Jacob Gonzalez finally received his traditional welcome to the White Sox organization, speaking to the media and throwing out the first pitch before Saturday's game, then appearing in the television booth during it.
It used to be that players made their way to Guaranteed Rate Field before reporting to an affiliate, but Gonzalez logged the standard post-draft half-season, and it was a quiet one. He hit .207/.329/.261 over 30 games with Kannapolis. The strike-zone judgment was there -- 20 walks against 23 strikeouts -- but the impact contact was lacking.
So Gonzalez was in the weird position of having to answer to doubts, but the only write-up I've seen thus far was a couple paragraphs in a James Fegan sidebar.
“Everyone questions my defense always,” Gonzalez said. “Ground balls are a lot of fun. It’s fun to get better that way. This past season I didn’t hit that good. It’s not going to be the same. I’m going to hit better than that. Just working on how my body moves when I’m hitting and perfecting it so that it’s easier.”
Gonzalez scuffled to a .207/.329/.261 batting line at Low-A Kannapolis after being selected out of Ole Miss with the 15th overall pick. He cited adjusting to the velocity of professional pitching as his biggest issue so far.
He also talked to Len Kasper and Steve Stone, where he mentioned only hitting three homers in high school.
I really don't want Keith Law's initial read on Gonzalez as a professional to be the prevailing one, but Gonzalez hasn't yet upset it.
Charlotte 9, Nashville 3
- José Rodríguez went 0-for-5.
- Oscar Colás was 1-for-3 with a walk.
- Adam Hackenberg went 2-for-4 with a strikeout.
Birmingham 8, Chattanooga 6
- Alsander Womack went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
- Colson Montgomery was 3-for-5 with two doubles.
- Bryan Ramos, 2-for-3 with a homer and two walks.
- Wilfred Veras was 1-for-5 with a double and a strikeout.
- Edgar Quero, 1-for-5 with a K.
- Tim Elko singled, hit a sac fly and struck out twice.
- Luis Mieses went 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Terrell Tatum, 1-for-4 with two strikeouts.
- Matthew Thompson: 5 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 9 K, 3 HR, 53 of 86 pitches for strikes.
Highlights:
*Montgomery's second double:
*Ramos' homer:
