2023 Chicago White Sox Affiliate Preview: Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (Low-A)

By / / Affiliate Previews, FutureSox

The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers finished with a record of 58-74 in their first season as members of the revamped Carolina League in 2022. They are in the South Division and the sterling Atrium Health Ballpark should be an attraction for fans all summer. The club scored 580 runs while allowing 641 last year.

Colson Montgomery really burst onto the scene in Low-A last season and other players put up strong showings as well. In 45 games with the Ballers, the former first rounder hit .324/.424/.476 with a 152 wRC+ before earning a well deserved promotion to Winston-Salem. On the pitching side, Dominican righty Cristian Mena really thrived. As a 19-year-old in his first full season, the right hander posted a 2.68 ERA while averaging 11 K/9 over the course of 53.2 innings.

The Cannon Ballers open the season in Down East against the Wood Ducks on Thursday April 6th. The Low-A affiliate of the White Sox will look quite a bit different and that’s especially true with the coaching staff. Pat Leyland will make his managerial debut in Kannapolis. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because he is the son of legendary manager Jim Leyland.

Joining Leyland in the Carolina League will be Charlie Romero, Blake Hickman and Juan Maldonado. Romero will serve as the hitting coach after filling the same job with the Birmingham Barons last season. Hickman joins the organization after being a former seventh round selection out of Iowa. He’ll be in his first season as a pitching coach. Juan Maldonado will serve as the Performance Coach.

(Ages in parentheses as of July 1)

Starters

The biggest news about the starting pitching staff in Kannapolis might be about players who aren’t listed on the roster. 2023 first rounder Noah Schultz will begin the season in extended spring training along with former fifth rounder Tanner McDougal. Both pitchers are expected to spend the majority of the 2023 season in Kannapolis with the Cannon Ballers. The rest of the rotation is comprised of pitchers who were added to the organization via the 2022 MLB Draft.

Peyton Pallette will make his professional debut after being selected in the second round. The righty was seen as a sure fire first rounder until he underwent Tommy John surgery and missed his junior season at Arkansas. The White Sox believe they found a top of the rotation starter for $1.5 million and he’ll be on display in the Carolina League. Tyler Schweitzer was selected in round five after being named Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year at Ball State. He’s a projectable southpaw with a great feel to pitch.

Righty Mason Adams and lefty Shane Murphy were both taken on the draft’s third day and Mark McLaughlin was selected in the seventh round out of Tennessee. McLaughlin was a reliever in college but the White Sox will attempt to develop him as a starter. Drew McDaniel was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Ole Miss and he showed a four pitch mix during fall instructional league.

Relievers

The group in the bullpen is fairly unheralded to start out. Eric Adler was a sixth rounder out of Wake Forest last July and he possesses premium stuff. He begins the season on the injured list but rival scouts have been impressed with his stuff. The command has always been an issue but the righty profiles as a high leverage reliever at his peak.

20-year-old Venezuelan Emerson Talavera posted a 2.77 ERA with a WHIP under 1.00 in 26 innings in the ACL last year. He could earn some high leverage work as well.

It’s often difficult to discern the difference between the starters and the relievers in Low-A and this year is no different. Connor McCullough has started in the past and he could be used in a number of ways for the Ballers. Kole Ramage and Billy Seidl were both added via July’s draft as well. Zach Cable, Pauly Milto, Manuel Veloz and Frander Veras have pitched at White Sox’s affiliates in the past.

Johnny Ray is an Illinois product who was drafted in the 12th round out of Texas Christian University in 2021. The righty struggled in 2022 but he has really good stuff and should be a factor in the Ballers’ bullpen. Kade Mechals was selected in the fourth round out of Grand Canyon University back in 2020 and he finally made his professional debut last summer in the ACL.

Catchers

Victor Torres and Troy Claunch are returning to Kannapolis while Luis Pineda is a new arrival. Claunch was added to the organization as an undrafted free agent out of Oregon State last summer. He played 15 games with the Cannon Ballers in 2022.

Torres possesses elite defensive capabilities and hit seven homers in 50 games last season. The 22-year-old was selected in the 11th round out of Puerto Rico back in 2019. Pineda is a 21-year-old Venezuelan lauded for his defensive skills. The 6-foot-1, 210 pounder posted a .713 OPS over the course of 40 games in the Arizona Complex League last summer.

Infielders

Brooks Baldwin, Mario Camilletti, Tim Elko, Drake Logan, Jordan Sprinkle and Bryce Willits were all selected during the 2022 MLB Draft. Wilber Sanchez is a stellar defender but the 21-year-old Venezuelan has really struggled at the dish. Layant Tapia is a 21-year-old Dominican who clubbed five homers in the Arizona Complex League last season.

Baldwin can play all over the field but he will start the season on the injured list. Baldwin was a favorite of area scouts in college at UNC Wilmington and he really stood out in the Cape Cod League. After being selected in the 12th round, the switch-hitter played in 17 games with the Cannon Ballers to close out 2022. Logan and Willits should both fill in on the corners as well after becoming late day three picks of the organization.

Camilletti only played in two games during the ACL season but the senior sign can really hit and was a bit of a pest in college. He profiles at second base and hits left-handed. Elko is a folk hero in Mississippi and the 6-4, 240 pounder should be the primary first baseman for the Ballers in 2023.

Sprinkle received $450K in the fourth round out of UC Santa Barbara and was seen as the best defensive shortstop in the college class. He’s a top 30 prospect in the White Sox’s system. Sprinkle must become less aggressive at the plate but his speed and defense should make him fun to watch.

Outfielders

Jacob Burke played in 22 games for the Cannon Ballers last season and posted a 126 wRC+ in his first summer as a professional. He could return to Kannapolis in late April or early May. He will start the year on the injured list with a minor back injury. Read the recent feature article on the 11th rounder in advance of his first full season.

Chris Lanzilli joined the White Sox as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas last July and the 24-year-old was stellar over seven games in the ACL. Logan Glass returns to Kannapolis after struggling in 2022 despite clubbing eight homers. Glass signed as a 22nd round selection out of an Oklahoma High School in 2019. He can play all three outfield spots.

Johnabiell Laureano returns after posting a .722 OPS in the ACL. The 22-year-old Dominican can also play multiple outfield spots. Caberea Weaver has really struggled offensively since being selected out of a Georgia High School back in 2018.

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