Chicago White Sox pitching prospect advancing
In dire need of help in their minor-league system, the Chicago White Sox just might have uncovered a gem in the June draft.
The Sox selected Oklahoma starting pitcher Alec Hansen in the second round. Thought to be a surefire first rounder after his sophomore year, Hansen's stock dropped when he went 3-5 with a 5.40 ERA as a junior with the Sooners this season.
The White Sox were thrilled to draft the 6-foot-7 Hansen on the second round, and they are even happier he started his professional career at Advanced Rookie Great Falls with a 2-0 record and 1.23 ERA in 7 starts while striking out 59 in 36⅔ innings.
"He's showed us a lot since we got him in the program," said Nick Capra, the Sox's director of player development. "If he continues to do the things he's doing now, he might be a quick mover."
Hansen made a move Tuesday, being promoted from Great Falls to low Class A Kannapolis. In Sunday's start against Helena, the right-hander pitched 6 shutout innings and had 13 strikeouts.
"We kind of held him hostage in Great Falls a little bit too long," Capra said. "He's been really good. He's double-digit strikeouts every night. He's not walking people. We made a couple of mechanical changes, small issues he had coming in. He's really taken off with it."
Still in limbo:
On the disabled list with a strained left hamstring since July 22, Brett Lawrie played in five games with Class AA Birmingham on a rehab assignment and never was able to play a full nine innings.
Lawrie is back in Chicago getting his left leg checked out, and his status remains unknown.
"Not real sure exactly what's going on," manager Robin Ventura said. "He just wasn't feeling right. We'll eventually figure out what's going on with him. He hasn't played enough to make it through a game, so there's something going on there."
Lawrie already has been sidelined a month. Is it possible he misses the rest of the season?
"I wouldn't think so," Ventura said. "He's still moving around and playing. I wouldn't think so, but I'm not a doctor. I know he'll get checked out and we'll figure that out."
Saladino update:
Tyler Saladino is feeling better, but the infielder missed his fourth straight game Tuesday with a sore back.
Saladino said his back locked up last Thursday before the White Sox left Cleveland after playing the Indians.
"It just kind of happened," he said. "Really nothing in particular that I could think of. It just got tight and tough to move around and do baseball sort of stuff. We backed off it a little bit and it feels better."