The Knights led the way this week, finishing 4-2 to get back to .500 during the second half. The Barons had the only losing week in the system, going 2-4, while the Dash ended their season with a 3-3 week. The Cannon Ballers still have postseason action in front of them due to their strong first half performance, but their regular season ended with a 3-3 week.

Charlotte Knights
Record 4-2 (last week), 63-71 (overall), 30-30 (second half)

Knights Player of the Week
Colson Montgomery .417/.444/.792, 24 at-bats

Oscar Colás .111/.227/.444, 18 at-bats
Yoán Moncada .375/.375/.688, 16 at-bats (on rehab assignment from Chicago)
Tim Elko .179/.207/.214, 28 at-bats
Carlos Pérez .353/.389/.647, 17 at-bats
Mark Payton .320/.433/.560, 25 at-bats
Canaan Smith-Njigba .556/.556/.667, nine at-bats

Cory Abbott 5 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 10 K
Sean Burke 5 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 9 K (promoted to the White Sox on September 10)
Mason Adams 3 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 4 K
Adisyn Coffey 3 IP, 0 ER, 0 H, 2 BB, 4 K

Surprisingly, this is the first time Montgomery has won a weekly award since the fifth week of the season. However, it was a phenomenal week for the infielder. Montgomery is still ranked No. 27 in MLB Pipeline’s prospect rankings despite having a setback with his modest 2024 season. Montgomery, 22, is slashing .217/.330/.391, which was falls below the sky-high expectations he entered the season with. However, this week he was unstoppable, finishing 10-for-24 with three home runs, two walks, and a stolen base in his only attempt. Very well done to Montgomery, who is hopefully back on the right track.

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)
Zach DeLoach (August 19-25)
Carlos Pérez (August 26-September 1)
Colson Montgomery (September 2-8)

Birmingham Barons
Record 2-4 (last week), 69-63 (overall), 28-35 (second half)

Barons Player of the Week
Wilfred Veras .318/.423/.455, 22 at-bats

Mario Camilletti .188/.435/.188, 16 at-bats
Wilfred Veras .318/.423/.455, 22 at-bats
Jacob Gonzalez .125/.160/.250, 24 at-bats
Rikuu Nishida .346/.393/.346, 26 at-bats
DJ Gladney .240/.240/.280, 25 at-bats

Riley Gowens 10 IP, 1 ER, 11 H, 1 BB, 11 K
Juan Carela 5 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 5 K
Noah Schultz 3 2/3 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 5 K
Peyton Pallette 4 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Tyler Schweitzer 5 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 K

In a slow week for the Barons offense, Wilfred Veras got on base very often, going 7-for-22 with three walks and three doubles. Veras has been trending in the right direction for quite some time, as he also posted a .292/.380/.481 slash line in August. The 21-year-old outfielder has been with the Barons all season, and certainly will start 2025 in Charlotte.

Starting pitcher Riley Gowens made two starts, and both of those were strong outings. Gowens only allowed one earned run, which was nearly enough for him to earn the weekly award. However, Gowens also allowed four unearned runs, and two of the hits he allowed were homers, which swung the slight edge to Veras.

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)
Jacob Gonzalez (August 19-25)
Tyler Schweitzer (August 26-September 1)
Wilfred Veras (September 2-8)

Winston-Salem Dash
Record 3-3 (last week), 60-72 (overall), 29-37 (second half)

Dash Player of the Week
Aldrin Batista 5 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 6 K

Samuel Zavala .222/.364/.333, 18 at-bats
Wes Kath .125/.176/.375, 16 at-bats
Ryan Galanie .188/.417/.438, 16 at-bats
Caden Connor .296/.296/.519, 27 at-bats
Casey Saucke .333/.360/.417, 24 at-bats
Miguel Santos .333/.364/.476, 21 at-bats

Lucas Gordon 5 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 3 BB, 4 K
Hagen Smith 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 2 K
Shane Murphy 3 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 K

The Dash did not make the playoffs, so this was their final week of the season. They won their first three games of the week, but they lost the last trio to allow the Greenville Drive (63-69) to even the series. Aldrin Batista had a dominant start on the mound, pitching five shutout innings and collecting six strikeouts. Batista, 21, spent most of this year with Kannapolis, but he has been phenomenal in 26 innings with the Dash, posting a 1.04 ERA and a 2.25 FIP. Congratulations to him on his terrific ending to the season, and he has plenty of momentum heading into the 2025.

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)
Caden Connor (August 19-25)
Shane Murphy (August 26-September 1)
Aldrin Batista (September 2-8)

Kannapolis Cannon Ballers
Record 3-3 (last week), 70-61 (overall), 29-36 (second half)

Cannon Ballers Player of the Week
Sam Antonacci .458/.536/.625, 24 at-bats

Ronny Hernández .200/.250/.200, 15 at-bats
George Wolkow .174/.231/.261, 23 at-bats
Alec Makarewicz .346/.357/.577, 26 at-bats
Drake Logan .333/.333/.611, 18 at-bats

Mark McLaughlin 5 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 9 K
Jake Peppers 5 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 7 K
Manuel Veloz 4 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 4 K
Tanner McDougal 4 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 8 K

Sam Antonacci was drafted in the fifth round this season, and he has wasted no time making an impact on the Cannon Ballers. Two weeks ago, Antonacci won the weekly award, and he made the decision easy this time around by providing a massive spark. Antonacci, 21, is slashing .333/.471/.432 overall, and he went 11-for-24 with three walks, two doubles, a triple, and five RBI this week. What a start to his professional career, and best of luck with him as he enters his first postseason as a professional. Thanks to the excellent first half, the Cannon Ballers have a series against Charleston (69-61) that begins on Tuesday.

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)
Sam Antonacci (August 19-25)
Jeral Pérez (August 26-September 1)
Sam Antonacci (September 2-8)

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Colson Montgomery photo: Laura Wolff/Charlotte Knights