunt last night is gorgeous.
“I’ve got your shift right here!”

soxfan

And now the Collins/Robert OPS race is a dead heat.