Now that the trade deadline has passed — with a whimper, in Chicago, at least — the only help that the White Sox can get is in Charlotte or possibly Birmingham. So it is a good time to check in on the status of the guys on the Knights’ squad who are on the 40-man roster.
The Hitters
Jake Burger was returned to the Knights on Tuesday to open a roster spot for Luis Robert. In early July, he went on the IL with a hand bruise. And then on the day he was set to begin a rehab (the weekend before the All-Star break), he became ill and went back on the shelf, until finally returning to the lineup last week.
Adam Haseley was the Knights’ hottest hitter when he was called up to the White Sox in mid June, before returning to the Knights about two weeks later. He went 5-20 in the brief call-up. Haseley continued to hit well upon his return until a 7-42 stretch cratered his stats, though he still seems to be swinging the bat well, as evidenced by home run #12 on Tuesday night and #13 last night. He’s also 14-15 in stolen bases.
Lenyn Sosa found his way onto the 40-man after a surprise call-up from Birmingham in late June. Five days later, he was sent to Charlotte, where he started 7-18 and looked like quite the star. But he has since cooled, with a slash line of .228/.278/.310 and minimal power, with just seven extra-base hits, six doubles and one homer, which he hit last night.
Romy Gonzalez is the last non-pitcher in Charlotte on the 40-man. It has been a lost season thusfar for last year’s sensation, as illness rather than injury has hampered the middle infielder. But he had his tonsils out just before the All-Star break, and then went to Arizona, where he continues working out to get back into game shape. He could return to the lineup this week.
The Pitchers
There are four relievers on the 40-man: Yoan Aybar, Anderson Severino, Bennett Sousa and Tobias Myers, and it hasn’t been particularly pretty for the quartet this season. Myers was picked up Tuesday by the Sox after he was released by the Giants, added to the 40-man and assigned to Charlotte. Severino and Sousa, meanwhile, have shown great promise, but 40-man spots are valuable, and relievers tend to be most vulnerable. (And Jose Rodriguez, Bryan Ramos and Yolbert Sanchez are among those needing spots this off-season.)
Jason Bilous is the newest member of the 40-man roster to join the Knights, getting a promotion on Tuesday. A starter in Birmingham, Bilous is a welcome addition to a staff that routinely trots out seven, eight or even nine relievers a night. A 13th round draft pick of the Sox in 2018, Bilous earned a 40-man spot after demonstrating improved control in 2021 in Birmingham. His best pitches are a mid-90s fastball with ride and a low-80s slider, as well as a curve and change-up. He makes his Knights' debut tonight.
The Others
They’re not on the 40-man, but a here’s a quick look at a handful of other guys worth noting.
First up is is the Knights’ sparkplug, Mark Payton. He leads the team in batting average (.284) and extra-base hits (38), and is second in runs (52) and home runs (13).
Pacing the team in runs (54) is swiss-army-knife Zach Remillard, who has played first, second, third, short and left so far this season. Remillard leads the team in OBP (.363) and is second on the team with 13 stolen bases. Remillard flies under the radar but is one of the Knights’ most clutch hitters, with a batting average of .306 with runners in scoring position.
Yolbert Sanchez, meanwhile, appears to be still adjusting to Triple-A pitching. Through 71 games, he’s got a slash line of .266/.316/.331, with three homers and nine doubles.
Yet another player who was promoted this year to Charlotte from Birmingham, Tyler Neslony, also continues to find his footing in Charlotte. He’s 6-39 so far with no extra-base hits.
One Knights’ reliever also worth noting is Hunter Schryver. Opponents are hitting just .178 and he has a WHIP of 1.17.
Roster News
It was a busy day on Tuesday in Charlotte.
--Burger was assigned to Charlotte to clear a roster spot for Luis Robert.
--Vince Velasquez began a rehab assignment with a hitless inning of relief.
--Lane Ramsey was activated off the IL and pitched an inning, giving up two hits and an earned run in his return.
--Bilous was promoted from Birmingham.
--Myers was picked up and assigned to Charlotte. Drafted by the Orioles in 2016, Myers was traded to the Rays a year later, where he showed promise before being traded this year to Cleveland. He was released, picked up by the Giants, released again, and now becomes yet another project in Matt Zaleski's bullpen.
--Struggling reliever Yacksel Rios was released.
--On Tuesday night, the Knights played their 100th game of the season, falling to Gwinnett in Charlotte, 6-3, for a record of 36-64.
