White Sox Option Top Prospects to Knights
When the 2017 season kicks off from BB&T Ballpark in Uptown Charlotte on Thursday April 6th, four of the Chicago White Sox top prospects will be on the Charlotte Knights 25-man roster. As the Knights plan to celebrate their historic 30th season in franchise history — and honor the past — it’s fitting that the present and future of the White Sox organization will take center stage in the Queen City.
While BB&T Ballpark was in the midst of hosting the Charlotte 49ers against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons in a collegiate baseball matchup on Tuesday, March 21st, word came down from Chicago that Yoan Moncada, Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez, and Carson Fulmer were optioned to Charlotte. At that point, it became real. Now after months of speculation, four of the most talented prospects in all of baseball are tabbed to begin the 2017 campaign in Uptown Charlotte. How about them apples?
Yoan Moncada
Acquired by the White Sox from the Boston Red Sox in the Chris Sale trade — which came down during the 2016 MLB Winter Meetings, Moncada is ranked as the number two overall prospect in all of baseball. At just 21 years old, Moncada possesses a world of talent and he’ll now be able to hone that talent at 324 S. Mint Street this season.
Last season, Moncada appeared in 61 games with High-A Salem and hit .307 (70-for-228) with 57 runs scored, 25 doubles, three triples, four home runs, 34 RBIs, and 36 stolen bases.
After a promotion to Double-A Portland, he appeared in 45 games with the Sea Dogs and hit .277 (49-for-177) with 37 runs scored, six doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, and 28 RBIs.
He wrapped up the 2016 campaign by making his major league debut with the Boston Red Sox and went 4-for-19 at the plate in eight games. He was named by Baseball America as the 2016 Minor League Player of the Year.
Lucas Giolito
Giolito, along with Reynaldo Lopez (also optioned to Charlotte on Tuesday) were acquired from the Washington Nationals at the Winter Meetings in exchange for Adam Eaton. The 22-year-old right-hander, who appeared in six games with the Nationals last season (four starts), enters the 2017 ranked as Chicago’s number two prospect.
A first round pick (16th overall) of the Nats in the 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft, has combined to compile a 25–15 record with a 2.73 ERA in 75 games (73 starts) over parts of five seasons in the minors.
Reynaldo Lopez
On Monday, Lopez spun six solid innings in a start against the San Francisco Giants. Lopez, 23, allowed just two hits while fanning four in his fifth Cactus League start of the year. On Tuesday, Lopez was among the four players optioned to Charlotte.
A native of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, LOpez made his major league debut last season (July 19, 2016) with Washington. Overall, he posted a 5–3 mark with a 4.91 ERA in 11 games (six starts) with Washington last season.
Carson Fulmer
Out of the four prospects, Fulmer is the only one to have spent time with the Knights. Fulmer, Chicago’s first round pick (eighth overall) in the 2015 draft, went 2–1 with a 3.94 ERA in four starts for the Knights last season. A product of Vanderbilt University, Fulmer made his major league debut with the South Siders on July 17, 2016.
The sky is the limit for these four prospects, who will now don a Knights jersey to start the year. Add in other exciting additional prospects and quality veterans, and the overall state of the Knights on the field this year is limitless. With the team led by former American League All-Star Mark Grudzielanek — the Knights could be in for a record-breaking campaign on the diamond. Stay tuned!
