On the move: Checking in with promoted White Sox prospects
There have been a flurry of May promotions in the White Sox's minor-league system.
Luis Robert has rightly received the most attention.
After destroying the Carolina League - he hit .453/.512/.920 with 8 home runs, 24 RB1 and 8 stolen bases in 19 games with high Class A Winston-Salem - the 21-year-old center fielder was promoted to AA Birmingham.
"It was a great month for me," Robert said through a translator last week. "I felt great mentally and physically and thank God everything went well."
Robert was 0-for-10 in his first three games with Birmingham before settling down and going 7-for-10 with 3 RBI in his next two.
He is definitely on the move up, and Robert figures to make his Sox debut at some point in 2020.
Here are some other White Sox prospects of note that have recently been promoted:
Kyle Kubat
Considering he's 26 years old, Kubat didn't show up on any top prospect lists before the start of the season.
The left-handed starter is doing just fine pitching under the radar.
Acquired in a trade from the Royals for cash considerations in March of 2017, Kubat has thrived after being moved out of the bullpen.
He was 2-0 with a 1.23 ERA in 4 starts for Winston-Salem and promoted to Birmingham. In 2 starts with the Barons, Kubat has pitched 14 scoreless innings and has 12 strikeouts and no walks.
Steele Walker
After slashing .365/.437/.581 with 11 RBI in 20 games for Kannapolis, Walker was bumped up to Winston-Salem.
The Sox's second-round draft pick out of Oklahoma last year, Walker has yet to hit a home run at either level this season but he does pack serious power potential.
Alec Hansen
He was one of the best pitching prospects in baseball two years ago, piling up 191 strikeouts in 141⅓ innings with Kannapolis, Winston-Salem and Birmingham.
Hansen was hampered by a strained right forearm last season, but he's healthy again and pitching more like he did in 2017.
Starting the season in Winston-Salem's bullpen, Hansen allowed 3 runs and had 21 strikeouts 12⅔ innings before being moved up to Birmingham.
The 6-foot-7 righty is expected to move back into the rotation later in the season.
Matt Foster
Opening the season at Birmingham, the right-handed reliever had 12 strikeouts over 9⅔ scoreless innings.
That earned Foster a promotion to Charlotte, and he has 5 strikeouts in 6 scoreless innings out of the Knights' bullpen.
Alfredo Gonzalez
He was on the White Sox's roster for nearly two weeks last season, getting a brief look after catcher Welington Castillo was suspended 80 games for testing positive for a PED.
Gonzalez is currently playing for Charlotte after opening the season at Birmingham. Known for his defensive skills, the 26-year-old catcher is slashing a combined .313/.404/.458 in the minors.