Trending on the Farm: Cristian Mena impressing early

By / / Minors, Trending on the Farm

This series will highlight player trends from the top prospects in the White Sox system as well as any other notable performances across all affiliates.

Top of the Crop

NOTE: This piece will focus on players in the minor leagues, so Oscar Colás and Lenyn Sosa are omitted as they are with the White Sox.

RankPlayer (Position) [Level]Last Week (4/18 – 4/23)Trend
1Colson Montgomery (SS) [A+]7-day IL🩹
3​Bryan Ramos (3B/2B) [AA]7-day IL🩹
4Noah Schultz (LHP) [Ext. Spring]N/AN/A
6José Rodriguez (2B/SS) [AA].200/.261/.200, .461 OPS, 2R, RBI⬇️
7Cristian Mena (RHP) [AA] 6 IP, 6 H, 2R (2 ER), 0 BB, 6 K⬆️
8Peyton Pallette (RHP) [A]3 IP, 1 H, 0R (0 ER), 1 BB, 2 K↖️
9Sean Burke (RHP) [AAA]1.2 IP, 1 H, 5R (5 ER), 4 BB, 2 K↙️
10Norge Vera (RHP) [A+].2 IP, 1 H, 1R (1 ER), 2 BB, 2 K, Placed on 7-day IL⬇️🩹
11Jonathan Cannon (RHP) [A+]11 IP (2 starts), 13 H, 5R (5 ER), 3 BB, 12 K⬆️
12Matthew Thompson (RHP) [AA]5 IP, 2 H, 1R (1 ER), 5 BB, 6 K↖️
Colson Montgomery & Bryan Ramos

As of this writing, mum’s the word regarding injury updates on both Colson Montgomery and Bryan Ramos, although the former’s projected return time frame is nigh.

Norge Vera & Sean Burke

Norge Vera’s season is not starting off well. After failing to make it out of the first inning in his first start, Vera left his second start in the first inning with an apparent injury and was placed on the 7-day IL.

Sean Burke returned from his IL stint and was knocked around by Louisville in his brief season debut.

José Rodriguez & Matthew Thompson

José Rodriguez is scuffling at the plate. While the 21 year old saw his batting average and on-base percentage tick up (marginally), he struck out six times and logged no extra base hits.

After Matthew Thompson’s disastrous start last week where he couldn’t escape the first, the 22 year old righty bounced back for a much better outing, throwing five innings and struck out six Blue Wahoos despite issuing five walks (yet again).

Jonathan Cannon

Jonathan Cannon had a two start week, but was much more efficient in his second start, throwing 79 pitches in five innings, allowing three hits and two runs (both earned), walking one while striking out seven Tourists.

Cristian Mena

Cristian Mena made up for his short start last week (three innings pitched), by throwing 76 pitches across six innings of work against Pensacola, striking out six Blue Wahoos. The early season output from the 20 year old righty against competition nearly four and a half years his senior has been quite encouraging.

Peyton Pallette

Peyton Pallette rebounded nicely after enduring a shakey ending to his previous start. The 21 year old starter (coming back from Tommy John surgery) allowed only two RiverDogs batters to reach base Sunday afternoon.

Best of the Rest

Zach Remillard

Another week, another appearance from the versatile 29 year old. While Remillard’s power numbers dipped a bit from the previous week, he still did manage to score three runs, hit two doubles, walk five times (no strikeouts) and go 2-for-2 in stolen bases with a 1.026 OPS across four games.

Nate Fisher

26 year old lefty Nate Fisher made two appearances last week (one start) and threw 11 total innings allowing eight hits, one run (one earned), walked four while striking out nine batters.

Duke Ellis

25 year old Duke Ellis was making things happen for the Barons last week. Ellis batted .455/.667/.545 for a 1.212 OPS with three runs scored, one double. three RBI, seven walks (to one strikeout), and went 3-for-4 on stolen bases, including scoring from first on this botched pickoff.

Wilfred Veras & Terrell Tatum

20 year old Wilfred Veras crushed Asheville pitching all week long to the tune of a .407/.448/.852 for a 1.300 OPS. Veras scored five runs, hit three doubles, three home runs, had nine RBI, and even went 2-for-2 on stolen bases.

Terrell Tatum slashed .273/.407/.545 for a .952 OPS, scoring seven runs, hit three doubles, one home run, had seven RBI, and went 3-for-3 on stolen bases.

Tommy Sommer

24 year old left-hander Tommy Sommer threw the ball well in his lone start of the week. In four innings of work, Sommer didn’t allow any hits or runs, walked three batters while striking out seven.

Tim Elko & Logan Glass

Tim Elko (top) is in the business of punishing baseballs, and the RiverDogs pitching staff felt his wrath last week. The 24 year old batted .400/.444/.800 for a 1.244 OPS, scoring four runs, hitting one double, three home runs, knocking in nine RBI.

Not to be outdone, Logan Glass (bottom) also busted out the boom stick, smashing three home runs and leaving the week with a .923 SLG and a 1.209 OPS in four games.

Tanner McDougal

After missing all of last season due to Tommy John surgery, Tanner McDougal was stellar in his start for the Cannon Ballers last week. The recently turned 20 year old right hander’s stats can be found in the attached tweet, but it was a very impressive outing from the 2021 5th rounder.

18 thoughts on “Trending on the Farm: Cristian Mena impressing early”

  2. huisj

    Where I’m at as a Sox fan: I feel bad for all the promising youngsters that they have to try to develop in this org that will likely ruin them.

  3. Alfornia Jones

    Montgomery and Ramos will fit in well on the big league roster: Indeterminate injuries with indeterminate return dates.

    1. jorgefabregas

      Ramos had a return date: the second week of the season.
      Montgomery’s return date was supposed to be the end of the month, so we’ll see if he similarly blows past it without a peep.

  5. ForsterFTOG

    None of the Sox top talent will hit free agency until their age 30 seasons.
    All going according to plan.

  6. As Cirensica

    Can the Sox just swap Romy with Remillard? He looks like somebody that can use better that roster spot than Romy.

    1. HallofFrank

      I don’t think it’s a good idea to rely on Remillard in any capacity. Then again, I don’t think it’s a good idea to rely on Romy in any capacity. So, why not give it a shot?

      1. As Cirensica

        Exactly…maybe Remillard will go hot for a week, and rekindle this dormant offense like Yermin did. I remember nobody was relying on Mendick, and all the sudden the guy was playable. Romy is just unplayable.

    2. bobsquad

      I get that some things a batter needs to figure out in the majors, but the strike zone is not one of those. Romy has 2 options: it’s inexcusable that he’s still in Chicago.

      1. As Cirensica

        He is in the bench most of the time, so he is not even getting the opportunity to figure things out. He must be optioned asap.

        1. bobsquad

          He’s still getting starts in most games against lefties. He’s being treated as a platoon bat with a .286 OPS against his side of the platoon.

  7. FishSox

    Elroy starting in RF, Sheets at 1b, Vaughn at DH.

    First, what is the absolute refusal on Grifols part to start Haseley?

    Lineup should be, Colas in CF, Haseley RF, get 2 LHB’s in there, not to mention an actual OF’r, sit Robert. I would rather see Vaughn at 1b and Elroy at DH, just because Sheets is rarely a good option for anything and over the past week, Elroy has more HR’s than sheets.

    1. HallofFrank

      I’ll take Grifol’s lineup. Why the Sheets hate? The dude is 2nd on the team in wRC+ and OPS (behind only Burger). He’s one of the few guys actually hitting. He needs to be in the lineup vs. RHP. If you want Vaughn and Eloy, too, then this is the way to do it.

      1. As Cirensica

        I don’t hate him, but he has limited use skills unless he starts hitting for power. Two homers recently is a sign in the right direction, but before that he was just hitting singles and walks. Unfortunately, singles and walks are a fantastic production with this team.

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