For the Chicago White Sox, Adam Engel is on a 4 game hitting streak. Corey Ray and Nick Solak squared off against each other this week in the Southern League All-Star game, while Will Smith had a monster week at the plate with 4 home runs in 4 consecutive games. Lincoln Henzman earned a promotion from the White Sox and is now pitching for the Winston-Salem Dash.
Devin Hairston was also promoted this week by the Brewers to the Carolina Mudcats in the Carolina League with Henzman. At High A, Drew Ellis is currently riding a 5 game hitting streaks since returning from the All-Star break.
Weekly statistics are from the week of 6/19-6/25/2018
Major Leagues
Adam Duvall had his best week of the year with 8 hits in 7 games, including 3 doubles, 1 home run and 5 RBI’s for a Reds team that is playing great baseball right now. After hitting .364 this week, Duvall has brought his season average up to .203 to go along with 13 doubles, 12 home runs, 43 RBI’s and 24 runs scored.
Adam Engel is riding a 4 game hitting streak with 4 hits in his last 4 games, with 1 double, 2 RBI’s and a stolen base. Last year strikeouts plagued Engel’s first season in the bigs but so far this year he has been a much more disciplined hitter and only has 58 strikeouts in 204 At Bats.
Chad Green struck out 6 batters in 2 appearances this week in 3 innings. In his first outing, he went 1 inning, struck out 2 and gave up 2 hits. His second time out he went 2 tremendous innings, striking out 4 and not allowing a base runner. June is not over yet but to this point, Green has 15 strikeouts in 10.1 innings and has yet to give up a run.
Nick Burdi was placed on the 60-day Disabled List by the Pittsburgh Pirates at the beginning of the season.
AAA
Matt Koch was sent down to AAA on June 20th and made one start on the 24th. He went deep into the 7th inning striking out 3 and giving up 2 runs in his start this week for Reno.
Kyle McGrath pitched twice this week and did not allow a run in 2.1 innings for the Chihuahuas. It appears that McGrath is getting back in a groove and may find himself back with the Padres in the near future. In 22 games he has totaled 28 strikeouts in 27 innings and in his last 11 appearances has not allowed a run which has helped lower his season ERA to a modest 3.33.
Josh Rogers started twice this week and did not factor into either decision despite going 6 strong innings both times. His two starts were nearly identical, both against Lehigh Valley, one home and one on the road, and in both, he allowed 2 runs. After a couple of rough starts at the beginning of June, Rogers has finished the month on a high note and is now 6-5 with an ERA of 3.32, a WHIP of 1.28 to go along with 71 strikeouts in 86.2 innings.
Cole Sturgeon had 1 hit in 3 games this week that knocked in a run. On the season he is hitting .290/.355/.444, 12 doubles, 1 triple, 8 home runs, 29 RBI’s, and 29 Runs scored between AA and AAA.
Dean Kiekhefer struck out 3 in 2 innings during his long outing this week for Oakland’s Nashville Sounds, which was a good bounce back from the way last week ended.
Chris Dominguez recorded 2 hits in 4 games as his whoos continue this season. For Syracuse, Dominguez is batting .178/.225/.308 with 6 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 10 RBI’s and 10 Runs scored.
Zack Burdi is starting this season on the Disabled List as he recovers from Tommy John Surgery.
AA
Jeff Arnold did not have a hit despite playing in 3 games for Richmond. Coming into this week, Arnold was riding a 4 game hitting streak that included 2 multi-hit games. At AA this year he has 3 doubles, 1 home run, 5 RBI’s and 5 Runs scored.
Derek Self did not allow a run in 2 appearances for Harrisburg where he totaled 3 innings and 3 strikeouts, all three of those coming in the 2.2 innings he pitched the first time out. After 23 games, Self has 25 strikeouts in 28 innings and a 2.89 ERA to go along with a 1.04 WHIP.
Kyle Funkhouser took the loss this week even though he struck out 6 in 4.2 innings and only gave up 2 runs. The month of June has been a really good one for him as he is 4-1 in 5 starts with 28 strikeouts in 22.2 innings for the Erie SeaWolves.
Nick Solak had 4 hits and 4 stolen bases to start the second half of the season after playing in the All-Star game early in the week. 69 games into his 2nd full season of professional baseball, Solak has 14 stolen bases, 50 Runs Scored, 11 doubles, 2 triples, 10 Home Runs, 44 RBI’s and is slashing .292/.399/.462.
Corey Ray squared off against Solak early in the week in the Southern League All-Star game but only has 2 hits in 4 games since the break. Ray has 20 doubles, 5 triples, 9 home runs, 31 RBI’s, 43 Runs Scored, 18 stolen bases while hitting .245/.340/.441.
Will Smith had a very powerful week and was named to the MiLB Pipeline team of the week after 4 consecutive games with a home run for Tulsa. Since coming off the DL at the beginning of the month, Smith has 2 doubles, 7 home runs, and 13 RBI’s and is really hitting his stride as the first half of the Texas League winds down.
Grant Kay was placed on the 7 day DL at the start of the season.
Jared Ruxer was released on 5/23 by the Kansas City Royals
Joe Filomeno was released on 4/23 by the Texas Rangers.
A Advanced
Drew Ellis totaled 8 hits and is currently on a 5 game hitting streak since returning from the California League All-Star Break. During this streak, Ellis has 3 multi-hit games, 2 doubles, 1 home run, and 3 RBI’s. After 66 games this year, Ellis is hitting .263/.343/.461 with 21 doubles, 9 home runs, 43 RBI’s and 32 Runs Scored. With numbers like that, I’m not sure how Ellis was left off of an All-Star game roster this year.
Lincoln Henzman was promoted to the Winston-Salem Dash on June 21st and since that promotion has pitched once, going 1 inning and giving up 1 earned run. Unlike his first 13 games this season, Henzman came on in relief for his A-Advanced debut.
Devin Hairston was also promoted to the Carolina Mudcats on June 21st and has 2 hits in 3 games since his promotion. Before he was moved up, Hairston had batted .218/.349/.266 with 2 doubles, 2 triples, 12 RBI’s, 18 Runs Scored and 2 stolen bases.
Jeff Thompson pitched twice this week, totaling 1 strikeout in 3 innings, while only giving up 1 earned run. Since being moved down to Lakeland, Thompson has 3 strikeouts in 6.1 innings, a 9.95 ERA and a WHIP of 2.53.
Brendan McKay was placed on the 7 Day Disabled List this week.
A
Blake Tiberi collected 5 hits in 5 games this week including back to back games with a jack as he rides a 5 game hitting streak coming out of the South Atlantic League All-Star Break. Tiberi has 9 doubles, 3 home runs, 18 RBI’s, 41 runs scored, 3 stolen bases while averaging .246/.377/.325.
Colby Fitch hit safely in 3 of 4 games for the BlueClaws. 36 games into this season, Fitch is averaging .256/.356/.424 with 8 doubles, 2 triples, 3 home runs, 16 RBI’s, and 22 runs scored.
Drew Harrington was released by the Atlanta Braves on June 9th but signed by the Chicago White Sox on June 18th and pitched once for Kannapolis going 2.1 innings, striking out 2 while only giving up 1 hit.
Devin Mann was assigned to the Great Lakes Loons and 7 games into his professional career is hitting .318/.360/.318 with 2 RBI’s, 2 stolen bases and 1 run scored.
Kade McClure was placed on the 7 day DL on May 14th.
Dace Kime retired from professional baseball on June 16th.
A Short Season
Josh Stowers is playing with the Everett AquaSox and already has 2 doubles, 1 home run, 4 RBI’s, 2 stolen bases, and 3 runs scored while slashing .308/.438/.692 through 4 games.
Rookie Level
Adam Wolf has started one game going 3 innings, striking out 2 and not allowing a run pitching for the GCL Tigers.
Liam Jenkins has thrown 1 inning, struck out 1 batter and surrendered 1 run so far in his professional career with the AZL Indians.
Austin Conway has pitched twice, totaling 3 innings with 3 strikeouts, in relief for the AZL White Sox.
Logan Taylor was released on June 2nd by the Chicago White Sox.
2018 Draft Picks
*Josh Stowers was selected in the 2nd round, 54th overall, to the Seattle Mariners.
*Adam Wolf was drafted by the Detroit Tigers at 135 overall, in the 5th round.
*Devin Mann was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers, 164th overall, in the 5th round.
Riley Thompson was taken in the 11th round by the Chicago Cubs with pick number 338.
*Sam Bordner was drafted by the Miami Marlins, 477 overall in the 16th round.
*Liam Jenkins was drafted in the 17th round, 523 overall, by the Cleveland Indians.
*Austin Conway was taken 918 overall in the 31st round by the Chicago White Sox.
Bryan Hoeing was selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 36th round, 1066 overall.
* players who have signed professional contracts
