WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF SEPTEMBER

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1 WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF SEPTEMBER 21, 2017 Moncada boosts confidence with rocket HR Scott Merkin, MLB.com Yoan's blast not enough to slow Astros Brian McTaggart & Richard Dean, MLB.com Fulmer faces test against AL West champs Scott Merkin & Richard Dean, MLB.com Why Yoan Moncada's hot streak is important for the White Sox confidence and his Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago Jose Abreu's gift to Yoan Moncada just keeps on giving Dan Hayes, CSN Chicago Yoan Moncada stays hot at the plate in White Sox's 4-3 loss to Astros Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune Abreu reaching select company with historic production Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times Tim Anderson showing a kick near finish line Daryl Van Schouwen, Chicago Sun-Times Anderson, Moncada justifying Chicago White Sox's patience Scot Gregor, Daily Herald By the numbers: Yoan Moncada s home run highlights another Sox loss James Fegan, The Athletic Checking in on the White Sox's top 30 prospects James Fegan, The Athletic Moncada boosts confidence with rocket HR By Scott Merkin / September 20, 2017 CHICAGO -- While the White Sox were dropping a 4-3 decision to Houston on Wednesday night at Minute Maid Park, Chris Sale recorded his 300th strikeout of the season some 1,450 miles away in Baltimore. That piece of history came on pitch No. 111 for the Red Sox southpaw, with the Orioles' Ryan Flaherty becoming his 13th strikeout over eight innings against zero walks. White Sox fans put forth social-media applause and congratulations for Sale, arguably the most dominant pitcher in the franchise's history. But with all due respect to the affable and supremely talented Sale, he's the past in White Sox lore. The focus now is on the future, of which second baseman Yoan Moncada and right-handed hurler Michael Kopech, who were acquired from Boston as part of the Sale deal, play a tremendous part. Kopech finished his first White Sox season at Triple-A Charlotte, compiling a 2.88 ERA in 25 starts with 172 strikeouts over 134 1/3 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. Moncada, though, continues to get things done at the big league level. His two-run home run off Houston starter Brad Peacock gave the White Sox a brief lead in the fourth inning Wednesday. The blast to right had an exit velocity of mph and a hit percentage of 89, according to Statcast. "Try to be aggressive in the strike zone," Moncada said of being more comfortable at the plate, through interpreter Billy Russo. "Swing at good pitches, but mostly it's about being able to make adjustments." Moncada was hitting.179 as recently as Sept. 9. In 10 games since, the 22-year-old switch-hitter is 18-for-45 with three home runs, eight RBIs and 12 runs scored. The early slump never seemed to affect Moncada, who only has 209 career plate appearances in the Majors. "There probably was a point where people were concerned," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said of Moncada. "When you see that talent that these kids have, you recognize their skill set is going to play up. It's just a matter of them getting the repetition in terms of work and then getting to see the pitching that they are going to see for the next 10 to 15 years of their career." An abundance of raw talent certainly exists for Moncada. That 375-foot home run carried down the right-field line into the Minute Maid Park area unofficially dubbed by White Sox fans as "Blum's corner" for pinch-hitter Geoff Blum's 14th-inning home run off Ezequiel Astacio to give the White Sox a 7-5 victory in Game 3 of the 2005 World Series on their way to a four-game sweep. Wednesday's home run served as nothing more than the only hit off Peacock in six innings. But the White Sox are hoping for future postseason contributions from developing players such as Moncada.

2 "It's important for my confidence, especially thinking about next year," Moncada said. "With this run, I've been able to have more confidence, believe in myself. That's something that I can carry to the next season." Yoan's blast not enough to slow Astros By Brian McTaggart and Richard Dean / MLB.com September 20, 2017 HOUSTON -- Astros manager A.J. Hinch has been pumping up Brad Peacock as a legitimate option for the team's rotation in the postseason, and the right-hander delivered the biggest statement in his favor Wednesday night. Peacock won his 12th game of the season -- surpassing his Major League total of 11 wins entering this season -- by firing six innings of one-hit ball to lead the American League West-champion Astros to their sixth consecutive win, 4-3, over the White Sox at Minute Maid Park. The win kept Houston 1 1/2 games behind the Indians for the best record in the AL. "I don't think he was particularly sharp, which is funny to say for a guy that gave up one hit," Hinch said of Peacock. "But he did battle through his outing and didn't give up very many hard hits. He got a couple of punchouts. There were a few walks in there that were a little uncharacteristic of him, but he's a winning pitcher and really does a good job of navigating some things.... Another good outing because Brad Peacock is pretty good." Peacock (12-2, 2.98 ERA) is the third pitcher in franchise history to make at least 20 starts and 10 relief appearances in the same season with an ERA lower than He is the first AL pitcher to achieve those numbers in a season since Wayne Garland in "It's been crazy," Peacock said. "It's been awesome. I"m just glad I'm healthy and feeling good out there. That was the key, you know, just feeling good every start and not having to worry about if my back is going to hurt every night. I got the surgery done [back surgery in August 2015] and feel good every start." The Astros reached 93 wins for the sixth time in franchise history while moving to a season-high 35 games over their most over.500 since they were on Sept. 14, Peacock (12-2) retired the first nine batters he faced before walking Yolmer Sanchez in the fourth inning. Yoan Moncada ripped a two-run homer to right on the next pitch -- a slider -- to put the White Sox ahead, 2-1. The Astros took a 3-2 lead in the fourth on Yuli Gurriel's two-out, two-run double. White Sox starter James Shields (4-7) allowed three runs, six hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings. "It was a grinder," Shields said. "I wasn't getting ahead of hitters, but that's a good ballclub over there. One through nine, they're solid and there's a reason they're winning ballgames. They work the counts, they didn't give in to any of my pitches and they made me work." Right-hander Joe Musgrove recorded the final four outs for Houston to notch his second save of the season. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Clutch Yuli: Gurriel set the franchise single-season rookie record with his 57th extra-base hit with his two-run, go-ahead double into the right-center field gap in the fourth inning. He surpassed the previous record of 56 set by Hunter Pence in Gurriel's 38 doubles are the most by an AL rookie since Dustin Pedroia (39) and Delmon Young (38), also in Super Joe: Musgrove, who began the season in the rotation, continued to entrench himself as a lockdown reliever. Musgrove pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for a save, striking out Moncada swinging on a 97-mph fastball to strand the potential tying run at third in the eighth and striking out Omar Narvaez swinging to end the game on a 95-mph sinker to strand the tying run at second. "Every time coming out of the bullpen I'm trying to strike out everybody, to be honest," Musgrove said. "Sometimes it doesn't quite get there, but I feel like the mentality behind that is a better chance for me to get the guy out than kind of just place stuff and be too perfect with it." QUOTABLE "We're playing really hard, and these guys aren't taking any game for granted. I love how we're into the game. We're doing just enough to win. We haven't been perfect or perfectly sharp, but these guys are playing hard." Hinch GREGERSON SHAKES OFF LINER

3 Astros reliever Luke Gregerson stayed in the game after taking a line drive off the heel of his glove hand in the seventh. X-rays were negative. AVISAIL LEAVES EARLY White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia left the game after the third inning with stomach discomfort. He was replaced by Alen Hanson, who made a sliding catch to rob Carlos Correa of a potential RBI hit to end the fifth inning. WHAT'S NEXT White Sox: Carson Fulmer will be making his fourth start of 2017, second on the road, and first in his career against Houston in the series finale Thursday night. Over his past two starts, the right-hander allowed two runs over 12 innings with 14 strikeouts. Astros: Lefty Dallas Keuchel (13-4, 2.96 ERA) will be making his final home regular-season start of 2017 in Thursday's 7:10 p.m. CT series finale at Minute Maid Park. He is 6-2 with a 2.19 ERA in 10 home starts this year. Fulmer faces test against AL West champs By Scott Merkin and Richard Dean / MLB.com September 20, 2017 The Astros, winners of six in a row, continue battling Cleveland for the best record in the American League, with Houston just 1 1/2 games behind the Indians. To take another step toward that home-field advantage in the postseason, the AL West champions turn to ace Dallas Keuchel in Thursday night's series finale at Minute Maid Park against the White Sox, who counter with rookie Carson Fulmer. Keuchel, making his 22nd start of the season, is coming off of an 8-6 win over the Mariners on Saturday. In his start against the White Sox on Aug. 8 in Chicago, the left-hander allowed eight runs on 10 hits over four innings in an 8-5 loss. Since that outing, Keuchel has a 4-2 record with a 3.13 ERA in seven starts. "I have a ton of respect for those guys," Fulmer said. "I played against some of them [Alex Bregman: LSU, Derek Fisher: Virginia] when I was in college [Vanderbilt]. I've prepared for this outing." This last month of the regular season has become an audition of sorts for Fulmer, giving the White Sox a better idea of starting or relief direction for the right-hander moving into Based on his last two trips to the mound, Fulmer -- ranked as the No. 9 White Sox prospect by MLBPipeline.com -- seems to be reinforcing the point that he wants to remain a starter. He makes his fourth start overall, after allowing two runs over 12 innings with 14 strikeouts during those past two starts. "My last four, five outings, I've been able to repeat really well and make and execute pitches when I needed to," Fulmer said. "Same approach no matter what lineup I'm facing. With the momentum Houston has right now, it's going to be a great challenge." Things to know about this game Jose Abreu has a.417 career batting average against Keuchel, with five hits in 12 at-bats, including two home runs. Keuchel induced grounders on all 10 balls the Mariners put in play against his two-seamer Saturday, surrendering just one hit out of the 10, per Statcast. It was the fourth time this season that Keuchel put up a perfect 100 percent rate of grounders off his two-seamer (minimum 10 balls in play), and in those four starts he's combined to allow just four runs over 27 innings. Jose Altuve is five hits shy of 200 and two doubles away from 40. If the Houston second baseman finishes the season leading the AL in hits, he will become the first player in Major League history to lead either league in hits (without a tie) in four straight years. Why Yoan Moncada's hot streak is important for the White Sox confidence and his By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago September 20, 2017 HOUSTON -- Don t think the White Sox front office isn t enjoying every second of Yoan Moncada s tear.

4 Everyone can breathe a little easier knowing there are fewer questions for baseball s top prospect to answer headed into Pleased as they d been with Moncada s patient plate approach, the club desired a breakthrough before Oct. 2 for the confidence boost it would provide him alone. Moncada continued a torrid run on Wednesday night that should have him bristling with poise when he arrives in Glendale, Ariz. next February. He homered as the White Sox fell 4-3 to the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. We ve been looking for him to continue to try and make adjustments, manager Rick Renteria said. There was probably a point there where people were a little concerned. Truthfully, when you see some of the talent these kids have, you recognize that their skillset is going to play up, it s just a matter of getting the repetition. The White Sox have been impressed with Moncada s improved awareness as he gains more experience. One area in which Moncada has made the most gains is pitch recognition. The book has been that second baseman has had trouble with offspeed since he arrived in 2016, hitting.154 against sliders and.238 against curveballs entering Wednesday, according to Brooksbaseball.net. But Moncada is trending upward. The first-pitch slider from Astros starter Brad Peacock that Moncada ripped for a goahead, two-run homer in the fourth inning was his fifth hit of the trip on a slider or curveball in 11 at-bats. On the trip, Moncada -- who has 209 plate appearances this season -- is hitting.415/.477/.683 with three homers, eight RBIs and 12 runs in 41 plate appearances. Given Moncada s struggles in a brief 2016 tryout with the Boston Red Sox, having success is certainly helpful as he won t head into another offseason wondering when it might happen for him. Moncada doesn t compare the two situations because of playing time -- he was limited to 20 plate appearances over a month in But he agrees his recent play is good for the psyche. It s important for my confidence, especially thinking about next year, Moncada said through an interpreter. With this run, I have been able to have more confidence and believe in myself and my talent, and I think that s something I can carry into next season. This offseason is going to be different because I ve been able to play almost every day. I have more confidence in myself. I know the game better. Last season I had an opportunity to be at this level a little bit, but it wasn t the same. This year is the opposite because I ve been playing a lot and have been able to handle good and bad stretches at this level. While a reduction in strikeout-rate is still needed to be more effective, Moncada has begun to establish himself as a major league hitter. It s exactly how teammate and mentor Jose Abreu hoped Moncada would spend his time this season. He has to get to know a lot of things at this level, Abreu said through an interpreter. The game, the pitchers, the culture here -- there s a lot of little things he has to get to know here. The way you can work through it is give your best every day and try to learn as much as you can and try to use all your knowledge and to pool your knowledge on each play in the game. That s the only way you can get results and you can build on those results and this experience for the future. I think he s finally doing it and that s important for him and for us thinking of the next season and beyond. Renteria not only likes the pitch recognition but the way that Moncada has tried to hit through the shift several times against Houston. Though the White Sox never wavered, they re certainly happy to see Moncada produce the way they thought he eventually would. He s starting to slow it down a little more, Renteria said. He s starting to see more of the landscape and making adjustments in general. It s been a good run for him. We thought he would show signs of growth at the end of the season and he s doing that. Jose Abreu's gift to Yoan Moncada just keeps on giving By Dan Hayes / CSN Chicago September 20, 2017 HOUSTON -- Yoan Moncada took Jose Abreu s advice to switch to a lighter bat and the White Sox rookie has been on a tear ever since. The veteran first baseman thought Moncada would benefit from a slightly smaller piece of lumber and purchased it. Moncada began to use the bat at the start of the team s current 10-game road trip and has since produced the best stretch of his career. Moncada is hitting 432/.488/.649 with 16 hits, including a triple, two home runs, six RBIs and 11 runs scored in 37 plate appearances.

5 I just thought he wasn t using the bats for him to take advantage of his swing, Abreu said through an interpreter. These new bats have better balance with the weight and are a little shorter than the other ones. I just did it thinking of him taking advantage of his power, his hands and to feel more freedom in his swing. Neither Abreu nor the White Sox have wavered in their faith in Moncada since his promotion from Triple-A two months ago. Baseball s top prospect flashed plenty of talent in spring training and further convinced them by showing a consistently good eye at the plate after arriving in the majors. But while Moncada had his share of highlights early on, he still hadn t begun to receive the desired results on a consistent basis. Abreu saw him missing his pitch from time to time and suggested that Moncada use a smaller bat. Moncada previously a 34-inch, 32-ounce bat. The ones purchased by Abreu are 33 1/ 2-inches and 31 ounces. Moncada has said the bats have produced a more fluid swing and he feels like he has a stronger swing since. Manager Rick Renteria thinks it s a combination of the new bat and Moncada having a better understanding for how teams are approaching him at the plate. Lighter bats can help you manipulate the barrel a little more, keep you on the ball, Renteria said. You don t think you have to force yourself to get out in front too much. You can allow the ball to travel and do what it does, so you can see it as much as possible. Just in general, the at-bats and the experience and the sequence of pitches he s been seeing over time now, he s starting to understand and get a feel for hitting in the big leagues. Abreu said his own bat size has varied during a red-hot second half depending upon how he feels. Moncada s mentor started the season with a 34-inch, 32-ounce Albert Pujols-model bat, but also began to use the 33-inch, 33 1/2-ounce at the All-Star break. Abreu has enjoyed watching his protégé have consistent success over the past nine days. I knew he had the talent, Abreu said. I never had a doubt about it. It was just a matter for him to get to know this process and to get to know the league and for him to use the proper tools to take advantage. We are just seeing what he s capable of doing and it s a good sign for him building for next season. Yoan Moncada stays hot at the plate in White Sox's 4-3 loss to Astros Colleen Kane / Chicago Tribune September 20, 2017 Jose Abreu said he "never had a doubt" White Sox rookie Yoan Moncada would find a groove like the one he continued Wednesday at Minute Maid Park. Moncada hit his seventh homer of the season in the fourth inning of a 4-3 loss to the Astros. The two-run shot to right field off Astros right-hander Brad Peacock had an exit velocity of 107 mph and continued a stellar road trip for the second baseman. Moncada is 17-for-41 with a triple, three home runs, eight RBIs and 12 runs in the first nine games of the 10-game road trip that concludes Thursday night. "It was just a matter for him to get to know this process, get to know the league and use the proper tools to take advantage," Abreu said through a team interpreter. "We are just seeing what he's capable of doing, and it's a good sign for him building for next season." Abreu referenced the new, lighter bats the veteran ordered for Moncada, "thinking of him taking advantage of his power, his hands and to feel more freedom in his swing." Sox manager Rick Renteria said Moncada also is beginning to get a better handle on the many off-speed pitches he sees. "With this run I have been able to have more confidence and believe in myself and my talent," Moncada said through an interpreter. "And I think that's something I can carry into next season." The Sox managed only three hits after the homer, including Yolmer Sanchez's RBI double in the eighth. Moncada struck out with Sanchez representing the tying run at third to end the eighth. Sox right-hander James Shields allowed three earned runs, six hits and four walks with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Evan Gattis hit a second-inning RBI single, and Yuli Gurriel had a two-run double in the fourth.

6 In the seventh, Sox center fielder Adam Engel missed a catch on Josh Reddick's triple, and Jose Altuve's RBI single skipped off shortstop Tim Anderson for an Astros run. Cold streak: Sox outfielder Nicky Delmonico has seen a drop-off in production after his hot first month in the big leagues. Since recovering from a sprained wrist and returning from the disabled list Sept. 6, he's hitting.179 with two extra-base hits, both homers, in 12 games. Renteria said Delmonico received a cortisone injection as the Sox left Kansas City last week for the bothersome wrist. "He's been swinging through some pitches I'm sure he feels he should be hitting," Renteria said. "He might be trying to do a little too much in key situations. His work is still good. He continues to be relaxed and as far as I'm concerned ready to go." Extra innings: Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia left the game in the third with stomach discomfort.... Anderson extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an eighth-inning infield single. Abreu reaching select company with historic production Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times September 20, 2017 HOUSTON Jose Abreu is closing in on 100 RBI, never a small feat and yet an annual occurrence for the White Sox first baseman. The significance of it doesn t seem to be lost on him. Yes, he said about that noteworthy number before the Sox 4-3 loss to the Astros on Wednesday at Minute Maid Park. But I m not overthinking it because I know my responsibility here is just to help this team win games and help the young guys in this process. I know about it, but it s not my priority right now. It s not just the 100 figure by itself, but everything packaged with it that warrants a bow when sizing up Abreu s four seasons in the majors, all with the Sox. He hit 30 homers for the third time, and while he was held without one in an 0-for- 4 game, he will all but certainly reach 100 RBI for the fourth time. Among the many milestones putting Abreu in Hall of Fame company, he s close to becoming the third player to begin his career with four seasons of 25-plus homers and 100 RBI, joining Joe DiMaggio and Albert Pujols, and he ll likely be the fifth to drive in 100 runs in his first four-plus seasons, joining Al Simmons, Ted Williams, DiMaggio and Pujols. Yoan Moncada of the White Sox hits a two-run home run in the fourth inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on September 20, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Getty Images) Abreu is batting.304 with 31 homers and 98 RBI and leading the American League in total bases. He would be the fourth Sox player to lead the AL in total bases, joining Albert Belle (399 in 1998), Minnie Minoso (304 in 1954) and Shoeless Joe Jackson (331 in 1912, 293 in 1916). Abreu s consistency through his first four years is very important and special for me, he said. It s hard to overlook Abreu s effect on fellow Cuban Yoan Moncada s transition to the majors, a progression that has taken positive steps in September, including Moncada s seventh homer on a slider from Brad Peacock in the fourth inning. It was Moncada s third homer in six games on a road trip that has seen him hit.415 to raise his average to.241. For us as younger players, to see Abreu, the way he prepares himself and handles himself on and off the field, it s motivation for us to follow his steps, Moncada, 22, said after the game. For him to do what he s doing at this level makes you feel proud to be playing with him. You see him as an idol. Moncada s improved handling of offspeed pitches has played a role in his recent surge, which coincided with Abreu s suggestion that he switch to a lighter bat. Abreu has gone lighter in the second half of the season, and believing it could work for Moncada, ordered him new bats. These new bats have better balance with the weight and are a little shorter than the other ones, Abreu said. I just did it thinking of him taking advantage of his power, his hands and to feel more freedom in his swing. I m happy for him because I knew he had the talent. I never had a doubt. It was just a matter of him getting to know this process and the league and using the proper tools to take advantage. We re just seeing what he s capable of. It s a good sign for him building for next season.

7 Moncada said he s learning to make adjustments at the plate. His homer was the only hit for the Sox (60-91) through seven innings, and James Shields allowed three runs in 5 innings. In a sloppy Astros seventh, center fielder Adam Engel and shortstop Tim Anderson couldn t glove tough but doable chances, and catcher Omar Narvaez made a twobase throwing error through Abreu, producing the Astros fourth run. Anderson extended his hitting streak to 11 games with an infield single off Luke Gregerson in the eighth inning. He stole second and scored on Yolmer Sanchez s double to make it 4-3. Tim Anderson showing a kick near finish line Daryl Van Schouwen / Chicago Sun-Times September 20, 2017 HOUSTON Shortstop Tim Anderson still leads the majors with 26 errors, and there s a good chance he ll take that distinction with him into the offseason Brewers shortstop Orlando Arcia was second with 19, and Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was tied with three others for third with 18 but he s also playing at such an improved level in September that all might be forgotten. After making 25 errors in his first 108 games in his second season, Anderson had made one in his last 26 and none in his last 16 going into the White Sox game Wednesday against the Astros at Minute Maid Park. He also was batting.447 during a 10-game hitting streak going into the game, broke up Tigers left-hander Matthew Boyd s no-hitter with a double with two outs in the ninth inning Sunday in Detroit and was hitting.324 in his last 42 games. Just trying to get a good pitch to hit, Anderson said. Being aggressive and just attacking. It s what I ve always been doing. Trying to get back to it. Tim Anderson of the White Sox throws the ball after getting a force out on Alex Presley #14 of the Detroit Tigers during the sixth inning at Comerica Park on June 4, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Getty Images) He s been settling back into what we believe Timmy is, manager Rick Renteria said. He s not your typical high on-base guy, but he is a high on-base guy when he puts the bat on the ball. He has continued to develop his ability to stay off and recognize breaking balls. He stays on a fastball pretty good. Renteria also likes the better play of late with the glove at a key position by Anderson, who was given a $25 million extension last spring before making his first Opening Day roster. He has been continually improving, to his backhand side, to his glove side, very accurate with his throws, Renteria said. His first-step quickness, his reads off the ball are very, very good. Delmonico cools off Nicky Delmonico, who was batting.171/.293/.343 in September after getting off to a scorching start, hitting safely in 28 of his first 33 games, is swinging through some pitches he feels he should be hitting, Renteria said. I m sure he ll pick up. Delmonico, who hit.262 at Class AAA Charlotte, was batting.264. Renteria said Delmonico had a follow-up injection of cortisone last week, then two days off to let that stuff kick in, but he s fine. Mr. September Right-hander Carson Fulmer, 23, who starts Thursday, is 2-0 with a 1.62 ERA with 17 strikeouts and nine hits allowed in 16 innings in September, a body of work that includes four appearances and six-inning, one-run performances against the Giants and Tigers. Fulmer knows he s stepping up in lineup class against one of the elite hitting teams in the Astros. I m definitely confident [coming off two good starts], but I had to get rid of it quick, he said. My last four or five outings, I ve been able to repeat [my delivery] really well and execute pitches. When it comes down to it, I have to locate and execute no matter what lineup I m facing.

8 Fulmer, Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez have combined for nine quality starts in their last 11 outings. This and that Avisail Garcia left in the third inning with stomach discomfort. He was replaced in right field by Alen Hanson. Tom Paciorek replaced Steve Stone in the broadcast booth next to Ken Harrelson. Stone, who observed Rosh Hashanah, will return Thursday. Anderson, Moncada justifying Chicago White Sox's patience Scot Gregor / The Daily Herald September 20, 2017 On paper, the Chicago White Sox already have acquired enough talent to make some noise next season and start contending for the playoffs in Developing all of the young talent is the next step, and the Sox are well aware that some of their premier prospects are not going to pan out. They also are aware of the importance of being patient, and that already has come into play with shortstop Tim Anderson and second baseman Yoan Moncada. Earlier in the season, Anderson was grieving over the loss of his best friend, Branden Moss, who was murdered. Anderson also was adjusting to wearing glasses and undoubtedly trying to live up to the six-year, $25 million contract he signed in spring training. With a.240 batting average and 20 errors at the all-star break, the outside calls for demoting Anderson to Class AAA Charlotte intensified. The White Sox held their ground. In late July, general manager Rick Hahn was asked about sending Anderson to the minor leagues. "I don't think that's going to accomplish much at this time," Hahn said. "Everything he's had to deal with, both with the league adjusting to him and the off-the-field issues that he's had to endure, has made it a tough year for him. "But the talent is still there. We still think he's going to continue to improve each year with more and more repetition, and we very much view him as being an important part of our future." Even at his lowest point this season, Anderson never stopped believing in his ability to play baseball. The confidence has paid off, and Anderson was batting.447 while riding a 10-game hitting streak heading into Wednesday night's game at Houston. He also had just 1 error in 26 games after making 25 fielding miscues in his first 108. With Moncada, the outside calls wondered why he was brought up from Charlotte in the first place. Rated by Baseball America as the best player in the minor leagues, Moncada joined the Sox on June 19. The 22-year-old second baseman was overmatched by a steady diet of major-league breaking balls, and Moncada's batting average stood at.179 on Sept. 9. The White Sox again held their ground, and an eight-game hitting streak heading into Wednesday lifted Moncada's average to.241. Like Anderson, Moncada is learning to hit off-speed pitches at baseball's highest level. Both players took their lumps and are now reaping the benefits. "You have guys that are learning how to do this at the major-league level with some of the best breaking balls and some of the best changeups, sliders, whatever the case might be," manager Rick Renteria said. "So we have to understand where they're at in terms of their development. We also have to understand patience with that."

9 By the numbers: Yoan Moncada s home run highlights another Sox loss James Fegan / The Athletic September 20, 2017 Yoan Moncada ripping a bullet line drive around the right-field foul pole for a two-run home run in Houston was probably enough to satisfy White Sox fans Wednesday night. It was also the only hit the Sox scratched across in six innings against Astros starter Brad Peacock in a 4-3 loss that did a lot more for their draft position than their season batting line. Despite an eighth-inning RBI double from Yolmer Sanchez to draw the Sox within a run and an infield single by Nicky Delmonico to put the tying run on in the ninth, control problems for James Shields and defensive chaos in the seventh proved too much to overcome. On the night that Chris Sale recorded his 300th strikeout of the season for the Red Sox, White Sox fans could be encouraged by Moncada's two RBIs. Check out more numbers from Wednesday's game. No. 2: The draft slot currently occupied by the White Sox (60-91) after the Phillies beat the Dodgers for the third straight night. It s a slim, half-game advantage, but it s there. Meanwhile, the Giants have won three straight and now have only two more in the loss column than the White Sox. It s an interesting situation, even if the Sox clearly are playing to win every night and have the utmost focus on their youngsters playing well and developing mph: Speed at which Moncada s seventh home run of the season fled the premises in the top of the fourth inning, as he turned and very much burned on Peacock's slider to briefly put the White Sox up 2-1. It s his third home run of the three-city road trip and it broke up a no-hit bid, which is a very important task in any Sox road game. 2: Bases Tim Anderson advanced on a simple groundout to third in the fifth inning after he deked the defense into thinking he was slowing down at second before racing to third as Marwin Gonzalez issued a bouncing throw to first. Yuli Gurriel had to stretch to make the catch, allowing Anderson to reach third without a throw. Not only is Anderson hitting and defending better, but as he settles back into normalcy, he s revealing himself to be a very alert and clever presence on the diamond. 3: Consecutive baffling Sox defensive miscues that somehow led to only a single run scored in the bottom of the seventh. Adam Engel raced back impressively to track down a Josh Reddick drive to the warning track in center only to whiff on the ball, allowing Reddick to triple. As a result, Anderson was pulled in along with the rest of the infield, and he couldn t handle a hot smash from Jose Altuve that skittered into left-center to score Reddick. Later, Omar Narvaez had Altuve picked off, but wound up giving him two bases instead when he bounced the throw to Jose Abreu. While the misplays resulted in only one run scored, they took some air out of a comeback attempt and that run turned out to be the difference in a 4-3 game. 11: Hitting streak for Anderson, which he extended by drilling Luke Gregerson s forearm with a comebacker in the top of the eighth. Anderson stole second after the hit, making him 5-for-5 on stolen base attempts this road trip and 14-for-15 on the season. Earlier, he was robbed of a hit in the third when his liner to left was snagged by Derek Fisher. 3 of 4: Of the four batters walked by Shields Wednesday, three came around to score. Shields' stuff and arm angle look nasty, but 21 walks in 53 2/3 innings is still a little high. Moncada's whiff on an Evan Gattis comebacker that ricocheted off the mound was to blame for the first run of the night, but a Gurriel double ripped to the gap scored the other two walks and that's solely on Shields. 2 1/2 innings: Avisail Garcia lasted through the top of the third inning before leaving with stomach discomfort. He s battled leg fatigue and sore fingers in recent weeks, so at least this doesn t seem like something that should keep him out more than one night. Checking in on the White Sox's top 30 prospects James Fegan / The Athletic September 20, 2017 The last time we asked around with scouts and listed the top White Sox prospects, it was right after the Jose Quintana trade. It seemed like a good time to do it. Dealing for Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease was a momentous move, as it brought in two of arguably the current top-five prospects in the organization. But it was probably too early. The Sox pulled off roughly 75 more trades by the end of August, there s been six weeks and change of minor league action since mid-july, and prospect opinions rise and fall very quickly, especially in terms of marginal guys whose future major league roles are always in flux.

10 Which is a lot of the Sox system these days. Remember the argument that the White Sox had the best farm system in baseball? They did. For a solid month, perhaps, but you can t graduate this group out of your system and stay on top, or even in the top three. Graduated: 2B Yoan Moncada, RHP Lucas Giolito, RHP Reynaldo Lopez, RHP Carson Fulmer, LHP Aaron Bummer, OF Adam Engel. So let's take another spin through what is still a pretty darn impressive group. 1. OF Eloy Jimenez 2. RHP Michael Kopech Having two top-10 global prospects and potential franchise cornerstones with track records of success in the high minors still does an awful lot for the system. I had to be talked out of putting Kopech first overall, though pumping 96 mph with life, deep into starts and deep into a career-long season to go along with a devastating slider, developing change and an ideal starter build is very tempting. As precocious as Eloy Jimenez s power and hitting acumen is at 20 years of age, he s also very large and already trending toward below-average speed for a 20-year-old, creating very real doubts for how long he can hold down a corner outfield spot. That said, Jimenez is going to hit and hit and hit way too much for it to matter. He could roll up to minor league parks in gym shorts and flip flops, take four at-bats per game and eat ice cream sandwiches in between and still be a top-10 global guy. Instead he has elite makeup and work ethic, and in the end, an advanced middle of the order bat is a safer bet than a potential ace. They re both monsters, to be clear. 3. OF Luis Robert The now 20-year-old Robert has the most dizzying tools reports of anyone in the system. Top of the scale speed, potentially above-average hit and power tools at a premium position true nuttiness. If he had these physical tools and hit.310/.491/.536 in Double-A, we re probably putting him at the top of this list and considering him for the top global prospect. Instead he did it in the Dominican Summer League against overmatched teenagers, so he settles in here. 4. RHP Alec Hansen Now that he s up to Double-A and was very much overwhelming in his cameo there, it s getting really hard to undercut the enormous potential of a massive 6-foot-9 right-hander with overpowering swing-and-miss stuff and improving command of four pitches. He s not that far removed from being unable to hit the zone in college and lacking all confidence, and the combination of some high walk numbers and the long levers of his delivery are issues that keep him short of Kopech-level status. But he s earned the top-50 hype he ll get. Dylan Cease didn't have the most encouraging year, but despite all the concerns, his ceiling is still very high. (AP Photo) 5. RHP Dylan Cease 6. RHP Dane Dunning 7. C Zack Collins Cease spent the season in Low-A, he doesn t get deep into games yet, he ended the year with shoulder fatigue, and there s tons of uncertainty about whether he will start down the road. Even with all those doubts, the reports on Cease s stuff are emphatic enough to give him an edge over the steadier and less risky Dunning. For all of Dunning s steady production, strong peripherals, ideal build and velocity, it s hard to find a scout projecting him to be more than a back-end starter. His likelihood of getting there is very high relative to pitching prospects in High-A, however. A power-hitting catcher with a sky-high walk-rate is theoretically cooler than either of these profiles, but the uncertainty in Collins long road to defensive maturity plus a shaky period at the plate and the potential hurdle of his hitch push him to the back of this group. 8. 3B Jake Burger 9. OF Blake Rutherford

11 Burger hit like an impact bat at the outset of his pro career and in the Sally League playoffs, with odd stretches of weak contact in between for someone the Sox touted as having the best right-handed power in the draft. He s still hard-pressed to stick at third, but many scouts still see him as a potential impact bat despite the slow start. Despite Rutherford s top-30 global prospect hype coming into the season, there were murmurs that he was more polished for a 20-year-old than possessing above-average potential at the plate. It s up to him to silence those concerns after he struggled at Low-A and slugged.254 with five extra-base hits in 30 games at Kannapolis after being traded. There were enough high-level reviews of his tools when he was drafted last year that the Sox still view him highly enough to separate him from a significant dropoff in organizational strength after the No. 9 slot. But his likely corner outfield future puts a lot of stress on his bat to turn around, even with his athleticism and speed. 10. RHP Spencer Adams This is where the dropoff starts, and from here on out we re splitting hairs between guys who could easily leapfrog each other based on opinion, or a simple adjustment in instructs or offseason ball. There will obvious changes we can make to this order halfway through spring training. Adams isn t a future impact player, but he s pretty likely to help. He pours in strikes, and his athleticism lends him repeatability and command. He upped his meager strikeout rate in his second crack at Double-A this season and will not turn 22 until next April. He s most likely a back-end starter/swingman with less No. 4 starter potential and stuff than Dunning, but what he does right are the things every high-ceiling, big stuff guy is searching for. 11. OF Luis Basabe 12. OF Luis Gonzalez 13. OF Micker Adolfo Here s a crop of toolsy, athletic outfielders with significant distance between their current station and the majors. For all the erosion of his power and first-half slumping, Basabe showed progress in his contact rate and continues to flash a mature approach at the plate, and he didn t turn 21 until late August while grappling with High-A. Fellow center fielder Gonzalez had the raw talent for the early second round, and could easily wind up being the best value or even the best player of the 2017 draft. Adolfo is the only one of this trio we projected as a starter on the 2021 team a few months back and he has the power to be an impact bat in right field. But even after a breakthrough season in Low-A, there remains a ton of doubt about whether he has the bat speed and approach to make enough contact. 14. RHP Jordan Stephens 15. OF Ryan Cordell 16. RHP A.J. Puckett As endearing as Stephens high-fastball/big curveball approach is, he hasn t leapt onto the prospect radar like others or dismissed all the concerns that his command and arsenal are better suited for relief. But he s very close, should start next year in Triple-A and could easily contribute to a wide-open 2018 White Sox pitching staff. Cordell despite being 26 in March, hounded by back problems that ended his season in June, and boasting good but not dominant PCL numbers has a legit chance to compete for a starting outfield job next year. He also played 12 games at third base in 2017, another seemingly flexible position for the Sox. You will be seeing him. Puckett s second-round pedigree, build and fastball has provided confidence he can be an end of rotation starter, but he was far from dominant at High-A B Casey Gillaspie 18. C Seby Zavala 19. 1B Gavin Sheets For a switch-hitting power-hitter at Triple-A that doesn t strike out much and takes his walks, Gillaspie is lightly regarded. Despite crushing Triple-A in a brief go-round in 2016, his disappointing 2017 season was seen as the culmination of doubts about his hit tool that limits his ability to tap into his raw strength. He drove the ball in Charlotte after the trade, but also hit.210, which could have been written off as bad BABIP luck if not for the doubts already around his swing. He s likely in the majors next year, but with middling confidence about whether he can ever produce enough to be a regular at first base, or if his strikeout rates will stay under control against major league pitching. Sheets is three years younger and earlier on in the process, but similarly has to produce pretty soon and a lot to be interesting without defensive value. Zavala could rocket up the list if he has progress behind the plate and continues to hit, otherwise he s a first base prospect with good numbers but lacks elite offensive tools. 20. LHP Bernardo Flores

12 21. LHP Jordan Guerrero 22. LHP Ian Clarkin Right around here is where we start figuring out why people don t often make organizational prospect lists past 20 guys. There just isn't much separation in the slots of this list anymore. Flores has a tall frame to dream on, a good changeup, and despite torching Low-A, seems very early on in becoming the pitcher he might one day be. Maybe one day he ll be Jordan Guerrero, a finesse changeup artist who looked great in portions of his second year in Double-A. Or, since they both suffered late-season oblique injuries, he will be more like Clarkin, who has some Yankees prospect hype behind him but has struggled to get innings in and spent parts of three years at High-A. The next scout that professes to love one of these three unconditionally might vault them to the top of the group. Zack Burdi's promising season was cut short by Tommy John surgery. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images) 23. RHP Zack Burdi 24. SS Yeyzon Yrizarri Burdi is a former first-round pick with unbelievably electric stuff and closer potential. He s also a pure reliever who is recovering from Tommy John surgery. These are extremely significant limitations and concerns. Yrizarri is a toolshed with little notion of a plate approach, so there s no real concept of what his future role is. He has a huge arm maybe he could convert to pitching and become a reliever! In conclusion, Burdi and Yrizarri are a study in contrasts. 25. OF Jameson Fisher 26. RHP Ryan Burr 27. OF Alex Call Fisher will be 24 when next season starts, and is a corner outfielder lacking power who is supposed to have his hit tool and approach carry his profile. So it s a little concerning that he hit.221 in his first taste of High-A. Next year figures to be pretty important for him, but as the 25th-best prospect in the organization, you can shrug off one bumpy year in the development path. Call is in a similar boat in terms of his profile, but is a year younger, is more capable of manning center field not that there will be many opportunities to get reps there in this system and has an intercostal strain that robbed him of two months to blame for a disappointing season. Burr is a college closer who lacks Burdi s name value but put up huge numbers in High-A. 28. SS Amado Nunez 29. 2B Jake Peter So much of prospect life is weighing the value of a far-away toolsy shortstop prospect, and major league-ready utility infielder. 30. OF Tito Polo There are a lot of defensive specialist center field types in the system, but Polo is still holding his own at the plate in Double-A. Other notables: RHP Tyler Danish (rough year in Triple-A but liked as a possible middle reliever); LHP Jace Fry (currently trying his hand as a lefty specialist in the majors); RHP Tyler Johnson (electric relief arm who needs control); IF Luis Curbelo (big, eventual third baseman project who hasn t turned 20 yet); OF Alex Destino, 1B Justin Yurchak (both are college bats that torched rookie ball); RHP Lincoln Henzman (Louisville reliever turned starter project); 2B Mitch Roman (hit a little bit in Low-A); OF Charlie Tilson (missed a whole year and injury prone but was supposed to be capable of what Engel is doing now); 3B Trey Michalczewski (maybe one day he ll start hitting again); OF Joel Booker (personal favorite sleeper); RHP Ian Hamilton (reliever who throws hard); RHP Victor Diaz (reliever who throws harder); LHP Brian Clark (reliever who does not throw hard but throws strikes); LHP Andre Davis (large human); IF Danny Mendick (shockingly great half-season at High-A); RHP Mike Morrison (reliever who was awesome in Low-A, struggled after promotion); RHP Zach Thompson (has never put up numbers but is really tall with life on his fastball and could figure it out enough to pitch in the seventh inning one day). Credit to you for reading this far!

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