On Sox off days (post written Thursday) from now until the rest of the minor league season (which really is just this and September 6^th, but this will be a staple for next season), GSB! will take a look at what’s going on down in the Sox minor league system. We’ll check up on how each of the teams are doing and who are some names that are making things happen for our affiliates.

AAA Charlotte Knights

The Knights have been very solid all season long, holding onto first place for most of the season and currently possessing a 77-55 record. However, all the buzz right now is about the recent promotion of Carlos Sanchez from AA Birmingham. The 20 year old second baseman was hitting .372 for the Barons, and is set to make his AAA debut tonight against the Pawtucket Red Sox. Tonight’s PawSox starter is scheduled to be none other than, guess who? Zach Stewart.

Sanchez is not the only one getting attention, as everyone is also well aware of what Dan Johnson has done. The first/third baseman is second in the International League in RBI with 80 and his hitting .264 with 21 homeruns. He certainly is a September call up candidate, along with newly signed utility man Jose Lopez. The former Seattle Mariners standout is hitting .444 in two weeks, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets the call up to the show before September so he’s eligible to be the utility man on the playoff roster.
So what’s happened to Brent Morel? Well, the MLB club’s opening day third baseman really has been unable to get himself in a rhythm after his back injury even down at the AAA level, hitting .190 in 84 at-bats. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Sox elect to not use him as a September call-up just for the sake of rest and giving him a fresh start in 2013, if he’s around. Also, Jared Mitchell has been flirting with the .230 mark for quite a while, so I don’t think a call-up is in the cards for him either.
On the mound, the Knights have been deep in their rotation all season long, as Charles Shriek, Charles Leesman, Matt Zaleski and Dylan Axelrod have all been solid this season. Out of those four, Axelrod may be the only one you see get a look in September since he’s been up here already.

AA Birmingham Barons

Another prospect who recently got promoted is Trayce Thompson, who recently got bumped to Birmingham from High-A Winston-Salem. The 21 year old drove in a Carolina League leading 90 RBI for the Dash and was tied for the lead in home runs with 22 before the promotion. However, something to watch is his strikeout total, as he fanned 144 times.

On the mound, Nestor Molina is 4-10 with 4.68 ERA in 20 games (19 starts) this season. The prized piece of the Sergio Santos trade has certainly lived up to his bill of having good control (25 walks in 109 innings), but he’s also given up 144 hits. Expect him to start next season in Charlotte.
Birmingham has an overall record this season of 58-70, with a 28-31 record in the second half.

A Winston-Salem Dash

Two pitchers received promotions from Low-A Kannapolis last month: Erik Johnson and Scott Snodgress. Both have been even more impressive for the Dash than they were for the Intimidators. Johnson is 3-2 with a 1.64 ERA in six starts, taking a no-hitter into the six innings in two of those and giving up no earned runs in three. Snodgress is 4-0 with a 1.87 ERA in six starts, and like Johnson, he didn’t allow an earned run in three of those. Both players are 2011 draftees (Johnson in round two, Snodgress round five) and are certainly worth tracking from this point on.
Thompson led the Carolina League in RBI, but the Dash also have the league’s number two RBI guy in first baseman Dan Black. Black has driven in 81 runs to go along with a .315 average and 7 home runs. The 14^th round draft pick in 2009 has bounced between rookie league and A-ball up until this season, and he’ll probably join Johnson in AA next year.

Not surprisingly, the Dash boast a fantastic 81-46 record on the year, better than the league’s second best team (Texas affiliate Myrtle Beach) by 11 games.

A Kannapolis Intimidators

Courtney Hawkins, this season’s first round pick, recently got promoted from Rookie Bristol and homered in his sixth game for the Intimidators. Through 11 games, he’s hitting.295 with the home run and seven RBI. Mark Haddow has led the team in hitting all season (currently at .306), and catcher and last year’s seventh round pick Kevan Smith leads the team with 60 RBI. Joey DiMichele, this season’s third round pick, got promoted from Bristol after he hit .348 there in the first two weeks. The second baseman has hit .266 in 47 games for Kannapolis.
On the mound, Kannapolis has seen a lot of pitchers get promotions this season, and now have a good amount of really young guys on their staff trying to lower some high ERAs. The team has a 57-71 record on the year.

Rookie Great Falls Voyagers

Since their season started in mid-June, the Voyagers have been paced at the plate by Yoandy Barroso. The 23 year old outfielder leads the team in hitting with a.305 average, and in RBI with 37. This year’s ninth round pick, second baseman Micah Johnson, has proven to be a dual threat. The former Indiana Hoosier (Zach will love this one) leads the team in stolen bases with 18 and homers with 4. The team’s best pitcher has probably been Jonathan Casey, as he is 4-6 with a 3.34 ERA in 12 starts. Great Falls currently has a record of 30-31.

Rookie Bristol White Sox

Many of Bristol’s standouts have been received promotions by now, but one guy who hasn’t and is on a tear is Eric Grabe. The second baseman is hitting .357 in 42 games with a .963 OPS. Pitcher Todd Kibby is 4-4 with a 3.14 ERA in 10 starts. Bristol is just 16-43 on the year.

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Posted by GSB! Editor, Luke Stanczyk.