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Chicago WhiteSox Top 20 Prospects for 2010

John Sickels — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:15:07 -0000

More photos » by Charles Krupa - AP

3 months ago: Chicago White Sox' Gordon Beckham dashes down the first base line on his two run home run in the third inning against the Boston Red Sox during their baseball game at Fenway Park in Boston, Monday Aug. 24, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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Chicago White Sox Top 20 Prospects for 2010.

All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change. Don't get too worried about exact rankings at this point, especially once you get beyond the Top 10. Grade C+/C guys are pretty interchangeable depending on what you want to emphasize. Complete reports on these and over 1,000 other players will be in the2010 Baseball Prospect Book, now available for pre-order, shipping on February 2^nd!

1) Dan Hudson, RHP, Grade B: A personal favorite, since I rated him as a big sleeper pre-season and he really broke through.

2) Jared Mitchell, OF, Grade B: Grade A tools, refinement is a Grade C/C+ right now.

3) Tyler Flowers, C, Grade B: Power and patience are plusses, defense has improved a great deal according to all reports.

4) Brent Morel, 3B, Grade B-: I think he's underrated. Only questions about power at higher levels keep him from a Grade B. Now blocked behind Mark Teahen, a long-term signing I don't understand.

5) Jordan Danks, OF, Grade C+: Borderline Grade B-, as I like the tools and think the bat may still come around.

6) Dayan Viciedo, 3B, Grade C+: Cutting him some slack since he was young for Double-A and was pushed fast, but this is a good example of why we need performance data rather than just hype and team propaganda/scouting reports when evaluating players.

7) David Holmberg, LHP, Grade C+: Will the fastball get faster? If it does his stock could go up quickly.

8) C.J. Retherford, 2B, Grade C+: He can hit despite unimpressive tools. Not sure how he fits into long-term plans.

9) Christian Marrero, 1B-OF, Grade C+: Looks underrated to me. Could be a good platoon player.

10) Santos Rodriguez, LHP, Grade C+: Gotta love the strikeouts, but a long way from being ready to help. High ceiling though.

11) Miguel Gonzalez, C, Grade C+: Interesting catcher with good hitting in the Appy League and good glove rep, could rise quickly up the list in '10.

12) Jhonny Nunez, RHP, Grade C+: Power relief arm could help sometime soon.

13) Josh Phegley, C, Grade C+: Borderline Grade C; defensive questions still present and he had trouble transitioning from metal to wood, but can't ignore Indiana numbers completely yet.

14) John Ely, RHP, Grade C: I know scouts hate him but he just keeps getting people out. Passed Double-A Finesse Pitcher Test with flying colors.

15) John Shelby, OF, Grade C: Good speed, good glove, some power, on-base skills still sketchy despite increase in walk rate.

16) Tracye Thompson, OF, Grade C: Great tools, horrible hitting skills at this point. High risk of bust, but physical potential is impressive.

17) Clevelan Santeliz, RHP, Grade C: I know he throws hard and has the pretty ERA in Double-A, but his walk rate remains too high for me to trust him at this point.

18) Lucas Harrell, RHP, Grade C: Another guy with a decent arm but unattractive component ratios.

19) Brandon Hynick, RHP, Grade C: Nice pickup from the Rockies, possible inning-eater type though stuff is marginal.

20) Carlos Torres, RHP, Grade C: Old for a prospect at 27, but pitched well in Triple-A and could be a useful staff asset.

Others of Note (all grade C): Kyle Bellamy, RHP; Ryan Buch, RHP; Nick Ciolli, OF; Justin Collop, RHP; Tyson Corley, RHP; Eduardo Escobar, SS; Stefan Gartrell, OF; Jon Gilmore, 3B; Nevin Griffith, RHP; Gregory Infante, RHP; Nathan Jones, RHP; Jon Link, RHP; Charlie Leesman, LHP; Dan Remenowsky, RHP; Sergio Santos, RHP; Joe Serafin, LHP; Brady Shoemaker, OF; Taylor Thompson, RHP.

This is a very thin farm system, thanks in part to frequent trades and major league graduations like Gordon Beckham. I like the four guys at the top: Hudson and Mitchell are both personal favorites, though both still have enough questions to keep them from getting B+ ratings. Flowers seems to have come around defensively and has a good bat. Morel is another guy I like quite a bit and he has breakout potential in '10.

After that things thin out fast. Danks, Viciedo, and Holmberg all have good potential but even bigger questionmarks than the top guys. Marrero strikes me as an underrated player. Rodriguez and Gonzalez are intriguing but we need to see them at higher levels. After that we have a bunch of potential role players, possible bullpen arms, or guys with big ceilings but gigantic holes in their game (Trayce Thompson).

If Mitchell begins to fulfill his potential he'll be the clear number one next year.

This Month in White Sox Minor League Baseball

larry — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 22:34:57 -0000

You won't be seeing Sergio Santos use this anymore.

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Today was the Arizona Fall League Championship game between the Phoenix Desert Dogs and Peoria Javelinas, for whom White Sox prospects play. The Javelinas won 5-4. AFL batting champion Brent Morel had a good game, going 2-4. Jordan Danks continued his struggles with pitches inside, grounding out to the right side on such pitches three times. He did draw a walk, finishing 0-4. But C.J. "Stumpy" Retherford was the hero. He drove in Morel on a fielder's choice for the first Javelinas run and then hit an absolute bomb to left field in the 8th to give them a lead they wouldn't relinquish.

RHP Sergio Santos, the recently converted SS, made an appearance. As expected, the control was spotty - one of his strikeouts also hit the batter - and the results were rather typical (1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 2 K) but he flashed a very nice slider and the fastball velocity looked very good.

In other news:

Video from the AFL, including Retherford, Morel and Danks.
The White Sox added five to the 40 man roster, thus protecting these players from next month's Rule 5 Draft. Phil Rogers' favorite OF Stefan Gartrell was added; with the outfield situation uncertain at this point, he was a reasonable use of space, though he strikes me as an AAAA player at best. RHP Brandon Hynick, who came over in the Contreras trade, was also protected. Of all the adds, he was the likeliest to actually be picked considering he is the closest to major league ready. Raw RHP Sergio Santos is another reasonable addition. His potential is tremendous and, as he's new to pitching, you don't know when things may click. RHP Santo Luis will be 26 next season and it will be his first time above A ball. I suppose he does have a nice strikeout rate. SouthSideSox had been hearing that RHP Brian Omogrosso tore his labrum so, if that's the case, I'm not sure why he was protected since another team couldn't stash him on the DL all year. Perhaps he's healthier than that or perhaps the White Sox see this as an irrelevant move since they have plenty of roster room and they can put him on the DL all year and, if so, would be able to get another option year.
Potentially notable non-additions are 2006 waste of a first round pick Kyle McCulloch and John Shelby. But I wouldn't be too concerned.
Minor league free agency began. Notable filings: Ehren Wassermann, David Cook and Fernando Hernandez. But I wouldn't be too concerned.
Lists season is in full swing. BP's Kevin Goldstein published his. No real surprises on it, as one could expect an analyst who favors tools to rank Jared Mitchell and Trayce Thompson higher than most.
You can keep track of all the White Sox players in winter ball here. Not much has changed since last post: Jon Link still walking too many and Clevelan Santeliz is still striking out many. Jhonny Nunez has begun playing for Licey in the Dominican Winter League so he's another to watch.

This will probably be the last front page update post until March. Check out the right sidebar for the Minor League Update fanpost, which will probably be around in one form or another for most/all of the offseason. And you can follow me on Twitter @SouthSidelarry.

This Month in White Sox Minor League Baseball

larry — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:28:16 -0000

Jordan Danks does it for the kids.

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This month:

Jordan Danks has been the outstanding performer so far for the White Sox winter ballas. Shaking off his poor, potentially injury induced, second half of 2009, he's gone .333/.450/.485 in 18 games. Watch him this Saturday at 7:15pm on MLB Network in the AFL Rising Stars Game.
The White Sox originally sent a bunch of junk to pitch in the AFL. Two junk removals have provided opportunities to a couple interesting guys. One, Sergio Santos, is simply that: interesting. A former first round pick of the Diamondbacks as a high school SS, he spent 7 seasons in the minors, never fulfilling his promise. After being invited to Spring Training this season by the White Sox and not impressing them with his hitting, either, he was converted to pitcher and, while very raw, showed some promise on the mound with a 9.4 K/9. Of course, that came with 6.4 BB/9 and a slew of wild pitches and hit by pitches. The story has been much the same in the AFL, with 6 BB and 12 K in 9.1 IP.
Also recently added from the instructional leagues was Kyle Bellamy, who is actually a prospect. A 2009 5th round selection, as a college closer, he's a fast track type and his appearance in the AFL confirms this impression. A tall, right-handed side-armer, some think he could be on the South Side next season and a good showing in the AFL would go a long way in raising his status in the organization.
As most of you know, Dayan Viciedo was shut down due to tendinitis in his right elbow after just four games. The injury is not considered at all serious and can arguably be chalked up to simple overuse in a player not used to a season stretching from February into November. He's an expected attendee at Camp Cora this January.
The injury to Viciedo opened up an opportunity for larry favorite Brent Morel. So far, .280/.296/.280.
C.J. Retherford: .255/.309/.392.
They do play baseball in places other than Arizona and the White Sox have a couple other notable participants. Jon Link is pitching for Tiburones de La Guaira in the Venezuelan Winter League where he's taken his usual high strikeout/high walk act: 15.1 IP, 11 H, 10 BB, 15 K. Clevelan Santeliz is playing for Navegantes del Magallanes in the VWL and is continuing his 2009 transformation into a high strikeout/low walk pitcher: 12.2 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 16 K. Look for him to get a serious look for the opening day roster.
High A affiliate Winston-Salem will finally be getting their new ballpark completed. After a year delay which forced them to play at the stadium they had sold to Wake Forest, the Dash's new home in downtown Winston-Salem is set to open on April 13. Hopefully this means the club will draw more than the putrid 901 fans per game they averaged last season.
And, for the first time in more than a decade, the White Sox will take on their AAA affiliate, the Charlotte Knights, in a pre-season exhibition on April 1, 2010.

Disappointing White Sox Prospects of 2009

larry — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:00:30 -0000

John Shelby: unlucky or bad?

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The progression of a minor league player is rarely an uninterrupted straight line to the majors. Instead, players plateau at some level along the way. Even those few who make the majors usually experience a plateau or even a regression along their way. This week, I'm looking at some players who were either on some top ten lists prior to this season or hyped as possible risers but, instead, had seasons in which they plateaued or regressed. Note that while some of these guys probably have maxed out their talent, it's likely that at least one of those mentioned will recover in 2010 and continue onwards and upwards.

John Shelby: Treybone made just about all the top ten lists before this season. A usual criticism was that he needed to develop more patience. He did that, bringing his BB rate up to 10.3% while also cutting the strikeouts a bit. However, he stopped getting hits and saw his power drop. It's possible that this was simply a matter of bad luck - his BABIP was .276, well below his career average (and league average). Of course, it may also be that AA pitching is too much for him. The speed is still impressive (30 for 39 in SBs) and the potential positional versatility is a plus - however, you have to hit some to make the majors. And more flyballs in Birmingham is not the way to do it.

Jon Link: The lack of a September call-up for this member of the 40-man roster is telling. I previewed Link before the season and pointed out that while he strikes out a good amount, he also walks a good amount. Literally, nothing changed this season at Charlotte from last season at Birmingham as he had identical 2.44 K/BB ratios. While the 10.5 K/9 is sexy, you just can't walk that many guys and expect to be successful in the majors. The scouting reports remain encouraging but, at some point, you have to match with performance.

Jon Gilmore: This Jon has been a whole lot of projection without a whole lot of substance. A piece in the Vazquez trade, scouts gush about his athleticism. The evolution to a baseball player, however, hasn't happened. He did have a very encouraging finish to the season in August and September and a recent scouting report still raves about the potential. But .274/.322/.361 overall in Kannapolis isn't much about which to write home. At 21 - and probably returning to low A for part of a third season - he'll need to produce next season to avoid the bust label.

Steven Upchurch: An overslot signing out of the 12th round in 2008, Upchurch had a solid pro debut at Bristol last season: 30.1 IP, 23 H, 10 BB, 28 K. After being assigned a return engagement there, he seemed to expect a promotion to Kannapolis in short order. That never came because the 19 year old had a terrible season: 66 IP, 94 H, 17 BB, 42 K. There's nothing to suggest injury but he certainly became very hittable. As he turns 20 today, he's got plenty of time to correct whatever the problems may be.

Brian Omogrosso: He had the talent, he could just never stay healthy. He put together a pretty good season for Birmingham and earned a promotion to Charlotte. After four ineffective relief outings, he hit the disabled list and we later learned he had a torn labrum. It's probably a career-ender, especially considering his injury history and age.

Gregory Infante: This is for you, rdf8585, who chided me in my season preview for not including Infante. He started well enough for Kannapolis. However, after a midseason promotion to the Dash, he started walking people and stopped striking them out. Then he hit the DL twice, reportedly with some blister issues - though one suspects there may be something else going on. He'll be 23 next season so I guess I can consider him for my 2010 preview.

This Week in White Sox Minor League Baseball

larry — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 15:57:43 -0000

Daniel Hudson via Sox Machine.

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This week:

Daniel Hudson had a decent, though inefficient, outing: 5 IP, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K, 1 WP while also permitting four stolen bases. Ben Badler has an extensive scouting report on this outing (Jon Link report, too). The Tribune profiled Hudson and Kevin Goldstein declared Hudson his minor league breakout pitcher of the year - though don't expect to see him on the South Side until mid-2010.
Jordan Danks has not played since August 14. While not officially placed on the DL, presumably to keep him eligible for the Arizona Fall League, it has been reported that he is indeed injured. Here's some video of him from Sox Machine. (Update: Danks will be back tonight.)
Jake Peavy dampened expectations for his big league return with both a mediocre outing and his own words: 4 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HBP. He threw 67 pitches, 44 for strikes. His next start is ~~Sunday~~ Monday, again for Charlotte.
Brent Morel has continued his late season surge and was voted best defensive 3B in the Carolina League. .285/.343/.470.
Wrapping up the draft, the White Sox did not sign anyone else. The team will receive a compensatory third round pick in next year's draft for failing to sign Bryan Morgado. The Sox signed ten of their twelve picks in the first ten rounds and spent $3,892,100 on them, which is about middle of the road.
The "18"year old Juan Silverio continues to rake in the DSL: .321/.366/.547. Others putting up good numbers include Daurys Mercedes (.319/.410/.473), Julio Alcala (.295/.392/.454), and Darwin Matos (69 IP, 59 H, 34 BB, 82 K). The DSL's season ended on Friday.
Tyler Flowers took a foul ball off his hand and missed most of the week. .278/.337/.430 in Charlotte.
You can expect that the rosters for the Arizona Fall League will be announced next week. Last year saw the likes of Gordon Beckham, Jordan Danks, Aaron Poreda and Carlos Torres participate. The eligibility rules are straightforward. If I were assigning for the organization, and without regard to the position constraints and so on which inevitably arise during the "draft" process, the players I would send are: Tyler Flowers; Jordan Danks; Dayan Viciedo (foreign); C.J. Retherford; Daniel Hudson; Jon Link; and John Ely. The White Sox have usually sent four pitchers but the depth in position talent is greater and I don't really see a more deserving pitcher, though Charlie Shirek may get the opportunity based upon the numbers game.
Jared Mitchell: .304/.427/.461. 18% BB rate, 34.1% K rate.
Bristol roundup: Trayce Thompson: .216/.255/.255; Leighton Pangilinan: .304/.322/.411; Miguel Gonzalez: .273/.353/.463; David Holmberg: 30 IP, 31 H, 17 BB, 29 K; Matt Heidenreich: 17 IP, 10 H, 11 BB, 9 K.

As always, check the White Sox Minor League Update fanpost on the right sidebar for daily updates and commentary, and to participate in the weekly poll. If you're interested in White Sox minor league updates, follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry.

This Week in White Sox Minor League Baseball

larry — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:53:49 -0000

You are what you wear? So the White Sox hope.

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This week, I'm truncating the news and publishing larry's Official SSS Top Ten White Sox Prospects List after the jump:

The Dominican Summer League opened play and the White Sox have the aptly named DSL White Sox participating. While it is inherently difficult to get solid information regarding the players in this league, the famous/infamous 18/35 year old Juan Silverio is playing and off to a hot start. I'll let others wax on about the rumors surrounding his $600,000 signing. I will, however, be watching him and a few other players, such as 2B Daurys Mercedes and C Jamie Del Valle. All of the players in the league are years away from ever even sniffing the majors but are worth some attention.
Jose Contreras made one final start at Charlotte before his call-up for Monday's game: 6.2 IP, 3 hits, 4 BB, 3 K.
Sox Machine recapped the month of May for Charlotte and Birmingham and Winston-Salem and Kannapolis.
Finally, there were a couple odd stories this week from the low minors. First, Sergio Santos, who some may rememeber was a non-roster invitee this spring training and played third base, has re-surfaced in Kannapolis as a pitcher. Next, after an injury to one of the two umpires, Winston-Salem's Christian Marrero had his offday cut short when he was pressed into service as a replacement umpire.

First, a brief discussion of methodology. It's an alchemy. I think about tools, current skills, makeup, ceiling and likelihood of reaching that ceiling. And then I mash it together. One could probably say that pitchers are at a disadvantage in this because of their increased likelihood of injury. I also am not a fan of numerical listings. What does it mean to be #2 if the gaps to #1 and #3, respectively, are of markedly different sizes? That's why I prefer groupings. Here, I would probably put Beckham by himself, #2-3 together, #4-5 together, #6 all alone, and then #7-10 together (and, no, there was no one left off who would make the last group).

1. Gordon Beckham, 3B: The organization’s clear top prospect received the call-up he deserved this week so he won’t be eligible for this list much longer. At every level – Class A, Arizona Fall League, AA, AAA – Beckham was superlative. While the shift to third base will raise additional and different questions about his glove than there were about it at shortstop, the bat will make up for it. His line drive swing should result in lots of doubles and the Cell will carry a lot of his hits out, as well. Path to the majors: Arrived.

2. Tyler Flowers, C: The heir apparent to the top spot has improved his standing this season with some superb hitting for the Barons. Many observers – including this one – would be able to make a pretty good argument that his bat is ready for the majors right now. Behind the plate, however, he requires a good deal more seasoning but the White Sox are adamant that he will be a major league catcher. Path to the majors: Flowers has a clear, though measured, path – he is the organization’s only prospect of any note at the position and A.J.Pierzynski, whose contract is up after next season, should play well enough to squelch any calls to prematurely promote him. Expect a call-up to Charlotte sometime in the second half with a late 2010 arrival.

3. Aaron Poreda, SP: The organization’s top pitching prospect returned to AA this season to continue working with J.R. Perdew. While his fastball has never been questioned, his secondary offerings always have. In the past, scouts have overwhelmingly predicted a future in the bullpen; recently, however, his slider and changeup have become more consistent – though still need work – and opinion has shifted to a more even divide between rotation and relief. The White Sox have been patient with Poreda, consistently resisting calls to bring him up, and their patience may be rewarded. Path to the majors: He’s ready now for the bullpen (and has been for awhile) but needs the rest of the year in the minors to develop as a starter. Expect a September call-up and a spot in next season’s Opening Day rotation.

4. Brandon Allen, 1B: Once described by a member of the front office as the organization’s "sleeping giant," Allen awoke in a big way last season and has continued to produce this season. While he’s a big man at 6'2'' and 230+, he’s very athletic with surprising speed on the basepaths and plays solid defense at first. Path to the majors: With Thome’s contract up and Konerko getting to the age where he’d benefit from more days off from the field, the left-handed hitting Allen should slot right in. Expect a June promotion to Charlotte and a mid 2010 arrival.

5. Jordan Danks, CF: You can bet that, once Beckhamania dies down, the next savior for whom fans will be clamoring is Danks. Always a toolsy player, at Texas Danks never fulfilled the promise with production. Because of this and a perception that he would finish his college eligibility, he dropped to the White Sox in the seventh round where they scooped him up for a well over-slot bonus. Such "scouting," as Hawk and Stone describe it, has paid handsome dividends so far: his numbers after promotion to Birmingham (.348/.419/.489) have been nearly idential to those at Winston-Salem. The K rate remains worrisome but his production – not to mention his above-average defense – is hard to ignore. Another positive is that, consistent with his collegiate history, the left-handed hitting Danks has an acceptable platoon split. Path to the majors: Another guy with a clear path, expect a second-half promotion to Charlotte and a mid-2010 arrival.

6. Dayan Viciedo, 3B: The hype machine has moved on from Viciedo after a piss-poor start to his minor league career. At the time, I cautioned patience because of his extreme youth compared to most of his peers. Soon after, he began to hit for a higher average – he’s now up to .286. The next step will be to add the power expected from a man with his attributes. After that, it would be hoped that some measure of plate discipline could be attained. His defense at third is butcherific so a position change is likely in order. Path to the majors: Slow and steady. He’s going to need a full year at Birmingham. Assuming he adds the power in the second half, he may start 2010 in AAA. But, at 20 and without a clear defensive position, the White Sox can afford to be restrained with their pricey investment. Mid-2011 arrival.

7. Dexter Carter, SP: His classic fastball-curve combo has befuddled Class A hitters so far this season. His K/9 is 11.88, though his dominance shouldn’t be surprising considering his advanced collegiate background. One issue for Carter is the necessity to develop his changeup into a legitimate pitch; otherwise, his future is in relief. Another concern, especially in this organization, is his fly-ball tendencies. Nevertheless, his raw ability is tantalizing. Path to the majors: A promotion to Winston-Salem is in the cards for June. After that, hope for a steady climb up the ladder. 2012 arrival.

8. Jon Link, RP: With a fastball and slider that can be vicious to opposing hitters, Link has the makeup of an aggressive closer. While his walk rate still is a concern of mine, his strikeout rate has remained high. Consistent with organizational philosophy, Link, though a closer, has experience pitching more than an inning in relief. Path to the majors: In other years, we probably would have already seen Link. Thus far, the bullpen has been strong; however, with each of Dotel, Jenks, and Linebrink showing some fragility in the recent past, a hard-throwing righty may be needed later on in the year and that’s when Link will arrive.

9. John Shelby, UTIL: Often lost in the background of the top prospects, Shelby quietly continues to improve. While his numbers this season are a bit non-descript, some of that can be attributed to a low BABIP. He also has cut his strikeout rate while increasing his walk rate. The arrival of Danks has short-circuited the CF experiment but Shelby continues to project as a solid utility player, with a Willie Harris-esque ability to play all outfield positions and second base. Path to the majors: Since he does nothing spectacular and no longer has the CF track to himself, his path is less clear. Likely will spend the rest of the season in AA and start the next in AAA. Mid-2011 arrival.

10. Daniel Hudson, SP: This righty tore through the SAL but has found Advanced A ball a bit more challenging. He’s kept the K rate high but more polished hitters are walking more against him. He has a 91-93 MPH fastball with good movement but often relies on a slider to get strikeouts and hitters are beginning to lay off. Hudson will need to adjust and how he adjusts will dictate his future - tonight's outing was a nice start. Path to the majors: Like Carter, hope for a slow and steady climb up the ladder. 2012 arrival.

This Week in White Sox Minor League Baseball

larry — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:40:07 -0000

Brian Omogrosso

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This week:

The big story, of course, was the promotion of Gordon Beckham to Charlotte. After hitting .303/.363/.503 in 37 games for Birmingham, he didn't have a great deal left to prove with his bat. The move to AAA, however, permits the White Sox to get him time at third without having to move Dayan Viciedo to another position. Josh Fields should be looking over his shoulder.
A guy on the Barons who hasn't received a lot of attention because of all the talent on that roster is Brian Omogrosso. He was a reliever in college and, in the past, has stated a preference for that role. Likely at least in part because of repetitions missed due to injuries, the Sox have him starting for Birmingham and he's pitched well enough: 59 IP, 47 hits, 30 BB and 51 K with a 1.11 GO/FO rate. Long-term, he's probably bullpen material considering his mid-90s fastball and less than complete secondary stuff.
Tyler Flowers: .256/.436/.451.
Brent Morel, last year's third round pick, missed the week with a hamstring injury.
Justin Greene doesn't get a lot of attention because Sox fans no longer need to scour the system for a centerfield prospect. He's a bit old for Kannapolis but he's a plus defender, has good speed, and is showing some surprising power so far this year. He'll need to prove himself at the higher levels - he's likely headed to the Dash next month - but his .300/.385/.500 gives some hope that the Sox got something in the 20th round last year. He has that hard-nosed style that the Sox like, as well, evident in his ejection on Thursday after plowing over the catcher.
Brandon Allen: .296/.368/.484.
Jon Link, the closer for Charlotte, was one of the lone bright spots for the Knights prior to the ascension of the savior into AAA. Although he hasn't had many save opportunities, in 21.1 IP he's given up 14 hits, walked 9 and struck out 28. I'd expect to see him in the majors sometime this season. Looks like Kenny got a nice return from the Padres for Rob Mackowiak.
Jose Contreras made a couple starts this week: 11.2 IP, 12 hits, 4 BB and 14 K. It's rumored that he'll be called up to pitch in the June 8 doubleheader against the Tigers.
Sox Machine interviewed Barons broadcaster Curt Bloom. Discusses all the top prospects.
Daniel Hudson hasn't found High A quite so easy. In a couple starts this week, 9 IP, 12 hits, 7 BB and 8 K. He's kept the strikeout rate high since his promotion but his walk rate has ballooned, which suggests that more advanced hitters are laying off his slider down and out of the zone.
A question was asked on last week's post regarding MiLB.tv. It is pretty much AAA teams with no Birmingham games. However, you can expect that more of the top prospects will be joining Beckham in Charlotte soon so it may be worth the investment for those interested.
Jordan Danks is making people stop wondering where the power is: .347/.440/.472 since his promotion.

As always, check the White Sox Minor League Update Fanpost on the right sidebar for daily updates and commentary. Additionally, I twitter White Sox minor league news so, if you're interested in that or my other random baseball thoughts, follow me: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry.

White Sox Minor League Affiliates Preview

larry — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 22:30:09 -0000

This time of year, there’s a lot of talk around the water cooler about where to go for a vacation during spring break or the summer. Should we set out for Fort Mill, South Carolina to experience the mill-fort? Visit Birmingham to see the world’s largest cast iron statue? Dash to the Camel City to introduce the children to the tobacco and doughnut industries? Or head to lovely Kannapolis, North Carolina to visit the Curb Museum of Music and Motorsports?

I find such questions silly. While "culture" is nice, I – like the rest of the normal population – choose my vacation destination based upon the minor league baseball available. So let’s explore after the jump what each of the White Sox full season affiliates has to offer the minor league aficionada.

Charlotte Knights (AAA, International League)

The Castle has long been barren of legitimate star power. Not since Joe Crede and Jon Garland passed through earlier this decade has this team seen real prospects. And this year, at least to start, appears to be no different.

Look at this roster. It’s awful. There isn’t a position player younger than 25. Heck, there are only a few pitchers who are. And, not coincidentally, those are some of the only guys to even be mildly interested in following. Their opening day starter was John van Benschoten. Think about that. Rounding out the rotation will likely be Lance Broadway, Wes Whisler, Jeff Marquez, and Carlos Torres. Fugly. The recent addition of Justin Cassel to the roster (although as an inactive) may mean that he will be in the rotation.The only position players to note are co-catchers Donny Lucy and Cole Armstrong (although Armstrong left today's game with an apparent leg injury, status uncertain). Jayson Nix, once he comes of the DL, will be headed here, as well.

I’ve already covered quite a few of the Knights pitchers here. Jon Link is an especially interesting arm. Jack Egbert’s move to the bullpen should be intriguing as well; he’s the sort who may benefit from the little bit extra on his fastball and the (likely) increased MPH differential between his pitches now that he’ll only be expected to pitch an inning or two. The early return for both pitchers (and the Knights as a whole) were not promising today.

A Prospect to Watch: Justin Cassel is a 24 year old righty who was drafted in the seventh round in 2006. A shoulder injury in 2007 set him back but he rebounded in 2008 at Birmingham to put together an acceptable campaign. He’s certainly not going to overpower anyone – he’s lucky if his sinking fastball reaches 90 MPH – and his curve and change are both average pitches. However, he could provide useful starter depth and a future as a swingman-type is reasonable.

Vacation? Wait until summer for some promotions.

Birmingham Barons (AA, Southern League)

Now the Barons, on the other hand, are stacked. The top five White Sox prospects – Gordon Beckham, Aaron Poreda, Brandon Allen, Dayan Viciedo, and Tyler Flowers – will all be starting the season in Birmingham. It also appears as if someone really wants this team to win as some guys who probably should be playing in Charlotte – most notably outfielders David Cook and Stefan/Maurice Gartrell – are going to be lending their experience.

While the rotation will be headed by Poreda, Lucas Harrell will look to continue to justify his protection on the 40 man roster in his second year removed from elbow surgery. They’ll be joined by 2007 third round pick John Ely. Brian Omogrosso is apparently back to starting, as he takes the hill tonight in Barons' Southern League opener. Clevelan Santeliz, the random addition to the 40 man roster this offseason, will start the year on the DL. That could be a real injury or, for a guy as raw as Santeliz is, that could be code for "extended spring training" or even "visa issues" - as a member of the 40 man, Santeliz needs to be assigned to some roster. Other notable pitchers include Swisher bounty Jhonny Nunez.

In the field, John Shelby will be looking to cut down on his strikeouts and CJ Retherford will be looking to validate Hawk’s faith in him as his “Minor League Pick to Click.” Good luck, CJ.

A Prospect to Watch: We all know about the big-time prospects so let’s focus on John Ely. The 23 year old righty has an average fastball in the low 90s and equally average, though promising, curve and change. His K/BB says he’s got good control. If he can improve one of his secondary offerings - his curve can flash as plus - he could profile as a #4 starter.

Vacation? Go now before everyone has left.

Winston-Salem Dash (High A, Carolina League)

A couple of 2008 draft picks headline this newly re-named affiliate (in case you’re wondering about the team name, “the Dash” is a nickname for Winston-Salem). Third round pick Brent Morel sped through Rookie Ball and Low A last year – as a polished college hitter should do – and he’ll look to replicate this year. While scouts question whether the power numbers will hold up at higher levels, his contact skills and good defense suggest a major league future in some capacity. Seventh round pick Jordan Danks impressed at his cameo at Kanny and, after Gartrell’s shoulder injury, came out of the Instructional League to hold his own in a cameo against more advanced competition in the Arizona Fall League. His defense, speed, and good on base skills also suggest a major league future. I’m very high on Danks (as I was on the other one - let's sign the sister, too) and I’m anxious to see how he deals with advanced pro pitching over a full season. Watch the K rate closely.

The pitching is pretty meh. While there are a few interesting guys – Michael Dubee, Hector Santiago, and Jacob Rasner – there’s not much that really projects to the major league level at this point.

A Prospect to Watch: Rasner is another player in whom I am disappointed in where the White Sox have placed him. He pitched well enough last season for Winston-Salem to be pushed to Birmingham. He’s got a low 90s fastball and induces enough groundballs; if he cuts his walks a bit, the Sox could have something. I hope he’s successful early in his repeat and gets pushed to AA quickly.

Vacation? Any legitimate CF prospect in this organization is worth a visit.

Kannapolis Intimidators (Low A, South Atlantic League)

More of the 2008 draftees are here. While some think Daniel Hudson and Dexter Carter (pictured above) should have been pushed to the Dash, I’m more sanguine about their placement. The Old Dominion teammates dominated the Pioneer League. Hudson has more polish but Carter has the better stuff. The knock on Carter was control but the White Sox made tweak to his delivery by having him throw across his body less and stride more toward the plate. The result was more strikes with a low 90s fastball and a plus curve that’s helped him get more than a K per inning. I expect the two to move quickly to High A.

The hitters are led by shortstops Tyler Kuhn and Eduardo Escobar, and 3B Jon Gilmore who came over in the Vazquez trade. Kuhn tore up the Pioneer League after being drafted out of West Virginia but don’t expect the slugging to translate to higher levels; his defense is also probably more suited to 2B and Escobar will likely handle most of the SS duties. Escobar was signed out of Venezuela in 2006 and the 20 year old made his US debut last year at Kanny. He has plus speed and is a great defender but a poor hitter – little strike zone judgment and no power. He’ll need to improve the former. Gilmore is also 20. He was a supplement first round pick out of Iowa high school. He’s a good contact hitter and scouts think the power will come. Like Escobar, he also needs to improve his strike zone judgment.

A Prospect to Watch: Drew O’Neil was a fourth round selection in 2008 out of Penn State. The righty is a sidearmer and has an unusually quick sinking fastball for someone with his kind of delivery. The reliever had a ridiculously high ERA at Great Falls but his peripherals told a different story. His sinker, coupled with his sinking fastball, induced a 4.00 GO/AO (groundout/flyout ratio) and 40 strikeouts in 31 innings. His command is inconsistent and will need to improve as he moves to higher levels.

Vacation? See them now before they become famous.

Masset Theory in Practice, 2009 Edition

larry — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 22:23:15 -0000

For those unfamiliar with the Conservation of Masset Theory – or who don’t recall the specifics – the one sentence summary is "No matter how much Masset you use up, there is always more Masset in your system." So, replacement level, back of the bullpen arms are readily available in any organization.

For the 2009 White Sox bullpen, there are four guys who are all but assured spots – Bobby Jenks, Matt Thornton, Scott Linebrink, and Octavio Dotel. Additionally, one of Aaron Poreda or Clayton Richard is likely to fill the second lefty role. DJ Carrasco and Adam Russell probably have the inside track on the last two spots in Ozzie Guillen’s probable seven man bullpen. Most White Sox fans know all of these guys pretty well – and the last three arguably have some Masset in them. But we also all know that we’re going to see some other guys in that bullpen, whether to start the season or replace someone due to injury or ineffectiveness. So let’s go over some of the Masset in the White Sox system that you may see this season.

Lance Broadway: There’s likely some familiarity with him. First round pick in 2005. Has made two winning starts in each of the last two seasons and each against the Royals. Despite this stellar track record as a starter, his future is likely in the bullpen as a mop-up/spot starter sort. In his repeat of AAA last season, he did improve his groundball and walk rates. However, these were counteracted by becoming far easier to hit – most alarmingly in his 1.5 per nine IP home run rate. While his curveball flashes as a plus pitch, this righty’s other offerings – 90 MPH fastball, 85 MPH cutter, and 80 MPH change – simply aren’t good enough to miss enough bats.

Kelvin Jimenez: This is some waiver wire Masset. Originally a Rangers signing out of the Dominican in 2000, this right-hander finally reached the majors as a Cardinal in 2007 and 2008 and posted some ugly numbers – 1.758 WHIP and 6.82 ERA. While he throws hard, this hasn’t translated into strikeouts at the major league level.

Ehren Wasserman: This side-arming righty had a promising major league debut in 2007, posting a 1.174 WHIP and regularly getting righties out. 2008, on the other hand, did not treat him so well. After losing out to the original Masset for a spot in the Opening Day bullpen, he proceeded to cut down AAA hitters in a repeat at that level while posting a tasty 3.2 K/BB rate. However, when called upon at the major league level, things didn’t go so well, posting 14 walks versus 9 strikeouts. It appears that major league hitters have seen the video of his funky delivery and are aware that his slurve isn’t going to be a strike and thus don’t swing at it.

Jon Link: Some traded for Masset – the fruit of the Rob Mackowiak trade. Spent 2008 as Birmingham’s closer and posted a sexy 10.6 per 9 IP strikeout rate to go along with a 57% groundball rate. He’s got a low/mid-90s fastball and his secondary offerings – a plus slider and an average change – make him profile as something more than Masset in 2010 and beyond. However, his 4.3 per 9 walk rate suggests a stint at Charlotte would do this righty some good and a MLB debut in 2009 could be a shaky proposition.

Carlos Torres: A 15^th round pick in 2004, this righty was shifted to relief in 2007, had success at both high A and AA, and then was largely shifted back to starting in 2008 at Birmingham before ending the year at Charlotte mostly in relief. It is thus unclear what the long-term plan for Torres is. Has always posted good K rates, though his three pitches – fastball, slider and change – all grade as average.

[Note by The Cheat, 02/18/09 5:25 PM CST]: Don't forget to participate in the Josh Fields Community Projection