The DSL White Sox had the best week, winning all four of their games. But the Barons got back on track as well, largely led by the pitching staff and outfielder Wilfred Veras. However, the best individual performance belonged to Rafael Ortega, who made hitting Triple-A pitching appear easy to hit.

Charlotte Knights
Record 3-3 (last week), 54-63 (overall), 21-22 (second half)

Knights Player of the Week
Rafael Ortega .333/.412/.867, 15 at-bats

Colson Montgomery .211/.348/.526, 19 at-bats
Oscar Colás .286/.348/.524, 21 at-bats
Zach DeLoach .222/.364/.333, 18 at-bats
Mark Payton .227/.414/.318, 22 at-bats
Bryan Ramos .190/.346/.190, 21 at-bats
Tim Elko .259/.286/.370, 27 at-bats

Nick Nastrini 8 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 8 K
Sean Burke 4 1/3 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 8 K
Johan Domínguez 5 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 7 K
Jake Eder 5 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 4 BB, 5 K
Sammy Peralta 4 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 K

The Knights continued their trend of staying as close to .500 as possible in the second half, going 3-3 this week. Charlotte and Toledo traded wins throughout, with the Knights winning on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, while the Mud Hens (57-62) took Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

I will go on a brief tangent, but I promise to keep this brief and get back to the Knights. On July 31, 2021, Seby Zavala had the most out-of-the-blue three-homer in MLB history, becoming the only player to hit his first three major league homers in the same game, although the White Sox lost, 12-11. Thank you for bearing with me during the short tangent. Coincidentally, the very next day, Knights Player of the Week Rafael Ortega hit three home runs for the North Siders, but the Cubs lost, 6-5. Another similarity is that both players are currently in Triple-A and working to make it back to the majors. This week, Ortega was on top of his game, finishing 5-for-15 with two homers and two doubles. Ortega’s last MLB appearance was on May 14, and his brief stint in Chicago this year did not go very well. However, at this rate, he could have a strong case to earn another opportunity.

2024 Charlotte Knights Players of the Week
Robbie Grossman (April 1-7)
Danny Mendick (April 8-14)
Danny Mendick (April 15-21)
Lenyn Sosa (April 22-28)
Colson Montgomery (April 29-May 5)
Jake Woodford (May 6-12)
Wilmer Difo (May 13-19)
Jared Walsh (May 20-26)
Oscar Colás (May 27-June 2)
Wynton Bernard (June 3-9)
Wilmer Difo (June 10-16)
Mark Payton (June 17-23)
Cory Abbott (June 24-30)
Michael Chavis (July 1-7)
Bryan Ramos (July 8-14)
Bryan Ramos (July 19-28)
Edgar Quero (July 29-August 4)
Tim Elko (August 5-11)
Rafael Ortega (August 12-18)

Birmingham Barons
Record 4-2 (last week), 60-54 (overall), 19-26 (second half)

Barons Player of the Week
Wilfred Veras .273/.385/.636, 22 at-bats

Jacob Gonzalez .227/.227/.273, 22 at-bats
Nick Podkul .333/.412/.533, 15 at-bats
Canaan Smith-Njigba .294/.400/.471, 17 at-bats
Jason Matthews .273/.429/.636, 11 at-bats

Jairo Iriarte 12 IP, 2 ER, 12 H, 5 BB, 8 K
Riley Gowens 4 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 6 K
Tyler Schweitzer 4 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 5 K
Noah Schultz 3 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 2 BB, 2 K
Juan Carela 6 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 K

After losing a substantial amount of talent due to hard-earned promotions, the Barons have not been as strong in the second half. However, they went 4-2 this week, and the pitching staff performed quite well, a luxury we’d grown used to during the first half.

However, despite the pitching staff’s good overall numbers, outfielder Wilfred Veras takes the cake. Veras went 6-for-22 with two homers, a triple, four walks, six RBI, and he added a stolen base for good measure. Veras provided the Barons offense with a much-needed spark. The Barons only totaled 22 runs this week (3.67 per game), which is nothing special, but without Veras, the offense would have been struggling quite a bit.

2024 Birmingham Barons Players of the Week
Drew Thorpe (April 8-14)
Edgar Quero (April 15-21)
Ky Bush (April 22-28)
Bryan Ramos (April 29-May 5)
Mason Adams (May 6-12)
Brooks Baldwin (May 13-19)
Jacob Gonzalez (May 20-26)
Mason Adams (May 27-June 2)
Edgar Quero (June 3-9)
Ky Bush (June 10-16)
Mason Adams (June 17-23)
Matt Hogan (June 24-30)
Riley Gowens (July 1-7)
Mario Camilletti (July 8-14)
Jairo Iriarte (July 19-28)
Noah Schultz (July 29-August 4)
Adam Hackenberg (August 5-11)
Wilfred Veras (August 12-18)

Winston-Salem Dash
Record 2-4 (last week), 54-60 (overall), 23-25 (second half)

Dash Player of the Week
Rikuu Nishida .438/.571/.438, 16 at-bats

William Bergolla .273/.360/.364, 22 at-bats
Caden Connor .294/.400/.471, 17 at-bats
Samuel Zavala .333/.400/.389, 18 at-bats
Wes Kath .050/.050/.050, 20 at-bats
Ryan Galanie .211/.286/.421, 19 at-bats

Aldrin Batista 5 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 0 BB, 8 K
Lucas Gordon 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 2 K
Shane Murphy 10 IP, 3 ER, 10 H, 1 BB, 6 K
Peyton Pallette 4 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 6 K

The Dash got off to a great start this week, winning their first two games against Jersey Shore. However, Winston-Salem lost the final four games to drop the series.

Despite the slow ending to the week, Rikuu Nishida, 23, was an on-base machine, finishing with a .571 OBP. Nishida, an Osaka native who attended the University of Oregon, got promoted to Winston-Salem on July 30. So far, Nishida’s numbers have been slightly better at the higher level, as he appears to be welcoming the challenge.

2024 Winston-Salem Dash Players of the Week
Jacob Gonzalez (April 8-14)
Juan Carela (April 15-21)
Manuel Veloz (April 22-28)
Jacob Gonzalez (April 29-May 5)
DJ Gladney (May 6-12)
Shawn Goosenberg (May 13-19)
Tyler Schweitzer (May 20-26)
Bryce Willits (May 27-June 2)
Samuel Zavala (June 3-9)
Ryan Galanie (June 10-16)
Shawn Goosenberg (June 17-23)
Mario Camilletti (June 24-30)
Wes Kath (July 1-7)
Wes Kath (July 8-14)
Tommy Vail (July 19-28)
DJ Gladney (July 29-August 4)
Ryan Galanie (August 5-11)
Rikuu Nishida (August 12-18)

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
Record 2-5 (last week), 60-54 (overall), 19-29 (second half)

Cannon Ballers Player of the Week
Alex Makarewicz .381/.435/.571, 21 at-bats

Ronny Hernández .364/.417/.500, 22 at-bats
Arxy Hernández .222/.263/.278, 18 at-bats
T.J. McCants .364/.462/.818, 11 at-bats

Tanner McDougal 9 IP, 4 ER, 9 H, 2 BB, 11 K
Jake Peppers 5 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Ricardo Brizuela 5 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K
Tyler Davis 4 1/3 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 6 K

The Cannon Ballers hit a speed bump this week, dropping five of seven games to Charleston (56-55).

Third baseman Alec Makarewicz was a diamond in the rough on offense, consistently giving the Cannon Ballers something to build off. Makarewicz, 23, finished his collegiate career at NC State and made his professional debut this month after signing as a UDFA. So far, Makarewicz is making every moment count, already picking up his first weekly honor.

2024 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Players of the Week
Aldrin Batista (April 8-14)
Albertson Asigen (April 15-21)
Caden Connor (April 22-28)
Rikuu Nishida (April 29-May 5)
Ryan Galanie (May 6-12)
Ryan Galanie (May 13-19)
Drew McDaniel (May 20-26)
Ryan Galanie (May 27-June 2)
Ronny Hernández (June 3-9)
Tommy Vail (June 10-16)
Mikey Kane (June 17-23)
George Wolkow (June 24-30)
George Wolkow (July 1-7)
Luke Bell (July 8-14)
Drake Logan (July 19-28)
Drake Logan (July 29-August 4)
George Wolkow (August 5-11)
Alex Makarewicz (August 12-18)

DSL White Sox
Record 4-0 (last week), 20-33 (overall)

Jurdrick Profar .600/.667/.733, 15 at-bats
Ryan Castillo .545/.583/.636, 11 at-bats
Marcelo Alcala  .500/.579/.688, 16 at-bats
Christian González .273/.333/.364, 11 at-bats

Ángel Bello 5 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 2 K
Orlando Suarez 5 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 4 K
Fabian Ysalla 4 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 K

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Rafael Ortega photo via Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights