Results tagged ‘ Jon Bachanov ’
Bachanov Heading To Red Sox
Jon Bachanov is heading to Boston’s minor league system (Jody Stewart/W-S Dash).
The Rule 5 Draft took place today, and a member of Winston-Salem’s 2012 roster has changed the color of his “Sox.”
Boston selected right-hander Jon Bachanov in the Triple-A phase of the Rule 5 Draft, which means that Bachanov must begin the 2013 campaign in Triple-A. Thus, Bachanov will likely pitch for the reigning International League champion Pawtucket Red Sox.
Bachanov, the Los Angeles Angels’ supplemental first-round pick in 2007, spent much of the 2012 season with the Dash after signing with the White Sox before the 2011 campaign. In 23 games (nine starts), the Orlando native was 7-2 with a 3.95 earned run average here in the Carolina League.
The righty also spent some time with Double-A Birmingham, where he posted an 11.42 ERA in nine appearances.
Bachanov was the only White Sox farmhand to hear his name called during the Rule 5 Draft today. Chicago selected Angels infielder Angel Sanchez in the Major League phase, so Sanchez must spend the season with the Sox or be offered back to Los Angeles.
Good luck to Jon, who was a pleasure to chat with during his time in Winston-Salem. Here’s hoping he can pitch well in Pawtucket.
- Brian
Dash Bullpen Tweaked
Jon Bachanov is heading to Double-A for the second time in 2012 (Jody Stewart/W-S Dash).
The Dash have not experienced too much turnover lately, but the White Sox did announce a pair of moves affecting Winston-Salem prior to today’s action.
One day after earning his seventh win in the Carolina League, Jon Bachanov is heading back to Birmingham for his second stint in the Double-A Southern League. In a corresponding move, southpaw Matt Wickswat is rejoining the Dash from Birmingham.
Bachanov is 7-2 with a 3.95 earned run average in 23 appearances (nine starts) with the Dash. The righty, who is one win shy of the Dash’s team lead, was with the Barons from June 29 to July 24 and went 0-1 with a 9.00 earned run average over five innings.
Wickswat returns to the Triad after spending much of his 2012 campaign with the Barons. The left-hander, who snapped one of the most bizarre streaks in minor league baseball earlier this year, was 1-7 with a 10.64 earned run average in 19 appearances (seven starts) with Birmingham. In his three-and-a-half week stint with the Dash earlier this half, Wickswat was 1-1 with a 6.55 earned run average.
For those who appreciate milestones, the Dash’s next roster move will be their 100th this season. Winston-Salem and Salem wrap up their three-game series tonight at 7:00 from BB&T Ballpark. Talk to you at 6:45 for the Pre-Game Dash.
- Brian
First Time Promotion, Righty Returns
Miguel Gonzalez will try to gun down runners in the Southern League (Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash).
As we have discussed over the last few days, roster moves have drastically changed the Dash’s roster. This trend continued Tuesday with two more moves affecting Winston-Salem. For the first time in his minor league career, Miguel Gonzalez has earned a promotion to Double-A Birmingham. Also today, the Dash received Jon Bachanov from Double-A Birmingham.
Gonzalez was hitting .247 with a home run and 16 RBI in 50 games with the Dash. The Venezuela native’s best asset is his defense and, more specifically, his arm. He threw out 22 of 42 attempted base stealers, which is a 52 percent rate. For his career, Gonzalez has thrown out 42 percent of runners trying to steal.
Bachanov’s first stint at the Double-A level lasted almost four weeks. The Orlando, Fla., native was 0-1 with an earned run average of 9.00 in five outings with the Barons. In the bullpen, Bachanov only allowed two earned runs in four and a third innings of work. While with the Dash, Bachanov posted a 6-2 record and a 4.22 ERA in 18 appearances, nine of which were starts.
Over the last seven days, the Dash have been hit with 15 roster moves. Safe to say, this roster is in flux right now.
The Dash and Mudcats continue their four-game series tonight at 7:00. Pre-game begins at 6:45 here. Talk to you then.
- Brian
Dash All-Star Promotion
A new month brings another promotion. This call up will be a tough one to stomach though for Dash fans. Carolina League All-Star Brady Shoemaker moves up to Double-A Birmingham for the first time in his career. It is an inevitable part of minor league baseball when a player does well at a lower level he moves up through the system. It is great to see Shoemaker get rewarded for a spectacular season, but the Dash will have to find a way to replicate the solid offense he brought to the team.
In a corresponding roster move Ross Wilson was recalled from Kannapolis. Wilson started the season with the Dash and played eight games in the infield, hitting just .167 before being sent down. However, in Kannapolis he prospered while developing into a multi-faceted infield and outfield player.
Wilson also found his power in Kannapolis. In his eighth game with the Intimidators Wilson drove in a career-high eight runs and slugged three home runs. He played in 64 games, finishing with a .277 average, seven HR and 33 RBI.
Brady Shoemaker leaves Winston-Salem after playing in 78 games with the Dash, compiling a .331 batting average, 13 HR and 59 RBI. He departs the Carolina League as the league leader in batting average, RBI, runs (61) and total bases (156). Shoemaker was also in the top five in a number of offensive categories, including home runs, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, and extra-base hits.
Brady Shoemaker moves up to Double-A for the first time after hitting .331with 13 HR and 59 RBI for the Dash (Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash).
Shoemaker was named to an All-Star team for the second straight season after being named to the South Atlantic All-Star team in 2011. This year, Shoemaker represented the hometown Dash in the All-Star Game at BB&T Ballpark and won the Home Run Derby, beating former Winston-Salem Warthog C.J. Retherford in the final round.
The Dash will miss and possibly struggle to replace the offensive output Shoemaker contributed to the team, but what will be impossible to duplicate is his presence in the clubhouse. Shoemaker was well-respected by everyone on the team and essentially a de facto leader on the field. Shoemaker played in left field for 68 of his 78 games with the Dash. That stability and consistent production can be hard to find in the minors.
Shoemaker joins fellow position players Daniel Wagner and Jake Oester in Birmingham. Kyle Bellamy, Andre Rienzo, Spencer Arroyo, Nick McCully and Jon Bachanov comprise the Dash pitching that was promoted to the Double-A level during June.
A new month kicks off with more changes, and the Dash will move forward with a new look in left field.
-Mike
Familar Face Returns to Winston-Salem
The White Sox announced a roster move Saturday that sends a familiar face with a new role back to Winston-Salem. Salvador Sanchez arrives after pitching in three games last week, two appearances for Bristol and one with Kannapolis. In a corresponding move, the Dash have released Jake Wilson.
Sanchez hit .241 with five home runs and 58 RBI in 115 games as an outfielder for the Warthogs in 2008. He returned to the High-A level in 2009 and was a member of the inaugural Dash roster. Sanchez recorded similar numbers to his previous season, hitting .246 in 114 games. His power did increase; Sanchez upped his home run total to 16 and finished with 63 RBI.
Sanchez played 114 games for the Dash in their inaugural season (Brian Westerholt/Four Seam Images).
Sanchez’s journey through the minors has been unique. He was signed by the White Sox in 2004 as an outfielder and reached as high as Double-A Birmingham, even making the Southern League All-Star team in 2010. He never got higher than Double-A and signed as a free agent with the Rangers organization in 2010. Texas converted Sanchez to a pitcher but cut him before the season began. The White Sox resigned Sanchez and decided to keep him as a pitcher.
Sanchez’s path as a pitcher is slowly progressing. The Dominican Republic native appeared in just two games last season for rookie Great Falls, throwing an inning of work in both appearances and allowing one hit.
This season, Sanchez began in rookie Bristol where he pitched two perfect innings, one on June 21 and another on June 23. Sanchez made one appearance for Kannapolis, recording a scoreless inning of relief.
It has been a busy month for transactions for the Dash. There were 25 transactions over the course of April and May, while June has seen 29 moves made affecting Winston-Salem. The flurry of activity began on June 8 when Kyle Bellamy was promoted to Double-A Birmingham. Six other Dash players followed him to Double-A over the course of this month.
Andre Rienzo returned from his 50-game suspension on June 14 and was sent up after being reinstated. Daniel Wagner and Spencer Arroyo were promoted two days after the All-Star break, with Jake Oester right behind a day later. This week Nick McCully and Jon Bachanov continued the exodus of talent from the Dash bullpen to Birmingham.
-Mike
Dash send another to Double-A
The White Sox announced two roster moves Friday morning that affect the Dash, which has been a trend lately. Winston-Salem has made plenty of moves, like this set or this one or all of these. Winston-Salem sends Jon Bachanov to Double-A Birmingham and receives Bryan Blough. Both men are relievers, although Bachanov recently returned to the bullpen after a stretch in the starting rotation.
Jon Bachanov compiled a 6-2 record in 18 appearances for the Dash (Jody Stewart/W-S Dash).
Jon Bachanov advances to the Double-A level for the first time in his career. Bachanov has persevered through an elbow injury that caused him to miss all of the 2008 season. He was drafted by the Angels in the supplemental round of the 2007 draft but did not make his first professional appearance until 2009. The White Sox signed him before last season, and Bachanov split his time between the starting rotation and bullpen for Kannapolis.
This year, Bachanov was one of the Dash’s most reliable pitchers. He began in the bullpen and made eight appearances in relief. The right-hander’s first start occurred May 10 when he pitched three innings in game two of a doubleheader against Frederick.
Bachanov’s magnum opus occurred five days later. Making the start in another back-half of a twin ball, Bachanov fired six scoreless innings, striking out a season-high nine batters. After nine starts he was placed back in the bullpen and made one final relief appearance, picking up the win after striking out three batters in two innings of work.
Bryan Blough arrives in Winston-Salem after making one appearance with the Dash last year. On August 31, Blough pitched an inning and a third against Salem, allowing five hits and two runs. Extended time in Winston-Salem should allow Blough to ease more comfortably into High-A baseball.
Blough was drafted in the 18th round of the 2011 draft out of Kennesaw State University. He also spent two years at Middle Georgia College, where he led the team in strikeouts his sophomore season.
During the first half of 2012 the right-hander made 26 appearances out of the bullpen for Kannapolis. He struck out 30 batters in 37 and one-third innings while converting six of 11 save opportunities.
-Mike
Last Thoughts Before First Half Title Chance
Expect to see Chris Bassitt out of Winston-Salem’s bullpen tonight (Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash).
We are less than an hour away from Winston-Salem’s biggest game of the season. The Dash clinch the first-half championship with a victory over the Wilmington Blue Rocks. First, we give you the lineups, with a few thoughts below that.
RF Michael Earley
SS Carlos Sanchez
LF Brady Shoemaker
1B Dan Black
CF Trayce Thompson
DH Cyle Hankerd
C Mike Blanke
3B Juan Silverio
2B Daniel Wagner
- I love Dash skipper Tommy Thompson’s decision to move Michael Earley to the leadoff spot. With Marcus Semien on the disabled list, Earley is the best option at the top of the order. His seventh-inning double sparked the Dash’s lone scoring frame less than 24 hours ago.
- Winston-Salem starter Jon Bachanov needs to have his command early. The righty has walked 31 batters this season, which somewhat balances out the fact that opponents are hitting just .201 against him. Bachanov has been a huge asset in the rotation since he joined it more than a month ago, and limiting walks will make him even more successful.
- Behind Bachanov, expect to see Chris Bassitt out of the bullpen at some point tonight. Bassitt, who has been a late-inning option for much of the season, has not pitched since Wednesday and was warming up in the ninth yesterday. My guess is that Nick McCully will also appear in this ballgame if it is close.
- Thompson told me yesterday that his managing style is winning this weekend. He is not acting with just a developmental approach with the Dash’s magic number at one. Don’t be surprised if he takes a few more risks and makes a substitution or two that wouldn’t normally take place during April or May.
- The Dash are loose prior to this contest. Last night’s victory was huge for a number of reasons, including this team’s mental makeup. This should be a dandy tonight.
Pre-game coverage begins at 5:50 p.m., with first pitch shortly after the top of the hour. I would love to have you join me here. Talk to you then.
- Brian
Dash Rotation Altered
Ryan Buch and the Dash have had to keep their eyes open for rotation moves lately (Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash).
If today’s game begins on time at 11 a.m., the Dash will have had a gap of 90 hours and 24 minutes between the end of their last game and the start of this contest. This is because of the off day Monday and consecutive postponements Tuesday and Wednesday.
As a result, the Dash’s rotation gets a bit of a makeover. Spencer Arroyo will start in this morning’s double dip opener, with Jon Bachanov taking to the mound in the second game. In essence, the Dash will use a “Johnny Wholestaff” approach for the second game, but it will be Bachanov starting the game for Winston.
This weekend, three right-handers will go against the best club in the Northern Division–the Lynchburg Hillcats. Ryan Buch toes the rubber in the opener. Matt Heidenreich follows suit Saturday evening. Finally, Jake Petricka, who made his Double-A debut in a spot start Monday, will pitch the finale Sunday.
Once Monday rolls around, Winston-Salem will likely feature another bullpen games with Bachanov to get the call as of now. By Tuesday, we are back in the typical rotation with Arroyo starting for the Dash.
Bachanov takes the spot of Steve McCray, who will head to the bullpen for at least the next week.
The Dash and Keys square off at 11 a.m. I greet you on the air at 10:45 with the “Pre-Game Dash.” Hear from Dash skipper Tommy Thompson and Frederick play-by-play man Adam Pohl (who has a GREAT Tommy story) during our day-long coverage. Talk to you then.
- Brian
Sunday Fun in Wilmington
Six straight wins. It feels great to type. The Dash aim for seven in a row this afternoon at Frawley Stadium against the Wilmington Blue Rocks. We’ve got a grab bag Sunday for you here today on the blog, with monster offensive numbers, long hitting streaks and a ridiculous double play.
- Since Winston-Salem’s franchise became the Dash in advance of the 2009 season, the organization has only seen three winning streaks longer than this one. The longest in Dash history is nine, which stretched from April 14-22 of 2010. Winston also has a pair of eight-game streaks during this span: May 30-June 7, 2009, and August 26-September 3, 2010.
- The Dash’s six-game winning streak is the longest in the Carolina League thus far this season. It eclipsed Lynchburg’s season-opening five-game winning streak. The Dash now own the Carolina League’s best record for the first time this year. The Dash lead the Hillcats (12-8) by a half game.
- It was a Saturday hit parade for Winston-Salem. The Dash easily established a new high water mark in the hit category with 18 hits, four more than the Dash’s previous high, which came April 11 at Frederick. The Dash have not posted that many hits since pulverizing Potomac with 23 knocks in a 15-3 blowout victory August 21, 2011.
Mike Blanke puts his nine-game hit streak on the line Sunday (Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash).
- Dash catcher Mike Blanke has bounced back from a slow start in a big way. After starting 5-for-26 in his first seven games, Blanke has hit safely in nine in a row, which is a season high for a Winston swinger. “I feel like I was swinging good before,” Blanke said. “I just wasn’t finding the holes. I was hitting a lot of hard outs.”
- Blanke has raised his batting average to .288 because of a .364 average (12-for-33) during his hitting streak. “I’m starting to find holes now,” Blanke said. “I’m just keeping my same approach. We’re just going to continue building off that.”
- Let’s not forget about the pitching staff. Winston starter Steve McCray looked solid in his first career High-A appearance Saturday. In four innings of work, the righty allowed three runs, but all of them were unearned. Behind McCray, Jon Bachanov gave up one run in three innings for his third victory. Bachanov is tied with four other hurlers for the league lead in wins, but he is the quintet’s only reliever.
- Finally, this clip is so good, I have to show it. It has nothing to do with the Dash, but check out this double play turned by Kansas City’s Double-A affiliate, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Ouch. Thanks to the Naturals’ twitter account (one of MiLB’s best) for this video.
Hear more from Mike Blanke on the Pre-Game Dash, which begins at 1:20 this afternoon. First pitch is set for 1:35 from the “First State.” Bring your brooms.
- Brian
