In place of the usual Hot and Cold with the hot and cold hitters and pitchers of the week with photos and a fancy format let’s just get down and dirty. Which White Sox prospects are struggling and which are setting the minors on fire in the first couple weeks of play?
Hot hitters
Dan Johnson, Charlotte: .286/.490/.457 Possible bench addition for the Sox?
Josh Phegley, Charlotte: .359/.405/.538 Phegley’s revival is a welcome surprise. The long-term catching situation at the big league club is up in the air so if Phegley is healthy and hitting he gives the Sox another option.
Jared Mitchell, Birmingham: .292/.433/.479 Speaking of being healthy, Jared Mitchell is having his best stint as a pro. He has six extra base hits, including three triples, and 11 walks in 60 plate appearances. The problem is that he still has 16 strikeouts, but given where he’s come from only worrying about strikeouts is a big upgrade.
Carlos Sanchez, Winston-Salem: .333/.444/.400 Is the teenager primed for a breakout year?
Rangel Ravelo, Kannapolis: .386/.420/.614 Early power surge could go a long way to alleviate concerns that he’s just a slap hitter.
Leighton Pangilinan, Kannapolis: .314/.386/.490 Repeating the level, but showing well.
Cold hitters
Osvaldo Martinez, Charlotte: .091/.167/.091 Martinez isn’t bouncing back from his poor 2011.
Tyler Saladino, Birmingham: .114/.304/.182 Saladino isn’t continuing his hot finish to ’11, but at least he is walking.
Michael Blanke, Winston-Salem: .200/.294/.300 Blanke is repeating the Carolina League after spending the second half of the year with the Dash last year and not producing.
Marcus Semien, Winston-Salem: .175/.267/.200 Assignment to the Dash might have been too aggressive for Semien’s first full year of pro ball.
Hot pitchers
Dylan Axelrod, Charlotte: 17.1 IP, 1.56 ERA, 20 K, 3 BB, 15 H Showing that he could be useful for the big league club at some point this year.
Jose Quintana, Birmingham: 16.2 IP, 3.24 ERA, 14 K, 3 BB, 17 H Free agent pick up from Yankees is adjusting to AA well.
Andre Rienzo, Winst0n-Salem: 18 IP, 1.00 ERA, 23 K, 5 BB, 14 H Could be ready for AA.
Matt Heidenreich, Winston-Salem: 13 IP, 1.38 ERA, 12 K, 2 BB, 9 H He’s never been a strikeout pitcher so this is an encouraging start for the 21-year-old.
Blair Walters, Kannapolis: 15.2 IP, 2.87 ERA, 19 K, 3 BB, 10 H Following up on strong ’11 with Great Falls.
Cold pitchers
Ryan Buch, Winston-Salem: 8 IP, 10.13 ERA, 11 K, 6 BB, 9 H Control problems are worrisome, but the strikeouts are still there.
Jacob Petricka, Winston-Salem: 13 IP, 6.92 ERA, 15 K, 8 BB, 18 H Same as Buch. Both Petricka and Buch are repeats that had minor injuries last year.
Spencer Arroyo, Winston-Salem: 6.2 IP, 17.55 ERA, 8 K, 9 BB, 10 H Hasn’t been able to find strike zone in two starts.
Scott Snodgress, Kannapolis: 8.1 IP, 8.64 ERA, 9 K, 6 BB, 11 H The lefty is walking more batters than last year and not getting the ground outs early on.
Daniel Webb, Kannapolis: 11.1 IP, 9.53 ERA, 9 K, 3 BB, 19 H Strikeout to walk ratio is good, but opponents are hitting .352 off Webb.