A closer look at top Chicago White Sox prospects
After a long opening road trip, the Chicago White Sox return home Friday night following a needed break in the schedule.
It's the perfect time to take a closer look at the revamped farm system, specifically at which players are hot, cold and exactly the right temperature.
HOT
Yoan Moncada, Class AAA Charlotte
The Sox's prized prospect had a .292/.382/.500 hitting line through Wednesday's play, and Moncada showed off his prodigious power with a deep home run (No. 3) to right field Tuesday.
Moncada's highest level of play last season was Double-A before he joined the Red Sox in September, so he has some room to grow in Charlotte before getting the call from the White Sox.
Dane Dunning, low Class A Kannapolis
The Sox are giving all of their best prospects ample time to develop, but they might want to move Dunning along soon.
In his first 3 starts with Kannapolis, the 22-year-old righty pitched 20 innings and allowed 1 earned run on 11 hits. Acquired from the Nationals in the Adam Eaton trade, Dunning has 26 strikeouts and only 1 walk.
Willy Garcia, Charlotte
He was up with the Sox over the weekend at Minnesota, replacing Melky Cabrera (paternity leave) and playing left field.
Garcia is back at Charlotte, but he could return to the White Sox as a center fielder if Jacob May keeps struggling at the plate.
In nine games with the Knights, Garcia is batting .383 with 3 homers and 8 RBI. He was claimed off waivers by the Pirates in January.
COLD
Lucas Giolito, Charlotte
He was better in Wednesday's start, allowing 3 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks over 5⅔ innings to go with 8 strikeouts, but don't look for the big right-hander in the White Sox's rotation anytime soon.
Still trying to get his mechanics straightened out, Giolito has yielded 10 runs on 13 hits and 9 walks in his first 14 innings at Triple-A.
Zack Burdi, Charlotte
Expected to be with the Sox at some point this season, possibly in the closer's role, Burdi had a 5.79 ERA through his first 5 appearances with the Knights.
On the bright side, the Downers Grove native's ERA took a big hit in one bad outing. Against Norfolk on Sunday, Burdi allowed 2 runs on 2 hits and a walk without recording an out.
Courtney Hawkins, Class AA Birmingham
The White Sox have been overly patient with Hawkins, their first-round draft pick in 2012.
But as he begins his third straight season with Birmingham, Hawkins is slashing .182/.178/.386 through 11 games with 23 strikeouts in 44 at-bats. Ouch.
Hawkins does have 3 home runs among his 8 hits, but the boom-or-bust approach is wearing thin with the organization.
ROOM TEMPERATURE
Michael Kopech, Birmingham
He was good in his first start with the Barons, striking out 10 in 4⅓ innings. He wasn't so good in his second start, issuing 5 walks in 3⅔ innings.
Only 20 years old, Kopech figures to be up and down as he develops his obvious skills. If his off-speed stuff catches up to his fastball, the White Sox are really going to have something.
Reynaldo Lopez, Charlotte
With 19 strikeouts in 14⅓ innings through his first 3 starts with the Knights, Lopez is another big young arm the White Sox are excited to have.
Lopez still needs work, especially with his secondary pitches. The right-hander has allowed 8 earned runs on 13 hits and 9 walks in the season's early going.
Zack Collins, Winston-Salem
Early reports indicate Collins is doing an outstanding job throwing out basestealers with the Dash, and improved defense is the obvious goal for the 22-year-old catcher.
Collins' potent bat made him the No. 10 overall pick in last year's draft, but he was only hitting .205 through 13 games with Winston-Salem. Collins struck out 16 times in his first 44 at-bats but also drew 10 walks.
Scouting report
White Sox vs. Cleveland Indians at Guaranteed Rate Field
TV: Comcast SportsNet Plus Friday; Comcast SportsNet Saturday; WGN Sunday
Radio: WLS 890-AM
Pitching matchups: The Sox's Jose Quintana (0-3) vs. Corey Kluber (1-1) Friday at 7:10 p.m.; James Shields (1-0) vs. Carlos Carrasco (1-1) Saturday at 6:10 p.m.; Derek Holland (1-2) vs. Danny Salazar (1-1) Sunday at 1:10 p.m.
At a glance: The White Sox are back home after going 5-4 on a trip to Minnesota, Cleveland and New York. The Sox won two of three against the Indians, holding them to 7 runs in the series. Quintana is off to a rough start, but he only has had 2 bad innings. The lefty gave up 5 runs in the second inning vs. Detroit in the season opener and 5 runs in the first inning vs. Minnesota in his last start. Jose Abreu snapped an 0-for-19 slide in Wednesday's loss to the Yankees, going 3-for-4 with 1 RBI. After missing the last four games of the road trip with the flu, third baseman Todd Frazier is expected to return against Cleveland.
Next: Kansas City Royals at Guaranteed Rate Field, Monday-Wednesday
- Scot Gregor