4/15/14 Recap: Top Pitching Prospects Perform

In an unusual slate of games, White Sox affiliates came out on top in two of the five match ups. Both Birmingham and Kannapolis played 7 inning doubleheaders as a result of Monday’s postponements, and Winston-Salem had a postponement of their own.
Chicago White Sox affiliate scoreboard
Durham 9, Charlotte 2
Tyler Saladino 1-3, R, 2 BB.
Josh Phegley 1-4
Matt Davidson 0-3, BB, 2K
Alex Liddi 2-4, HR, 2K
Jared Mitchell 0-2, 2 BB, 2K
Erik Surkamp 4 IP, 7 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 2 HR
Duente Heath 2 IP, 2 H, 2 K
Zach Putnam 1 IP, H, 2 K
Game 1: Birmingham 2, Mobile 0 (7 innings)
Micah Johnson 1-3, BB, K
Gordon Beckham 0-4, K
Trayce Thompson 1-4, R, 2 K
Rangel Ravelo 1-3
Chris Beck 7 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 2 K
Game 2: Birmingham 5, Mobile 2 (7 innings)
Micah Johnson 1-3, RBI, BB, K
Gordon Beckham 0-2, R, BB, K
Trayce Thompson 1-2, R, 2BB
Christian Marrero 1-2, HR, 2 RBI, BB, K
David Cales 4 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, K
Kevin Vance 2 IP, 2 BB, 4 K
Game 1: Kannapolis 1, Hickory 3 (7 innings)
Adam Engel 0-4, 2 K
Cleluis Rondon 0-3, K
Dan Hayes 1-2, BB
Trey Michalczewski 1-2, R, BB, K
James Dysktra 6 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, BB, 9 K
Game 2: Kannapolis 9, Hickory 2 (7 innings)
Adam Engel 2-5, R, 2B, RBI
Cleluis Rondon 2-5, R, 2B
Danny Hayes 0-3, R, RBI, BB, 2 K
Trey Michalczewski 0-2, 2 R, 2 BB
Carl Thomore 2-3, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
Jeremy Dowdy 2-4, 2 2B, 4 RBI, K
Excelling Young Righties
Now that former top prospect Erik Johnson has graduated to the majors, the White Sox’s top two pitching prospects Chris Beck (FS #7) and Tyler Danish (FS #8) went to work on Tuesday. Beck completed the first game of a Birmingham doubleheader by blanking Mobile and only allowing 3 hits. Beck does continue to have trouble striking batters out but he bounced back nicely from his last start. Beck is now 2-1 with a 4.24 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and allowing just 1 walk while striking out 5 over 17 innings. Dating back to his scoreless senior high school season, Danish continues to be a tough customer to pass runs on. Danish just allowed 1 earned run in his 6 innings that lead to a victory. On the year, Danish is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and a 13K/5BB ratio.
Hot Sheet
2013 6th round draft pick James Dykstra is having a stellar season, striking out 19 while walking 4 over 17.2 innings. Being a 23-year-old pitching in Low A, it’d be a safe bet that Dykstra moves up in the ranks sooner than later. Trayce Thompson has hit safely in his last 11 games with the season opener being the only game where he hasn’t hit himself aboard. Thompson is now supplementing his hot hitting with some patience (4BBs in his last 18PAs) leading to an outstanding .356/.431/.489/.920 slash. While his .222 batting average wouldn’t indicate a strong start, Jared Mitchell has made noise by taking pitches. The 25-year-old is walking in an obscene 27% of his plate appearances. Unfortunately, the only thing he is doing more than walking is striking out (31.9% of PAs). Amazingly, walks and strikeouts account for almost 60% of Mitchell’s outcome in this early season.