Charlotte Knights 2023 preview: Position players part of the plan

Knights’ correspondent Jeff Cohen introduces the Charlotte line-up in the first of a two-part series.

The 2023 Charlotte Knights will field a veteran team that should have little trouble meeting its top priority — providing capable talent to help the White Sox get through the grind of a 162-game season.

First men up include Jake Burger, Billy Hamilton, Adam Haseley and Carlos Perez. 

Burger finds himself in Charlotte as a result of a roster squeeze in Chicago.  However, the former first-round draft pick flashed his calling card in Spring Training with four homers.

Another former first-round draft pick (Phillies), Haseley turned a few heads in Spring Training with an offensive outburst befitting his pedigree.

The White Sox, of course, know Hamilton from his time with the team in 2021.  He saw limited MLB action in 2022 with the Mariners, Marlins and Twins.  What Hamilton gives up at the plate is offset with speed, defense and veteran leadership.

They’ll be backed up by a trio of guys with MLB experience: Victor Reyes, Erik Gonzalez and Jack Marisnick.  

Reyes, 28, spent his career with the Tigers, where he was a .264 hitter in 1,214 MLB at bats. He appeared to turn a corner last year but the Tigers opted to let him go rather than pay him. Reyes could very well be a surprise contributor this year.

Marisnick, 31, spent six years with the Astros before playing with the Cubs, Padres and Pirates in 2021-22.  He is a glove-first outfielder with a .228 batting average and 63 homers in almost 2,000 MLB at bats. 

Gonzalez, 31, is a free agent add having spent parts of the last seven seasons in the majors with Cleveland, Pittsburgh and most recently Miami.  He has a slash line of .242/.276/.340 in 842 major-league at bats.  Gonzalez had a strong Spring and was among the team leaders in hits.

Rounding out the roster are catchers Sebastian Rivera, Evan Skoug and Xavier Fernandez, as well as infielders Laz Rivera, Lenyn Sosa, Zach Remillard and Yolbert Sanchez. 

All but Rivera and Skoug spent time in Charlotte in 2022.  Rivera is a free-agent addition from the Royals’ system.  The 24-year-old hit .218 in Double-A last year.  Skoug, meanwhile, is a 2017 seventh round draft pick of the White Sox who had 11 homers, 15 doubles and an .825 OPS in 215 at-bats in Birmingham last year.

WHERE ARE THE PROSPECTS?

There’s a bit of prospect fatigue with Sosa and Sanchez, but the pair of once highly regarded middle infielders could nevertheless be poised for big things in 2023.  

It isn’t a sexy lineup but that’s less and less what Triple-A baseball is about — it is about creating an experienced taxi squad to help out the major-league club in a crunch.  Though, the Knights could get a lot sexier and more interesting if and when some top prospects matriculate to Charlotte.

Sosa is probably the only hitter on the roster that can still be considered a top prospect.  Howeever, that could change in a big way if/when Jose Rodriguez makes his way Charlotte.  The 21-year-old infielder had a solid year in Birmingham in 2022, with a slash line of .280/.340/.430, to go along with 40 stolen bases.  He’ll open the season in Double-A as he continues to refine his game.

Last season was more of a mixed bag for Yoelqui Céspedes, but he could also find himself in Charlotte at some point in 2023.  The 25-year-old outfielder hit .258 with 47 extra-base-hits.  He also struck out 154 times so Céspedes may need more time in Birmingham before heading to the Queen City.

We should not be surprised if Colson Montgomery gets his first experience in Triple-A late this year.

IN THE DUGOUT

The coaching staff underwent changes ahead of 2023, too. Justin Jirschele takes the reins in Charlotte after leading the Double-A Birmingham Barons for the past two seasons.  Jirschele spent four years as a player in the White Sox system before retiring in 2015 to move into coaching.

Another important new face will be Cam Seitzer, who replaces Chris Johnson as hitting coach.  This will mark Seitzer’s fifth year in the White Sox organization and first in Charlotte.  His resume includes serving as hitting coach in Kannapolis in 2022 and Birmingham in 2021.  His father Kevin was a 12-year major-league veteran.

Matt Zaleski returns for his fourth year as Knights’ pitching coach, but he will be joined this year by former Charlotte hurler Donnie Veal, who will serve as assistant pitching coordinator in the White Sox system.

HOW GOOD ARE THE KNIGHTS?

Charlotte has been bottom dwellers the past two years in Triple-A.  This team should generate enough offense to be competitive, especially if Burger has a prolonged stint with the club and/or Rodriguez comes up from Birmingham.

But offense has never been an issue in hitter-friendly Truist Field.  The win total will climb only as high as the pitching staff allows.