KNIGHTS KNOTES — June 5, 2021
KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights will continue their six-game homestand against the Nashville Sounds, Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, tonight at 7:04 p.m. with game five of the series. The Sounds (21–6) have the best record in all of Triple-A and are now 3–1 in this series. The Knights (9–18) snapped their four-game losing streak last night and are now 7–9 this season at Truist Field.
ABOUT LAST KNIGHT: RHP Mike Wright (2–1, 2.10) struck-out eight batters over seven shutout innings and two relievers combined to hold the Nashville Sounds scoreless over the final two innings en route to Charlotte’s first shutout of the season, 1–0. The Knights scored the lone run of the game on an RBI groundout by third baseman Jake Burger in the bottom of the fourth inning. Chicago White Sox outfielder Adam Engel, who continued his major league rehab assignment, scored on the play to give the Knights a lead they would not relinquish. Engel swiped three bases in the game and had one of Charlotte’s four hits.
MORE FROM LAST KNIGHTS GAME: Last night’s 1–0 victory for the Knights snapped Nashville’s winning streak at 15-straight games. Last night’s shutout was Charlotte’s first since August 21, 2019 in a 3–0 win over the Durham Bulls from Durham, NC.
SHEETS RETURNS: 1B/OF Gavin Sheets, who was recalled by the Chicago White Sox on June 3, was optioned back to Charlotte today. He did not appear in a game with the White Sox. With the Knights this season, the 25-year-old has appeared in 23 games and is hitting .319 (30-for-94) with 11 runs scored, five doubles, four home runs and 20 RBIs. Sheets, a member of Chicago’s 40-man roster, entered the 2021 season ranked as the 10th best prospect in the White Sox system by Baseball America. He was originally drafted by Chicago in the second round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Wake Forest University. His dad, Larry, played for the Charlotte O’s in 1980 and 1983.
ROSTER MOVES: In two additional roster moves, LHP Kyle Kubat, who began the 2021 season with the Knights, was promoted back to Charlotte from Double-A Birmingham. The 28-year-old made three appearances with the Barons this season and went 1–0 with one save and a 2.25 ERA (8.0 IP). In three games with the Knights this season, Kubat is 0–0 with a 5.19 ERA (8.2 IP). Additionally, RHP Ofriedy Gómez was promoted to the Charlotte Knights from Double-A Birmingham. Gómez, 25, was signed by the White Sox as a free agent in December. He posted a 4–0 record with two saves and a 1.08 ERA in seven games (one start) with the Barons this season (16.2 IP). He was originally signed by the Kansas City Royals as an international free agent in 2012.
THE WRIGHT STUFF: RHP Mike Wright (2–1, 2.10) twirled seven shutout innings on Friday en route to his second win in as many outings. The South Carolina native, who allowed just two hits on the night, lowered his ERA to 2.10 on the season — the fifth-best in the league this season. He also moved into sixth place in strikeouts (37), fifth in WHIP (0.90) and eighth in innings pitched (30.0 IP). The seven-inning start was his second of the season and third by a Knights pitcher this year (LHP Matt Tomshaw had a seven-inning start on May 23).
REHABBING: OF Adam Engel swiped three bases last night and scored Charlotte’s lone run of the evening. Engel has now appeared in seven games on the assignment and is hitting .286 (8-for-28) with one home run and three RBIs. He hit .295 (26-for-88) with 11 runs scored, five doubles, one triple, three home runs, 12 RBIs and a stolen base in 36 games with the Chicago White Sox last season. He is currently on Chicago’s 10-day injured list… Chicago White Sox LHP Jace Fry made his fourth rehab appearance last night with the Knights and tossed another scoreless inning. Fry has fanned five batters over four scoreless innings pitched. He is on Chicago’s 60-day injured list.
BURGER KING: 3B Jake Burger is the team leader in home runs with six and has hit safely in 17 of his last 20 games. He is second on the Knights behind Gavin Sheets in RBIs with 17. Ranked as the number 16 prospect in Chicago’s system by MLB.com, Burger is playing for the first time since 2017. He missed 2018 & 2019 to injuries and 2020 to the cancellation of the MiLB season.
TO-KNIGHTS STARTING PITCHER: RHP Jonathan Stiever (1–1, 6.00) will make his sixth start of the season today. On May 16, Stiever fanned nine batters over five innings to earn his first career Triple-A win. He went 0–1 with a 9.95 ERA in two games out of the Chicago White Sox bullpen last season. Originally selected in the fifth round of the June 2018 First-Year Player Draft, Stiever entered the 2021 season ranked seventh in the White Sox system as rated by Baseball America. The same publication rated him as possessing the Best Curveball in the White Sox system.
