2003 Wrapups: Chicago White Sox
With the 2003 minor league season coming to a close, we will be providing a brief wrapup of the season for all 30 minor league teams. In each report, we will take a look at how the team's Top 10 Prospects performed, identify some emerging prospects and organizational leaders, and report on the performance of their top draft pick.
Complete index of Team Wrapups 2003 League Wrapups
By Kevin Goldstein
September 25, 2003
Season Results
Performance of Top 10 Prospects
Here's how our top 10 prospects entering this season performed in 2003. Major league statistics through games of September 23.
| 1. Joe Borchard, of
Age: 24 |
Take one
big step backwards, Joe. Slugging down 100 points from the previous year, as his once-solid walk rate completely disappeared. Went deep just once in the final 30 games of the season, and hit just .194 vs. lefties.
| TEAM | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Charlotte (Triple-A) |
114 |
435 |
62 |
110 |
20 |
2 |
13 |
53 |
27 |
103 |
2 |
.253 |
.307 |
.398 |
| White Sox (MLB) |
7 |
16 |
3 |
5 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
5 |
0 |
.313 |
.353 |
.500 |
|
| 2. Miguel Olivo, c
Age: 25 |
The primary backstop for the White Sox, Olivo has provided solid defense, but little with the bat. With no other options, his job is not in jeopardy.
| TEAM | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| White Sox (MLB) |
110 |
303 |
34 |
70 |
18 |
1 |
6 |
24 |
17 |
78 |
5 |
.231 |
.278 |
.356 |
|
| 3. Anthony Webster, of
Age: 20 |
Still a raw product, Webster hit .322 during the first two months of the season, but hit just .250 in June and July before being shipped to Texas in the Carl Everett trade. Went 15-for-39 in his final 10 games for Clinton (.384), but failed to draw a walk in 18 games for the Lumber Kings.
| TEAM | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Kannapolis (Low Class A) |
94 |
363 |
68 |
105 |
18 |
1 |
2 |
33 |
31 |
58 |
20 |
.289 |
.353 |
.361 |
| Clinton (Low Class A) |
18 |
74 |
11 |
20 |
7 |
0 |
1 |
9 |
0 |
8 |
4 |
.270 |
.286 |
.405 |
|
| 4. Kris Honel, rhp
Age: 20 |
Honel continues to move steadily up the ladder, leading the organization in strikeouts while allowing three or fewer earned runs in 20 of 24 starts. Absolutely baffles left-handed hitters (.189 opponent average).
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Winston-Salem (High Class A)
| 9-7 |
0 |
3.11 |
24 |
133.0 |
122 |
51 |
46 |
42 |
122 |
| Birmingham (Double-A)
| 1-0 |
0 |
3.75 |
2 |
12.0 |
9 |
6 |
5 |
6 |
13 |
|
| 5. Jon Rauch, rhp
Age: 25 |
Surprisingly, was never given a shot at the fifth starter's job for Chicago despite a steady performance at Triple-A. 2.17 ERA in his final six starts.
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Charlotte (Triple-A)
| 7-1 |
0 |
4.11 |
24 |
124.2 |
121 |
60 |
57 |
35 |
94 |
|
| 6. Corwin Malone, lhp
Age: 23 |
Now two years removed from breakout 2001 campaign, Malone struggled with elbow problems throughout the season. In the last two years for Birmingham, Malone has pitched 164 innings, striking out 117, and walking 117.
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Bristol (Rookie)
| 0-0 |
0 |
5.14 |
4 |
14.0 |
17 |
8 |
8 |
3 |
15 |
| Kannapolis (Low Class A)
| 0-3 |
0 |
5.11 |
5 |
24.2 |
27 |
19 |
14 |
10 |
29 |
| Birmingham (Double-A)
| 4-2 |
0 |
5.40 |
8 |
40.0 |
50 |
26 |
24 |
28 |
28 |
|
| 7. Andy Gonzalez, ss
Age: 21 |
Many thought Gonzalez was poised for a breakout campaign, but Gonzalez was overmatched at the plate in his first full season. Only positive is a healthy number of walks, but he'll need to find another dimension to his offensive game.
| TEAM | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Kannapolis (Low Class A) |
123 |
428 |
58 |
99 |
17 |
1 |
1 |
39 |
69 |
82 |
22 |
.231 |
.347 |
.282 |
|
| 8. Felix Diaz, rhp
Age: 23 |
Stayed healthy the entire year for the first time in his career, but struggled through an inconsistent season. Has all the raw stuff to dominate, just never seems to.
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Charlotte (Triple-A)
| 5-7 |
0 |
3.97 |
27 |
115.2 |
122 |
59 |
51 |
33 |
83 |
|
| 9. Arnie Munoz, lhp
Age: 21 |
Was absolutely untouchable during winter ball, but started the season in horrendous fashion, allowing 13 runs over five innings in his first four appearances. Gradually found his groove as the season wore on, allowing runs in just two of his final 18 games.
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Charlotte (Triple-A)
| 4-3 |
6 |
4.75 |
49 |
55.0 |
52 |
35 |
29 |
27 |
63 |
|
| 10. Royce Ring, lhp
Age: 21 |
First-round pick had a twenty game scoreless streak early in the season, and was the primary player going to the Mets in the Roberto Alomar acquisition. Pitched very well at Binghamton, where lefties managed just two hits in 20 at-bats.
| Team |
W-L |
SV |
ERA |
G |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
SO |
| Birmingham (Double-A)
| 1-4 |
19 |
2.52 |
36 |
35.2 |
33 |
11 |
10 |
14 |
44 |
| Binghamton (Double-A)
| 3-0 |
7 |
1.66 |
18 |
21.2 |
13 |
4 |
4 |
11 |
18 |
| Cubs (MLB)
| 1-1 |
1 |
6.75 |
14 |
26.2 |
24 |
22 |
20 |
19 |
28 |
|
Top Draft Pick:
| Brian Anderson, of
U. of Arizona Bonus: $1.6M |
As a junior at Arizona, Anderson jumped his average more than 100 points while tripling his home run and stolen base totals, moving from the fringes of the draft into the first round. Played very well in a brief debut shortened by wrist surgery. Is expected to be 100 percent for spring training.
| TEAM | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Great Falls (Rookie) |
13 |
49 |
6 |
16 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
13 |
9 |
10 |
3 |
.388 |
.492 |
.592 |
|
Emerging Prospects:
Neal Cotts, lhp: Acquired from the Athletics in the Billy Koch/Keith Foulke trade, Cotts absolutely dominated the Southern League, limiting batters to a .178 opponent's average while striking out over 11 per nine innings.
Jeremy Reed, of: Rated as the 21st best prospect in the system after being selected in the second round of last year's draft, Reed burst onto the scene in 2003, leading the minor leagues in batting average, hitting .373-11-95 across two levels.
Statistical Leaders
| Batting Average |
Jeremy Reed |
.373 |
| Home Runs |
Brian Becker |
19 |
| Runs Batted In |
Jeremy Reed |
95 |
| Stolen Bases |
Ruddy Yan |
76 |
| Earned Run Average |
Neal Cotts |
2.16 |
| Wins |
Brian Cooper |
15 |
| Strikeouts |
Kris Honel |
135 |
| Saves |
Josh Fields |
20 |
