WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF JUNE

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1 WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF JUNE 27, 2017 Quintana out to continue solid June vs. Yanks Fabian Ardaya, MLB.com Putnam out months after elbow surgery Scott Merkin, MLB.com Late rally type of play Renteria expects to see Scott Merkin, MLB.com Taking BP at Sox park, Burger lives 'dream' Scott Merkin, MLB.com Make Avisail an AL All-Star starter Scott Merkin, MLB.com Ninth-inning comeback vs. Yanks falls short Fabian Ardaya and Bryan Hoch, MLB.com Carlos Rodon to Start Wednesday While White Sox Reliever Undergoes Tommy John JJ Stankevitz, CSN Chicago How Ozzie Guillen's Harsh Honesty Resonated with Avisail Garcia Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago Burger Bash: White Sox First-Round Pick Puts on Show In BP Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago Last-Place White Sox Ready to Trade, But Only if the Right Offer Arises JJ Stankevitz, CSN Chicago White Sox reliever Zach Putnam undergoes Tommy John surgery Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune Jake Burger's introduction to White Sox includes call from Paul Konerko Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune White Sox show some fight in ninth vs. Yankees but drop fourth straight Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune White Sox GM not tipping his hand about when Yoan Moncada will arrive Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune White Sox recall right-hander Juan Minaya from Charlotte Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times Avisail Garcia fifth among OFs in final week of All-Star voting Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times First-round draft pick Jake Burger gets taste of big-league life Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times White Sox top pick Burger: You dream of this as a little kid Madeline Kenney and Elan Kane, Chicago Sun-Times GM Rick Hahn open-minded on all our guys as trade season nears Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times Guillen's 'unique criticism' helps White Sox' Garcia Scot Gregor, Daily Herald Chicago White Sox's top pick Burger eager to start climbing ladder Scot Gregor, Daily Herald Rodon officially back, Putnam lost for 2017 James Fegan, The Athletic Jake Burger faces the Chicago media fire, ready to get cooking in the minors James Fegan, The Athletic By the numbers: Late Sox rally not enough to overcome eight sloppy innings James Fegan, The Athletic Emma: Reality Beginning To Hit Rebuilding White Sox Chris Emma, CBS Chicago White Sox Notes: Carlos Rodon To Start Wednesday, Zach Putnam Done For Season Bruce Levine, CBS Chicago Quintana out to continue solid June vs. Yanks By Fabian Ardaya / MLB.com June 26, 2017 The Yankees will look for another stellar performance out of budding ace Luis Severino (5-3, 3.30 ERA) on Tuesday night as he faces off against White Sox ace Jose Quintana (4-8, 4.69) at Guaranteed Rate Field in the second of a four-game set. Severino, 23, has been a glittering star in the Bronx and turned into a horse with his ability to eat innings. He's gone at least six innings in each of his past six starts. However, against the Angels at Yankee Stadium in his last start, he allowed six runs (five earned) -- marking his highest run total against any opponent in a start this season. He's given up 10 runs (nine earned) over 12 innings in his past two starts, raising his season ERA from 2.75 to Quintana, 28, has seen his play fluctuate as his name is entrenched in trade rumors. His outings have improved lately, however, as he's posted a 2.25 ERA through his first four June starts. He's been at his best in his past two outings, utilizing his changeup well and giving up just a pair of runs in 13 2/3 innings against the Blue Jays and Twins. White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said Quintana has handled the trade rumors well despite some early-season struggles. "He's the same guy," Hahn said. "Same guy in terms of how he goes about his business. For the people who interact with him on a daily basis, they know he's pretty unflappable and extremely professional in terms of how he goes about his business. I don't think the things that have been written about him or speculated about him have really any impact." Severino pitched well in his last outing against the White Sox, going eight innings while allowing four runs (three earned) before picking up the loss. Quintana hasn't faced the Yankees this season, but has gone 2-2 with a 4.35 ERA against them in four starts.

2 Three things to know about the game Quintana has struggled to get much run support throughout his career, and this season has been no exception. His average run support of 4.28 runs per game is seventh-worst in the American League this season. He's received 20 runs of support over his last two starts after having 22 over his first 13 starts combined. Severino has struggled against the White Sox for his career, going 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in three starts. The Yankees had struggled on the road before Monday's 6-5 win, having lost six in a row away from the Bronx -- the longest active mark in the Majors. It also matched their longest road losing streak since "I wouldn't say they're down," Yanks manager Joe Girardi said before the game. "I would say they're not happy about it. There's a ton of fight in this club, and they keep fighting and trying to give themselves a chance to win every day." Putnam out months after elbow surgery White Sox reliever had Tommy John procedure last week; Rodon's season debut Wednesday By Scott Merkin / MLB.com June 26, 2017 CHICAGO -- White Sox reliever Zach Putnam underwent Tommy John surgery at the end of last week, as announced by general manager Rick Hahn on Monday, and will be sidelined for the next 12 to 18 months. Putnam posted a 1.04 ERA over seven games this season, but had not pitched since April 22. His '16 season ended June 20, eventually leading to elbow surgery to remove bone spurs. "We knew when they went in to repair the elbow last winter, when they removed the chips, the ligament was not in great shape, but Zach and his doctors thought it was worthwhile for him to try to fight back and pitch through it," Hahn said. "Obviously, he was able to do it for a short period of time. "Ultimately the ligament gave out. Zach deserves a world of credit for doing everything he could the last two years to fight his way back to contribute in the bullpen. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for him." The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews, with Hahn adding that everything went smoothly. Rodon's return becomes official Carlos Rodon makes his first big league start of 2017 on Wednesday against the Yankees after missing most of the first three months due to left biceps bursitis. Rodon mentioned Sunday how he now has a set day-to-day work routine helping him stay strong. "Let's put it this way: we've talked a lot about, development continues at the big league level," Hahn said. "Carlos obviously came very quickly through our Minor League system. He's always had tremendous stuff and the ability to get by based upon his stuff alone. "As the innings start to add up and guys get a little bit older, then there's a need for a little bit of more regularity with a routine that perhaps they didn't have the need for in the past. Carlos has learned a lot from this experience and it's going to serve him well going forward." Hahn would not name the pitcher Rodon is replacing in the rotation or on the roster. More signings The White Sox are expected to agree to terms with right-handers Lincoln Henzman (fourth round) and Kade McClure (sixth round) and catcher Evan Skoug (seventh round) on Tuesday. Skoug is expected to sign for over slot money. No pressure to trade Hahn was asked Monday if it's incumbent on him to make trades before the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline as part of the rebuild. "No. God no," Hahn said. "We feel we have certain desirable players that would help other clubs and may fit better on their competitive windows then they do on ours right now. And we intend to be active each day in trying to further accomplish what we set out to do a year ago at this time.

3 "We simply can't force this time frame. If we are going to move talented players, we have to get what we feel is the appropriate value back or it's not going to happen." There were no major trades made by the White Sox at this time last year. But as Hahn pointed out, the team got the return it wanted by moving Chris Sale in December. Late rally type of play Renteria expects to see White Sox make 3 costly errors, but nearly tie up Yanks in 9 th By Scott Merkin / MLB.com June 26, 2017 CHICAGO -- The four-run rally by the White Sox in the ninth inning of Monday's 6-5 loss to the Yankees at Guaranteed Rate Field stands as the inspired sort of play manager Rick Renteria knows his charges are capable of showing. As for the other eight innings? Not quite so much. "We had a nice ninth inning, and in that regard as I told the guys tonight, that's the type of approach, that's the type of concentration, that's the type of play that we want to have," Renteria said. "We have had moments where we've played very clean defense. Today was not one of those games in whole." "Yeah, you could feel it in the dugout. It was a little quiet," said White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson of the problems before the lively final frame. "In the ninth inning everyone was up and enjoying it and having fun." Errors by third baseman Todd Frazier, starting pitcher David Holmberg and first baseman Matt Davidson contributed to three-run innings for the Yankees in the fourth and in the sixth. Holmberg allowed six runs, but only two were earned, as the White Sox lost their fourth straight and fell to 1-7 in their past eight. But they didn't fall without a fight. After Chasen Shreve retired Yolmer Sanchez to open the ninth, the White Sox knocked out five straight hits to score four runs and cut the lead to one. Kevan Smith and Adam Engel singled off Shreve, followed by Anderson's opposite-field three-run homer to cut the lead to 6-4. Anderson wore corrective glasses for the first time in the field and at the plate. Although Anderson said it was a small correction found recently, he finished 2-for-5. "I've been using them in batting practice," Anderson said. "Trying to get used to them and I'm going to continue to use them throughout the rest of the season." Jose Abreu hammers a line drive into the gap in right-center for an RBI double, bringing the White Sox within a run in the 9th inning Closer Aroldis Chapman replaced Shreve and was greeted by Melky Cabrera's single and Jose Abreu's run-scoring double. Though Chapman didn't record one swinging strike, he retired Avisail Garcia and Frazier to save the game. The half-empty types could look at this night as a bad game with a great finish for the White Sox. But Renteria's crew sees the action a bit more optimistically. "It's the beginning of something that can be good," Anderson said. "Hopefully we can build off of this and keep going." "I thought we gave ourselves a chance to win a ballgame there, in spite of everything that happened throughout the ballgame," Renteria said. "We ended up putting them in a very uncomfortable position." Taking BP at Sox park, Burger lives 'dream' A lifelong South Siders fan, club's 1st-round pick reflects on Konerko's advice By Scott Merkin / MLB.com June 26, 2017 CHICAGO -- On the day after Jake Burger was selected by the White Sox with the 11th pick overall in the 2017 MLB Draft, he received a call from franchise legend Paul Konerko. Two weeks later, and with a $3.7 million signing bonus in his bank account, Burger was flexing his muscles during batting practice Monday at Guaranteed Rate Field where Konerko's No. 14 hangs among the retired jerseys.

4 "When I talked to Paul Konerko, he said the ball flies here. Sure enough, it did," said a smiling Burger, who was joined by his father, Mike, his mother, Shannon, and his sister, Ellie, among others, during this special day. "It's unbelievable. I loved it," Burger said. "Growing up a White Sox fan, you dream about this as a little kid. I'm very grateful for it and for the White Sox organization to give me a chance." Burger is 21, but the third baseman looks young enough to be carded at local establishments for about the next two decades. He hit.328 with a.443 on-base percentage and a.648 slugging percentage this season for Missouri State, along with 22 homers and 65 RBIs. His professional career begins with the organization's Arizona Rookie League team and then will move to either Class A Kannapolis or Class A Winston-Salem this year. Before departing Chicago, he deposited a few baseballs into the Guaranteed Rate stands using his own bat. "I took a deep breath because I was nervous," Burger said. "I got one out and it was second nature after that. I can always be improving my discipline at the plate. "Trying to get more walks than strikeouts is always my goal. And defensively, always work on my range and doing everything the White Sox ask me." As a young player, Burger also was a Blackhawks fan, sharing another trait with Konerko in that he was a hockey player first and then came baseball. Burger was a right winger and smiled when adding he "put the biscuit in the basket every now and then." He gave up hockey as a sophomore in high school at age 16, and looks to have made a good choice. Getting advice from Konerko only enhances the start of his White Sox career. "Unbelievable. I got a text that someone from the White Sox was going to contact me. I didn't know it was going to be Paul Konerko," Burger said. "Pick up the phone and he's, 'Hey, Jake, it's Paul,' and I'm like, 'OK.' He gave great advice, said, 'Keep my number and call me whenever you need it.' "The main thing I took from it was you're going to be in a season that's six months long. You'll have two great months, two bad months and two above average months, and you're going to have a great season. Don't let down times get you down too much. And always outwork the guy next to you." Make Avisail an AL All-Star starter By Scott Merkin / MLB.com June 26, 2017 CHICAGO -- There has been no contact between White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia and one-time White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen since the 2017 season began, aside from the two engaging in conversation Saturday before Mark Buehrle's jersey number was retired. But Guillen had some pointed commentary for Garcia, who sits fifth among American League outfielders in Monday's release of the Esurance All-Star Game Ballot voting, when the two ran into each other during this past offseason when going against each other during winter baseball in Venezuela. "I saw him batting seventh and I was all over him," Guillen said. "I said, 'You should be embarrassed. You're batting seventh in winter league. You have to be third, or fourth.' Now he's picked it up. Hopefully he will keep it up." "He gave me advice," Garcia said. "I thank him because he's a great human and everything he said to me is going to work for me. I just listened. Always listen." Garcia certainly has responded to Guillen's critique and, more importantly, the White Sox challenge during this breakout campaign. His 1,292,694 votes trail Aaron Judge (3,442,597), Mike Trout (2,559,173), George Springer (1,619,385), and Michael Brantley (1,325,473), while holding a slight edge over Mookie Betts (1,223,195). Entering Monday's series opener against the Yankees, Garcia ranked second to Judge by one point in the AL with a.331 batting average. His 51 RBIs left him tied for fifth and only nine away from topping his single-season high of 59. He has a.904 OPS, 11 homers and 17 doubles. Guillen likes Garcia's up-the-middle offensive approach and how he's refrained from expanding the zone and chasing bad pitches.

5 "A lot of people say he needs to pull the ball; I say, 'why?' When you pull the ball you have more tendency to strike out and have bad at-bats," Guillen said. "People keep waiting on him to be what he was. Right now, he has more experience. "He doesn't live in the past, like 'Oh it's the next Miguel Cabrera' or 'He's this guy, he's the best we've ever had.' That's why he got better. What he's doing right now, it's fun. He's showing his potential. I see a lot of players with potential who never make it. It started getting too late for him, now he's back on the map." Fans may cast votes for starters at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- on computers, tablets and smartphones -- exclusively online using the 2017 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot until Thursday at 10:59 p.m. CT. On smartphones and tablets, fans can also access the ballot via the MLB.com At Bat and MLB.com Ballpark mobile apps. The Esurance All-Star Selection Show will take place on Sunday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN. Following the unveiling of the 2017 All-Star starters, reserves and pitchers, fans should return to MLB.com and cast their 2017 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote for the final player on each league's All-Star roster. Then on Tuesday, July 11, while watching the 2017 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX, fans may visit MLB.com to submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet with the 2017 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote. The 88th Midsummer Classic, at Marlins Park in Miami, will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage, while MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM will have comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and on social media. Ninth-inning comeback vs. Yanks falls short By Fabian Ardaya and Bryan Hoch / MLB.com June 27, 2017 CHICAGO -- Jordan Montgomery filled the role of stopper Monday night, halting the Yankees' six-game road losing streak while tying a season high with seven innings in a 6-5 win over the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field. The loss dropped the White Sox to a season-low 11 games under.500 at 32-43, and gave them their seventh loss in their past eight games -- including four on their 10-game homestand. "Things kind of haven't been going our way. Tonight was a good team win," Montgomery said. "That's what I really try to do every time, just try to go out there and give six or seven innings every outing. I definitely wanted to go out there and give my team that tonight." Montgomery posted one the finest outings of his rookie campaign, allowing runners to reach scoring position just three times and limiting the damage to a second-inning leadoff home run from Todd Frazier. The left-hander kept the walks to just one, matching his June 9 outing by going seven innings and striking out eight, this time allowing just the one run. "His slider was really good," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "I'm just really happy with what he's doing. He's throwing the ball well. He usually gives us pretty good distance and continues to grow as a pitcher." Chicago made it interesting in the ninth, as Tim Anderson went the other way for a three-run homer to cut New York's lead to 6-4. The White Sox had the potential tying run at second following Jose Abreu's RBI double with one out in the ninth before Aroldis Chapman shut the door, earning his seventh save and securing Montgomery's sixth win. "I mean, when you can do that to a club, when you can have them bring in some of their key guys in certain situations when they're thinking they might have a five-run lead that gives them room to breathe," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "It's never comfortable when the opposition is starting to put pressure on you. That's the type of approach, that's the type of concentration, that's the type of play that we want to have." White Sox left-hander David Holmberg made it further than he had all season by going 5 1/3 innings, but couldn't quite keep the Yankees' bats quiet the second time through the order and didn't get much help from his defense. He allowed six runs (two earned), all of which came in the fourth and sixth innings to bring his ERA to 3.86 as a starter this season. "The way things have been going, we'll take it right now," New York third baseman Chase Headley said. "It's not always pretty, but we had to find a way to win and we were able to do that. We were able to capitalize on some mistakes." MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

6 Give me an E: Just two innings after a Frazier deflection led to a pair of unearned runs, the Yankees again benefited from unsound defensive play from the White Sox in the sixth. After Holmberg allowed a leadoff homer to Tyler Austin, he botched a comebacker by losing the ball on the transfer to allow Jacoby Ellsbury to reach base. Ellsbury would score on a sacrifice fly from Austin Romine. Another run scored in the frame when Anderson's throw couldn't be hauled in by first baseman Matt Davidson, allowing Headley to score from third and make it 6-1. "I think for the most part when we address most of those things, for me it's more a lack of focus and concentration, to be honest," Renteria said. "Physical mistakes happen. No question about it. But sometimes it's just a lack of focus and concentration." "Just a bobble," Holmberg said of the error. "I was reaching in to get it and it just popped out. That's a play I'd like to think I make 100 times out of 100. I've got to make that play." Hello, bullpen: Austin, who was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Friday, got every bit of his sixth-inning homer against Holmberg. The ball had an exit velocity of mph, per Statcast, good for the second-hardest hit ball and hardest-hit home run of his short career as it went from the batter's box to the White Sox bullpen in 3.7 seconds. Chicago soon had its bullpen stirring with arms, in part because of Austin's homer -- the first in his career he hadn't hit to the opposite field. "It felt good, I'll leave it at that," Austin said. "I got a good pitch and I didn't miss it. It was a special night." SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS When Abreu knocked a mph fastball from Chapman into right-center field for an RBI double in the ninth, he may have been benefiting from the Yanks closer's decreased spin rate. Chapman's fastball to Abreu had a spin rate of 2,144 rpm, his lowest of 2017, according to Statcast. Chapman's average spin rate on his fastball is 2,506 rpm. UNDER FURTHER REVIEW Yankees shortstop Ronald Torreyes led off the third with a base hit down the left-field line, and tried stretching a single into a double before being thrown out at second base by Melky Cabrera. The Yanks challenged that Yolmer Sanchez's tag came too late, but after a minute-long review, the play was upheld as Torreyes slipped off the bag while Sanchez's tag was being applied. WHAT'S NEXT Yankees: Luis Severino (5-2, 3.30 ERA) heads to the mound Tuesday as the Yanks play the second game of a four-game series with the White Sox at 8:10 p.m. ET at Guaranteed Rate Field. The right-hander has been one of the club's best pitchers, but took the loss his last time out vs. the Angels, allowing a season-high six runs (five earned) in six innings. White Sox: The White Sox send left-hander Jose Quintana (4-8, 4.69 ERA) to the mound in the second game of a fourgame set Tuesday at 7:10 p.m. CT. Quintana has allowed two runs (in 13 2/3 innings) while receiving 20 runs of support in his past two starts. Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV. Carlos Rodon to Start Wednesday While White Sox Reliever Undergoes Tommy John By JJ Stankevitz / CSN Chicago June 26, 2017 Rick Hahn began his briefing to the media on Monday with two announcements: First, left-hander Carlos Rodon will make his season debut Wednesday against the New York Yankees. And right-hander Zach Putnam underwent Tommy John surgery last week and will miss the remainder of the season. The 29-year-old Putnam was placed on the 10-day disabled list April 25 with right elbow inflammation, but his elbow issues began before that. Last June, Putnam landed on the disabled list with ulnar neuritis in his right elbow and later had surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow in August (Putnam was first diagnosed with a bone spur in his elbow in 2013 while with the Chicago Cubs). When they removed the chips, the ligament was not in great shape but Zach and his doctors thought it was worthwhile for him to try to fight back and pitch through it, which obviously he was able to do for a short period of time but ultimately

7 the ligament gave out, Hahn said. Zach deserves a world of credit for doing everything he could the last two years to fight his way back to contribute in the bullpen. Unfortunately it didn t work out for him. Putnam s Tommy John surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews and carries a month recovery process, which on the more extreme end could rule him out for the entire 2018 season, too. This latest setback is another tough break for Putnam, who was outstanding in limited action over the last two seasons, posting a 2.00 ERA with 39 strikeouts, 12 walks and two home runs allowed in 36 innings out of the White Sox bullpen. As for Rodon, Hahn wouldn t tip his hand as to what move will be made to return the 2014 first-round pick to the major league roster. Rodon threw at least 90 pitches in his last three minor league rehab starts and worked in extended spring training before that, so he won t face any restrictions when he takes the mound against the Yankees on Wednesday. He s starting his season now, Hahn said. He had to alter his training regimen and get himself back on track and we have him out there without restrictions with the same expectations we had for him at the end of last season. He continues to be an important part of our future. How Ozzie Guillen's Harsh Honesty Resonated with Avisail Garcia By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago June 26, 2017 Ozzie Guillen delivered Avisail Garcia some tough love last winter that he figured the White Sox outfielder needed to hear. They encountered each other during the Venezuelan Winter League season when Garcia played for the Tigres de Aragua and Guillen managed for the Tiburones de La Guaria. Guillen was so taken aback to find Garcia hitting low in the Tigres lineup that he offered an assessment on the spot. For any number of reasons, Garcia has responded with a career season that has him on the verge of his first All-Star assignment. The right fielder is fifth in the American League fan vote as of Monday with 1,292,694 votes. About time, Guillen said. We've been waiting for this moment. A lot of people bet he would have failed. I know because at work, every week I talk about him. People keep waiting on him to be what he was. I think right now he has more experience. He doesn't live in the past, like 'oh it's the next Miguel Cabrera' or 'he's this guy, he's the best we've ever had.' That's why he got better. It's about time this kid. What he's doing right now I think it's fun. He's showing his potential. I see a lot of players with potential who never make it. I think it started getting too late for him, now he's back on the map. Garcia entered Monday hitting.331/.372/.532 with 11 home runs and 51 RBIs in 296 plate appearances. While he didn t remember the specifics of their conversation, Garcia knows Guillen s main intent was to help him forward. He s encouraged that his fellow countryman has confidence in his abilities. He s a great human and everything he said to me is going to work for me, Garcia said. I just listened. Always listen. I appreciated what he said. He gave me a lot of advice. He s a great person. People that really know, know he is and we appreciate everything he does and that s it. Guillen appreciates what Garcia has done this season after several years of middling play amongst high expectations. Through 72 games, Garcia has produced 2.3 f-wins Above Replacement, giving him a career mark of 0.9. Acquired in July 2013 from Detroit in a three-team deal that sent Jake Peavy to Boston, Garcia arrived with high expectations that he hadn t been able to live up to thus far. Garcia has had those expectations since he first reached the majors when scouts nicknamed him Mini Miggy after Cabrera. Guillen is glad to see Garcia has started to play up to his potential, especially after he was aghast to find him hitting in the bottom third of Aragua s lineup. I saw him batting seventh and I was all over him, Guillen said. I said 'You should be embarrassed you're batting seventh in winter league, you have to be third, or fourth. This is winter league.' When you go to there and you play in the big leagues, it makes it easier. Now he's picked it up. Hopefully he will keep it up. Hopefully he'll keep it up and make some money. That's what we want. Some cash. Take it home. Burger Bash: White Sox First-Round Pick Puts on Show In BP By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago June 26, 2017 Jake Burger is ready to get his pro career cooking after two memorable weeks that were highlighted by a Paul Konerko phone call and batting practice with the big club.

8 The latter took place at Guaranteed Rate Field on Monday afternoon when Burger -- the 11th overall pick of the June 12 amateur draft -- was introduced by the White Sox. Burger hit in the second group with Jose Abreu, Avisail Garcia and Melky Cabrera. The Konerko call took place shortly after the White Sox drafted Burger out of Missouri State. He received a text that someone from the organization would be trying to get a hold of him. The caller identified himself only as Paul and Burger immediately knew he was talking to his favorite player, the one who made him a White Sox fan in the first place. I didn t know it was going to be Paul Konerko, Burger said. Pick up the phone and he s, Hey Jake, it s Paul' and I m like OK. He gave great advice, said keep my number and call me whenever you need it. The main thing I took from it was you re going to be in a season that s six months long. You ll have two great months, two bad months and two above average months, you re going to have a great season. Don t let down times get you down too much. And always outwork the guy next to you. The guys around Burger on Monday were Todd Frazier, Tim Anderson and Geovany Soto, all of whom gave the firstrounder a hard time in a playful manner. Burger s batting practice session -- in front of more than a dozen photographers - - picked up steam during his third round in the cage. Burger displayed his 55-grade power and began to launch fly balls deep to left, some coming within several rows of reaching the concourse. I was nervous, Burger said. I got one out and it was second nature after that. Burger, who received a $3.7-million signing bonus, is headed to the team s year-round facility in Glendale, Ariz. on Tuesday. From there he s expected to join Single-A Kannapolis. Burger is anxious to get back on the field. Felt like forever since I played and it s only been 10 days since the Super Regional, Burger said. I m ready to get going. Last-Place White Sox Ready to Trade, But Only if the Right Offer Arises By JJ Stankevitz / CSN Chicago June 26, 2017 That the White Sox lost their fourth consecutive game doesn t change the big picture plans of the franchise, which probably but not definitely will involve making at least one trade before the end of July. Before the White Sox lost, 6-5, to the New York Yankees Monday at Guaranteed Rate Field, general manager Rick Hahn met with the media and delivered the same message he s had since trading away Chris Sale and Adam Eaton in December. The White Sox are open for business, and would like to make a number of moves to further bolster their farm system, but won t make a trade if they don t receive what they view to be a fair return. Would I be surprised (if we didn t make a trade)? No, because I try not to be surprised by the dynamics of this market, Hahn said. Would I be mildly disappointed? Sure. We are here to try to improve this club. We feel we have certain first and desirable players that would help other clubs and may fit better on their competitive windows then they do on ours right now. And we intend to be active each day in trying to further accomplish what we set out to do a year ago at this time. But do we have to do it? No. That would be using an artificial spot on the calendar to force decision-making. That would be the last thing we need to do. We need to take a long term view of what we are trying to accomplish. Hahn didn t name names, but Todd Frazier, Melky Cabrera, David Robertson could be short-term fixes for contending clubs. Jose Quintana, who will start Tuesday against the Yankees, remains the team s most valuable trade chip despite a 4.69 ERA that sits over run higher than his career average. Frazier homered Monday and entered the game hitting.262/.351/.524 since Memorial Day. Cabrera similarly has found success after a slow start, slashing a healthy.324/.375/.482 in his previous 34 games before picking up two hits in four atbats Monday. And Robertson, who s been linked to the relief-starved Washington Nationals for months, has 41 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings with 11 saves.

9 We want to be able to do as much as we can in our power to get this team to where it needs to be, Hahn said. Yes, there s an element of competitiveness involved in that. There s an element of patience involved in that. But at the end of the day, we have to we get paid to be prudent in our decision making. We have to make the right decision. In the meantime, the White Sox looked the part of a rebuilding team with the worst record in the American League on Monday. Starter David Holmberg struggled, allowing six runs on five hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings but only two of those runs were earned thanks to errors by Holmberg, Frazier and Matt Davidson. As the Yankees took advantage of those miscues with three runs in both the fourth and sixth innings, Jordan Montgomery retired nine consecutive White Sox batters and went on to cruise with eight strikeouts over seven innings. The White Sox as they ve done quite a bit this year still showed fight late, battling back in the ninth inning. Tim Anderson ripped a three-run home run in the ninth inning off Yankees left-hander Chasen Shreve to bring the White Sox within two. Joe Girardi quickly turned to Aroldis Chapman, who allowed a run when Jose Abreu doubled home Melky Cabrera. But the tying run was stranded on second when Avisail Garcia grounded out and Frazier flew out to end the game. White Sox reliever Zach Putnam undergoes Tommy John surgery By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune June 26, 2017 White Sox reliever Zach Putnam underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last week, general manager Rick Hahn said Monday. Putnam had been on the disabled list since April 25 with elbow inflammation. He had a 1.04 ERA over seven appearances this year. Hahn said the Sox knew last year that Putnam's ulnar collateral ligament wasn't in great shape when he had surgery to remove bone fragments from his arm. But he tried to work through the issue. "Zach and his doctors thought it was worthwhile for him to try to fight back and pitch through it, which obviously he was able to do for a short period of time, but ultimately the ligament gave out," Hahn said. "Zach deserves a world of credit for doing everything he could the last two years to fight his way back to contribute in the bullpen. Unfortunately it didn t work out for him." Jake Burger's introduction to White Sox includes call from Paul Konerko By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune June 26, 2017 Jake Burger chatted with White Sox hitting coach Todd Steverson, launched batting-practice home runs off manager Rick Renteria and laughed and fist-bumped with third baseman Todd Frazier between hitting sessions. The Sox first-round draft pick, a professional for only a few days after signing for a $3.7 million bonus last week, seemed to fit right in Monday during his first trip to Guaranteed Rate Field to meet his new club. "I loved it," Burger said. "When I talked to Paul Konerko, he said the ball flies here. Sure enough, it did." The former Missouri State third baseman already has fielded a phone call from the former Sox captain and has Konerko's number in his phone with an offer to "call me whenever you need it." Burger, also a hockey player until he was 16, was a fan of the Sox and Konerko growing up, despite being from the St. Louis area, because he played in tournaments in Chicago. He received the call from Konerko as a surprise after he was drafted, and he already accepted some advice. "The main thing I took from it was you're going to be in a season that's six months long," Burger said. "(If you) have two great months, two bad months and two above-average months, you're going to have a great season. Don't let down times get you down too much. And always outwork the guy next to you." That work will begin soon for Burger, who is headed to Arizona to play with the Sox rookie-level team before getting assigned to Class A Kannapolis or Winston-Salem, general manager Rick Hahn said. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Burger finished his college career June 11 when Missouri State lost in an NCAA super regional to TCU. He hit.328 with 13 doubles, 22 homers, 65 RBIs and a.443 on-base percentage as a junior and was named firstteam All-America by Baseball America and Missouri Valley Conference player of the year.

10 "It has felt like forever since I played," Burger said. "I'm ready to get going. I can always be improving my discipline at the plate. Trying to get more walks than strikeouts is always my goal. And defensively, always work on my range." Burger was accompanied during his day with the Sox by his parents, Mike and Shannon, who played baseball and tennis at the University of Evansville, and his sister, Ellie, also a tennis player. He said he grew up in "a very competitive house." So he is excited about joining a group of top young prospects the Sox hope will turn their rebuilding project into a contender. "It's a great time to be getting into the White Sox organization," he said. "They had a great draft with guys I played with over the summer on Team USA, Evan Skoug and Tyler Johnson. Great guys in the organization, and I'm excited to get going with them." White Sox show some fight in ninth vs. Yankees but drop fourth straight By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune June 26, 2017 Rick Renteria s performance review in his first season as White Sox manager was never going to be based on the record of a rebuilding team. So before the Sox dropped to a season-worst 11 games under.500 with a 6-5 loss to the Yankees on Monday night at Guaranteed Rate Field, general manager Rick Hahn had positive comments about Renteria's first three months. "He has been exactly the guy we expected him to be since he first joined us," Hahn said. "He has been not only a positive in terms of a high-energy and optimistic force, but he has also been a stabilizing force for these guys. "You see the fight in this team. You see all 25 guys and the manager and the coaching staff fighting to do everything in their power to win." And the Sox kept fighting Monday despite a 6-1 deficit entering the ninth against the Yankees. Kevan Smith and Adam Engel singled with one out off reliever Chasen Shreve. Tim Anderson, wearing glasses for the first time, hit a three-run homer to make it 6-4. Jose Abreu added an RBI double off closer Aroldis Chapman before Chapman recorded the final two outs. It was a big turnaround from an ugly first eight innings for the Sox, who lost their fourth straight after the Athletics swept them over the weekend. Left-hander David Holmberg gave up six runs in 5 1/3 innings, including Tyler Austin's solo homer. Four of the runs were unearned thanks to three errors in the first six innings fielding errors on third baseman Todd Frazier and Holmberg and a missed catch error on first baseman Matt Davidson. On offense, Frazier was the only one to knock in a run against left-hander Jordan Montgomery in his seven innings, hitting his 13th homer to left in the second. "Today was not a very clean ballgame," Renteria said. "There is no excuse that we can make to justify why those occur. You have to own them. "In the end, what you saw in the ninth inning was more indicative of what I like our team to be about." Extra innings: Hahn confirmed left-hander Carlos Rodon will make his first start of the season Wednesday against the Yankees after recovering from left biceps bursitis. Hahn did not reveal which pitcher Rodon would bump out of the rotation.... The Sox optioned right-handed reliever Gregory Infante to Triple-A Charlotte and recalled right-hander Juan Minaya. Former Cubs infielder Starlin Castro left in the third for the Yankees with a strained right hamstring. White Sox GM not tipping his hand about when Yoan Moncada will arrive By Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune June 26, 2017 As the wait for top prospect Yoan Moncada continues on the South Side, White Sox general manager Rick Hahn was coy Monday when asked "when the road leads to Chicago." "There are planes there every day," Hahn joked.

11 Hahn is not tipping his hand about when Moncada will arrive, but he acknowledged the 22-year-old infielder is turning heads again at Triple-A Charlotte after recovering from a sore thumb. Over his last 10 games entering Monday, Moncada had hit.351 with two homers, eight RBIs, eight walks, 10 strikeouts and two stolen bases. He was a double shy of the cycle Friday. Hahn said conversations with the player development staff will help determine when Moncada is ready for the next step, which Hahn said will pose different challenges. "The game is faster here," Hahn said. "There's a third deck. There's a higher level of scrutiny, and more (reporters) show up on a given day to ask questions about the night before or why they are not meeting expectations. "Let's take a position player, a guy working on certain things defensively, he can only be tested to a certain extent at Triple A. When he gets here, you are going to see a few foibles along the way, and how quickly we are able to iron those things out will further that development and help with the finishing touches." Michael Kopech, RHP, Double-A Birmingham Rained out of his Southern League All-Star Game appearance, Kopech returned to throw six innings Friday, allowing two earned runs on five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. Luis Robert, CF, DSL White Sox He went 9-for-34 with three doubles, a home run, two RBIs, 11 walks, eight strikeouts and five stolen bases in his first 11 games in the Dominican Summer League. Zack Burdi, RHP, Triple-A Charlotte The Triple-A closer posted an 8.74 ERA over his last 10 appearances, but in his last three, he struck out 11 while allowing four hits and two earned runs in 42/3 innings. Alec Hansen, RHP, Class A Winston-Salem He joins Dane Dunning in the Winston-Salem rotation, among the most notable of several minor-league roster moves over the last week as draftees arrived and teams reached their All-Star breaks. Outfielder Jameson Fisher also joined Winston- Salem. Bernardo Flores, LHP, Winston-Salem A seventh-round draft pick last year, Flores also was promoted from Class A Kannapolis. He has a 3.00 ERA with 13 walks and 70 strikeouts in 78 innings over 14 starts. White Sox recall right-hander Juan Minaya from Charlotte The White Sox recalled right-hander Juan Minaya from Class AAA Charlotte Monday. Minaya takes the roster spot of right-hander Gregory Infante. By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times June 26, 2017 The White Sox recalled right-hander Juan Minaya from Class AAA Charlotte Monday. Minaya takes the roster spot of right-hander Gregory Infante, who was optioned to Charlotte Sunday. Minaya, 26, was 1-0 with a 8.10 ERA over 10 innings during his time with the Sox this season. He struck out 15 over seven relief appearances. Minaya has pitched in 13 games at Charlotte, going 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA over 19 innings. He has made 13 appearances with the Knights in 2017, going 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA and 15 strikeouts. Infante, 29, was 0-0 with a 4.79 ERA over 20 2/3 innings with 18 strikeouts this season. Avisail Garcia fifth among OFs in final week of All-Star voting White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia is fifth in fan voting for American League outfielders for the All-Star Game. By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times June 26, 2017 White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia remained in fifth place Monday in All-Star Game fan voting for American League outfielders. Garcia, who has occupied fifth and sixth place in recent weeks, has garnered 2,292,694 votes. Aaron Judge of the Yankees leads AL outfielders with 3.44 million votes, followed by the Angels Mike Trout (2.55 million), the Astros George

12 Springer (1.62 million), the Indians Michael Brantley (1.32 million) and Garcia. The top three will earn starting honors, although Trout is injured. Garcia (.331/.372/.532 hitting line) has belted 11 homers and a recorded a team-high 51 RBI. Balloting ends Thursday. The All-Star Selection show will be telecast Sunday at 6 p.m. on ESPN. Chicago White Sox designated hitter Avisail Garcia is congratulated for his two-run home run against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, June 20, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) ORG XMIT: MNBK107 The AL All-Star Team will have nine elected starters via the fan balloting program, while the NL All-Star Team will have eight fan-elected starters. The pitchers and reserves for both squads totaling 23 for the NL and 22 for the AL will be determined through a combination of Player Ballot choices and selections made by the Commissioner s Office. Following the announcement of the American League and National League All-Star rosters, fans will begin voting to select the final player for each League s 32-man roster via the 2017 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote. Fans will cast their votes from a list of five players from each League over the balloting period. Now in its 16th season with over 680 million votes cast, fans again will be able to make their Final Vote selections on MLB.com, Club sites and their mobile devices. This year s final phase of All-Star Game voting again will have fans participating in the official voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans can vote exclusively at MLB.com and the 30 Club sites online or via their mobile devices with the 2017 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, and their collective voice will represent 20 percent of the official vote determining this year s recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy. First-round draft pick Jake Burger gets taste of big-league life Right-hander Zach Putnam has Tommy John surgery, and left-hander Carlos Rodon will make his season debut Wednesday. By Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times June 26, 2017 Jake Burger went deep for the first time Monday at Guaranteed Rate Field. Then he exhaled. I took a deep breath because I was nervous, said Burger, the White Sox first-round draft choice. I got one out, and it was second nature after that. Burger lined the ball around to all fields and hit a couple of more into the seats during batting practice before sitting down in the Sox dugout to meet the media. His next stop is the Arizona League for a few games before he heads to Class A Kannapolis or Class A Winston-Salem to get started on a pro career that should lead him to more important home runs at Guaranteed Rate Field. Unbelievable, Burger said of the whirlwind tour. I m still on cloud nine. It s surreal. Zach Putnam delivers a pitch in Toronto last season. (Getty Images) A third baseman drafted 11th overall for his power and favorable strikeout-to-walk ratio, Burger had 22 homers and 65 RBI this season for Missouri State. He grew up a Sox fan and a Paul Konerko man and was floored when Konerko called him after the draft. The Sox great gave Burger his phone number in case he needs anything. I pick up the phone, and he s like, Hey, Jake, it s Paul, said Burger, who was humbled by the experience. And I m like, OK. He gave great advice. Konerko told him the ball flies at the Sox home park and to expect two great individual months, two bad ones and two above-average ones, which would add up to a great season. He said: Don t let down times get you down too much and always outwork the guy next to you, Burger said. Putnam has elbow surgery Right-hander Zach Putnam, who hadn t pitched since April because of elbow inflammation, had Tommy John surgery and will be out 12 to 18 months. Putnam, who turns 30 next week, had a 1.04 ERA in seven appearances this season.

13 Zach and his doctors thought it was worthwhile to try to fight back and pitch through it, general manager Rick Hahn said. He was able to do [it] for a short time, but ultimately the ligament gave out. Rodon debut Wednesday Left-hander Carlos Rodon is scheduled to make his first start of the season Wednesday against the Yankees. Rodon (bursitis in left biceps) last was seen in a Sox uniform when he made one start during spring training in March. He gave up 19 earned runs in 17 innings in four rehab starts, the last three at Class AAA Charlotte. Garcia fifth in All-Star voting Right fielder Avisail Garcia is in fifth place among American League outfielders in fan voting for the All-Star Game. Garcia, who has occupied fifth and sixth place in recent weeks, has garnered 1,292,694 votes. The Yankees Aaron Judge leads AL outfielders with 3.44 million votes, followed by the Angels Mike Trout (2.56 million), the Astros George Springer (1.62 million), the Indians Michael Brantley (1.33 million) and Garcia. The top three will earn starting honors, although Trout is injured. Garcia, who has a.331/.372/.532 hitting line, entered play Monday with 11 homers and 51 RBI. Balloting ends Thursday, and the All-Star Selection Show will be telecast at 6 p.m. Sunday on ESPN. Minaya up, Infante down Right-hander Juan Minaya was recalled from Charlotte to take the place of right-hander Gregory Infante, who was optioned there. White Sox top pick Burger: You dream of this as a little kid White Sox first-round draft pick Jake Burger is already feeling what it s like to be a rookie. By Madeline Kenney and Elan Kane / Chicago Sun-Times June 26, 2017 White Sox first-round draft pick Jake Burger is already feeling what it s like to be a rookie. Burger took batting practice before the Sox game Monday against the Yankees and said he was excited to start playing for the organization. It was unbelievable, Burger said. Kind of nervous to start out, but the guys took me in under their wings and it was awesome. White Sox first-round draft pick Jake Burger speaks to reporters before Monday's game. Elan Kane/Chicago Sun-Times Burger also admitted to experiencing another part of being a rookie getting teased by veterans. They were all giving me a hard time, but they were happy for me and excited for me, Burger said. The Sox selected Burger, 21, with the 11th overall pick in the draft. He hit 22 home runs for Missouri State this season and was considered one of the top hitters in the draft. He has plus power to all fields and a favorable strikeout-to-walk ratio, a point of emphasis in the Sox rebuilding plan. The 2017 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year drove in 65 runs, scored 69 and had a.663 slugging percentage. [I have to] just work as hard as I can and see where it takes me, Burger said. The White Sox organization has a plan for me, and I ll follow that plan for them. Burger, a junior from Chesterfield, Missouri, grew up a Sox fan, which has only added to his anticipation. Growing up a White Sox fan, you dream of this as a little kid, Burger said. I m very grateful for it and grateful for the White Sox organization for giving me a chance.