White Sox Minor League News and Notes – 7/3

In this Independence Day week edition of the White Sox Minor League News and Notes, we will get you caught up on some mid-season honors, LHP Jordan Guerrero picks up this third straight victory for Birmingham and Winston-Salem wastes another strong outing by RHP Dane Dunning. In addition, we will update you on the happenings, news, notes and transactions regarding the White Sox minor leaguers and affiliates.
Mid-Season Honors
The mid-season honors continue to roll in for several White Sox prospects. Winston-Salem C Zack Collins, Birmingham RHP Michael Kopech and Charlotte 2B Yoan Moncada have been selected to represent the White Sox in the 2017 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, Sunday, July 9 in Miami. Collins and Kopech will represent the U.S., while Moncada will be part of the World team. Moncada was named the Most Valuable Player of the Futures Game last season as a member of the Boston Red Sox organization.
Moncada was also elected to represent the International League in the Triple-A all-star game to be held Wednesday, July 12 in Tacoma. However, due to his participation in the Futures Game, he will not compete in the Triple-A all-star game. INF Nicky Delmonico was selected to represent Charlotte in Moncada’s place.
Kopech was previously named the Southern League starting pitcher for the North Division in the all-star game that was cancelled due to rain.
Transactions
Charlotte

• Released RHP Jake Dunning
• White Sox optioned RHP Juan Minaya to Charlotte; Minaya then recalled to Chicago
• C Rob Brantly signed by White Sox and assigned to Charlotte
• LHP Colton Turner assigned to Charlotte from Birmingham
• Disabled C Roberto Pena
• White Sox send IF Tyler Saladino on rehab assignment to Charlotte

Birmingham

• RHP Jake Johansen assigned to Birmingham from Winston-Salem
• RHP Matt Cooper added to the Temporary Inactive list
• LHP Tanner Banks promoted to the Barons from the Dash
• Released INF Cleuluis Rondon

Winston-Salem

• Winston-Salem sent CF Alex Call on a rehab assignment to AZL White Sox
• RHP Victor Diaz assigned to Winston-Salem from Kannapolis
• Placed RHP Mike Morrison on temporarily inactive list
• Disabled LHP Ryan Riga; Riga was then activated from the disabled list

Kannapolis

• LHP Ryan Boelter assigned to Kannapolis from Great Falls

Great Falls

• OF Nolan Brown and SS Tracy Hadley both signed to the org, and assigned to Great Falls

DSL White Sox

• No transactions

AZL White Sox

• Released RHP Pat Cashman
• Released RHP Evan Bell

International Free Agent Signings

• White Sox signed 16-year-old Venezuelan C Jefferson Mendoza
• Bed Badler reports they also signed Dominican SS Sydney Pimentel ($300,000), but that one has not yet been confirmed by the White Sox

For the Record

• The Knights completed the week 4-2 (36-45 overall, 13.5 games back) moving them into third place in the International League South Division. Charlotte put together a four-game winning streak against Columbus and Gwinnett before falling in the second game of a double-header on Sunday. Back-to-back quality starts by RHP Reynaldo Lopez (6 2/3 IP, 11 Ks) and RHP Tyler Danish (7 IP, 2 ER, 4 Ks) highlighted the four-game winning streak, along with a Cody Asche walk-off single. The Knights finish their homestand versus Gwinnett, before heading on the road to face Durham and Louisville before the IL all-star break.
• Birmingham completed another 2-3 week (4-6 overall 2nd half, 4.5 games back) and currently sit tied for last in the Southern League North Division. The highlight of the week was another strong start by Guerrero (8 IP, 1 ER, 6 Ks) for his third consecutive victory. Birmingham completes their homestand against Biloxi, before heading to Jackson for a five-game road trip.
• Winston-Salem stumbled through a 1-5 week (5-6 overall 2nd half, 2 games back) and are currently on a five-game losing streak. Another strong performance by Dunning (7 IP, 0 ER, 8 Ks) was wasted as he lowered his season ERA to 1.98 (0.35 Kannapolis, 2.98 W-S). The Dash complete their road trip at Carolina, before heading home for seven games against Down East and Carolina.
• Kannapolis also stumbled in week two of the second half with an 0-6 week (4-7 overall 2nd half, 4 games back) that puts them in a tie for last place in the South Atlantic North Division. OF Micker Adolfo struggled through the week (4-24, 9 Ks). The Intimidators finish their current homestand with Delmarva, before hitting the road for three at Hickory and then heading back home to face Hagerstown over the weekend.
• Great Falls struggled mightily in their second week of the season going winless (6-8 overall, 3 games back) for a six-game losing streak. 3B Justin Yurchak leads the team with a .349 batting average and 11 runs scored. The Voyagers will finish their road trip at Billings before a home-and-home series with Missoula and a visit by Billings.
• The AZL White Sox were 2-2 this week (3-3 overall).
• The Dominican Summer League White Sox are 9-11 through their first 20 games.  OF Luis Robert leads the team with seven stolen bases and is currently hitting .277 (13-47, 16 BB, 4 XBH).

In Case You Missed It

• The Charlotte Observer writes about how Moncada will look repeat his MVP performance in last year’s Futures Game.
• CSN Chicago highlighted the season that Winston-Salem C Seby Zavala is having so far.
• Kopech told the AL.com he was “ready to stop playing baseball” after missing the second half of the 2015 season and the first half of the 2016 season as a member of the Red Sox organization.
• Charlotte’s Jason Bourgeois is closing on 400 career hits as a member of the Knights.
• OF Jameson Fisher adjusts to his promotion to Winston-Salem.

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