White Sox Minor Keys: May 5, 2022

As he climbed the ladder from his origin as a 14th-round pick out of Texas Tech in the 2018 draft, Davis Martin posted impressive strikeout totals, but also concerning batting averages against.

As a 22-year-old, he struck out 156 batters against just 38 walks over 144⅔ innings ... but he also gave up 152 hits and 17 homers in Low-A despite being more advanced than the competition.

Two years and a pandemic later, he ran into the same issue at Winston-Salem: 78 strikeouts over 67⅔ innings, but 80 hits and nine homers allowed. The numbers painted a picture of a guy who had great control but subpar command, a flat fastball, or something of the sort.

Yet it's been a different story since advancing to Birmingham. He got a call-up late last year, partially necessitated by trades and promotions at Double-A, and responded by throwing 16 consecutive scoreless innings over the middle four of his six starts. When he returned to the Barons to open the season, he responded with more of the same, racking up 33 strikeouts against seven walks over 24 innings, this time only allowing 23 hits (even if four were homers).

It's hard to tell whether a promotion to Charlotte for a guy with his fly-ball tendencies is a reward or a punishment, but he's joining the Knights nevertheless.

James Fegan says Martin is sitting mid-90s, which is the simplest explanation for why he's getting more out of his fastball than ever before.

Gwinnett 3, Charlotte 2

• Adam Haseley went 1-for-4 with a homer and a strikeout.
• Yolbert Sánchez was 0-for-4 with a K.
• Yermín Mercedes made his first rehab start recovering from his hamate injury and went 0-for-3 with a walk.
• Micker Adolfo was 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
• Kade McClure took over as the second pitcher after Brandon Finnegan opened: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K

Birmingham 15, Tennessee 6

• Lenyn Sosa came up a triple short of the cycle during a 3-for-4 night, and he got plunked.

Highlights:

*Sosa's blast:

Hickory 7, Winston-Salem 4

• Bryan Ramos went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
• Luis Mieses and Harvin Mendoza both were 1-for-4.
• Andrew Dalquist: 2.2 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 2 K

Kannapolis 5, Down East 2

• James Beard went 1-for-4 with his second homer of the season.
• Wes Kath went 1-for-4 with a stolen base.
• DJ Gladney went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
• Chase Krogman, 0-for-2 with a walk and a strikeout.
• Cristian Mena: 4.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 9 K, 1 HR

Highlights:

*Wilber Sánchez's first homer was an inside-the-parker. The camera angles make it look spliced together from different games.