Back during prospect-ranking season, I was tempted to leave Norge Vera out of my top 10 White Sox prospects list, because on top of the relatively short track record and significant durability concerns, his late-season showings were terrible.
There just wasn't another 10th prospect I felt strongly about -- the ones I was most intrigued by, I hadn't actually seen -- so I settled for ranking Vera 10th while referring to the system as a top nine, and half-thanking Keith Law for ranking Vera 17th when I talked to him on the podcast.
Anyway, a fresh season is upon us, and while Vera said he wants to hit 100 innings in 2023, it might take him until 2025 if Wednesday was any indication. Vera only lasted two-thirds of an inning, walking four of the six batters he faced while throwing just 12 of 32 pitches for strikes. The velocity wasn't there, either.
Jacksonville 3, Charlotte 1
- Carlos Pérez went 0-for-4.
- AJ Alexy's start could've been worse: 3 IP, 2 H,. 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR, 34 of 64 pitches for strikes.
- Alex Colomé is back: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Notes:
*Besides Colomé, the White Sox also signed former Cardinal reliever Daniel Ponce de Leon to a minor-league deal and assigned him to Charlotte.
Birmingham 3, Rocket City 2 (10 innings)
- José Rodríguez went 0-for-4 with a walk.
- Luis Mieses was 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
- Yoelqui Céspedes drew three walks (one intentional) and struck out once during an 0-for-2 night.
- Adam Hackenberg was 1-for-4 with a walk.
Notes:
*Bryan Ramos' groin soreness has officially landed him on the 7-day IL.
Winston-Salem 12, Brooklyn 7
- Terrell Tatum went 2-for-3 with a homer, two walks and a stolen base.
- Loidel Chapellí was 2-for-4 with a homer and two strikeouts.
- DJ Gladney, 1-for-4 with a stolen base.
- Wes Kath walked once and struck out thrice.
- Norge Vera: 0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 1 K
Highlights:
*Here's another Chapellí blast.
Delmarva 12, Kannapolis 2
- Jordan Sprinkle went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Shane Murphy: 4 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
