Trending on the Farm: Kannapolis falls to Fredericksburg, Birmingham advances to Southern League Final

Noah Schultz – MLB Pipeline White Sox #1

Noah Schultz got the call in game one of the Southern League Championship (Barons won 7-2) and was able to keep the Biscuits in check until some speed bumps in the fourth. In what was his final start of the season, it would be safe to call Noah Schultz’s 2024 campaign a rousing success. In 23 regular season starts between Winston-Salem and Birmingham, the 21-year-old hurled 88.1 innings with a 2.24 ERA, a 0.98 WHIP, and 115 strikeouts.

Side note, Birmingham has the opportunity to clinch the Southern League title at Regions Field this week.

Colson Montgomery – MLB Pipeline White Sox #2

Colson Montgomery finished his AAA season on a higher note with a solid final week in Syracuse. For the season, Montgomery hit .214/.329/.381 for a .710 OPS with 18 home runs and 63 RBI while playing in 130 games. On a more positive note, the 22-year-old did slash .264/.357/.458 (.815 OPS) with four home runs and 13 RBI in 19 September games.

​Edgar Quero – MLB Pipeline White Sox #4

Edgar Quero returned to action after a stint on the injured list and appeared in three of the Knights’ final four games. Additionally, Quero has been added to the White Sox taxi squad and could possibly make his major league debut this week.

Mason Adams – MLB Pipeline White Sox #8

Mason Adams’ breakout 2024 season came to a close last week. In 23 appearances (22 starts), Adams pitched 120.1 innings between Birmingham and Charlotte with a 2.92 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, and 110 strikeouts.

Jeral Perez – MLB Pipeline White Sox #13

19-year-old Jeral Perez had two hits in the championship double-header in Fredericksburg last Wednesday. Between both Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers A team) and Kannapolis, Perez hit .262/.370/.423 with a .793 OPS, 12 home runs and 52 RBI in 105 games.

Down one in the series already (best of three), the Ballers won 3-0 in the first game of the double-header before ultimately falling 3-0 in the winner-take-all game.

Jacob Gonzalez – MLB Pipeline White Sox #11

Jacob Gonzalez helped lead the Barons past Tennessee to earn a berth in the Southern League Championship, and decided to keep that fun going with a 3-5 performance (double, three RBI, stolen base) in game one of the Southern League Championship.

George Wolkow – MLB Pipeline White Sox #7

George Wolkow drew the collar in the Wednesday double-header, but still had a fantastic first full professional season. The 18-year old outfielder slashed .257/.357/.451 with an .808 OPS between the ACL White Sox and Kannapolis. Wolkow also hit 18 doubles, four triples, and 13 home runs with 56 RBI in 91 games played. The strikeouts obviously need to come down (40.3 K% combined), but Wolkow held his own in an aggressive assignment to Kannapolis.

Rafael Ortega

33-year-old Rafael Ortega hit .474/.500/.632 with an 1.132 OPS, three runs scored, a double, triple, and three RBI in five games.

Mark Payton

32-year-old Mark Payton ended his season on a high-note, batting .478/.519/.652 with seven runs scored, an 1.171 OPS, four doubles, two RBI, and more walks (three) than strikeouts (two) in six games.

Corey Julks

28-year-old Corey Julks slashed .333/.440/.619 for a 1.059 OPS in five games last week. Julks scored five runs, knocked a double, triple, home run, two RBI, and was successful on his lone stolen base attempt.

Tim Elko

25-year-old first baseman Tim Elko had a strong final series to end his 2024 season. Elko batted .400/.500/.560 for a 1.060 OPS with five runs scored, a double, home run, and 10 RBI. Between both Birmingham and Charlotte, Elko hit .289/.346/.439 for a .785 OPS with 18 home runs and 73 RBI in 139 games.

Adisyn Coffey

25-year-old Adisy Coffey made two scoreless appearances last week, throwing two innings allowing one hit while striking out four. Coffey had a spectactular 2024 season, throwing 52.1 innings between Birmingham and Charlotte with a 1.55 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, and 55 strikeouts in 50 appearances.

Aaron McGarity

29-year-old Aaron McGarity made three appearances last week for the Knights, throwing three total innings allowing two hits, one run (unearned), and struck out three.

Trey McGough

26-year-old southpaw Trey McGough had two strong scoreless appearances last week, throwing five total innings allowing three hits, one walk, and struck out seven. Combined between Bowie (Orioles AA), Norfolk (Orioles AAA), and Charlotte, McGough made 42 appearances (one start) throwing 81.2 innings with a 1.98 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and 88 strikeouts.

Nicholas Padilla

27-year-old Nicholas Padilla made three appearances against Syracuse last week, throwing two innings allowing one unearned run, one walk, and three strikeouts.

Terrell Tatum

25-year-old Terrell Tatum has been a menace in the Southern League playoffs. Tatum slashed .538/.684/.538 with a 1.222 OPS, three runs scored, five RBI, six walks (to one strikeout), and has gone 7-for-8 on stolen bases in four games.

Wilfred Veras – MLB Pipeline White Sox #25

21-year-old outfielder Wilfred Veras slashed .500/.538/.667 for a 1.205 OPS with two runs scored, a triple, RBI, and went 2-for-2 on stolen bases in three games.

Riley Gowens

24-year-old Riley Gowens helped secure the Barons path to a Southern League Championship appearance with a solid outing against Tennessee on Friday.

Garrett Schoenle

26-year-old southpaw Garrett Schoenle continues to be nails in whatever role the Barons ask him to take on. In total, Schoenle made two scoreless appearances throwing four and two thirds innings allowing just one walk and struck out five.

Nick Podkul

27-year-old infielder Nick Podkul hit .250/.474/.500 for a .974 OPS in four games last week, including five runs scored, a home run, two RBI, and more walks (five) than strikeouts (two).

Peyton Pallette – MLB Pipeline White Sox #27

23-year-old Peyton Pallette made two appearances for the Barons last week, throwing four innings allowing four hits, one run (unearned), and struck out three.

Albertson Asigen

23-year-old outfielder Albertson Asigen had a triple and two RBI in game one of the championship double-header against Fredericksburg.

Tanner McDougal – MLB Pipeline White Sox #28

21-year-old Tanner McDougal was unleashing some absolute filth in the first game of the championship double-header.

Aaron Combs

22-year-old Aaron Combs finished off his epic playoff run out of the Kannapolis bullpen on a high-note in the first game of the championship double-header.