A familiar face in Yermin Mercedes lit up the scoreboard, while Luis Gonzalez (No. 10) posted his most-productive week of the season to earn the highlight spots in the FutureSox Team of the Week for the period of July 12-18, 2021. They are joined by two additional Top 30 prospects in the organization.
Here’s a look at the full lineup:
Catcher — Carlos Perez (Double-A) — 5 G, .579/.600/.579, 2 RBI, 5 R
- Double-A catcher Carlos Perez hit safely in all five games against Rocket City (LAA), which included a career-high five-hit performance Wednesday in Birmingham’s 11-5 win. It marked the first five-hit effort for a Barons player since Tim Anderson accomplished the feat May 17, 2015. Perez, 24, owns an impressive .380 clip at the plate in the month of July.
First baseman — Yermin Mercedes (Triple-A) — 6 G, .348/.423/.826, 3 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 8 R
- Former White Sox DH Yermin Mercedes extended his extra-base hit streak to nine consecutive games to continue his hot stretch at the plate at Triple-A Charlotte. Mercedes, 28, posted an .826 OPS throughout the Knights’ series against Gwinnett (ATL), aided by a pair of homers between Saturday and Sunday. He’s hit safely in 11 of the past 12 contests. Mercedes, who appeared in one game at first base for the White Sox this season, earned his first start at the position for Charlotte on Thursday.
Second baseman — Yolbert Sanchez (Hi-A) — 5 G, .313/.313/.563, 2B, HR, 3 RBI
- White Sox No. 16 prospect Yolbert Sanchez recorded a pair of multi-hit games against Bowling Green (TBR) and launched his fifth home run of the season to earn the nod at second base. The 24-year-old middle infielder has run into a bit of untapped power lately with four home runs in the past 22 games after he logged just one through the first 38 contests.
Third baseman — Laz Rivera (Triple-A) — 6 G, .222/.263/.389, HR, 6 RBI, 2 R
- Unranked infielder Laz Rivera contributed six RBI and earned his first promotion to Triple-A to capture the spot at third base in the FutureSox Team of the Week. Rivera, whom the White Sox selected in the 28th round of the 2017 MLB Draft, delivered a two-run homer in his second game with Charlotte.
Shortstop — Romy Gonzalez (Double-A) — 6 G, .360/.385/.680, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 6 R, 2 SB
- Unranked shortstop Romy Gonzalez continued to terrorize Double-A pitching with another dominant showing at the plate throughout the week. Gonzalez, 24, logged his eighth multi-hit game of the month Saturday and hit safely in five of the six games for Birmingham against Rocket City (LAA). The former 18th-round selection out of Miami ranks second on the Barons (among qualifiers) in OBP (.354), slugging percentage (.488), OPS (.842) and home runs (13), and paces the club with 38 runs scored and 15 stolen bases.
Outfield — Caberea Weaver (Low-A) — 5 G, .333/.619/.667, 2 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 9 BB, 3 SB
- Low-A outfielder Caberea Weaver recorded an astounding .619 on-base percentage throughout the week to earn the first of three outfield spots in the FutureSox Team of the Week. The 21-year-old and former seventh-round selection drew multiple walks in each of the final three games of Kannapolis’ series against Carolina (MIL), and drew at least one free pass in all five games. Weaver also added three extra-base hits, three RBI and swiped three bases.
Outfield — Luis Gonzalez (Triple-A) — 6 G, .438/.609/.813, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 5 R, 3 SB
- White Sox No. 10 prospect Luis Gonzalez filled the box score for Triple-A Charlotte in its series against Gwinnett (ATL). The 25-year-old outfielder homered twice in the series and delivered a pair of multi-hit efforts. He also stole three bases to push himself into the team lead in that category with nine for the season. Gonzalez, who struggled to a .195/.302/.341 slash line over the course of May and June, owns a much-improved .333/.433/.588 slash line in July.
Outfield — Micker Adolfo (Double-A) — 4 G, .333/.313/.867, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 5 R
- White Sox No. 6 prospect Micker Adolfo retained his spot in the FutureSox Team of the Week with another full week of offensive production. The 24-year-old Dominican outfielder launched a walk-off homer Sunday in Game 1 of Birmingham’s doubleheader against Rocket City (LAA). He paces the Double-A South in home runs (15), RBI (46), extra-base hits (29), and ranks sixth in OPS (.845). Adolfo has recorded at least one RBI in six consecutive contests.
Starting pitcher — Konnor Pilkington (Double-A) — ND, 5.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 7 K
- Unranked southpaw Konnor Pilkington produced another steady start for Double-A Birmingham and tossed 5.2 scoreless frames of two-hit ball (across two games, one interrupted due to rain) with seven strikeouts. Pilkington, a former third-round pick out of Mississippi State, has allowed three runs or fewer in 11 of his 12 starts this season and paces the Barons in a number of categories, including WHIP (0.93) and opposing batting average (.169). The 23-year-old has also seen a rise in strikeout rate (up to 10.26 per nine innings from 9.03).
Relief pitcher — Trey Jeans (Hi-A) — 2 G, 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K
- Left-handed reliever Trey Jeans worked four shutout frames with eight punchouts to collect the Reliever of the Week honor. Jeans, a former 33rd-round selection out of Louisiana-Monroe, began the 2021 campaign with Low-A Kannapolis before he earned a promotion to Hi-A Winston-Salem on May 27. The 25-year-old southpaw posted a 1.99 ERA and 13.10 K/9 rate with the AZL White Sox during the 2019 season.
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