White Sox's top 3 prospects finally all up and running
While the major-league club is not looking so hot, things are finally looking up in the White Sox's minor-league system.
The Sox's top three prospects - shortstop Colson Montgomery, third baseman Bryan Ramos and left-handed pitcher Noah Schultz - are finally all up and running after dealing with nagging injuries.
The towering Schultz has made the biggest early impression.
"Noah has been outstanding," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said "This is a very young kid. He is extremely early in his career, but one that we certainly project to be very very promising. So far, so good."
After being shut down with a left forearm strain in spring training and eased back in, the 19-year-old Schultz made his first start for low Class A Kannapolis on June 2 and had 5 strikeouts while allowing 1 hit over 2 scoreless innings.
The Sox's first-round draft pick last July out of Oswego East High School, Schultz has made 3 starts for Kannapolis and he's given up only 1 hit in 7 scoreless innings to go with 12 strikeouts.
"I don't think there's been a time that he's been on a mound that we haven't been impressed with what he's capable of doing," said Chris Getz, the White Sox's director of player development. "We're talking about 6-foot-9 and a left-handed pitcher that's very projectable."
Montgomery missed nearly three months with a mid-back strain before joining the Arizona Complex League White Sox on Monday. He's expected to be elevated to high Class A Winston-Salem in early July.
After recovering from a groin injury, Ramos joined Class AA Birmingham three weeks ago.
Slow the roll:
After pitching a career-high 119⅓ innings last year, Sox starter Michael Kopech is already at 82 and it's not even halfway through the season.
The White Sox are keeping a close eye on the right-hander, who missed the entire 2019 season recovering from Tommy John surgery and opted out of 2020 due to COVID-19.
In Wednesday night's start, Kopech lasted only 4 innings against the Rangers and was pulled after throwing 86 pitches.
A short outing like that is typically followed with an injury announcement, but Kopech is healthy.
"That's why he came out of the game at 86 pitches," manager Pedro Grifol said. "Probably could have sent him back out. He's a workhorse. He's going to be a workhorse for a long time. But just like he needed that one seven-day break about a month ago, he needed a little break."
Kopech wasn't happy after giving up 3 runs on 4 hits and 3 walks against Texas, but it was more about himself than Grifol's decision.
"There's a bigger thought process to this season and I can appreciate (Grifol) keeping me rested and everything," said Kopech, who is 3-6 with a 4.06 ERA.
"I feel all right. To be frank, I'm a little bit embarrassed about how I've been pitching. I know what this team needs and I know I've been not giving that. To not be getting more than five innings per start, especially in my last few, it's embarrassing to say the least."