No. 8 prospect Sosa impressing in early opportunity
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CHICAGO -- Lenyn Sosa is getting a Major League opportunity with the White Sox, brought about early in this season by injuries to shortstop Tim Anderson and third baseman Yo¨¢n Moncada.
But the 23-year-old infielder, ranked No. 8 among White Sox prospects, per MLB Pipeline, learned quite a bit from his 2022 experience, during which he finished 4-for-35 in 11 games.
¡°What I learned the most was to be more prepared during my at-bats. To be more patient and to have a better pitch selection to swing,¡± said Sosa through interpreter Billy Russo. ¡°It¡¯s a big opportunity for me, because I was waiting for this since the beginning of the season, and I am working hard and trying to do my best.¡±
Sosa earned his quick trip to Chicago with an impressive 13-for-29 start over nine games with Triple-A Charlotte. He knocked out two home runs, collecting five doubles and eight RBIs while striking out five times and walking seven. He has looked more comfortable at the plate and in the field during his limited time with the ¡¯23 White Sox.
¡°I was focused on swinging at good pitches, having a better plan,¡± said Sosa of his Charlotte success. ¡°I was prepared for my pitch to swing. I wasn¡¯t missing on that.¡±
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¡°I've liked everything so far. He slows the game down defensively,¡± said White Sox manager Pedro Grifol. ¡°He's a good defensive player. On the offensive side, he's got a little bit of thump. There's not much to not like. He's a pretty good baseball player.¡±
Once players such as Anderson and Moncada get healthy, the White Sox will have to decide if it benefits the team and Sosa more to have him playing part-time with the White Sox or every day with the Knights. The same could hold true for Jake Burger and Romy Gonz¨¢lez.
Charlotte
Carlos P¨¦rez, Chicago¡¯s No. 29 prospect, has continued to showcase his power output with the Knights, posting four homers and three doubles in 14 games with a .528 slugging percentage. Alex Colomé, the veteran reliever who recorded 42 saves from 2019-20 with the White Sox, has thrown three innings without allowing an earned run since rejoining the organization on a Minor League deal.
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Double-A Birmingham
Yoelqui C¨¦spedes is healthy and hitting the ball with authority for the Barons. The No. 13 White Sox prospect was limited to one Spring Training at-bat due to right quad soreness, but has two homers, two doubles, nine walks and nine strikeouts in eight games.
High-A Winston-Salem
Second baseman Loidel Chapelli has gone 9-for-18 in his first five games for the Dash. The No. 27 White Sox prospect has two homers, one double, one triple and eight RBIs.
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Single-A Kannapolis
Tim Elko, a 10th-round pick by the White Sox in the 2022 Draft, has one of three home runs hit by the Cannon Ballers this season. He has driven in nine runs in seven games via his 11 hits. Tanner McDougal, the No. 19 White Sox prospect, made his first start since Tommy John surgery on Thursday, picking up three strikeouts over 3 1/3 scoreless innings.