Results tagged ‘ Kannapolis Intimidators ’
Roster moves and Community Build photos
This afternoon, the White Sox have announced a pair of roster moves affecting the Winston-Salem Dash. Infielder Rangel Ravelo has been activated from the disabled list after having recovered from a left thumb laceration that landed him on the DL back on May 5. Prior to his injury, the Miami, Fla., native went 4-for-5 in two games with Winston-Salem after starting the season with Low-A Kannapolis.
To make room on the roster for Ravelo, infielder Brent Tanner his been transferred back to the Intimidators. The former South Alabama Jaguar will be making his second trip to Kannapolis after Ravelo’s initial call-up from the Intimidators saw Tanner go the other way back on May 2. In his two stints in Winston so far this year, Tanner is hitting .333 with three RBIs in 13 games.
In other news, the Dash held their annual Community build in conjunction with Lowe’s and Habitat for Humanity of Forsyth County today. Several Dash players were on hand to pitch in for a great cause. Here are some photos from their efforts:
Being on the disabled list didn’t stop Courtney Hawkins from helping out this morning.
Last night’s winning pitcher, Terance Marin, hammers away at a piece of sheet metal.
Right-hander Cody Winiarski showed off his handiwork this morning, too.
Righty Jason Van Skike lends a helping hand with some flooring panels.
The Dash continue their three-game series with the Potomac Nationals tonight, with first pitch set for 7 at BB&T Ballpark. Join me here at 6:45 for the Pregame Dash. Talk you to then!
- Rob
(Thanks to Nikki Caldwell for the photos from today’s event)
Roster moves shuffle pitching staff
Myles Jaye has been called up from Kannapolis to start tonight (Brian Westerholt/Four Seam Images).
The Chicago White Sox have announced four roster moves today that will affect the Dash’s roster. With Winston-Salem having an open spot in the rotation after both Terance Marin and Justin Collop were removed late last week, the Dash didn’t have a scheduled starter for today’s series opener against Myrtle Beach. To fix that, right-hander Myles Jaye is being called up from Low-A Kannapolis to start tonight and fill one of those two spots.
So far this year with the Intimidators, Jaye has pitched very well. The Fayetteville, Ga. native has compiled a 4-1 record with a 2.20 ERA in seven starts. In April, Jaye went 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA over 30 innings. Tonight will mark the former Toronto farmhand’s first career appearance in High-A ball.
The other new pitcher coming to Winston-Salem is not new to Dash fans at all, as righty Ryan Buch makes his way back to the Carolina League after spending parts of each of the last two seasons here in Winston-Salem. Buch was transferred from Double-A Birmingham, where he had a 4.91 ERA in five appearances out of the Barons’ bullpen. In his career with the Dash, the Monmouth University product has a 8-9 record and a 5.60 ERA in 33 appearances, 21 of which have been starts.
To make room for these moves, the Dash have sent right-hander Stew Brase back down to Kannapolis, where he appeared in 38 games last season. Brase started this season at extended spring training before making his way to Winston-Salem. In his time with the Dash, the La Grange, Ill., native sported a 5.19 ERA in six efforts out of the bullpen.
In addition to Brase’s departure to the South Atlantic League, Collop has been released by the White Sox. The former Toledo Rocket started six games for Winston this season, going 2-3 with a 5.79 ERA. He was Chicago’s sixth-round pick in 2009.
Join Brian and I here for the Pregame Dash at 6:45 p.m. as the Dash open up a three-game series against first-place Myrtle Beach. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. Talk to you then!
- Rob
Another day, another move
Brent Tanner is back in Winston-Salem after a brief stop in Kannapolis (Jody Stewart/W-S Dash).
After four roster moves on Saturday, the White Sox announced two more transactions affecting the Dash today.
Infielder Rangel Ravelo, who was just called up from Low-A Kannapolis on Thursday, has been placed on the seven day disabled list after re-aggravating a left thumb injury he suffered a couple of weeks ago while with the Intimidators. Ravelo left last night’s game in the third inning and was replaced by David Herbek.
In two games with Winston-Salem, the Cuban-born infielder is 4-for-5, including a career-high three runs scored during Friday’s blowout win over Salem.
Brent Tanner returns to the Triad to take that 25th spot. Tanner was sent down to Kannapolis on Thursday after hitting .417 in eight games with the Dash. In two starts with the Intimidators, the former South Alabama Jaguar went 3-for-8 with a home run, a double and three RBIs. He started once at first base, while he made his first appearance behind the plate in the other.
The Dash and Red Sox wrap up their three-game set at BB&T Ballpark this afternoon. Join Brian and I here for the Pregame Dash starting at 1:45. First pitch will follow at 2. Talk to you then!
- Rob
Busy Saturday brings four roster moves
The Chicago White Sox announced four roster moves today affecting the Winston-Salem Dash on a busy Saturday throughout the organization:
Daniel Webb earned his first promotion to Double-A on Saturday. (Jody Stewart/W-S Dash)
Right-hander Daniel Webb earned a promotion to Double-A Birmingham, making him the third player from the Dash’s Opening Day roster to earn a promotion.
In his time with the Dash, the righty went 1-0 with two saves. He led the Carolina League in innings pitched (15.0) among pitchers who had not allowed an earned run. The Paducah, Ky., native will be making his first career trip to the Double-A level and will join the Barons’ bullpen upon his arrival.
As a result, side-arming righty J.R. Ballinger is heading back to Winston-Salem. Ballinger was promoted to Birmingham back on April 22. In his time with the Barons, the Moss Point, Miss., native made one appearance, striking out four in two and a third innings against Montgomery on April 25. Upon his return to the Triad, Ballinger will rejoin the Winston bullpen, where he only surrendered one earned run in four and two-thirds innings of work prior to his promotion.
A pair of former Kannapolis Intimidators, right-hander Brandon Hardin and outfielder Yoandy Barroso, are heading to the Carolina League for the first time in their careers. Hardin comes to Winston-Salem after pitching extremely well for the Intimidators in 2013. The former 10th-round pick has a 1-0 record with a microscopic 0.71 ERA in 2013 and will join a Winston-Salem bullpen which owns a strong 3.13 ERA so far this year.
Barroso will join Winston-Salem’s outfield to help fill the void left by Courtney Hawkins’ trip to the disabled list. A year ago with rookie-level Great Falls, Barroso hit .300, tying him for the third-best average among White Sox farmhands. This season, Barroso posted a .204 average and four RBIs in 17 games with Low-A Kannapolis.
The Dash continue their series against the Salem Red Sox tonight at 7:00 with Chris Beck on the bump for Winston. Join me for the Pregame Dash here at 6:45, or catch the live telecast on My 48 beginning at 7.
- Rob
Hawkins to the DL and two other moves
Courtney Hawkins has been placed on the seven-day DL (Jody Stewart/W-S Dash).
While the Dash cruised to a 15-6 blowout over Lynchburg last night, the news was not all good for Winston-Salem. White Sox top prospect Courtney Hawkins made a diving catch in left center field to end the third inning. He was slow to get up, but the 19-year-old jogged off the field and into the Dash’s dugout.
However, David Herbek pinch hit for Hawkins in the top of the fourth. The White Sox have not disclosed Hawkins’ injury, but he has been placed on the seven-day disabled list, the team announced this afternoon.
In 23 games with Winston-Salem thus far this season, Hawkins is hitting .177 with seven home runs and 17 RBIs. His seven homers are one shy of the Carolina League’s lead. However, the former first-round pick leads Minor League Baseball with 45 strikeouts. Hawkins had been improving on his strikeout rate, though. He only whiffed four times in his last five games.
The Dash’s roster only contains two players who have been in the outfield for the majority of their minor league careers–Mark Haddow and Adam Heisler. For the time being, Dash fans should expect to see Grant Buckner, who has played 35 of his 174 minor league games in left field, shift from the infield to the outfield.
TWO MORE ROSTER MOVES:
The White Sox also announced that Brent Tanner has been assigned to Low-A Kannapolis in a move that will likely yield the Mississippi native some more at-bats. In eight games with the Dash this year, Tanner hit .417 (10-for-24) with three RBIs. Of his 10 hits, five of them were doubles. The former 32nd round pick had four multi-hit games in his seven starts, including a career-high tying four knocks last night.
Infielder Rangel Ravelo takes Tanner’s spot on the roster. Ravelo comes to the Dash from Kannapolis, where he hit .226 in 17 games before landing on the disabled list. A year ago, Ravelo was one of four Intimidators to make the midseason All-Star Team in the South Atlantic League.
The Miami, Fla. native was drafted by Chicago in the sixth round in 2010 out of Hialeah High School (FL). Born in Cuba, Ravelo has played both corner infield positions throughout his minor league career.
DASH ALUMS IN THE NEWS:
Chris Sale had a 2.25 ERA in four appearances for the Dash in 2010.
- Chris Sale picked up his third win of the campaign as helped the White Sox snap a three-game skid last night, giving up just two runs in seven innings of work against Texas. The southpaw struck out seven on the night, tying a season-high. Sale has now gone at least seven innings in all but one of his six starts in 2013.
- Despite the recent struggles of the Chicago bullpen, closer Addison Reed has just kept on rolling. After picking up the save last night, he is now a perfect nine for nine in save opportunities and his ERA is down to just 1.50.
- Dylan Axelrod continues to pitch well and have nothing to show for it. Back on Sunday, Axelrod turned in his third consecutive quality start for the South Siders, but he did not factor into the decision and the White Sox fell to the Tampa Bay Rays. Despite giving up three runs or less in four of his five starts, the righty has yet to earn a victory this season.
- After winning Carolina League MVP honors in 2012, Dan Black has picked up right where he left off this season for Double-A Birmingham. As a team, the Barons are leading the Southern League in batting average, and a big reason is Black, who sits fourth in the league with a .312 mark. Marcus Semien is not too far behind, currently sixth in the league in average at .303. In addition, Black leads the circuit in RBIs with 21 and Semien leads in hits with 30.
- The pitching staff has also been very good for Birmingham. The staff has been led by Baseball America’s number four prospect in the organization, Erik Johnson. The righty sits fifth in the league in ERA at 1.44 and is tied for second in the Southern League in strikeouts with 32. Another pair of Dash alums, Stephen McCray and Scott Snodgress, are tied for the circuit’s lead in wins with four apiece.
- Also, Jared Mitchell did this last week week for the Barons:
- While he hasn’t made it to Winston-Salem yet, Low-A Kannapolis right-hander Myles Jaye could soon be making his way to the Triad. Jaye is one of just nine starting pitchers in all of Minor League Baseball to sport an ERA under 1.00. Through five starts, he is 3-0 with a 0.90 ERA in 30 innings of work.
The Dash are set to return to BB&T Ballpark for a six-game homestand tomorrow night, but first they wrap up their seven game road swing tonight as they go for a series split against the Lynchburg Hillcats at 6:05. Join Brian here for the Pregame Dash starting at 5:50.
- Brian and Rob
Most interesting hitting coach in the world
Dash hitting coach Rob Sasser is back in Winston-Salem as the Dash’s hitting coach. He spent four seasons with the franchise from 2008-11 before being assigned to Low-A Kannapolis last season.
Sasser’s baseball career has been fascinating. He made it to the big leagues for one game in 1998, a story that is chronicled here. He also became a hitting coach during the same season that he retired from playing the game he loved.
Our own Erika Metzger talks to Sasser about those two unique stories and the 2013 version of the Dash below:
Sasser and the Dash are back at it in Lynchburg tonight at 6:05. Join us for the Pregame Dash at 5:50 here.
- Brian
Catching up with Tommy Thompson
Tommy Thompson (middle) and the Dash did plenty of celebrating in 2012 (Steve Orcutt/W-S Dash).
The 2012 Carolina League Manager of the Year, Thompson is now with the Kannapolis Intimidators, and many of his current players will suit up for the Dash soon. Last week, I talked with Tommy about his current club and the thrill that was the 2012 season in the Triad.
Plus, Tommy is officially off the market! He’s getting married today, and his comments about this are fantastic (skip to the 2:45 mark if you’d like).
Congratulations to Tommy. It was great to catch up with one of baseball’s most fascinating people. And sorry ladies, he is off the market.
- Brian
Roster moves and Dash alum update
Adam Heisler is the newest member of the Dash (Intimidating Insight blog).
The White Sox have announced a pair of roster moves this afternoon, affecting the Winston-Salem Dash. The White Sox promoted outfielder Adam Heisler to Winston-Salem from Low-A Kannapolis. In 19 games with the Intimidators, Heisler hit .324 with a home run, nine RBIs and nine stolen bases. The former University of South Alabama product, who was college teammates with Dash catcher Brent Tanner, is leading off tonight and will play left field.
To make room for Heisler, Chicago released outfielder Billy Rice. Rice hit .171 in 12 games with Winston-Salem in 2013.
It has been a busy week all around baseball, and there have been several Dash alums making their marks all across the baseball landscape. Let’s take a swing around the system to check in some of these former Dash players:
- Dylan Axelrod gave up just one run on three hits in six innings of work for his second straight quality start on Monday. He left the game with the lead, but the White Sox bullpen could not hold it, and Axelrod ended up with a no decision. Although he doesn’t have any wins yet, Axelrod is proving he belongs in the big leagues as Monday’s outing dropped his ERA down to 3.80. His next scheduled start is Sunday against Tampa Bay.
- Last Wednesday, outfielder Jordan Danks was recalled to Chicago from Triple-A Charlotte, where he was off to a hot start, hitting .333. Since his recall, the 2009 Dash alum is 2-for-7 (.286) at the plate in four games played. With Dayan Viciedo now on the disabled list, Danks figures to be getting even more starts for the South Siders in the coming weeks.
McCray went 9-3 with a 3.30 ERA for Winston in 2012. (Jody Stewart/W-S Dash).
- Dash alums have had a great week so far for Double-A Birmingham, as Erik Johnson, Scott Snodgress and Stephen McCray all pitched well over the last three days in Barons victories. It started on Monday, with Johnson twirling seven shutout innings, allowing just three hits and striking out 10 in a 3-1 win. Johnson is now 2-0 with a 1.07 ERA in 25.1 innings so far this year.
- Snodgress kept things going with a victory of his own on Tuesday. The former Stanford Cardinal worked seven innings as well, giving up just one run on his way to his third win of the 2013 season. The southpaw’s ERA is now down to 3.38 this year.
- McCray was the final member of the trio to pick up a victory, giving up just one run in six innings of work yesterday afternoon. McCray’s ERA is down to 2.57, and he has given up just two earned runs in his last three starts, covering 17 innings of work. He has picked up the victory in each of those three starts.
The Dash wrap up their eight game homestand tonight, with their series finale against the Lynchburg Hillcats at 7. Join Brian and me on 600 AM-WSJS at 6:45 p.m. for the Pregame Dash starting at 6:45!
- Rob
Counting Down To The Home Opener
If you follow our social media accounts (especially our new Instagram feed), you have probably noticed that we have begun a countdown in advance of the Dash’s home opener Friday, April 12. We are now 86 days away from the first game at BB&T Ballpark in 2013.
We have spun each day in the countdown to something in Winston-Salem baseball history. Occasionally on the blog, we will rehash the recent numbers, and here is our first look back at the countdown.
100 – Instead of a stat, we provided the picture below (and here on Instagram).
99 – After missing the 2011 campaign due to injury, Kyle Bellamy returned to Winston-Salem at the beginning of 2012. Opponents hit just .182 against Bellamy in 99 at bats.
98 – Scott Snodgress dominated the Carolina League after a July promotion from Low-A Kannapolis. He posted a 4-0 record and a 1.50 ERA to go along with a 0.98 WHIP.
97 – Carlos Lee is one of two Winston-Salem alums who is both currently in the big leagues and has made an All-Star Game (Chris Sale is the other). Lee played with the Warthogs in 1997.
96 – In his MVP season of 2011, Ian Gac drove in 96 runs for the Dash.
The Spirits won the CL crown in 1993.
95 – In 1995, the Winston-Salem franchise became the “Warthogs,” a nickname that stuck until the team became the Dash in 2009.
94 – All-Star Brady Shoemaker notched 94 hits in Winston-Salem before his midseason promotion to Double-A Birmingham.
93 – The Winston-Salem Spirits won the Carolina League title in 1993.
92 – From last season’s team, the only player who was born in 1992 was Carlos Sanchez, who proved to be one of the CL’s top prospects.
91 – The Carolina League rolled the Carolina California League 9-1 in the 2012 Midsummer Classic at BB&T Ballpark.
90 – Speaking of scores, the Dash took the deciding Game 3 of the Southern Division Championship Series 9-0 against Myrtle Beach.
89 – Brent Morel, who returned to Winston-Salem for a rehab assignment this season, wore number 8 while with the Dash in 2009.
88 – The CL’s MVP this season, Dash first baseman Dan Black, drove in 88 runs.
87 – Winston-Salem posted the best record in full-season minor league baseball last year (87-51).
86 – Cyle Hankerd mustered 86 hits in just 71 games with the Dash this past season.
Those are 15 of our Dash-themed numbers. Do you have any ideas for numbers 85 to 1? Let us know in the comments or via Twitter. Baseball will be back before you know it!
- Brian
