Cannon Ballers Update…
With 2 games left in the first half of the season, @Kcannonballers stands 32-32, 5 losses behind first-place Charleston.
There were tons of positives in the first half, most notably 11 players promoted to Winston-Salem. A steady stream of interesting, young players continue to arrive from Arizona to fill in.
The pitching was the strength of the Ballers in the first half, as a team led by college pitchers drafted in 2025 dominated Low-A hitters. The staff continues to lead the league in ERA. Some of those college arms have moved on to High-A, but the bullpen remains a strength, led now by Landen Payne, who has 5 saves in his last 7 appearances.
Infielder Javier Mogollon was among the top hitters in the Carolina League in May, hitting .291 in 22 games, with 25 hits, including 5 HRs, 18 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.
Second-round draft pick Jaden Fauske leads the team with 48 hits and 39 walks. First rounder Billy Carlson continues to recover from a broken fingertip.
@FutureSox
Happy Memorial Day weekend. That is our guy, Jaden Fauske, carrying out the flag! We honor the military personnel who died while serving in the United States.
Kannapolis Cannon Ballers Random Thoughts…
Billy Carlson and Jaden Fauske are progressing nicely in Low-A. Everyone says there’s pop in Billy’s bat and it is just a matter of time till we see it. And Jaden continues to get bigger and stronger.
Javier Mogollon is one of the hottest hitters in the Carolina League in May, hitting .392 going into last night’s game. At 5’8, 160, his sweet swing generates a lot of bat speed. And he was flashing the leather big-time last night, including a first-inning defensive gem with a runner on third base that saved a run. He and Billy Carlson form quite a duo up the middle. I can see why manager Jayson Nix cited the defense as one of the reasons the pitching has been so good. It is always fun to watch a well-played baseball game and right now the Ballers are playing elite defense. And they take a lot of pride in it, as evidenced by the fact that the infielders hold themselves accountable by doing pushups after infield practice for any miscues.
I met Alexander Albertus and he strikes me as a thoughtful guy who is mature for his age (21). He’s also quite the physical specimen. I asked if we could do an interview so folks can get to know him. He said he’s happy to chat but prefers not to have the interview shared on socials. I can respect that. I also talked to 2 of his teammates about him and both praised his contributions on and off the field.
And then there’s Max Banks. A 6-inning shutout with no walks. Let’s get him up to Winston-Salem to see how his game plays against High-A hitters.
The White Sox have some dedicated minor-league managers. I went to Winston-Salem on Sunday and watched Guillermo Quiroz working tirelessly pregame, first tidying up the dugout and then working with one of his catchers in the bullpen. Then, after a long day, he was still gracious enough to chat with me postgame. It was more of the same in Kannapolis, as Jayson Nix did one-on-one drills with a couple of infielders before holding fielding and batting practice. And it was stifling hot as the temps pushed 90.
Insights from players and managers are fascinating. I’m not sure fans appreciate how hard these guys work. But my interviews often are only possible because of the awesome support from @awmurphy50, @dan_helotie in Kannapolis and Doug Maurer with @KnightsBaseball. Thanks, guys!
Cooper Flemming, Kayson Cunningham, and Jaden Fauske are three young hitters to keep an eye on as they begin their pro careers.
Our @shaan_don8 highlights the 2025 prep bats already making noise in the minors:
https://t.co/ySbBe76YFF