FutureSox’s 2012 Preseason Top 25 White Sox Prospects

Matt Cassidy:

1. Nestor Molina, RHP     [NEW]
2. Addison Reed, RHP     [Previous Rank: 2nd, no change]
3. Simon Castro, RHP     [NEW]
4. Tyler Saladino, SS     [Previous: 9th, +5]
5. Trayce Thompson, OF     [Previous: 3rd, -2]
6. Jacob Petricka, RHP     [Previous: 4th, -2]
7. Hector Santiago, LHP     [Previous: 16th, +9]
8. Keenyn Walker, OF     [Previous: 7th, -1]
9. Eduardo Escobar, SS     [Previous: 6th, -3]
10. Dylan Axelrod, RHP     [Previous: 19th, +9]
11. Jared Mitchell, OF     [Previous: 5th, -6]
12. Andre Rienzo, RHP     [Previous: 11th, -1]
13. Jhan Marinez, RHP     [NEW]
14. Gregory Infante, RHP     [Previous: 14th, no change]
15. Erik Johnson, RHP     [Previous: 17th, +2]
16. Charlie Leesman, LHP     [Previous: 15th, -1]
17. Pedro Hernandez, LHP     [NEW]
18. Andy Wilkins, 1B     [Previous: 13th, -5]
19. Scott Snodgress, LHP     [Previous: UNR]
20. Brandon Short, OF     [Previous: 12th, -8]
21. Jeff Soptic, RHP     [Previous: UNR]
22. Kevan Smith, C     [Previous: 24th, +2]
23. Ozzie Martinez, SS/2B     [NEW]
24. Ryan Buch, RHP     [Previous: 18th, -6]
25. Michael Blanke, C     [Previous: 32nd*, +7]

Oh my, this is crazy

Crazy White Sox stat: They're 14-11 against teams .500 or above, 6-15 against teams below .500.—
Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) May 21, 2011

Other White Sox links: James looks at the end of Sergio Santos’ scoreless streak in yesterday’s loss, Cheryl looks at today’s win, FutureSox looks on Ryan Buch’s promotion to Class-A+ Winston-Salem (Buch: 3.69 ERA, 3.75 FIP, 1.14 WHIP, .266 BABIP, 46.1 IP, 46 K, 17 BB) and thatshortkid attends a Birmingham Barons game at Regions park and writes about it.

Ryan Buch struck out 8 and walked 1 (April 13)

4/13:

Kannapolis Intimidators
Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Buch, R (W, 1-1)	6.0	5	2	1	1	8	0	1.50
Reed	2.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0.00
Negus	1.0	2	1	1	0	1	0	3.00

Groundouts-flyouts: Buch, R 8-1, Reed 0-2.
Batters faced: Buch, R 24, Reed 6.

From FutureSox’s Kannapolis Intimidators overview:

Buch has good stuff, including a hammer curve that acts as his out pitch, but has struggled with his control, and that will be the key to his development as a prospect. If he can learn to master the strike zone better, he could be in for a big breakout year.

FutureSox looks at the White Sox relieving pitching prospects

The relieving pitching prospects looked at were Chris Sale, Gregory Infante, Kyle Bellamy, Ryan Buch, and Santos Rodriguez:

Infante was recently cut from Major League camp, but figures to get some innings with the Sox at some point in 2011. After transitioning to the bullpen last season he showed major heat. His fastball sits mid to high 90s and has been clocked hitting triple digits. His curve is a good pitch, but Infante needs to be more consistent with it. He has the potential for a one-two punch of plus pitches. Of course, control is key and that will probably be the No. 1 thing to watch in Charlotte this year.

FutureSox’ White Sox Top 25 post-season prospects list [UPDATE]

FutureSox:

1. Chris Sale
2. Dayan Viciedo
3. Brent Morel
4. Jared Mitchell
5. Tyler Flowers
6. Trayce Thompson
7. Eduardo Escobar
8. Jacob Petricka
9. Jordan Danks
10. Addison Reed
…

UPDATE: Jim covers the White Sox Top 10 prospect list by Phil Rogers for Baseball America.

Ryan Buch throws a 1-hitter (5 K / 0 BB)

7/25:

Kannapolis
Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Buch, R (W, 3-0)	7.0	1	0	0	0	5	0	2.04
Ballinger, J (H, 3)	1.0	0	0	0	0	1	0	3.30
Santos, O (S, 7)	1.0	0	0	0	0	2	0	4.08

Smith @ MiLB.com:

… Building endurance has been key for the 2009 eighth-round pick, who began the season in the Intimidators’ bullpen. The White Sox sent him to extended spring training to become a starter, a role he filled at Monmouth University.

“Basically, they liked my pitches, so they sent me back to extended to get up to five innings,” he said.

The transition continued last month at Rookie-level Bristol, where he went 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA in four starts. Since returning to Kannapolis earlier this month, Buch is 2-0 with a 0.53 ERA in three starts.

“This was my longest outing,” he said. “I was around 12-13 pitches [an inning], maybe 15 sometimes. I got stronger as the game got going, but they’re taking it easy with me because I haven’t started in a couple of years.”

FutureSox’ Midseason Top 25 Prospects

Cassidy:

Rank	Player	Points	Previous	Change
1	Dan Hudson	179	1	unch
2	Dayan Viciedo	172	4	+2
3	Chris Sale	168	n/a	NEW
4	Tyler Flowers	161	2	-2
5	Jared Mitchell	156	5	unch

…

I’d rank them in this order: Hudson, Sale, Flowers, Mitchell, Viciedo.

Another Big Hurt?

Hayes @ TC:

At 6-foot-2 and 195-pounds Hollis doesn’t physically stand out from the rest of the players on the BriSox roster. But as a youngster growing up in Chicago, he stood much bigger than his peers. So much so, his parents and friends labeled him “The Big Hurt” the same nickname of famed White Sox slugger Frank Thomas.

That was quite a popular nickname in the Windy City during Hollis’ formative years.

His house sat 10 minutes from U.S. Cellular Field and he recalled hearing the fireworks that would be set off when the White Sox hit a home run or closed out another victory. …

Juan Silverio promoted to Class A Kannapolis Intimidators and more

Mansch @ GF Tribune:

The Voyagers, who open a three-game series tonight in Casper, Wyo., against the Ghosts, will be without star third baseman Juan Silverio, who Tuesday was promoted to Single-A Kannapolis in the Sally League. Silverio was hitting .299 with team-high totals of 26 hits, nine doubles, three homers, 16 RBIs and 44 total bases.Cron said he is happy for Silverio, a 19-year-old from the Dominican Republic.

“That’s kind of what it’s all about,” he said of the promotion. “Juan came here with a nice positive attitude and worked his tail off to produce. He did a great job for us and he deserves a chance to move up. At the same time I feel real good about the guys who are going to step in there.”

Hopefully things go better this time.

UPDATE: FutureSox’ has more.

Justin Edwards and Terry Doyle promoted

22-year old LHP Justin Edwards to AA and 24-year old RHP Terry Doyle to A+.

UPDATE: FutureSox breaks-down all the moves. Ryan Buch, and Juan Silverio were demoted to extended spring training.

FutureSox’ Top 25 White Sox prospects

FutureSox:

Rank	Player	Points	Previous	Change
1	Dan Hudson	208	2	1
2	Tyler Flowers	203	1	-1
3	Jordan Danks	194	4	1
4	Dayan Viciedo	186	3	-1
5	Jared Mitchell	184	6	1
6	Brent Morel	178	7	1

…

Ryan Buch hitting 96 mph

Ellis:

Ryan Buch has maybe the most powerful arm in the ‘pen. He hit 96 on the stadium gun but struggled with his control, walking two and punching two out. His stay in Kannapolis will be dictated by his K/BB ratio…

MLB.com’s 2010 Sox prospects and organization preview

Top 10 prospects:

Clevelan Santeliz, RHP: A setup man extraordinaire at Birmingham last summer, the Venezuelan prospect was added to the 40-man roster after posting an 0.96 ERA in 40 games and striking out 52 batters in 56 1/3 innings. He moved to the closer role at the end of the season and collected 10 saves. Throwing a fastball in the mid-90s and a plus slider, he pitches with a lot of energy and is a ton of fun to watch.

organization preview:

LHP David Holmberg (2[nd round]) is a high school star out of Florida who has four solid pitches, with a fastball that touches 90 mph, a 12-6 curve, a changeup and a slider. He also has a good feel for the mound.

RHP Kyle Bellamy (5) out of Miami is a fast-track prospect who combined for a 1.23 ERA in 20 games in relief between Bristol and Kannapolis, walking just two while striking out 32 in 22 innings. He limited hitters to a .169 average and then moved on to the Arizona Fall League, where he had a 1.59 ERA in five games.

RHP Justin Collop (6) out of Toledo had a 2.72 ERA in 15 games for Great Falls, striking out 33 in 39 2/3 innings and limiting Pioneer League hitters to a .257 average.

RHP Ryan Buch (8) out of Monmouth had the best fastball in the Draft class, one that touched the high 90s, as well as a curveball with plus potential. In 16 games in relief, he had a 3.38 ERA and limited hitters to a .183 average at Great Falls.

FutureSox reviews Sox Right-Handed pitching prospects (low minors)

Here’s what they have to say on Stephen Sauer:

What he needs to improve: Sauer is a polished prospect. He already has fantastic control of a low 90′s sinking fastball, he keeps the ball on the ground, doesn’t give up home runs and strikes out a fair number of batters. He will need to continue working on his changeup, however, to help combat left-handed hitters, who hit .321 against him last year (vs. .271 AVG for right handers). …

January 8 links

- Sox Minor Leaguer suspended 50 games

- Jim has some minor-league notes from Phil Rogers’ Baseball America chat (Trayce Thompson, Daniel Hudson, Clevelan Santeliz, John Ely, Dan Remenowsky, Josh Phegley, Santos Rodriguez, Charles Leesman, Sergio Santos, Jose Martinez, Ryan Buch).

- Fangraphs adds CHONE projections.

- Jonah Keri on Tim Raines.

- Dan Shaughnessy get the FJM treatment from Patrick Sullivan.

- Graph of starts/innings in 2009. And broken down by league.