With numerous promotions and demotions from Kannapolis Cannon Ballers roster, the roster construction has changed quite significantly and it became apparent in their six-game series with the Down East Wood Ducks.
Only 12 of the current 30 active Cannon Ballers were on the Opening Day roster from May 4. Whether it was the advancement of some to Wintston-Salem or the regression of others to the Arizona Complex League, the team has some adjustments getting used to new players on the roster. Of those new additions, five players are from the White Sox 2021 draft class (INF Shawn Goosenberg, C Adam Hackenberg, RHP Theo Denlinger, LHP Fraser Ellard and RHP Taylor Broadway).
With other notable additions of Wilber Sanchez and Misael Gonzalez from the ACL, it has muddied the water for some regulars playing time. One player who’s time will be limited even further could be D.J. Gladney. The Illinois native has had a brutal August, batting .098 with four hits across twelve contests. He has struck out at least once in each of those games, including a handful of 3+ strikeout contests. Gladney’s performance, tied with a congested infield, makes him the odd man out. It would not be a shock to see Gladney be moved into the designated hitter role, at-best.
The roster crunch has been a tough one to swallow for Kannapolis. The influx of fresh bodies translated into another disappointing series against the Texas Rangers Low-A affiliate. Here is a break down of the statistics of the week that was:
WEEKLY STATS
W-L (6 games): 1-5; the win broke a 15-game winless streak.
Season W-L: 27-69, 32 GB of the Carolina Mudcats
Batting: .228/.298/.340 Slash, 15 R, 45 H, 12 XBH, 19 BB, 62 K, 5 SB
Pitching: 54 IP, 4.17 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, .241 OPP BA, 35 R (25 ER), 49 H, 29 BB, 49 K
MENDOZA REMAINS CONSISTENT
Unranked first baseman Harvin Mendoza has been the model of consistency amidst Kannapolis’ troubles. The Venezuelan finished the week with a .360 batting average, three extra-base hits and three runs batted in. Despite not being a power hitter, Mendoza’s ability to make contact and find his way on base makes him versatile. His strongest contest came on August 21 in Kannapolis’ 5-2 win. Mendoza went 3-for-4 with a triple, a pair of singles, and two runs batted in.
The White Sox 2015 signee has been the offensive catalyst for the club and it shows in the way he’s able to create a spark by reaching base. Mendoza ranks in the top-15 of total hits and on-base percentage while ranking in the top-3 of batting average in the Low-A East. His impact has been apparent and he’s always the one to be bringing some energy to the clubhouse. It’s surprising he hasn’t been called back to Winston-Salem, but his time is coming to rejoin the club.
VALLES VALIANT IN LONE START
Kannapolis’ other chance to win a contest came back on August 20 behind starter Jesus Valles’ strong outing. Mendoza’s fellow Venezuelan teammate threw six-shutout innings with five hits and four strikeouts. Valles was signed by the White Sox just after the minor league season started in May. Unfortunately, his strong start was for not as the first reliever to come into the game, Hunter Speer, allowed three runs to cross for the Wood Ducks. Those three runs were just enough to close the door on Kannapolis’ chances at the win.
Valles been hit or miss, allowing a combined 15 runs in his two starts prior this contest. He doesn’t have the electric stuff of the Kelley-Dalquist-Thompson trio, but is effective with getting early outs. In his six innings of work, he only threw 65 pitches with 51 of those for strikes. A strong start for Valles could lead to a strong end of 2021.
MEET THE ‘BERGS
With an influx of players migrating from the ACL to Low-A Kannapolis, two players who joined the team this week made an impact instantly. Shawn Goosenberg and Adam Hackenberg, two of the previously mention 2021 draftees on the squad, made the most of their new opportunity in their debut contests with the Cannon Ballers.
Both Goosenberg and Hackenberg collected extra-base hits in their debuts amidst the August 20 loss. The duo collected multi-hit games and their first runs batted in during the August 21 win. With Hackenberg taking the August 22 series finale off, Goosenberg recorded another multi-hit contest along with a stolen base. What a way for them to introduce themseleves to the Kannapolis faithful.
The pairing had brought a new feel to the Kannapolis lineup. Goosenberg played at second base for all three of his contests this week and Hackenberg filled in at the catcher position for the recently demoted Victor Torres. With the strong start for Goosenberg, it will be interesting to see how manager Guillermo Quiroz platoons his middle infield. Wilber Sanchez has been planted at shortstop and Samil Polanco predominantly at second base. The two ‘Bergs will be ones to watch as the 2021 season wraps up.
OTHER NOTABLES
Bryan Ramos went hitless in 20 at-bats with a walk, a run batted in, and four strikeouts. The 19-year-old Cuban hasn’t had those flashes of brilliance lately. He’s only had three extra-base hits in the month of August to-date and hasn’t homered since July 24. A small slump for Ramos at the dish, but he has been settling in nicely at third base with only one error this month.
Chase Krogman has rebounded slightly and put together a good week at the plate. In five contests, he collected five hits with three runs batted in, four walks and six strikeouts. His season-to-date 43.2% strikeout rate hurts the eyes, but the walk rate has steadily increases to 17.1%. 23 of his 40 total walks in 2021 have come within the past two months. A slight progression and his speed was on display in the weekend contests. It was nice to see he still has great fielding range in left field.
The bullpen trio of Taylor Broadway, Tyson Messer and Kohl Simas had strong outings this week against the Wood Ducks. They combined to go scoreless across 7.2 innings of work with no hits allowed, nine strikeouts and two walks. Messer has been a consistent middle reliver that has gotten Kannapolis out of some tough jams. Broadway and Simas are some of the new additions to the squad. Broadway, a 2021 draftee, has yet to allow a run in five appearances at the Low-A level. Simas was signed in July of this year and has been fairly solid, allowing a run in 7.1 innings of work. Hopefully this trio can help provide some stability in the bullpen moving forward.
LOOKING AHEAD
The Cannon Ballers will start the second half of their 12-game homestand against the Lynchburg Hillcats, the Low-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. All signs are pointing to Sean Burke, the White Sox 2021 3rd-round selection, being promoted to Kannapolis this week. Should he join the club, Burke could fill in for Jared Kelley in the rotation, should Kelley have to miss time with a shoulder impingement that took him out of the August 22 contest.
Photo credit: Michael Guariglia/FutureSox
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