The farm had a helluva day, with only Charlotte falling short, three exciting wins, and a dominant start from Noah Schultz at Birmingham. What a fun update!
Round Rock 8, Charlotte Knights 6 (Statcast Box)
Sad to say, we start with a loss, as Charlotte were failed by MLB vets to the tune of 6 ⅓ combined innings and five earned runs. So, sorry, let’s skip the pitching and get to the most exciting news of the night: Colson Montgomery climbing better than .200 with a 4-for-4 effort that included two doubles (OK, both were gifts) and two homers (NOT gifts).
It was his best game of the year by far. Perhaps he’ll see time in Chicago this year yet.
Also notable, for a player who will surely see Chicago in 2025: Kyle Teel saw his hitting streak snapped in an 0-for-3 effort, but walked twice to extend his on-base streak to 31 games.
Poll
The only loss of the day still had an MVP. Who was the top Knight?
Colson Montgomery: 4-for-4, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, BB, 2 hard hits, 36.0% WPA
Brooks Baldwin: 3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, K, CS, 3 hard hits
Dominic Fletcher: 2-for-4, R, 2B, K
Tristan Gray: IP, H, BB
0%
Colson Montgomery: 4-for-4, 2 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, BB, 2 hard hits, 36.0% WPA
(0 votes)
0%
Brooks Baldwin: 3-for-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, K, CS, 3 hard hits
(0 votes)
0%
Dominic Fletcher: 2-for-4, R, 2B, K
(0 votes)
0%
Tristan Gray: IP, H, BB
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Poll
Who took Cold Cat honors for the Knights?
Keone Kela: 1 ⅓ IP, 2 H, 3 ER, BB, 2 K
Caleb Freeman: 1 ⅔ IP, 3 H, ER, K, HR
Andrew Vaughn: 0-for-4, BB, K, GIDP, E
Tim Elko: 1-for-5, RBI, 2 K
Chris Getz: Stocking an organization insufficiently as to have a scumbag retread veteran start the game and so few bullpen options as to use a position player pitching the ninth inning in a two-run game, well done everybody
0%
Keone Kela: 1 ⅓ IP, 2 H, 3 ER, BB, 2 K
(0 votes)
0%
Caleb Freeman: 1 ⅔ IP, 3 H, ER, K, HR
(0 votes)
0%
Andrew Vaughn: 0-for-4, BB, K, GIDP, E
(0 votes)
0%
Tim Elko: 1-for-5, RBI, 2 K
(0 votes)
0%
Chris Getz: Stocking an organization insufficiently as to have a scumbag retread veteran start the game and so few bullpen options as to use a position player pitching the ninth inning in a two-run game, well done everybody
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Birmingham Barons 2, Pensacola Blue Wahoos 0
In what we’ll presume is the best start of Noah Schultz’s 2025 and thus his pro career, the universal White Sox No. 1 prospect went five innings and yielded just one hit, whittling his ERA down to less than 4.00.
This is the first one-hit effort lasting at least five innings of Schultz’s career. Twice earlier this season he went five scoreless innings, and in neither game did he walk a batter (there were three free passes tonight), but those games were five- and three-hitters. OK, so Schultz has had three outstanding scoreless games this season.
Among hitters, what new, it’s William Bergolla, continuing to lap all the Barons returnees and setting his sights on Charlotte sooner than later; three singles in five at-bats brought the average back to .280. Michael Turner was outstanding as well, with two singles and a double in four ABs.
Poll
Who takes the MVP for Birmingham tonight?
Noah Schultz: 5 IP, H, 3 BB, 4 K, WIN (3-2), E, 36.9% WPA
Jared Kelley: 2 IP, H, 3 K, HOLD (4), 19.4% WPA
Peyton Pallette: IP, 2 K, SAVE (8), 8-of-9 strikes
William Bergolla: 3-for-5, R, SB
Michael Turner: 3-for-4, 2B, PB
Ryan Galanie: 1-for-4, BB, K, SB
0%
Noah Schultz: 5 IP, H, 3 BB, 4 K, WIN (3-2), E, 36.9% WPA
(0 votes)
0%
Jared Kelley: 2 IP, H, 3 K, HOLD (4), 19.4% WPA
(0 votes)
0%
Peyton Pallette: IP, 2 K, SAVE (8), 8-of-9 strikes
(0 votes)
0%
William Bergolla: 3-for-5, R, SB
(0 votes)
0%
Michael Turner: 3-for-4, 2B, PB
(0 votes)
0%
Ryan Galanie: 1-for-4, BB, K, SB
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Poll
Who was the Cold Cat in Birmingham?
0%
Jacob Burke: 0-for-3, SAC
(0 votes)
0%
Jake Podkul: 1-for-4, 3 K, E
(0 votes)
0%
Wilfred Veras: 1-for-4, 2 K
(0 votes)
0%
DJ Gladney: 0-for-4, 2 K, RF assist at 1B
(0 votes)
0%
Caden Connor: 0-for-4, K
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Winston-Salem Italian Beef 5, Hudson Valley Renegades 4
One of the more amazing walk-offs you’ll see this or any year, given Winston-Salem entered the bottom of the ninth down, 4-0. And this, of all teams, was the 14-29 Dash Beef practically sprinting to loss No. 30.
Let’s break right to the action. The ninth started with a single by Jackson Appel, pushed to second by a Wes Kath walk. Jordan Sprinkle stepped up, and with an 0-1 count, crushed his first home run of the season:
The assault continued, as the tying run got to second base on Samuel Zavala’s double (the speedy Zavala was removed for a pinch runner in Terrell Tatum, so there may have been an injury on the play). Cole McConnell lifted a single to center that fell in but kept Tatum from scoring. With runners on the corners, Jeral Pérez struck out, setting up Braden Montgomery for a hero turn:
As broadcast, Montgomery is the Winston-Salem hero “again”; playing his first professional season, Braden has proven himself the highest-leverage performer among all the White Sox bats, from the DSL all the way up to the South Side.
Poll
Who earns the MVP for the Italian Beef tonight?
Braden Montgomery: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 2B, BB, 2 K, 52.8% WPA
Samuel Zavala: 1-for-3, 2B, HBP, 22.2% WPA
Jordan Sprinkle: 1-for-4, R, HR, 3 RBI
Mark McLaughlin: 2 IP, H, BB, 2 K, WP, WIN (1-2)
Arxy Hernández: 2-for-4, 2 K, E
Morris Austin: IP, BB, 2 K
Wes Kath: 0-for-2, R, 2 BB
0%
Braden Montgomery: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, 2B, BB, 2 K, 52.8% WPA
(0 votes)
0%
Samuel Zavala: 1-for-3, 2B, HBP, 22.2% WPA
(0 votes)
0%
Jordan Sprinkle: 1-for-4, R, HR, 3 RBI
(0 votes)
0%
Mark McLaughlin: 2 IP, H, BB, 2 K, WP, WIN (1-2)
(0 votes)
0%
Arxy Hernández: 2-for-4, 2 K, E
(0 votes)
0%
Morris Austin: IP, BB, 2 K
(0 votes)
0%
Wes Kath: 0-for-2, R, 2 BB
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Poll
Who Beefed themselves into a Cold Cat on Saturday?
Jake Bockenstedt: 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, HR, WP, HB
Clete Hartzog: IP, H, ER, BB, K
0%
Jake Bockenstedt: 4 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, HR, WP, HB
(0 votes)
0%
Clete Hartzog: IP, H, ER, BB, K
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers 6, Columbia Fireflies 5
So interestingly, the Cannon Ballers answered the late High-A comeback with their very own, more modest, late rally to win. Rather than a five-run outburst in last bats, however, Kanny came through with the deciding tally in the bottom of the eighth, as Nathan Archer tripled with two outs and came home on a Mikey Kane single. With the exception of Jonathan Clark (ironically handed the win despite blowing the save and overseeing the Fireflies rally to tie), the CBs arms were resplendent.
Poll
Who takes the MVP in Kanny tonight?
Mikey Kane: 2-for-4, GWRBI, K, 24.6% WPA
Wilber Sánchez: 2-for-3, 2 R, SB, HBP, K, E, 18.6% WPA
Luis Reyes: 4 IP, 2 H, R, 2 BB, 5 K, E
Blake Shepardson: IP, R, 3 K, HB
Jack Young: IP, SAVE (3)
Ronny Hernandez: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2B, K, E, 0-for-2 CS
Calvin Harris: 2-for-4, R, RBI
Lyle Miller-Green: 1-for-3, RBI, BB
0%
Mikey Kane: 2-for-4, GWRBI, K, 24.6% WPA
(0 votes)
0%
Wilber Sánchez: 2-for-3, 2 R, SB, HBP, K, E, 18.6% WPA
(0 votes)
0%
Luis Reyes: 4 IP, 2 H, R, 2 BB, 5 K, E
(0 votes)
0%
Blake Shepardson: IP, R, 3 K, HB
(0 votes)
0%
Jack Young: IP, SAVE (3)
(0 votes)
0%
Ronny Hernandez: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 2B, K, E, 0-for-2 CS
(0 votes)
0%
Calvin Harris: 2-for-4, R, RBI
(0 votes)
0%
Lyle Miller-Green: 1-for-3, RBI, BB
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Poll
Time for a Kanny Cold Cat!
Jonathan Clark: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 K, HR, 2 WP, HB, WIN (1-0), BLOWN SAVE (2)
Liam Paddack: IP, 2 H, ER, WP, BALK, HOLD (3)
Ryan Burrowes: 0-for-3, K, SAC
George Wolkow: 1-for-4, picked off 2B
0%
Jonathan Clark: 2 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 K, HR, 2 WP, HB, WIN (1-0), BLOWN SAVE (2)
(0 votes)
0%
Liam Paddack: IP, 2 H, ER, WP, BALK, HOLD (3)
(0 votes)
0%
Ryan Burrowes: 0-for-3, K, SAC
(0 votes)
0%
George Wolkow: 1-for-4, picked off 2B
(0 votes)
0 votes total
ACL White Sox 3, ACL Rangers 2 (10 innings)
Another game that the White Sox almost lost late, as the Rangers rallied to tie with two runs in the eighth. But another game where the Good Guys prevailed, this time in extras in the desert. Now, to be fair, it was a couple of defensive breakdowns (passed ball, error) that led to the tie, so the Complex Sox arms were mostly beyond reproach in the game. And one good turn deserves another, as the Sox walk-off came on a sac bunt from Marcelo Alcala, as pitcher Jaiker García threw wildly and allowed Manfred Man Jurdrick Profar to score from second base. There is justice, as errors by Profar and Alcala on the same play in the eighth is what knotted the contest in the first place.
Oh, also notable: The White Sox were 10-of-10 in stolen bases, while the Rangers were cut down in their only steal attempt over the 10 innings.
Poll
One more round, let’s pick a Complex MVP.
Matt Hogan: 1-for-2, 2 BB, RBI, K, 2 SB
Mason Dinesen: 2-for-3, BB, K, 3 SB, picked off 3B
Fabian Ysalla: 4 IP, 5 H, BB, 3 K, BALK
Reudis Diaz: IP, H, HB, 2 K, HOLD (3)
Jeremy Gonzalez: 2 IP, H, BB, 2 K, WIN (2-1)
Denny Lima: IP
0%
Matt Hogan: 1-for-2, 2 BB, RBI, K, 2 SB
(0 votes)
0%
Mason Dinesen: 2-for-3, BB, K, 3 SB, picked off 3B
(0 votes)
0%
Fabian Ysalla: 4 IP, 5 H, BB, 3 K, BALK
(0 votes)
0%
Reudis Diaz: IP, H, HB, 2 K, HOLD (3)
(0 votes)
0%
Jeremy Gonzalez: 2 IP, H, BB, 2 K, WIN (2-1)
(0 votes)
0 votes total
Poll
Who was the Complex Cold Cat?
Adrian Gil: 0-for-4, K, PB, 1-for-1 CS
Marcelo Alcala: 0-for-4, R, 2 K, E, SB
Stiven Flores: 0-for-4
Grant Smith: 0-for-4, 2 K
T.J. McCants: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K, SB
0%
Adrian Gil: 0-for-4, K, PB, 1-for-1 CS
(0 votes)
0%
Marcelo Alcala: 0-for-4, R, 2 K, E, SB
(0 votes)
0%
Stiven Flores: 0-for-4
(0 votes)
0%
Grant Smith: 0-for-4, 2 K
(0 votes)
0%
T.J. McCants: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K, SB
(0 votes)
0 votes total