Tending to the Farm: Seby Zavala, Charlotte Knights bats red-hot

By / / FutureSox

This series will recap the performances of each White Sox minor league affiliate throughout the week. Here is the sixth installment of the 2022 season.

Charlotte Knights (15-21)

Weekly Record: 3-3

The Knights hosted the Indianapolis Indians last week. This series was pretty evenly contested, with both teams winning and losing blowout games as well as a couple games that were decided by two or less runs. All in all Charlotte secured a series split and are still tied for fourth to last place and nine games back in the International League East Division.

Charlotte’s offense was sizzling hot against Indianapolis pitching. The Knights slashed .263/.377/.507 for an .884 OPS while also scoring 38 runs, 54 hits in 205 at bats, nine doubles, one triple, 13 home runs, 33 walks to 44 strikeouts, and went 4-for-5 on stolen bases. Complete season totals for the Knights offense can be found here.

The hard times continued for Knights pitching last week. Charlotte’s starters and arm-barnsmen ended up with a team ERA of 5.56, a 1.62 WHIP, .252 Batting Average Against, 34 earned runs to 43 runs allowed, 54 hits to 55 innings pitched, 35 walks to 57 strikeouts, didn’t hit any batters but allowed eight home runs. Complete season totals for the Knights pitching staff can be found here.

🔥 Hot Player of the Week 🔥

Seby Zavala: Seby Zavala continued his scorching hot May. The 28 year old catcher slashed .455/.667/.818 for a 1.485 OPS, scoring four runs, knocking in three, with one double and home run, and five hits across 11 at-bats.

Honorable Mentions: Micker Adolfo, Blake Rutherford, Mark Payton, Yermin Mercedes, Davis Martin, and John Parke

Birmingham Barons (13-20)

Weekly Record: 2-4

The scuffling Barons were in Biloxi last week taking on the Shuckers. Biloxi got the best of the Birmingham boys this week, taking the series four games to two. The Barons are in last place and are eight games back in the Southern League North Division.

The Barons bats cooled off (at least in the power department) against the Biloxi chuckers last week. Birmingham ended the week with a .270/.332/.367 triple slash and a .699 OPS. Other notable stats: 31 runs scored, 58 hits in 215 at-bats, six doubles, no triples, five home runs, 19 walks to 55 strikeouts, and went 8-for-9 on stolen bases. Complete season totals for the Barons offense can be found here.

This week was lots of bad for the Barons pitching staff. Birmingham limped to an 8.05 team ERA, 1.87 WHIP, .308 Batting Average Against, 45 earned runs as well as runs allowed, 64 hits to 50.1 innings pitched, 30 walks to 44 strikeouts, and hit five batters while amazingly allowing 17 home runs. Complete season totals for the Barons pitching staff can be found here.

🔥 Hot Player of the Week 🔥

Craig Dedelow: Craig Dedelow had himself a very nice series against Biloxi. The 27 year-old slashed .313/.455/.750 for a 1.205 OPS, scoring four runs, four RBI, one double, two home runs, and had five hits across 16 at-bats.

Honorable Mentions: Lenyn Sosa

Winston-Salem Dash (16-16)

Weekly Record: 1-5

Winston-Salem went to Rome to take on the Braves, and things went pretty terribly for the Dash outside of Oscar Colas returning to the lineup. The Dash blew back to back games in the ninth en route to dropping the first five games of the series. The Dash reside in fourth place and are four games back in the South Atlantic League South Division.

The Dash had another rough week at the dish. Winston-Salem wrapped the series with a .203/.293/.274 slash line and a .567 OPS. Additionally, the Dash scored 13 runs, had 40 hits in 197 at bats, five doubles, no triples, three home runs, 22 walks to 62 strikeouts, and went 9-for-9 on stolen bases. Complete season totals for the Dash offense can be found here.

Dash pitching had themselves respectable performances against the Rome lineup. Winston-Salem left the series with a team ERA of 3.99, a 1.69 WHIP, and a .294 Batting Average Against. Winston-Salem also allowed 25 runs (22 earned) on 55 hits over 49.2 innings, 29 walks to 30 strikeouts, with three HBPs and three home runs allowed. Complete season totals for the Dash pitching staff can be found here.

🔥 Hot Player of the Week 🔥

Luis Mieses: Luis Mieses had a very strong week at the plate for the Dash. The 21-year-old slashed .348/.423/.609 for a 1.032 OPS, scoring two runs, knocking three doubles, one home run, four RBI, and had eight hits across 23 at-bats.

Honorable Mentions: Wilber Perez

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (17-16)

Weekly Record: 4-2

The Cannon Ballers took a trip to Fredericksburg to take on the Nationals. In what was a welcomed sight, 2021 first round pick Colson Montgomery returned to the lineup after dealing with an injury. Kannapolis was able to get the best of the Nationals, securing a series win four games to two. Kannapolis resides in fourth place and five games back in the Carolina League South Division.

The Baller bats were generally pretty cold this week. Kannapolis slashed .207/.282/.286 for a .568 OPS, 25 runs scored, 45 hits in 217 at-bats, eight doubles, no triples, three home runs, 18 walks to 76 strikeouts, and went 2-for-3 on stolen bases. Complete season totals for the Cannon Ballers offense can be found here.

Kannapolis pitching had themselves a very solid week out on the bump. The Cannon Ballers left Fredericksburg with a team ERA of 3.67, 1.22 WHIP, and a .211 Batting Average Against, 24 runs (22 earned) on 42 hits over 54 innings. They also issued 24 walks against 55 strikeouts, hitting five batters and not allowing any home runs. Complete season totals for the Cannon Ballers pitching staff can be found here.

🔥 Hot Player of the Week 🔥

Wilfred Veras: Wilfred Veras has been heating up after a slow start to his Kannapolis tenure. The 19 year old hit .500/.583/.650 for a 1.233 OPS, scoring four runs, one home run, three RBI, and 10 hits across 20 at bats.

Honorable Mentions: Cristian Mena and Tommy Sommer