White Sox Minor League Update: June 28, 2024

The Knights and Barons are back in the win column, but things get rocky in the lower rungs

Charlotte Knights 9, Norfolk Tides 2 (Gameday box) (Statcast box)
After getting blown out the night before, Charlotte returned to the win column in convincing fashion, riding a seven-run first inning into the sunset tonight.

Zach Remillard and Chuckie Robinson, who powered what little offense Charlotte could manage last night, stayed hot in this one by tallying the only Knights extra-base hits of the game.

Remillard, to his credit, went 2-for-4 on the night with three hard-hit balls, which could be a sign that the veteran infielder is ready to put his yearlong slump behind him.

Starter Johan Domínguez turned in a serviceable effort on the mound, scattering four hits over four innings pitched while allowing two earned runs and fanning seven Tides. He also battled his control in this one, allowing four free passes.

Reliever Aaron McGarity would go on to be the winning pitcher of record after pitching a scoreless eighth in which he struck out all three batters he faced. Matt Foster (in his Knights season debut), Fraser Ellard, Jordan Leasure, and Deivi García also posted scoreless innings to get this game past the finish line.

A convincing win is just the way I wanted to start this recap! Let’s crown an MVP, reader.

Birmingham Barons 6, Tennessee Smokies 1 (5 innings) (Gameday box)
Holy winning baseball, we’ve done it again! After a dismal showing on the farm last night, Birmingham has made it two straight wins tonight!

Mason Adams was nearly flawless in tonight’s abbreviated matchup, technically throwing a complete game by spanning all five of his team’s innings — a complete game that lowered Adams’ 2024 ERA to a paltry 2.13, earning him his sixth win.

Enough about the mound, let’s talk about how the Barons managed to score six runs in five innings. Last year’s first-rounder Jacob Gonzalez is really good at baseball, it turns out.

Oh, and that wasn’t the only ball to leave the yard in this one. New Zealand native Jason Matthews struck for a two-run bomb as well.

When you’re treated to power baseball with one of the org’s best pitchers on the mound, a lot can go right. And, boy, did it go right for B-Ham! Let’s crown an MVP, shall we?

Rome Emperors 13, Winston-Salem Dash 0 (Gameday box)
I will take partial responsibility for tonight’s loss in Winston-Salem after hyping up the wins we enjoyed at the top two levels of the minor league system.

Not much went right for the Dash in this one. I tire of reporting this every week, since I happen to be a fan, but Peyton Pallette turned in yet another shaky start on the mound in this one. His unsightly 7.21 ERA is every bit as bad as it sounds, with the young righty either struggling to find the zone and walking batters or living too much within the zone and giving up hard contact. Tonight was mainly the latter, with a bit of the former. In 3 2⁄3 innings pitched, Pallette allowed five runs on six hits with three walks while striking out two.

Unfortunately, things would go on to get worse for this staff before they got better. Frander Veras came on in relief of the stumbling Pallette and proceeded to give up seven runs of his own in his lone inning of work.

Offensively, Winston-Salem could manage just three hits on the night, singles from Loidel Chapelli and Ryan Galanie, and a double off the bat of catcher Calvin Harris.

Let’s move on and try to find a silver lining, shall we?

Columbia Fireflies 6, Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 3 (Gameday box)
The Ballers didn’t live up to their name in tonight’s loss to the visiting Fireflies. Starter Tommy Vail, who I can NOT heap enough praise on for his start to the year, was electric to begin tonight’s game. In 3 2⁄3 innings, his punched seven tickets. He also allowed two runs and walked two in a no-decision.

Manuel Veloz entered the game in relief and struggled to close to follow suit, allowing four earned runs in two-thirds of an inning, while walking three. He took the loss.

Offensively, a trio of Ballers notched multi-hit efforts, including fan-favorite George Wolkow who launched two opposite-field bombs.

The power is real for this young Sox prospect, as both of his homers didn’t appear to be particularly well-struck.

His OPS has ballooned to a respectable .819 in Single-A, though his feast-or-famine focused approach leaves questions as to whether or not he can continue that level of production over an extended sample size.

ACL White Sox 2, ACL Royals 1 (7 innings) (Gameday Box)
A surprisingly low-scoring result came out of the ACL today, where the White Sox edged out the Royals by a single run.

First base prospect Darío Borrero was responsible for the sole longball the ACL Sox enjoyed in this one, a solo shot that turned out to play a decisive role in today’s outcome. Adrian Gil would go on to record the only other ACL Sox RBI with a double, to continue his hot-hitting ways; he owns an .830 OPS in ACL play this year.

Towering 6´9´´ prospect Carson Jacobs was the winning pitcher in this one, throwing 2 2⁄3 innings of scoreless ball and allowing just one hit while striking out five. Lefty reliever Daniel González earned the save out of the bullpen, his second in ACL play.