WHITE SOX HEADLINES of APRIL 20, 2018 “Thompson's Career
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WHITE SOX HEADLINES OF APRIL 20, 2018 “Thompson's career circles back to South Side”… Scott Merkin and David Adler, MLB.com “AL Central: Checking in on the new guys: Rondon”… Jeffrey Flanagan, MLB.com “Daily White Sox prospects update: Three-double day for Blake Rutherford”… Vinnie Duber, NBC Sports Chicago “In two separate trades, White Sox send Tyler Saladino to Milwaukee and bring back Trayce Thompson”…. Vinnie Duber, NBC Sports Chicago “Daily White Sox prospects update: Eloy Jimenez debuts at Birmingham”… Vinnie Duber, NBC Sports Chicago “White Sox end their circus trip, while Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts juggles”… Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune “White Sox trade Tyler Saladino to Brewers, pick up Trayce Thompson from Athletics”… Vinnie Duber, Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune “White Sox doing away with plastic straws at Guaranteed Rate Field”… Satchel Price, Chicago Sun Times “Chicago White Sox debut Beyond the Diamond fundraiser with Hall of Famers”…Candace Jordan, Chicago Tribune “Chicago White Sox to no longer offer plastic straws”… Jacqueline Thomsen, The Hill “White Sox reel in Trayce Thompson, cast out Tyler Saladino”… James Fegan, The Athletic Thompson's career circles back to South Side By Scott Merkin and David Adler/ MLB.com/ April 19, 2018 CHICAGO -- Trayce Thompson began his career with the White Sox as a second-round selection in the 2009 Draft, and the right-handed hitter produced 16 extra-base hits and a .295 average over 135 plate appearances during his '15 White Sox debut. Now, the outfielder's recent journeys have returned him to the South Side, as the White Sox acquired Thompson from the A's for cash considerations on Thursday evening. Thompson, the brother of the NBA's Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson, has bounced around a little this season. He started Spring Training with the Dodgers but was designated for assignment, then was claimed off waivers by the Yankees and then by the A's. The 27-year-old played in three games for Oakland, going 1- for-7 at the plate, before being designated for assignment on Tuesday while the White Sox were in Oakland. In his Major League career, Thompson has hit .232/.307/.440 with 19 home runs and 50 RBIs in 154 games. He should have a chance to compete for playing time with Adam Engel, a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder presently hitting .179 with a .488 OPS. Thompson takes the place of infielder Tyler Saladino on the active roster, with Saladino being traded to the Brewers for cash considerations Thursday. Saladino, 28, had spent his four-year career with the White Sox and played in six games this season, including three starts. He was 2-for-8 with a double, and in his career, Saladino has hit .231/.281/.330 with 12 home runs and 68 RBIs in 246 games. "I had the fans in mind every day and worked my hardest to make them proud one way or another," Saladino told MLB.com of his time in Chicago. Saladino hit .282 with eight home runs and 38 RBIs in 2016, but battled back problems he feared at times were career-ending in '17. He came back healthy and earned an '18 Opening Day roster spot with the White Sox. The White Sox still have a three-person bench made up of catcher Omar Narvaez, Thompson and Leury Garcia, who figures to be the time's primary utility infielder. AL Central: Checking in on the new guys By Jeffrey Flanagan /MLB.com / April 19, 2018 ANSAS CITY -- New faces abound in the American League Central in 2018, some young and some old. And we're not talking about Frosty the Snowman, who has made an appearance in every AL Central park from Detroit to Kansas City here in April. Let's go around the horn in the AL Central and check out the new guys. Indians Who's the new guy? First baseman Yonder Alonso How's it going so far? Through 16 games, Alonso has a .196/.274/.375 slash line to go with three home runs and nine RBIs. Like most of the Indians' lineup, Alonso's slow start was impacted by an extremely cold stretch of games in Cleveland. What's on deck? Alonso's .195 batting average on balls in play is the ninth-lowest mark in the AL. That, combined with other peripheral statistics, indicate a positive regression is coming. Number to know: 8. Alonso is one of 16 players in MLB with at least eight barrels, per Statcast™.. Royals Who's the new guy? Rookie left-hander Tim Hill How's it going so far? Incredibly well. Hill perhaps was a long shot to make the 25-man roster entering Spring Training, but his funky sidearm delivery caught the coaching staff's eyes immediately. Hill's fastball sits around 91-92 mph, and extensive work on his slider ("It's still improving," manager Ned Yost said.) this spring is paying off, as AL hitters are still somewhat baffled by his repertoire. What's on deck? More high-leverage situations. As the rest of the Royals' bullpen wobbles, Hill and closer Kelvin Herrera have been Yost's most reliable go-to guys. Yost and his staff had been hoping to bring Hill along slowly, but now Kansas City may have no choice but to use Hill from the eighth inning on. Number to know: 0. That's the number of hits Hill has given up in his first seven appearances. Tigers Who's the new guy? Leonys Martin How's it going so far? Martin has filled the leadoff and center-field roles surprisingly well, covering more range in the gaps at Comerica Park than probably anybody since Austin Jackson's rookie year. Offensively, Martin scored nine runs in his first 14 games, including the go-ahead tally Tuesday after reaching base on a bunt single. What's on deck? Martin is in line to get close to everyday playing time in center now that JaCoby Jones is getting the bulk of the starts in left. With Dixon Machado having cooled off from his start, Martin is safe in the leadoff spot for the near future. Number to know 5. Those are the Outs Above Average Martin earned in about a half-season of playing time last year between the Mariners and Cubs. He's on track to top that in Detroit. Twins Who's the new guy? Designated hitter/first baseman Logan Morrison How's it going so far? Morrison has struggled offensively so far since signing a one-year deal in Spring Training. He was brought in to be a power bat from the left side after a breakout year with the Rays last year, when he clubbed 38 home runs. Morrison has yet to break out of his slump this season, and he has produced only one extra-base hit (a double) in 44 at-bats this season. What's on deck? The Twins believe Morrison will get it going offensively based on his track record, so he'll continue to be the everyday designated hitter and backup to Joe Mauer at first base. Morrison has also had to adjust to playing in cold weather early this season, so the hope is his bat will heat up with the weather. Number to know: 3. The number of hits for Morrison in his first 12 games with Minnesota. White Sox Who's the new guy? Right-hander Bruce Rondon How's it going so far? The hard-throwing right-hander came up from Triple-A Charlotte to replace an ineffective Juan Minaya in Chicago's bullpen and has been unhittable in a small sample size. Rondon's 100 mph velocity and a sharp slider to go with it gives the White Sox a potential closer, or at least another late-inning option. What's on deck? Look for Rondon to continue getting late-inning, high-leverage opportunities, although the White Sox have Nate Jones and Joakim Soria in place in the closer's role. At 27, Rondon could be a newfound part of the rebuild, or he could end up being a great trade chip if he continues pitching well. Number to know: 5. Rondon struck out the first five batters he faced this season, including his old friend and Detroit teammate Miguel Cabrera, who gave Rondon a knowing wink after a slider got him Daily White Sox prospects update: Three-double day for Blake Rutherford By Vinnie Duber /NBC Sports Chicago/ April 19, 2018 Blake Rutherford banged out three doubles in Winston-Salem's 14-4 win, another offensive outburst for the mashin' Dash. Micker Adolfo also had three hits, including a double, and two RBIs. Gavin Sheets had a hit, Alex Call had two hits and two RBIs, and Joel Booker had a double. Dylan Cease pitched, allowing four runs in his five innings, but he also struck out seven batters. He's got a 3.45 ERA in three starts. Triple-A Charlotte Charlie Tilson had two hits, a double, an RBI and a run scored in a 9-2 win. Daniel Palka had a hit and a walk. Thyago Vieira gave up another run in his one inning of work, with his ERA at 11.37 in 6.1 innings. Double-A Birmingham In the final game before the arrival of Eloy Jimenez, Seby Zavala had two hits, a double and a walk in an 8-1 loss. Zack Collins was 0-for-4 and is hitting just .071 on the season. Class A Kannapolis Luis Gonzalez had two hits, including a double, in a 5-1 loss In two separate trades, White Sox send Tyler Saladino to Milwaukee and bring back Trayce Thompson By Vinnie Duber /NBC Sports Chicago/ April 19, 2018 The White Sox made a pair of surprising moves Thursday, sending one player out of town and bringing a familiar face back to the organization.