KNIGHTS KNOTES — May 16, 2021
KNIGHT LIGHTS: The Charlotte Knights will conclude their six-game series against the Norfolk Tides (Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles) and 12-game, 13-day opening homestand of the 2021 season today with a 2:05 p.m. finale from Truist Field.
LAST KNIGHTS GAME: The Charlotte Knights continued their winning ways on Saturday night en-route to an impressive 8–3 win over the Norfolk Tides in game five of their six-game series from Truist Field. In all, the Knights recorded 13 hits on the night and four players had at least two hits each in the game (Marco Hernández, Jake Burger, Nick Williams and Tim Beckham). Williams had three hits and two RBIs.
WIN STREAK: With another win last night, the Knights have won three-straight games and four of their last five games. Charlotte’s last three-game winning streak took place August 20–23, 2019 at home against the Durham Bulls.
CURRENT HOMESTAND: With a win today, the Knights (5–6) will be able to go .500 on the 12-game homestand, improving to 6–6. The Knights dropped five of their first six games against the Gwinnett Stripers from May 4–9. Charlotte’s first six-game series of 2021 from Truist Field also marked the team’s first games played since Wednesday, August 28, 2019 against.
ROSTER MOVE: OF Luis González was activated off Charlotte’s Injured List today. González, 25, was placed on Charlotte’s IL on May 6 (retroactive to May 5). He has appeared in one game this season with the Chicago White Sox and has not appeared in a game with the Knights this year. He entered the 2021 season ranked by Baseball America as the ninth-best prospect in the organization.
HELMS AWAY: Manager Wes Helms is away from the team for the final three games of this series against the Norfolk Tides (Friday-Sunday) to attend his son, Wesley Jr.’s, high school graduation in Birmingham, AL. Wesley has committed to play baseball at Auburn in the fall. Andy Barkett, Chicago White Sox hitting advisor, is with the team in his absence. Hitting coach Chris Johnson has taken on interim managerial duties.
MARCO… HOMER: Charlotte second baseman Marco Hernández went 4-for-5 with two singles, a double, a home run, three runs scored and three RBIs in last night’s 8–3 win. Hernández, who finished the game just a triple shy of the cycle, extended his hit streak to eight consecutive games. He’s batting a team-best .436 on the season in 11 games and is fourth in the Triple-A East in that category. Over the course of his eight-game hitting streak, he’s batting .483 (14-for-29) with six runs scored, five doubles, two home runs, and six RBIs.
BURGER KING: In his first season at the Triple-A level and first season since 2017 (missed 2018 & 2019 to injuries and 2020 to the cancellation of the MiLB season), 3B Jake Burger is tied for the team lead with three home runs and is tied for the second on the team in RBIs with eight. He has recorded a hit in five of his last six games and had second two-hit performance of the season last night. He entered the season ranked as the number 16 prospect in Chicago’s system by MLB.com.
HOME RUN KNIGHTS: Through 11 games this season, the Knights have now tallied 14 home runs on the year after getting three last night. Last night, Marco Hernández Nick Williams and Seby Zavala and all went yard. 3B Jake Burger and catcher Zavala are tied for the team lead with three home runs.
TO-KNIGHTS STARTING PITCHER: RHP Jonathan Stiever (0–0, 2.57 ERA in 2 GS, 7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 5 SO) will make his third start of the season with the Knights today. 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
