Minor changes could make major differences for the White Sox
By Chip Egan
The Chicago White Sox minor league system has undergone some changes over the last few days and those changes involve some recognizable names.
This past Wednesday, the team announced former White Sox outfielder/first baseman has rejoined the organization as hitting coach of the club’s High-A affiliate in Winston-Salem. The 29-year-old was with the Sox from 2017 to 2020.
He will be reunited with former teammate Danny Farquhar, who will serve as the Dash’s pitching coach. Winston-Salem’s new manager will be former Mets’ Double-A manager Lorenzo Bundy.
For Delmonico, this will be his first coaching job at the ripe old age of 29. Injuries cut short his career. While playing at the Major League level, Delmonico had entertained the idea of becoming a manager one day and he let the assistant general manager and director of player development Chris Getz know of his intentions.
The Chicago White Sox made some great personnel announcements this week.
Getz not only has Delmonico taking over a new job but he also has a new director of minor league operations reporting to him as well. Jasmine Dunston accepted the job late last year under the recommendation of White Sox Vice President Kenny Williams.
If Dunston’s last name seems familiar, it should as she is the daughter of former Chicago Cubs shortstop Shawon Dunston. Growing up around baseball certainly helped her learn a great deal about the game as she was able to attend Tennessee State University on a softball scholarship.
Her education grew as she followed her father through both his playing days on the north side and time as a coach for the San Francisco Giants during their three World Series titles.
Just playing the game and having a father who played in the majors isn’t all one needs to end up in the position Dunston has.
She attended law school at John F. Kennedy University, earned a master’s degree in sports administration from Valparaiso. She also worked in the NFL as a law clerk for the Raiders before landing a job last season as a specialist for the Cincinnati Reds in their player development department.
Dunston will be following in the footsteps of Grace Guerrero Zwit, who is stepping down from the position after 40 years with the Sox. Zwit was first brought on board by Roland Hemond and Dave Dombrowski in 1982 as an assistant in player development and scouting. Then in 1995, Williams named Zwit as his assistant director of scouting and minor league operations.
In addition to Bundy, other new managers in the White Sox system will be Wes Helms at Triple-A Charlotte, Justin Jirschele at Double-A Birmingham, Guillermo Quiroz with Low-A Kannapolis, and Patrick Leyland taking over the Arizona White Sox rookie league team. Leyland is the son of former major league manager Jim Leyland. The White Sox seem to be in good hands.