White Sox Minor Keys: June 21, 2019

7:00 AM CDT on June 21, 2019

What I think of when I think of Yermin Mercedes.

The second half of the minor-league season is underway, and as is customary, the White Sox used the break to arrange a slew of promotions between the affiliates. None of them are particularly high-profile, but a few players will get to see if their strong first halves can be duplicated against tougher competition.

Charlotte gets: C Yermin Mercedes, LHP Kyle Kubat

Mercedes isn't much of a catcher, but his 5-foot-11-inch frame and catcher speed doesn't leave him many other places to play. That said, he's hit .327/.389/.497 at Birmingham, so respect must be paid. I don't think he'll usurp Seby Zavala as the No. 1 option, but if Zavala gets hurt again, or if he doesn't show improvement in plate discipline, Mercedes won't be a waste of playing time as an alternative. Mercedes offers more entertainment, in the sense that he plays with a lot of charisma.

Kubat (2.05 ERA over 12 starts between Winston-Salem and Birmingham) automatically becomes the second-most interesting starter behind Dylan Cease despite a lack of strikeout stuff.

Birmingham gets: RHP Codi Heuer, LHP John Parke

Heuer's got live stuff, and managed to pitch 20 games at Winston-Salem without giving up a homer, which is an accomplishment. The 43 strikeouts to eight walks over 38⅓ innings isn't bad, either. Parke, a 21st-round draft pick two years ago, struck out just 32 batters over 69 innings.

Winston-Salem gets: RHP Jonathan Stiever, LHP Bennett Sousa, LHP Andrew Perez

Stiever is a more intriguing starter than Parke, although the 4.74 ERA doesn't show it. He's run hot and cold this year, or more correctly regarding the shape of this season, cold and hot. Perez and Sousa have both been successful out of the Kannapolis bullpen, with Perez posting gaudier strikeout rates in line with his college closer status.

The Intimidators announced no new players, although they should get a couple of rehabbers on their way if the bodies of Jake Burger and Tyler Johnson will cooperate.

Charlotte 6, Syracuse 1

Jon Jay went 3-for-5 with a strikeout.
Daniel Palka doubled, singled, walked and struck out.
Danny Mendick pushed his OPS back to .800 after going 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.
Rough Triple-A debut for Yermin Mercedes, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout and nine stranded.

Chattanooga 10, Birmingham 9

Luis Robert went 1-for-4 with a homer, a walk, two strikeouts and a stolen base.
Nick Madrigal went 2-for-5.
Luis Gonzalez, 1-for-5 with a double.
Gavin Sheets was 1-for-4.
Blake Rutherford, 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
Luis Basabe doubled in his only at-bat.
Laz Rivera went 0-for-2 with a walk and a sac fly.
Blake Battenfield: 4 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HB
Codi Heuer: 2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
Zack Burdi: 0.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K

Winston-Salem 3, Lynchburg 0

Carlos Perez went 1-for-4.
Kade McClure: 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K

Kannapolis 3, Augusta 0

Lenyn Sosa went 2-for-4 with a double.
Bryce Bush, 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
Corey Zangari was 1-for-4 with a stolen base.
Romy Gonzalez went 0-for-2 with a walk, strikeout and stolen base.
Luis Curbelo struck out all three times.
Davis Martin: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K, 1 WP

Billings 2, Great Falls 0 (5½ innings, rain)

Camilo Quintero had all the Voyagers' hits while going 2-for-3. He was caught stealing.
Luis Mieses and Sam Abbott were both 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
Anderson Comas, 0-for-2.
Lency Delgado struck out both times up.
Kleyder Sanchez was 0-for-1 with a walk.

AZL White Sox 11, AZL Brewers Blue 10 (14 innings)

Misael Gonzalez went 3-for-7 with a walk and two strikeouts.
Sidney Pimentel went 1-for-7 with a walk and two strikeouts.
Jose Rodriguez, 3-for-7 with a triple two strikeouts.
D.J. Gladney was 3-for-7 with a homer two doubles, two strikeouts and a sac fly.
Anthony Coronado was 2-for-6 with a triple, double and HBP.
Jacob Lindgren: 0.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 1 K
Tyler Johnson: 1 IP, 3 H 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Outfielder Jonathan Allen picked up the win: 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K