High Draft Pick Heads to Double-A

Leroy Hunt climbed to the top of the CL in saves before moving on to Double-A (Saul McSween/W-S Dash).

Every player’s development is different. Some roll through a level of the minors while others need some extra time to adjust to the higher level of competition.

For right-hander Leroy Hunt, his time in High-A was probably longer than he anticipated. However, the former fourth-round pick’s hard work paid off when he learned yesterday that he was heading to Double-A Birmingham for the first time.

Hunt has had a career year thus far in 2012. The Stockton, Calif., native posted a 2.35 earned run average in 12 appearances, and he currently leads the Carolina League with seven saves. Hunt struck out 21 in 15.1 innings, or 1.4 batters per inning.

With a vacancy in the bullpen, the White Sox have pushed another righty from Low-A Kannapolis to the Dash. Terance Marin, who went 2-1 with a 1.21 earned run average in nine appearances with the Intimidators out of the bullpen in 2012, joined the club in Lynchburg last night. This is Marin’s first promotion to High-A after spending all of 2011 with Kannapolis.

Marin will be a nice addition to Winston’s bullpen at an important time. Winston used five of its seven relievers (not including Hunt) during its double dip sweep at Frederick. We will definitely see Marin get some work during this weekend set with the Hillcats.

One more note on Leroy. I’ve said this multiple times both on the air and off–this is the best collection of people that I have worked with in the game of baseball. Everyone who has spent time on the Dash roster has been nothing short of friendly to me.

I talked to Leroy more than anyone else on the team, mainly because he sat behind me on most of our bus trips. We chatted about the game of baseball. We talked about his grandmother, who recently passed away on the same day that he picked up a save for the Dash.

When he learned about the promotion yesterday, he was genuinely happy and a bit overwhelmed. This is a guy who has worked his tail off to get to Double-A.

I congratulated him, but I told him I didn’t want to see him again this year.

Double-A is where he belongs. That is, until a return trip to the Carolinas is in store for Triple-A.

- Brian