White Sox pitching prospects moving in right direction
For the Chicago White Sox, Monday is moving day.
Not in the standings, where the rebuilding Sox are buried in the AL Central basement with the second-worst record in the major leagues.
There is going to be movement on the prospect front - specifically on the pitching side.
Lucas Giolito is joining the White Sox's rotation from Class AAA Charlotte, and the 23-year-old righty will start against the Twins on Tuesday at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Also on Monday, 21-year-old righty Michael Kopech is scheduled to make his first start for Charlotte after being promoted from AA Birmingham.
Along with Reynaldo Lopez and Dane Dunning, Giolito joined the Sox on Dec. 7 in the trade that sent veteran outfielder Adam Eaton to the Nationals.
After getting off to a slow start at Charlotte, Giolito was 3-1 with a 1.71 ERA in his last 5 games with the Knights.
Kopech dominated the Southern League at a very young age, going 8-7 with a 2.87 ERA while striking out 155 in 119⅓ innings.
Like Giolito, Kopech got stronger as the season progressed, and the 6-foot-3, 205-pounder was 4-1 with a 0.66 ERA in his last 6 starts for the Barons.
Lopez joined the White Sox on Aug. 11 and pitched well in his first start against the Royals.
In Thursday's start against the Rangers at Texas, Lopez had to exit with one out in the fifth inning due to soreness in his right side. On Saturday, he landed on the 10-day disabled list with a strained back.
It remains to be seen if Lopez takes the mound for the Sox again this season, but general manager Rick Hahn has added plenty of pitching depth to the system since the 2016 draft.
In addition to Lopez, Giolito and Kopech, here are some other young arms to watch:
Alec Hansen
The White Sox's second-round draft pick in 2016 out of the University of Oklahoma, Hansen has been stellar at low Class A Kannapolis and high A Winston-Salem this season, going a combined 10-8 with a 2.64 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 126 innings.
With the minor-league regular season wrapping up on Aug. 31, Hansen is an obvious candidate to play in the Arizona Fall League and open next year at Birmingham.
Dylan Cease
Acquired from the Cubs last month in the Jose Quintana trade, Cease has struggled in 6 starts with Kannapolis, going 0-6 with a 4.74 ERA.
The 21-year-old righty has shown off his power arm with 33 strikeouts in 24⅔ innings, but 14 walks clearly show Cease needs to continue working on his mechanics.
Dane Dunning
The 22-year-old righty is doing very well at Winston-Salem, ranking fourth in the Carolina League with a 3.35 ERA.
Dunning also has 111 strikeouts in 102 innings and ranks eighth in the league with a 1.31 ERA.
Spencer Adams
The Sox's second-round draft pick in 2014 out of White County (Ga.) High School, Adams is now 21 years old and more than holding his own with Birmingham.
The right-hander is 7-13 with a 4.37 ERA while ranking third in the Southern League with 138 innings pitched and ninth with 103 strikeouts.