White Sox Minor Keys: Aug. 9, 2023

The arrival of Jacob Gonzalez and other first-round picks in Kannapolis forced a number of promotions elsewhere, and there are a couple I'm watching in order to better assess some off-the-radar potential.

Birmingham: Tim Elko is the new everyday first baseman for Birmingham, which is probably best for Luis Mieses, who nearly lost his arm in an awkward collision there. Elko, who beat up both levels of A-ball as a 24-year-old ...

• KAN: .297/.360/.556 over 66 games
• W-S: .319/.374/.569 over 31 games
• Total: .297/.360/.556, 22 2B, 4 3B, 22 HR, 85 RBI, 36 BB, 121 K

... will get something much closer to an age-appropriate test with the Barons. Terrell Tatum preceded him in a similar situation, and he went from .268/.434/.421 with a 25-percent strikeout rate with the Dash to .244/.367/.336 and 28 percent with the Barons.

Winston-Salem: Brooks Baldwin, the 2022 12th-rounder who hit .245/.338/.445 while playing all over the diamond with Kannapolis, has started his first two games at shortstop for the Dash. He does a little bit of everything and can run hot, but good weeks tend be balanced out by quiet ones in short order. He turns 23 next week.

Gwinnett 9, Charlotte 3

• Lenyn Sosa went 1-for-4 with a double.
• Korey Lee, 2-for-4 with a strikeout.
• Adam Hackenberg was 0-for-4 with a K.

Birmingham 12, Montgomery 3

• José Rod'riguez drove in five runs while going 3-for-6 with two stolen bases and two strikeouts.
• Colson Montgomery, 1-for-3 with two walks.
• Bryan Ramos homered for the third straight game, and also doubled and walked during a 3-for-4 night.
• Wilfred Veras, 2-for-5 with a homer and a strikeout.
• Edgar Quero went 2-for-4 with a double and a walk.
• Luis Mieses went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
• Terrell Tatum, 1-for-5 with a strikeout and a stolen base.
• Yoelqui Céspedes singled, walked twice and struck out twice.
• Nick Nastrini: 5.2 IP, 4 H, 3 RE, 3 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 1 WP, 1 HBP, 64 of 91 pitches for strikes.

Highlights:

*Ramos' blast:

*Nastrini had some moments:

Rome 9, Winston-Salem 8

• Jacob Burke went 3-for-5 with an HBP.
• Loidel Chapelli, 1-for-6 with two strikeouts and a stolen base.
• Brooks Baldwin went 0-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.
• DJ Gladney went 1-for-4 with a homer, a sac fly and two strikeouts.
• Wes Kath went 1-for-4 with a walk and two strikeouts.

Down East 10, Kannapolis 4

• Jacob Gonzalez went 0-for-5.
• Calvin Haris, 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout.
• Eddie Park was 1-for-4.
• Jordan Sprinkle, 2-for-4 with a strikeout.
• Aldrin Batista: 5 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 2 WP, 49 of 66 pitches for strikes.

Highlights:

*A first look at Aldrin Batista: