WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF SEPTEMBER 3, 2017 White Sox don't rush to judgment on draftees Scott Merkin, MLB.com L. Garcia lands on DL; Liriano called up Scott Merkin, MLB.com White Sox end skid behind four HRs vs. Rays Scott Merkin and Fabian Ardaya, MLB.com Fulmer bounces back, gets 1st big league win Scott Merkin, MLB.com Giolito looks to follow strong start vs. Rays Fabian Ardaya, MLB.com White Sox call up former Top 100 prospect Scott Krinch, CSN Chicago Why White Sox are playing it safe with Leury Garcia, and a scouting report on Rymer Liriano Paul Roumeliotis, CSN Chicago White Sox confident with Carlos Rodon leading young rotation: 'The sky is the limit' Paul Roumeliotis, CSN Chicago Like his Triple-A players, Mark Grudzielanek has big-league aspirations Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune White Sox hit four homers in rain-soaked 5-4 win over Rays Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune White Sox Nicky Delmonico, Yoan Moncada approach returns from DL Tom Musick, Chicago Sun-Times White Sox Carlos Rodon, Omar Narvaez have bilingual bond Tom Musick, Chicago Sun-Times Benetti: From Opening Day to now, White Sox embrace change Jason Benetti, Special to the Daily Herald White Sox turn on power in 5-4 win over Tampa Bay Scot Gregor, Daily Herald Hahn has reason to be happy with first phase of White Sox's rebuild Scot Gregor, Daily Herald Rozner: White Sox won't get ahead of themselves Barry Rozner, Daily Herald Bernardo Flores puts himself on prospect map in first full professional season James Fegan, The Athletic By the numbers: Avisail Garcia s career year continues in wet White Sox win James Fegan, The Athletic Rays lose Chris Archer in 1st, end up with narrow defeat against White Sox Associated Press White Sox don't rush to judgment on draftees Hahn, Hostetler look at players' progress in third year to 'fully judge a Draft' By Scott Merkin / MLB.com September 2, 2017 CHICAGO -- The White Sox Draft classes from 2016 and 2017 have received great plaudits, as has been discussed numerous times during the course of this rebuild. But don't look for White Sox general manager Rick Hahn or White Sox director of amateur scouting Nick Hostetler to claim success, failure or even concern for any individual draftee at such an early stage of development. Three years post-draft seems to be the evaluation target, unless the response has a slightly sarcastic bent. "We go with the straight hot take right away. They are all studs, and we are in great shape," said Hahn with a wry smile. "It does take some time. Usually it takes at least three years to fully judge a Draft." Hostetler said: "I start really either putting a lot of stock into it or getting concerned if they are not playing well, usually it's three years out. That's when you kind of have a good feel of what the player is and how he's developing and the strides he's making." Hahn pointed out how the White Sox have been spoiled by quick Draft-pick ascensions to the Majors. Carlos Rodon threw 34 2/3 innings in the Minors before the No. 3 pick from the 2014 MLB Draft joined the White Sox in '15. Chris Sale began his All-Star career in the White Sox bullpen two months after he was selected 13th overall in the 2010 Draft. But Hahn points to a more realistic development path in the case of right-handed pitcher Alec Hansen, the team's second-round pick from the '16 Draft. "Having Hansen already in Double-A is a huge step forward in terms of where he was a year ago when we drafted him," said Hahn of Hansen, who has 191 strikeouts over 141 1/3 innings this season. "It's a great tribute to him and our player development people.
"At the same time, a normal development path has another at least 18 months or so, which would make it a three-year path or a little over from college to the big leagues. That is more traditional than what we have seen in recent years." As Hostetler points out, Jake Burger (2017 top pick for White Sox) and Gavin Sheets (2017 second round) are learning more than the game during their short time with Class A Kannapolis. It's also about adjusting to life as an adult. "Now they are on their own, and they are having to fend for themselves," Hostetler said. "Mom doesn't come and visit every two weeks to do laundry and bring cookies. "You see a guy struggle early on, and he's also dealing with some other stuff. Might be the roommate just got called up and how are they picking up the other half of the rent. He just got moved up or down, and he has to find a place to live. "Where's his car at? He's worried about going to Instructional League or some of these kids right when they are drafted, are they going back to school this offseason: Setting up their classes to finish them," Hostetler said. "There are so many things these kids go through in their first season that it's almost hard to put much stock in what they do initially." L. Garcia lands on DL; Liriano called up By Scott Merkin / MLB.com September 2, 2017 CHICAGO -- White Sox outfielder Leury Garcia was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained right thumb prior to Saturday's game against the Rays at Guaranteed Rate Field. White Sox manager Rick Renteria said an MRI showed ligament aggravation. Rymer Liriano's contract was purchased from Triple-A Charlotte, and he got the start in left field on Saturday. Liriano, 26, hit.256 with 17 home runs and 52 RBIs in 123 games with Charlotte this season. Liriano played 38 games with the Padres in '14, hitting.220 with a home run and six RBIs. He missed the entire 2016 season after sustaining multiple facial fractures after being hit by a pitch in the face during a Spring Training game while in camp with the Brewers. "He was a very strong prospect for us at that time [in San Diego]," said Renteria, who was on the Padres' coaching staff when Liriano arrived. "Could run, had some pop, very good arm, decent defender. He was very high-energy. He had to learn how to tone himself down a little bit. I think he has done that. "He's a kid that over the course of his career has had a pretty decent idea of the plate, of the [strike] zone and has continued to develop in the Minor Leagues. Hopefully, he'll give us some solid at-bats at the plate, regardless of rightylefty, and play some defense for us, kind of balance that out for us." Garcia left in the fifth inning of Friday's loss to Tampa Bay. He felt discomfort during batting practice after suffering the injury when tripping on the stairs in Minnesota and trying to brace himself. He has struggled at the plate of late, hitting 3- for-35 over his last 10 games. Worth noting With Garcia's injury on Friday, Renteria had starting pitcher James Shields on call for an at-bat if necessary. "He was talking about his high school power to the opposite field," Renteria said. "So he had his spikes and his bat ready." White Sox end skid behind four HRs vs. Rays By Scott Merkin and Fabian Ardaya / MLB.com September 3, 2017 CHICAGO -- The 5-4 White Sox victory over the Rays Saturday night at Guaranteed Rate Field shaped up as a battle of talented young starters with Tampa Bay's Chris Archer against Carlos Rodon getting the start for the White Sox. But neither pitcher factored in the White Sox ending their four-game losing streak. The Rays fell back under.500 at 68-69 and four games behind the Twins in the race for the second American League Wild Card spot. Tampa Bay loaded the bases with nobody out in the ninth against Juan Minaya trailing by two runs, but Evan Longoria hit into a double play, and Logan Morrison, who hit his sixth homer in as many games in the sixth, struck out with Longoria on second.
"Frustrating loss," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "Seemed like we had a bunch of opportunities in the seventh, eighth and ninth to get some runs in, and we just weren't able to get that one big swing. Seventh and ninth, we had the right guys up. Just didn't happen tonight." Archer lasted eight pitches before he was removed as a precaution due to right lateral forearm tightness. Alen Hanson and Yolmer Sanchez were two of the three hitters Archer faced, and both went deep. "I thought after I warmed up in the game it would just be gone, but it didn't, and every time I tried to get to full extension I just couldn't get there. It just felt like it was smarter to not risk any further injury trying to force myself through some tightness in my arm." Those first-inning homers marked just the third time in franchise history the White Sox opened a game with back-to-back homers. The other two were Ray Durham and Jose Valentin on July 4, 2000, and Boze Berger and Mike Kreevich on Sept. 2, 1937. "I didn't know that. Well good for us for today," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "They came in handy, obviously, with Alen and Sanchy doing that. Overall, I thought pretty decent ballgame." Omar Narvaez and Avisail Garcia also homered for the White Sox, who got four innings of one-run ball from Rodon because of a rain delay that lasted one hour and 18 minutes. White Sox prospect Carson Fulmer picked up his first Major League win with two innings in relief. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Avi goes deep: Garcia's two-run homer in the seventh off Ryne Stanek gave him a career-high 14 and the South Siders a 5-2 lead. Garcia had three hits, extending his hitting streak to 10 games and raising his average to.327. The home run had a 105.2-mph exit velocity and launch angle of 27 degrees per Statcast. Stanek's 100.7-mph fastball is secondhardest-hit pitch for a homer in the Majors this season, second to Rafael Devers' off a 102.8-mph heater by Aroldis Chapman. Going back to the beginning of the pitch tracking era, since 2008, Garcia's homer is tied for the fifth-hardest-hit pitch. It's tied for the White Sox hardest-hit for a home run with a Paul Konerko homer off Andrew Cashner on June 26, 2010. "This is the big leagues," Cash said. "You got him to miss two breaking balls by a combined four and a half feet, and then chose to double up fastballs. I mean, Avisail Garcia is hitting.325 for a reason." 'Farq' in the Park: With runners on the corners and one out after Kevin Kiermaier's single off Aaron Bummer in the seventh, the White Sox brought in right-hander Danny Farquhar, who started the season with the Rays. He got Steven Souza Jr. to pop up in foul territory and Longoria to fly out, escaping the jam and keeping the White Sox lead at 3-2. UPON FURTHER REVIEW With runners on second and third and one out, Longoria hit a ball out to Garcia in right field for what appeared to be a routine sacrifice fly. Kiermaier scored on the throw, which skipped past Narvaez behind the plate and to the backstop. The Rays challenged that the ball went out of play, which would allow Souza to score and tie the game at 2. The call on the field was confirmed, and Souza remained at third base as the Rays lost their challenge. WHAT'S NEXT Rays: Rays right-hander Matt Andriese will start the finale against the White Sox on Sunday at 2:10 p.m. ET, his first start since suffering a stress reaction in his right hip on June 10. He threw three scoreless innings of relief in his last appearance on Aug. 28. White Sox: Lucas Giolito makes his third start of the season in the series finale with the Rays at 1:10 p.m. CT on Sunday. The No. 59 overall prospect, according to MLBPipeline.com, earned his first Major League victory in his last start on Aug. 27 vs. Detroit, allowing three hits and three walks over seven scoreless innings. Watch every out-of-market regular-season game live on MLB.TV. Fulmer bounces back, gets 1st big league win White Sox prospect allows one run on one hit over two innings vs. Rays By Scott Merkin / MLB.com September 3, 2017
CHICAGO -- Carson Fulmer didn't have to wait long to earn his first Major League victory after rejoining the White Sox roster on Friday. In fact, Fulmer achieved the career milestone in his first appearance since being recalled, as the White Sox beat the Rays, 5-4, on Saturday night at Guaranteed Rate Field. Fulmer replaced Carlos Rodon to start the fifth inning after a 1-hour, 18-minute rain delay ended the lefty's night. Fulmer gave up Logan Morrison's 35th home run, a solo shot, but that was it. He struck out two and bounced back nicely after a shaky big league debut that saw him allow six runs over 1 1/3 innings on Aug. 21 against the Twins. "It means a lot," Fulmer said. "I've got to look at things in perspective. Obviously, it's a goal of mine, but it's a team victory when it comes down to it. That's the most important thing to me." "It's good to get it out of the way," Rodon said. "It's kind of like a little rainy cloud over your head. It's good to get it and it's exciting. Many more from him hopefully." Of Fulmer's 34 pitches, he recorded three swings and misses on his cutter and two on his fastball, according to Statcast. He averaged 94.1 mph on the heater and topped out at 95.6. "His ball had some pretty good life today," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "He was hitting 95, he was throwing his cutter a little bit more. We're looking for a couple innings out of him. For him to do that, it was a nice little bounceback for him. I'm sure he feels good about his outing." "I was able to locate the majority of my stuff," Fulmer said. "I got ahead of hitters and was able to use my cutter when I needed to. Obviously, that outing, my first start, it's going to happen in my career. I take pride in how I bounce back. I've got to take the positive out of tonight and take the next opportunity." When Fulmer's next opportunity comes is unknown. General manager Rick Hahn said Friday that the White Sox No. 11 prospect, according to MLBPipeline.com, could get a start or two in September, as well as being used out of the bullpen. "It's tough, because there are days, there are more than days, sometimes it's a week, where you go without pitching if your starters are going deep in the game," Rodon said. "You don't know when you are going to go in. Luckily, tonight he got in and got the win." "Whatever the team needs. I'm always ready," said Fulmer, who last pitched on Aug. 25 for Triple-A Charlotte. "One thing I take pride in is getting myself ready for every opportunity and starting, relieving, matchup, closing, whatever it takes for us to win, that's the most important thing for me." Giolito looks to follow strong start vs. Rays By Fabian Ardaya / MLB.com September 3, 2017 The White Sox have caught a glimpse of their future rotation against the Rays, and they'll get another look toward the future in Sunday's series finale. After Reynaldo Lopez and Carlos Rodon started the first two games of the series, Lucas Giolito, the White Sox No. 6 prospect and No. 59 overall according to MLBPipeline.com, will take on right-hander Matt Andriese in the series finale at Guaranteed Rate Field. After a shaky 2017 debut, Giolito bounced back on Aug. 27 with seven scoreless innings against the Tigers. The 23-yearold allowed three hits and three walks while striking out four. "For the most part, I was throwing the slider pretty well. It was actually a pretty good swing-and-miss pitch at times," Giolito said. "It was one of those days where I was able to get all four of my pitches working for a strike, and then being able to throw that good one down when I needed it. It all worked together." Andriese will make his first start since June 10 after sustaining a stress reaction on his right hip. He pitched three scoreless innings of relief on Monday against the Royals and said he's stretched out to about 75 pitches. "I'm just going to go out there for as long as I can to try to put a quality start together, make good pitches and keep it going," Andriese said. "I've only got built up to 75 pitches. I'm just going to let it ride out." With the Rays entering Sunday four games back of the Twins for the second American League Wild Card spot, manager Kevin Cash said he's hopeful he can build Andriese back up to be a strong part of the rotation down the stretch.
"We'll be paying attention to how crisp he looks in the middle innings, see if he's maintaining his stuff," Cash said. "But the thought is, it is September, so we've got bullpen guys in there that can cover it. Somewhere in there, we need Matt Andriese to get stretched out enough to where he's at his best." Three things to know about the game The White Sox hope to have Jose Abreu in the lineup Sunday. He has missed the last three games with a right elbow injury. "It's possible," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "I have to see him again and see where he's at. All of them are very tolerant of playing through discomfort, and I think that it's commendable, but I also think at certain times, a manager has to make a decision for the best well-being of all of those guys." The White Sox will be without outfielder Leury Garcia, who landed on the 10-day disabled list Saturday with a sprained right thumb he aggravated during Friday night's game. The Rays will bolster their bullpen with a pair of right-handers. Chase Whitley and Andrew Kittredge are expected to join the relief corps on Sunday. White Sox call up former Top 100 prospect By Scott Krinch / CSN Chicago September 2, 2017 The White Sox organization is currently the land of opportunity. As the South Siders sit in the midst of a rebuild, GM Rick Hahn won't leave any stone unturned as the team looks for potential building blocks for the future. Similar to taking a chance on Alen Hanson earlier this season, Rymer Liriano became the latest former top prospect who the White Sox hope that a change of scenery will help jumpstart a once promising career as he was called up from Triple- A Charlotte on Saturday. Liriano's services were needed on the major league roster after the White Sox placed outfielder Leury Garcia on the 10- day DL with a sprained right thumb. Liriano, who was claimed off waivers by the White Sox from the Milwaukee Brewers last October, has spent the entire 2017 season with the Charlotte Knights. Liriano slashed.256/.323/.416 with 17 home runs, 52 RBI and 67 runs in 123 games with the Knights. The 26-year-old Liriano, who was MLB.com's No. 60 prospect in 2012 and No. 55 prospect in 2013 as a member of the San Diego Padres organization, has a career minor-league slash line of.274/.346/.432 with 85 home runs, 430 RBI and 197 stolen bases in 861 games. Garcia, 26, is slashing.270/.316/.423 with a career-high nine home runs and 33 RBI in 87 games with the White Sox this season. After Saturday's transaction, the White Sox 40-man roster sits at 38. Why White Sox are playing it safe with Leury Garcia, and a scouting report on Rymer Liriano By Paul Roumeliotis / CSN Chicago September 2, 2017 The injury plague continued Saturday on the South Side. Already without Yoan Moncada, Nicky Delmonico and Jose Abreu, the White Sox placed Leury Garcia on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained right thumb. Manager Rick Renteria said that Garcia injured it in Minnesota when he slipped on some stairs and fell on it awkwardly. Renteria also said Garcia re-aggravated his thumb during a swing in Friday's game against the Tampa Bay Rays, where he was removed from the game.
"They did an MRI this morning, saw a little aggravation to his ligament," Renteria said. "So instead of trying to pressure him and make him feel like he s got to hurry himself along, I think that s what precipitated the DL. Obviously, we have Rymer (Liriano) now to come in and help fill a little void." Garcia is in the midst of having the best season of his career. The 26-year-old utility man has nine home runs and 33 RBIs in 87 games with a.270/.316/.423 slash line. In a corresponding move, the White Sox recalled a former Top 100 prospect in Liriano, who they acquired via waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers last October. In 123 games this season in Triple-A Charlotte, Liriano is batting.256/.323/.416 with 17 home runs, 52 RBIs and 67 runs. "Rymer came into the Padre organization while I was still down there," Renteria said. "He was a very strong prospect for us at that time there. Could run, had some pop, very good arm, decent defender. He was very high energy. He had to learn how to tone himself down a little bit. I think he has done that. "I think he s a kid that over the course of his career has had a pretty decent idea of the plate, of the zone, and has continued to develop in the minor leagues. He had a little time with Milwaukee a few years ago. He has continued to move along. Hopefully, he ll give us some solid at-bats at the plate, regardless of righty-lefty, and play some defense for us, kind of balance that out for us." White Sox confident with Carlos Rodon leading young rotation: 'The sky is the limit' By Paul Roumeliotis / CSN Chicago September 2, 2017 The White Sox had high expectations for Carlos Rodon when they drafted him with the third overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft. The NC State product had the qualifications and make-up to be a No. 1 starter, but it would have been difficult to emerge as the ace in a rotation that already featured Chris Sale and Jose Quintana. But since Rick Hahn & Co. hit the full rebuild button last offseason, Rodon s time to become the guy has arrived. In the midst of his third season in the majors, the 24-year-old southpaw went from being a mid-rotation player behind Sale and Quintana to being the leader of a young pitching core. The White Sox have all the faith in the world that Rodon can be a top guy in the organization. I think he s got a quality arm that I believe, if he stays within himself, can be an impactful guy as part of the next group of pitchers that are joining us, said manager Rick Renteria. Though Rodon's outing on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays was cut short after four innings due to a lengthy rain delay, he improved from his previous one against the Detroit Tigers a week ago, where he allowed five earned runs in five innings. Rodon held the Rays to one run on two hits and recorded four strikeouts while walking three. He s been working his butt off up here, really focusing in on what he needs to do to get ahead of hitters, finding that strike zone and the walk numbers are going down, catcher Kevan Smith said. But even if he does walk a guy he s got to learn that that s just part of the game. He s got to learn to minimize that stuff. Prior to that game against the Tigers, he had a 2.25 ERA with 37 strikeouts in those previous five starts. Consistency is the biggest key to being a reliable ace, and he s slowly improving in that area. The one word that comes to my mind is just dominant on the mound, Smith said. When he stays confident, when he stays with his keys, he s almost unhittable sometimes. It s exciting to see and he s only going to get better. He just needs to keep rolling with that confidence, rolling with the success. The sky is the limit for that guy and it s exciting. Those words sound fairly similar to what Sale said about his former teammate last month when the White Sox visited the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, saying Rodon could be as good as anyone.
Rodon s season was off to a rough start after he missed the first three months of the season with bursitis in his left biceps. Even when he returned, he struggled with his command at times. But he has settled down nicely since then and he s showing exactly why he can become the team s future ace. It s hard to imagine a scenario where the White Sox re-sign Derek Holland when his contract expires at the end of the season, along with James Shields after 2018. Miguel Gonzalez is also out of the mix after he was dealt before the waiver trade deadline. The rotation continues to thin out on paper, but the opportunities are becoming more available for the future youngsters to take control. And we're getting a glimpse of it already. Reynaldo Lopez returned from the disabled list on Friday and had a solid outing after rebounding from a pair of early mistakes. Carson Fulmer picked up his first career victory on Saturday in relief of Rodon. Lucas Giolito will also have his chance in Sunday s series finale. I like the direction the White Sox are going with, Smith said. I love that they re getting them up here to start getting some experience. We can start working together regardless of this month (and) how it goes. With wins or losses, obviously nobody likes to lose but we re here to develop. It s just fun to work with these guys knowing the potential and the futures they have here and just looking forward to the years in the future where you see that guy who s pitching today and you have a solid chance of winning like you saw with (Sale) up there, or (Gonzalez), or Quintana. It s definitely exciting. Like his Triple-A players, Mark Grudzielanek has big-league aspirations By Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune September 2, 2017 Mark Grudzielanek saw more than his fair share of teammates come and go during a major-league career that spanned 15 seasons with six teams, including two years with the Cubs. This season the first-year manager of the White Sox's Triple-A Charlotte affiliate Grudzielanek is experiencing first-hand what it's like to have his players in the lineup one day and in Chicago the next. When the Sox purchased the contract of Rymer Liriano on Saturday to fill the roster spot of Leury Garcia, who was placed on disabled list with a thumb injury, it marked the 20th Knights player promoted to the big-league club this season. That has left Grudzielanek scrambling to develop any kind of consistency for his ballclub and the result has been a trying season that had the Knights with a 59-80 record heading in Saturday's game against Norfolk after having been eliminated long ago from the International League postseason picture. "It's tough but that means you're doing your job," Grudzielanek told the Tribune. "The staff here, we go about our business and we understand that we're not having a year win-wise that we're supposed to be having. What you kind of hang your hat on is the number of players we have seen go up that have done a great job to get a chance to play and are still there in the big-leagues." During a rebuild of the magnitude that the Sox are undertaking, everyone in the organization has to buy in and focus on the development of prospects more than the win column. "You have to believe and understand that at every level," Grudzielanek said. "Winning is our ultimate goal (at all levels) but that may ultimately turn out to not be the outcome we get in a ballgame. We understand the development side. We're going to take care of the kid first and they have to understand they need to put forth the energy and do the things we ask." Grudzielanek's career spanned 1,802 regular season games from 1995 (Expos) to 2010 (Indians). But he didn't begin to consider himself managerial material until near the end of his playing days. "The last few years it was something I played around with because as a player you always question the manager," said Grudzielanek, who began his managing career at Class A Kane County in 2015. "You're always like, 'Why did you do this? Why didn't you do that?' "It really is kind of cool to... prepare these kids for what they're in store for. Who better (to do it)than somebody who has played with some Hall of Famers and as many years as I did? I'm going to try to use that experience on and off the field to help these kids move in the right direction."
Those who have played for Grudzielanek on the Knights this season rave about his abilities. "He's great with everybody in the clubhouse and on the field," said versatile Nicky Delmonico, who made his big-league debut Aug. 1. "He has great baseball awareness and a high IQ. He taught me so much about the game. Not just fielding and hitting, but the mental part of it too." Added pitcher Lucas Giolito, who will start for the Sox against the Rays on Sunday at Guaranteed Rate Field: "(Grudzielanek) is a players' manager. He played for a very long time so he understands the nuances of certain things and he really looks out for his players. He wants to see every single one have success and he always is trying to put you in the position to have that success." Like his players, Grudzielanek one day yearns to reach the next level. Following a distinguished playing career, managing in the majors is the next dream for the 47-year-old. "That would be great I would love to do that," he said. "I know there's a process but things are moving along right now really nicely. I'm hungry for a lot of good things and hopefully down the road I get an opportunity to run a club." Sox general manager Rick Hahn, who is not in the market for a new manager and figures to stick with Rick Renteria throughout the rebuild and beyond, believes Grudzielanek has what it takes to reach the next level. "Mark is a tremendous baseball man, a hard worker (and) a great communicator," Hahn said. "If you talk to any of the guys who played for him this year, they'll tell you that they got better through his tutelage. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if he's a big-league manager (soon)." If for some reason it doesn't happen, Grudzielanek said he's "sure I'll be in the game and I'll do what I can in my position to help young players and be a part of something really special." White Sox hit four homers in rain-soaked 5-4 win over Rays By Chris Kuc / Chicago Tribune September 2, 2017 The White Sox have faced plenty of challenges on the field during this season's rebuild, but they have shown improvement when it comes to hitting home runs. They used four of them during a 5-4 victory over the Rays on a rainy Saturday night to snap a four-game losing skid, including back-to-back shots by Alen Hanson and Yolmer Sanchez to lead off the bottom of the first. After Omar Narvaez and Avisail Garcia later set off fireworks with blasts of their own, the Sox had reached 152 home runs this season, a pace that would give them their highest total since 2012, when they launched 211. "It is nice to have guys who can put the ball in the seats, across the board in our lineup," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "We have some guys who aren t typically home-run hitters but they can get a pitch and they can drive it when need be." Sanchez and Garcia each went 3-for-4 and Narvaez was 2-for-3 during a game that featured a rain delay of 1 hour, 18 minutes. Reliever Carson Fulmer earned his first career victory. Juan Minaya earned his fourth save. Saturday's long-ball production came without one of the Sox's top sluggers, Jose Abreu, in the lineup. The first baseman missed his third consecutive game with a right elbow injury. Abreu hit in the cage Saturday morning, and afterward Renteria decided to again hold the veteran out of the lineup. "(Abreu) still has a little discomfort," Renteria said. "Compared to where he was (it's)... much improved. He does feel better, but not to my satisfaction." Rays starter Chris Archer left the game after allowing the first-inning homers as a precautionary measure for right forearm tightness. Progress for Moncada: Rookie second baseman Yoan Moncada, on the disabled list with a bone contusion in his right leg, has begun hitting in the cage and fielding grounders. "I hope to come back soon," Moncada said through a team interpreter. "I feel much better about the soreness in my leg. I'm progressing."
Leury sidelined: The Sox placed outfielder Leury Garcia on the 10-day disabled list with a sprained right thumb and purchased the contract of outfielder Rymer Liriano from Triple-A Charlotte. "They did an MRI (Saturday) morning and saw a little aggravation to (Garcia's) ligament," Renteria said. "Instead of trying to pressure him and make him feel like he's got to hurry himself along... that's what precipitated the DL." White Sox Nicky Delmonico, Yoan Moncada approach returns from DL White Sox rookie Nicky Delmonico is determined to turn his stint on the 10-day disabled list into something positive. By Tom Musick / Chicago Sun-Times September 3, 2017 White Sox rookie Nicky Delmonico is determined to turn his stint on the 10-day disabled list into something positive. I feel good right now, said Delmonico, who has been out for the last nine days because of a sprained right wrist. I m watching the game, coming here early and doing stuff. I feel like I m learning something every day. Granted, the promising 25-year-old would rather learn by playing. That should happen soon. Delmonico took swings for the fourth day in a row before Saturday s game and reported no problems. He also is throwing without any pain in his wrist, which he injured during a swing Aug. 24 against the Twins. I feel like I m getting there, Delmonico said. Delmonico and Yoan Moncada (right shin contusion) are eligible to be reinstated from the disabled list Monday. However, general manager Rick Hahn said the team likely would delay their returns until later in the homestand. The injury was the only thing to slow down Delmonico during his first month with the Sox. He has reached base safely in 21 of 22 games, and he boasts a 1.002 OPS while hitting.307 with six home runs and 12 RBI. I was just having fun, and I m still having fun, Delmonico said. If I were to pinpoint [one thing], I m happy with the pitches I m swinging at. I m trying to stay with my zone and not get out of it. Moncada, 22, also has resumed baseball activities. He is hitting.188 with three home runs and 11 RBI in 30 games. Getting itchy Jose Abreu took swings in the batting cage but missed his third game in a row because of a sore right elbow. He does feel better, but not to my satisfaction, manager Rick Renteria said. Renteria said Abreu could return to the lineup Sunday depending on how his elbow responds to treatment and rest. The veteran first baseman lobbied unsuccessfully once again to start Saturday. All of them are very tolerant of playing through discomfort, and that it s commendable, but at certain times, a manager has to make a decision for the best well being of all of those guys, Renteria said. Honestly, if we were in a pennant race or something, he d probably end up wrapping it up and trying to get through it. Matt Davidson started at first base for the third straight contest. Roster moves The Sox placed Leury Garcia on the 10-day disabled list because of a sprained right thumb and purchased the contract of Rymer Liriano from Class AAA Charlotte. Garcia hurt his wrist last week when he slipped on dugout steps in Minnesota and tried to brace his fall, Renteria said. The injury flared up during a swing Friday, and an MRI exam on Saturday showed aggravation in a ligament near his thumb. Liriano, 26, hit.256 with 17 home runs and 52 RBI in 123 games in Charlotte. He appeared in 38 games with the Padres in 2014. White Sox Carlos Rodon, Omar Narvaez have bilingual bond I m the Spanish teacher and he s the English teacher, Narvaez said. He talks full English and I respond full Spanish.
By Tom Musick / Chicago Sun-Times September 3, 2017 As friends and White Sox teammates, Carlos Rodon and Omar Narvaez spend a lot of time talking to one another. In the clubhouse. During batting practice. Before and after bullpen sessions. Listen closely, and you might notice their chats take place in two languages. Narvaez is from Venezuela and wants to improve his English. Rodon grew up in North Carolina and wants to learn better Spanish. I m the Spanish teacher, and he s the English teacher, Narvaez said. He talks full English, and I respond full Spanish. The conversations, once choppy, have become more natural over the course of the season as both players listen to answers in the other s native language. Topics include baseball, cars, music and life in general. His English is far better than my Spanish, Rodon said with a grin. But the tone turns serious when it s Rodon s turn to pitch and Narvaez catches him behind the plate. On those days, as was the case Saturday, Narvaez studies Rodon s body language to make sure the pitcher doesn t get too riled up. Conversations on the mound take place in English only to make sure Rodon understands each word. The bond between the batterymates appears to be working. Rodon limited the Rays to one run in four innings before his outing was interrupted by a 1-hour, 18-minute rain delay, and the Sox held on for a 5-4 victory. Alen Hanson and Yolmer Sanchez led off the first with back-to-back home runs against Chris Archer, who left abruptly with forearm tightness. The outburst marked the third time in franchise history that the Sox have started with back-to-back homers and the first time since July 4, 2000, when Ray Durham and Jose Valentin went deep. Narvaez hit a solo shot in the fourth before the delay. Avisail Garcia added a two-run blast in the seventh, which marked his career-high 14th home run of the season. Manager Rick Renteria said Rodon would have returned to pitch the fifth if the rain delay had been less than one hour. Instead, he sent out Carson Fulmer, who pitched two innings to earn his first career victory. Once we saw it was going to be beyond an hour, it made no sense for us to expose him to any strain and heat him back up with all the other guys available to us, -Renteria said. Rodon s smaller sample size (4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K) reflected recent trends for the 24-year-old southpaw, who still has to improve his fastball command but possesses enough talent to be one of the Sox s top starters. Felt good with everything, Rodon said. It would have been nice to not have any rain, but that happens. Rodon s teammates believe he can be an ace. There s no doubt in my mind he could be a No. 1 pitcher, said James Shields, a 12-year veteran. He s got the stuff. He s got the mentality, no doubt about that. He s the ultimate competitor. Rodon always has had front-of-the-rotation potential. That is part of the reason the Sox selected him No. 3 overall in 2014 out of North Carolina State. A biceps injury in the spring delayed Rodon s season debut until late June. He struggled during his first month back, but he is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA (15 earned runs over 45 innings) in his last seven outings. He s a bulldog, Narvaez said. I love it. I d rather go calm him down than fire him up. Benetti: From Opening Day to now, White Sox embrace change By Jason Benetti / Special to the Daily Herald September 2, 2017 On April 4, the Chicago White Sox -- as they were constituted then -- played the Detroit Tigers. Let's see where the 2017 Opening Day Sox ended up as of Sept. 1. April 4 starting lineup:
1. Tyler Saladino (he hit second on Sept. 1) 2. Tim Anderson (hit first) 3. Melky Cabrera (now in Kansas City) 4. Jose Abreu (on bench with elbow trouble) 5. Todd Frazier (New York) 6. Cody Asche (Charlotte) 7. Avisail Garcia (hit third) 8. Omar Narvaez (substitute at first base for Leury Garcia) 9. Jacob May (Charlotte) Bench: Yolmer Sanchez (hit ninth); Leury Garcia (hit seventh, injured in-game); Matt Davidson (hit fourth); and Geovany Soto (on disabled list). There you have it: On Sept. 1, not one position player was in the same spot in which he started the season. On Opening Day, the Sox bullpen consisted of: Dan Jennings (Tampa Bay); David Robertson (New York); Nate Jones (disabled list); Zach Putnam (disabled list); Anthony Swarzak (Milwaukee); Michael Ynoa (Charlotte); and Jake Petricka, who pitched in the seventh inning in both games. Five months. Trades and roster moves galore. And only Jacob Steven Petricka, of Faribault High School in Minnesota, essentially did the same thing on Sept. 1 that he was called upon to do on April 4. In the opener, he was pitching behind Jose Quintana, who now makes his home slightly more north. On Sept. 1, Petricka was throwing in back of 23-year-old Reynaldo Lopez. The rotation, by the way, only contains two players -- James Shields and Derek Holland -- from the Opening Day roster still in it (Dylan Covey has moved to the bullpen). And yes, it's terribly easy to say "Hey, the team in last place made major changes." It also shows how much individuals can alter the viewpoint of decision-makers over the course of just a few months, even given the rafts of data that exist about our game today. As the old saw goes, necessity is the mother of invention. Just a few to consider: On Day One, Avisail Garcia was the seventh-place hitter in the Sox lineup, behind Cody Asche. Today, Avi has become a first-time Major League all-star who leads the Sox in batting average. Yolmer Sanchez, who had fought for his position on the bench in recent years, began 2017 as a reserve. He didn't get his first start until Game 5 of the regular season. Entering the first series of September, he had driven in 11 runs in his past 11 games and has been in the lineup against both left-handed and right-handed pitching. Maybe we should have known when Matt Davidson homered in Game 2 that this season would provide him significant power numbers. But Davidson didn't start a game against a right-handed pitcher until Game 8. Now, he's a middle-of-theorder hitter who is on pace to have a Top 3 all-time finish as a White Sox rookie in terms of home runs. Who knows where these players -- and others -- will fit in during the future of the White Sox. Yes, they have flaws. All players do. But, their performance has changed minds. And that's all we can ask for in the age of big data -- the opportunity to fight against our reputations. White Sox turn on power in 5-4 win over Tampa Bay By Scot Gregor / Daily Herald September 2, 2017
The Chicago White Sox rank second to last in the American League in home runs, but they turn the power on from time to time. The Sox wasted little time Saturday night, as second baseman Alen Hanson and third baseman Yolmer Sanchez led off the game with back-to-back home runs off Tampa Bay Rays starter Chris Archer, who left the game with tightness in his right forearm after throwing one pitch to Avisail Garcia, the White Sox's No. 3 hitter. It was the first time the Sox's first two hitters of the game homered since 2005 (Ray Durham, Jose Valentin), and only the third time in franchise history. That made a rainy night on the South Side a little more bearable, as did Garcia's 2-run shot in the seventh inning. Garcia has 14 home runs this season, a career high. In a game delayed 1 hour, 18 minutes by rain, the Sox beat the Rays 5-4 at Guaranteed Rate Field. "They came in handy," obviously," manager Rick Renteria of the White Sox's home runs. "It's nice to have guys that can put the ball in the seats." Carlos Rodon started for the White Sox and allowed 1 run on 2 hits and 3 walks in 4 innings. The rain hit in the bottom of the fourth, and Carson Fulmer relieved Rodon when played resumed. Fulmer allowed 1 run in 2 innings and earned his first major-league win. "It means a lot," said Fulmer, who joined the Sox on Friday after making 25 starts for Class AAA Charlotte this season. "I tried to come in and keep the game where it was. It's a goal, but it was a team victory." Abreu update: First baseman Jose Abreu missed his third straight game with a sore right elbow Saturday. Abreu has been pushing to get back in the lineup, but manager Rick Renteria is being cautious with his best hitter. "He still has a little discomfort," Renteria said. "Compared to where he was at, obviously much improved. That's a situation now where for me, I've got to take it out of his hands and say it's much better to allow you to continue to heal and feel better. Obviously, he does feel better, but not to my satisfaction." Roster move: The White Sox placed outfielder Leury Garcia (sprained right thumb) on the 10-day disabled list Saturday. The Sox purchased Rymer Liriano's contract from Class AAA Charlotte, and he started in left field against Tampa Bay Saturday night. In his first game in the major leagues since 2014, when he played for the San Diego Padres, Liriano was 0-for-3 with 2 strikeouts. Hahn has reason to be happy with first phase of White Sox's rebuild By Scot Gregor / Daily Herald September 2, 2017 When he traded Miguel Gonzalez to Texas late Thursday night, the heavy lifting was finally done for Chicago White Sox general manager Rick Hahn. Dating back to the end of July last season, veterans Zach Duke, Chris Sale, Adam Eaton, Jose Quintana, Todd Frazier, David Robertson, Tommy Kahnle. Anthony Swarzak, Dan Jennings, Tyler Clippard, Melky Cabrera and Gonzalez were sent to contending teams for minor-league players. The end result? A lot of losing on the big-league level, but the Sox's once barren farm system is already starting to produce quality young talent, with much more likely to come.
"When we set off down this path, we were ambitious," Hahn said. "We knew we were in a position that was different from a lot of clubs that headed down this path. We knew we had some premium assets at the big-league level that we were likely going to move, so we were very ambitious in terms of our expectations about what we were going to be able to bring back." Sale was the biggest trade chip Hahn had in the early days of the rebuild, and the left-handed starter is positioned to win his first Cy Young Award this season with the Boston Red Sox. But Sale brought back Yoan Moncada and Michael Kopech to the White Sox. Moncada was baseball's No. 1 prospect before being called up from Class AAA Charlotte on July 19. Kopech ranked No. 20 overall on Baseball America's midseason Top 100 list. Add in other trade acquisitions Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, who are both in the Sox's current starting rotation, Eloy Jimenez, Blake Rutherford, Dylan Cease and Dane Dunning, recent draft picks Zack Collins, Alec Hansen and Jake Burger and international finds Luis Robert and Micker Adolfo, and it's easier to understand the excitement level on the South Side. "There's no guarantee that we were going to be able to do it," said Hahn, who remained incredibly patient between moving Sale and Eaton in early December before trading Quintana and the remaining vets seven-plus months later. "Certainly, you can't force certain trade opportunities to come through. You can't force the opportunity to get a guy like Luis Robert to break your way. But it's what we as a group set off to do 12 months ago or so, whenever this process officially started. "We're pleased with how this first stage went. We know there's more work to do, but the first element of it has gone for the most part according to plan." Rozner: White Sox won't get ahead of themselves By Barry Rozner / Daily Herald September 2, 2017 It was only about seven weeks ago that Rick Hahn was taking a beating for the failed White Sox rebuild. The general manager blew it with Jose Quintana, said the skeptics, having failed to trade his most valued asset before the season. And then he got a haul from the Cubs. Since then, Carlos Rodon has been terrific in the majors, Reynaldo Lopez and Lucas Giolito have been called up to join Yoan Moncada and several monster prospects have caught fire in the minors. And now the suggestion is that this could be a two-year rebuild instead of five. Seriously, pick a narrative. The White Sox are ahead of schedule, thanks to the team-friendly contracts of Chris Sale, Adam Eaton and Quintana, pacts that allowed Hahn to move those players for huge returns. It might not take the Sox five years, or even the four it took the Cubs to compete for a playoff spot, but to suggest the Sox will be a postseason threat in 2018 is a bit optimistic and the Sox are not about to rush anyone to the big leagues. Some players, like Michael Kopech, might not give them a choice, as he could force his way onto the roster at any time next season. Still, prospects are merely that. They are terrific young players with high ceilings who might get to the big leagues and become all-stars, and they might never get to the big leagues. They are prospects. So let's just slow it down a bit. What's exciting if you're a Sox fan is this group of players is elite. The Sox's top 10, or even top 20, is not routine by any stretch. If you were to take an average top 10 list, you would be lucky to get one good and one average major league player.
The road to Helena (Montana) is paved with the prospects that have brought down organizations. But this is no average list. The Sox are loaded with some of the best young talent to come through the South Side since the early 90s. The problem is the Cubs have set a ridiculous standard by which teams are now judged. And that's unfair. It's abnormal to see player after player emerge from the minors, perform like they're 10-year vets and go to two straight NLCS as if they're taking a stroll down North Avenue Beach. It's just not supposed to work that way -- and it usually doesn't. Hahn has said repeatedly that there's no clock on this rebuild, but with each trade and each draft, the Sox edge closer to a projection. "I think it's too soon to put a firm end date on this," Hahn told me in the spring. "That said, when we started this process we had a general idea of how many more drafts, how many more trade deadlines, offseasons, free-agent markets, it would take to get us back to where we want to be, in a position to win on a sustainable basis. "In all candor, if you had asked me in November how long I thought it would take, that answer would probably be slightly different after the December trades (of Sale and Eaton) because we feel good about what we were able to accomplish, and that arguably moved up the clock a little bit." The last three months have done much of the same, with so many veterans traded for so many kids, and another draft adding to the stockpile. You can start dreaming of lineup that includes Moncada, Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert, Zack Collins and Jake Burger, and a rotation that boasts Rodon, Kopech, Giolito, Lopez and Alec Hansen, or maybe Dane Dunning, Dylan Cease, Michael Fulmer and Spencer Adams, to name just a few more. Yeah, the list of arms is very deep, offering many chances to find high-end rotation arms and potential closers and setup men. And this is the tip of the iceberg. Not all of them will make it, and yet there are many other pitchers and position players not even mentioned here that have an opportunity to reach the majors or eventually get moved for the pieces the Sox need to become a title contender. Yes, this rebuild is moving quickly, but there will be setbacks and there will a lot more losing before there's a lot more winning. There's just no reason to flip those pages on the calendar before you have to. Bernardo Flores puts himself on prospect map in first full professional season By James Fegan / The Athletic September 2, 2017 He s not getting Alec Hansen-level attention, but last year s seventh-round pick required a similar level of faith from the White Sox's scouting staff in the absence of amateur production. Tall, lanky, left-hander Bernardo Flores finished his college career with a 6.70 ERA during his junior season at USC and ended 2017, his first full professional season, on the disabled list with an oblique strain. But in between those two disappointments, he made himself a prospect. Flores was one of the less-heralded drivers of the Low-A Kannapolis Intimidators first-half division title, and his 3.00 ERA over 14 starts, with 70 strikeouts and just 13 walks in 78 innings earned him a mid-season promotion to High-A before his 22nd birthday. After a rude greeting to High-A, Flores settled in and compiled a 2.08 ERA in 21 2/3 innings over his final five appearances before his oblique started barking at him. Opposing hitters slugged just.268 against him over that stretch.