With the launching of the Arizona Complex League and Dominican Summer League seasons, the Minor Keys are now a seven-days-a-week affair. There isn't much in the way of stars studding these rosters, so make sure you check out James Fox's deep-diving previews of both:
Since those affiliates have been covered comprehensively within the last 24 hours while the others were idle, here's an opportunity to give Steele Walker a nod for his MLB debut on Sunday.
The White Sox's second-round pick in the 2018 draft went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts, but the fact that he has major-league stats is an accomplishment in and of itself, considering his career very well could've hit a wall between the cancellation of the 2020 season and a thoroughly unremarkable age-24 season between Double-A and Triple-A.
He rallied to hit .297/.395/.487 over 20 games at Triple-A Round Rock, and with nine walks against just 11 strikeouts over 86 plate appearances, so he earned his audition.
With Walker and Konnor Pilkington recently getting their first chances at staking a claim to an MLB job and Nick Madrigal returning from a back injury, all of the White Sox's first three picks are in the majors. The problem is that they're helping other teams, and the White Sox received precious little in return for their services. Madrigal was traded for Craig Kimbrel, Walker for Nomar Mazara, and Pilkington for César Hernández.
As for the rest of the 2018 draft class, 14th-round pick Davis Martin is the White Sox's last best chance for sustained contributions unless 18th-round pick Romy Gonzalez can right the ship, or 10th-round pick Bennett Sousa distinguishes himself as more than a fungible lefty. Fifth-round pick Jonathan Stiever is also still in the picture, but he has to prove that he can rediscover his old form after lat surgery.
ACL Mariners 8, ACL White Sox 2
- Cam Butler went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Dario Borrero, 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.
- This might be the only Elijah Tatis update this year: 0-for-4 with four strikeouts.
- Manuel Veloz: 4 IP, 7 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 2 K, 2 HR, 1 WP
- Carlos Hinestroza: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR, 1 HBP
- Anderson Comas is pitching now: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
DSL White Sox 9, DSL Giants Orange 5
- Ryan Burrowes went 2-for-4 with a double, walk, HBP, strikeout and stolen base.
- Ronny Hernandez went 1-for-4 with a strikeout and a sac fly.
- Carlos Jimenez, 1-for-3 with a double and a strikeout. He also reached on catcher interferences.
- Leandro Alsiinois: 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
