The White Sox Prospect Hot List is back with two weeks of game action to break down. There are some new faces on this list thanks to an influx of talent acquired by the White Sox before the July 31st trade deadline. This is the prime time of the year for prospect watching, as all seven team affiliates are in action.
Charlotte Knights
Knights OF Rymer Liriano was just named the International League Batter of the Week, so its fitting he gets first honors here. Liriano homered in three straight games (8/8, 8/9, and 8/10) last week.
Over his last two starts, Lucas Giolito has posted a 2.31 ERA to continue his string of impressive starts of late. Giolito struck out 13 batters to 4 walks spanning 11.2 innings and I would expect him to join Reynaldo Lopez in the major league rotation in the near future.
1B Casey Gillaspie was suffering through an awful season with AAA Durham (.227/.296/.357) when the Sox gambled on his talent by acquiring him for lefty reliever Dan Jennings. Gillaspie has rewarded their faith by posting a .265/.359/.500 slashline over his first 9 games with the Knights. More good news for Gillaspie, he has as many walks (5) as he does strikeouts during that same span.
Birmingham Barons
Michael Kopech was a feature of the last Hot List two weeks ago, and he is still on fire, toasting Southern League hitters with ease. The 21 year old has fired back-t0-back scoreless 7 inning outings, which has lowered his season ERA to 2.87 with the Barons. Something has definitely clicked for Kopech, as he owns a 0.66 ERA over his last six starts, striking out 54 batters while only allowing 7 walks and 22 hits over 41 innings. Kopech’s biggest (only?) question mark entering the halfway point of the season was his walks, and it seems he has nearly eliminated them without sacrificing his epic strikeout totals. This is a scary development for opposing hitters and likely cements him as the best pitching prospect in the minors.
Trey Michalczewski has had a rough season at Birmingham that led to him being briefly demoted to Winston-Salem, but recently he has shown the form that once made him a top prospect in the system. The switch-hitting 3B is hitting .342/.405/.605 over his last 11 games and hopefully he will end the season strong.
Winston-Salem Dash
Eloy Jimenez dominated this list at last publication and not much has changed in the last two weeks. The freshly promoted slugger slashed .333/.404/.686 over his last 11 games and continues to show why he is one of the most prestigious bats in the minors.
Zack Collins has been even hotter than Jimenez in August, hitting .343/.500/.686 to earn his promotion to Birmingham. After struggling most of the season in Winston-Salem, Collins has been dominant, walking more (11) than he has struck out (8) this month.
One of the biggest benefactors (and possible reasoning) to the promotion of Collins is red-hot Seby Zavala. Zavala will have the opportunity to be the primary Dash catcher now that Collins is in Birmingham and his bat has justified the showcase. Zavala is hitting .353/.400/.510 in August and .321/.389/.522 overall during his time in Winston-Salem.
Reliever Matt Foster continues to be incredible after his promotion to the Dash, tossing 10.2 scoreless innings thus far in Winston-Salem. The former 20th round pick has allowed one earned run in 22 innings this season between Kannapolis and Winston-Salem.
After struggling in his few few appearances for the Dash, Bernardo Flores has strung together several good starts recently. The left-hander has only allowed one run over his 11 innings of work.
Kannapolis Intimidators
LHP Andre Davis was acquired in the Melky Cabrera trade and immediately impressed in his first start with his new organization, tossing six scoreless innings while striking out eight batters to just one walk and four hits. His next start wasn’t as stellar, but 6’6” left-handers don’t grow on trees and Davis has shown he has the ability to be dominant in certain starts.
2017 3rd round pick Luis Gonzalez got off to a sluggish start to his pro career, but he has been more steady recently, slashing .268/.348/.439 over his last 11 games.
Great Falls Voyagers
Outfielder Craig Dedelow is a man among boys in Great Falls and the former Indiana Hoosier is hitting .330/.362/.598 after another strong couple of weeks of performances.
Another college bat, Tate Blackman has been sizzling recently, slashing .333/.462/.810 over his last seven contests.
Arizona League White Sox
2016 J2 class signee Lenyn Sosa is 17 years old and no one would be surprised if he was learning his craft in the Dominican Summer League or not even in organized ball yet. However, the Venezuelan shortstop is with the AZL White Sox and holding his own. Sosa slashed .308/.394/.308 over his last eight games and is hitting .261/.323/.324 in his first pro season.
20 year old Ramon Beltre did spend his teenage years in the DSL, but he is currently tearing up Arizona, slashing .364/.400/.509 over his first 13 games stateside.
2017 14th round pick Alex Destino is stuffing the stat line in Arizona, hitting a clean .300/.420/.500 with 27 walks, 3 home runs, 2 triples, and 13 doubles.
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