White Sox: Arizona Fall League Update Oct. 23
White Sox send seven players to Arizona Fall League affiliate Glendale Desert Dogs. 2016 first round pick is among players on Desert Dogs, while one former top pick is trying to revive his career.
The Chicago White Sox sent seven minor league players to Arizona for the Arizona Fall League. Among the players is 2016 first round pick Zack Collins. The former catcher at the University of Miami isn’t expected to get much playing time with two catchers on the Glendale Desert Dogs roster.
Managing the Glendale Desert Dogs is former Sox center fielder Aaron Rowand. The Desert Dogs roster consists of players from minor league affiliates of the Astros, Cardinals, Dodgers, Nationals and Sox. The Sox have three pitchers on the Desert Dogs roster. Nolan Sanburn, Brian Clark and Louie Lechich are the Destert Dogs roster as pitchers.
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Sanburn finished his 2016 season with Double-A Birmingham Barons. In 34 games, Sanburn posted a 3.89 ERA with 58 strikeouts and 11 walks. In two starts with the Desert Dogs, Sanburn has pitched a total of 6.1 innings and has a 2.84 ERA.
Clark, appeared in 31 games with the Barons and six games with Triple-A Charlotte Knights this past season. He has appeared in four games for the Desert Dogs, and has recorded six strikeouts while allowing three walks.
Lechich, appeared in seven games for Single-A Kannapolis Intimidators this past season. Through three appearances with the Desert Dogs, Lechich has pitched 5.1 scoreless innings. Lechich has recorded three strikeouts to one walk.
On offense, infielders Trey Michalczewski and Danny Hayes join outfielder Courtney Hawkins on the Desert Dogs roster. Michalczewski and Hawkins played the 2016 season with the Barons. Hayes played his 2016 season with the Knights. Michalczewski, the Sox seventh ranked prospect according to mlbpipeline.com is coming off a disappointing season with the Barons. In 134 games, Michalczewski hit just .234 with 11 home runs and 58 RBI’s.
Hawkins, a first round pick for the Sox in 2012 had an even more disappointing season for the Barons. The 14th ranked prospect for the Sox hit .203 in 106 games for the Barons. Hawkins hasn’t shown much promise in the minors, and it could be time to label him a bust. With recent Sox first round draft picks reaching the majors in Tim Anderson and Carlos Rodon, Hawkins chances to reach the Sox appears to be getting slimmer each season.
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Currently, Hawkins is hitting .240 through seven games played for the Desert Dogs. Michalczewski is hitting .182 in seven games with eight strikeouts and two walks. Hayes, who had a solid season with the Knights, is hitting .150 through seven games for Glendale. Collins on the other hand is getting limited playing time and is hitting .200 through three games.