In this edition of the White Sox Minor League News and Notes, RHP Dane Dunning gets promoted to Winston-Salem, Charlotte picks up their first road victories of the young season and Comcast Sports Net Chicago announces they will televise eight Charlotte games in May and June. In addition, we will get you caught up on the happenings, news, notes and transactions regarding the White Sox minor leaguers and affiliates.
Dunning Promoted to Winston-Salem
After four starts in which he allowed only one earned run over 26 innings for Kannapolis (0.35 ERA), Dunning has been promoted to Winston-Salem. Dunning struck out 33 batters in his short time in the South Atlantic League. Attacking the strike zone has been the key to Dunning’s early season success at Kannapolis according to CSN Chicago’s Dan Hayes. Dunning becomes the first of the White Sox top prospects to earn a promotion this season.
At Winston-Salem, Dunning will join fellow top prospects C Zack Collins and OF Luis Alexander Basabe. In addition, he will create quite the formidable starting pitching trio alongside LHP Tanner Banks (4-0) and RHP Brannon Easterling (2-1) for the Dash.
Transactions
Charlotte
- White Sox recall RHP Chris Beck from Charlotte
- White Sox option RHP Juan Minaya to Charlotte
- C Chris O’Dowd assigned to White Sox Extended Spring Training
Birmingham
- RHP Jake Dunning assigned to Birmingham from Charlotte
- Disabled LHP Jace Fry and C Alfredo Gonzalez
- Released RHP El’Hajj Muhammad
- RHP Ian Hamilton assigned to Birmingham Barons from Winston-Salem
- C Chris O’Dowd assigned to Birmingham from White Sox Extended Spring Training
Winston-Salem
- RHP Dunning assigned to Winston-Salem Dash from Kannapolis
Kannapolis
- Activated C Nate Nolan from disabled list
For the Record
- Charlotte began the season with seven straight road losses, but had a successful second road trip of the season that ended Sunday with a 4-2 record for the week, to even their season record at 11-11. The Knights currently sit in third place in the International League South Division, five games out of first. Following a day off today, the Knights are at home for the week to play three games apiece versus Norfolk and Gwinnett.
- Birmingham posted a 4-3 record for the past week, which included three straight victories to begin the week, including RHP Michael Kopech‘s first win as a member of the White Sox organization. The Barons currently sit in last place in the Southern League North Division standings with an overall record of 9-15. Birmingham finishes their road trip against Montgomery today, before heading home to play five games against Mississippi beginning on Wednesday.
- Winston-Salem went 3-3 for the week, highlighted by Banks improving his record to 4-0. The Dash season record currently stands at 9-15, which places them last in the Carolina League Southern Division. Winston-Salem hits the road for the week ahead with three games against Lynchburg and four at Salem.
- Kannapolis had four games in a row postponed due to rain, but managed a 3-3 record for the week. The Intimidators have a record of 11-12 thus far, which places them fifth in the South Atlantic League Southern Division. After beginning the season with 1-7, Kannapolis has gone 10-5 in their last 15 games. The highlight of the week was a 1-0 shutout victory for Dunning. The Intimidators begin a seven-game homestand on Tuesday versus Augusta and Asheville.
Other News, Notes and Links
- The news around Luis Robert continues to mount, as more teams observe the top Cuban prospect in private workouts. The White Sox are set to have one quite soon, if they haven’t already. Our Brian Bilek wrote a in-depth look at the chase for Robert, which you should read to get a full back story and some color on why the Sox might (or might not) sign him.
- CSN Chicago has announced that it will televise eight Charlotte Knights games this season for the first time in its 13-year history. Five of the games will be aired live, with the remaining airing on delay. The dates for the televised games are May 3-4 vs. Norfolk (live); May 7 vs. Gwinnett (on delay); May 27 vs. Buffalo (live); May 28 vs. Buffalo (on delay); June 15 vs. Louisville (live); June 17 vs. Indianapolis (live on CSN+); and June 18 vs. Indianapolis (on delay). Matt Swierad, who is a broadcaster for Knights games, is slated to handle some of the announcing duties, with other name(s) to be added.
- Following a quick tour of the White Sox minor league affiliates last week, CSN Chicago’s Hayes wrote some in-depth pieces on the improvement behind the plate of Collins, Basabe’s adjustment to a new organization and how Nicky Delmonico could push his way onto the big league roster.
- On Sunday, Kopech turned 21 and he was scheduled to pitch for the Barons on his birthday, but he was scratched from his start due to a mild ankle sprain. Kopech is expected to make his next start later this week against Mississippi. Hayes also featured Kopech in a feature story and how Jose Quintana made quite the impression on him in spring training.
- After being ranked as the #2 prospect in all of baseball during the pre-season, 2B Yoan Moncada has regained the top spot over Yankee shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres in the most recent rankings by MLB Pipeline.
- Birmingham’s OF Hunter Jones made a spectacular catch last Monday to earn the top spot on ESPN Sportscenter’s top 10.
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