CHICAGO – The first professional outing for Noah Schultz of Class A Kannapolis, the White Sox’s No. 4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, began with Fayetteville’s Zachary Cole doubling to left field on Friday night.
The Woodpeckers made very little contact the rest of the night against Schultz. The 19-year-old struck out five in two innings before being replaced by Mason Adams in the third.
Schultz was the team’s first pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. He was held back a bit in spring training with a left flexor strain, but starting Schultz in June was the organization’s plan from the start to help him out. to manage your freshman entries.
“Yeah, which is good,” Schultz told MLB.com during spring training about managing his first-year workload. “First season, having good coaches around me. Great companions. I’m looking forward to the season.”
Schultz’s early comparisons to Chris Sale and Randy Johnson, based on his 6-foot-9 frame, impressive stuff, and the lower-arm angle of his delivery, were certainly not altered by his first start.
working with liam
Triple-A Charlotte manager Justin Jirschele was talking with Liam Hendriks during the closer’s injury rehab assignment with the Knights when Hendriks realized something surprising but amusing.
Hendriks is 34 years old and Jirschele, his boss during that brief stint, was 33.
“He asked me one day during BP what year I was born, and he was not happy to find out that I was born in 1990,” Jirschele said with a smile during a recent phone conversation. “Not a day went by after that that he didn’t tell me he was older than me.”
Hendriks struck out five in five innings during his six games with the Knights while recovering after treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. But the numbers didn’t matter compared to Hendriks’ continued preparation for an inspiring comeback.
His first appearance was on May 5 at Gwinnett, and both teams gave Hendriks a standing ovation in front of the dugout before he threw a pitch.
“It was special,” Jirschele said. “I think it was good for everyone to step back and really think and realize everything that’s happened.
“For the most part, we know Liam as a closer, a pitcher, a serious competitor. Getting emotional and taking that step back and putting things in perspective of what’s happened and what’s still happening and where he’s gotten to in a short period of time, it kind of takes your breath away.”
Hendriks also paid for food trucks three or four times during his injury rehab stint, offering everything from Mexican to soul food.
“You know, I joked with him towards the end, ‘You have to stop because I keep gaining weight while you’re here. The food is too good not to eat,’” Jirschele said. “But he not only bought for our team, but he bought for the refs, the visiting teams and the entire front office of the Charlotte Knights. Just an amazing gesture from him multiple times.”
montgomery progressing
Colson Montgomery, the White Sox’s No. 1 prospect and the No. 27 prospect overall according to MLB Pipeline, is doing extended spring training baseball activities in Arizona and making progress, according to general manager Rick Hahn. The shortstop has yet to see action this season due to a mid-back strain.
come back bouquets
Bryan Ramos, the White Sox’s No. 3 prospect, is 4-for-13 in four games with Double-A Birmingham coming into the game on Sunday. Ramos has one RBI, one stolen base and two runs scored after missing time with a groin injury.
