June 2nd: Pinto has been outrighted to Triple-A Charlotte, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports on Twitter.
May 28th: The White Sox have placed designated hitter/corner infielder Matt Davidson on the disabled list, designated right-hander Ricardo Pinto for assignment and selected the contract of corner infielder Matt Skole, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com.
Back spasms have already kept Davidson out of action for nearly a week, so his DL placement is retroactive to May 25. The former well-regarded prospect had finally been enjoying a breakout season when healthy. In his age-27 campaign, Davidson has slashed .243/.368/.521 with 11 home runs in 171 plate appearances to perhaps emerge as a long-term piece for the rebuilding White Sox.
While Davidson has continued his high-strikeout ways, having fanned 32.2 percent of the time, he has also notched a personal-best 15.8 percent walk rate – up from the paltry 4.3 mark he posted in 2017. Moreover, Davidson ranks in the league’s upper echelon in exit velocity on fly balls and line drives, barrels per plate appearance and xwOBA (.419), according to Statcast.
Davidson’s injury creates room for Skole, who inked a minors deal with the White Sox in the offseason. Skole, a fifth-round pick of the Nationals in 2011, is now in position to make his major league debut at the age of 28. Once a promising prospect, Skole owns a .241/.336/.440 line in 1,168 PAs at Triple-A, including a .259/.360/.442 showing in 172 tries this season.
The addition of Skole could cost the White Sox the 24-year-old Pinto, whom they acquired from the Phillies in March. Pinto hasn’t exactly turned in great results at Triple-A Charlotte, having logged an 8.10 ERA with 8.10 K/9 and 7.2 BB/9 over 10 innings. He was far more successful last year at the minors’ highest level with the Phillies, as he recorded a 3.86 ERA, 6.82 K/9 and 2.67 BB/9 across 60 frames. Pinto even racked up 29 2/3 innings in Philly, but he struggled to a 7.89 ERA during that span.
One of these days later this summer and safely beyond the Super-Two cutoff date the White Sox will actually begin promoting real prospects like Eloy Jimenez and Michael Kopech who will actually be important foundation pieces when the team is ready to become relevant in the AL Central in the next couple of seasons.
The time is coming. I hope.
I guess there are 2 Cubs fans that aren’t looking forward to Eloy’s debut. Must already be sick of hearing about Gleyber’s .985 OPS and Jeimer’s .880 OPS.
Yea, us Cubs fans are so sick of it. Baez is at .853 and Kris Bryant is at .938. I’m not sure how the Cubbies are winning games with such big drop offs.
Don’t get me wrong though, Gleyber and Eloy will be studs. Candelario will be a solid player for many years too.
It was a joke.
Haha… missed the 2!
Skole showing well today. RBI double and crushed a HR.
Daniel Palka has also put up some numbers since he’s been recalled from AAA. Nicky Delmonico did as well late last summer. However, Palka and Delmonico have serious defensive issues as corner outfielders and none of these players will be on the White Sox come 2020 and beyond. Hopefully they have some flip value before they return to their replacement level worth. It’s probably already too late in Delmonico’s case since he had a poor start to 2018 and has been relegated to the disabled list.
It’s only a matter of time, and I mean a couple of months or less before Eloy Jimenez becomes a fixture for the White Sox in LF so none of these other players should get too comfortable in Chicago, especially when RF Avisail Garcia returns later this month. Whoever hits best between Delmonico and Palka will have a chance to stick as a left-handed platoon DH for a while, especially with Matt Davidson ailing. The only outfield position with an open competition in the next two seasons will be CF until Luis Robert is ready for prime time.
Palka has bad problems in right defensively. Has gotten away with fly balls that should be called errors leading to runs that should not have scored. Against Avilan and especially against hard luck Volstad
Palka’s a DH. That has always been his thing. If he keeps playing the way he has been he could factor into the Sox plan. He’s was always a solid power prospect for the twins
Is any one else growing tired of hearing about Sox prospects? How are Tim Anderson and Yoan Moncada working out? How about Lucas Giolito? All three are supposed to be part of the future dynasty. It’s worth remembering that while these three are maturing, and while other prospects arrive on the South Side, none of the other MLB teams will be standing still.
The Sox aren’t even halfway through year 2 of their rebuild. If we’re still talking about prospects 2 years from now, then you have a reason to complain.
And Moncada is working out quite well so far…
Yes. Tim Anderson has shown some steady improvement as well. He’s actually drawing some walks this season, already exceeding his previous season high in just 50 games. He is also on pace for a 30-30 campaign with HR’s and SB’s, not too shabby for a player who wasn’t serious about baseball until his junior year of high school and is already into his third MLB season at the age of 24. His career is progressing steadily while a more highly thought of SS on the North Side is regressing with his offense and now the subject of trade rumors.
Point taken, though comparison with Russell is not evidence of growth in Anderson.
Agreed, but his significantly increased walk rate, decreased K rate, increased power, good base running, and solid defense (outside of that one game a couple days ago) are. He’s still got a long way to go before I think we can rely on him as an important piece, but he’s only 24 (25 soon) and has shown a lot of promise.
Also, he’s on pace for over 4 fWAR, so he must be doing something right.
Anderson still has a way to go before anyone considers him among the better defensive shortstops, like Addison Russell. He lacks consistency which should come with more experience. Clearly Anderson has the physical tools to emerge as an elite SS with his arm and quickness afoot. It also should be pointed out that he has played with a bruised right thumb the past week which has required taping. That has to be affecting his throws which have accounted for his spike in errors.
Clearly the White Sox consider him an important piece to their future or they wouldn’t have locked him up with a 6 yrs/$25M that also includes two team options. If they exercise those options he will be controllable through the 2024 season.