Tag / Draft

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#130 – Daniel Hudson

dan-hudson

Name: Daniel Hudson

Rank: 130

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 2009-2010

Daniel Hudson was the White Sox fifth round pick in the 2008 draft.  He quickly worked his way through the minor league system, making his major league debut on September 4, 2009, pitching 2 innings of scoreless relief in the White Sox 12-2 victory over the Red Sox.  He moved in to the starting rotation when Gavin Floyd went down with a hip injury, earning his first major league victory in his second start on September 27.

Hudson returned to Triple A to start the 2010 season.  He was called up on July 11 after Jake Peavy tore his right latissimus dorsi muscle.  Hudson made 3 starts for the White Sox through the end of July, when, at the trade deadline, he was sent to the Diamondbacks in exchange for Edwin Jackson.

Hudson’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:

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#134 – Josh Fields

Name: Josh Fields

Rank: 134

Position: 3B

Years With White Sox: 2006-2009

Josh Fields joined the White Sox organization as their first round pick in the 2004 draft.  He made his major league debut on September 13, 2006 as a defensive replacement in the White Sox 9-0 victory over the Angels.  6 days later, Fields became the third White Sox player, following Carlos Lee and Miguel Olivo, to homer in their first major league at bat.

Fields entered the 2007 season rated as the second-best prospect in the White Sox organization, and got his first chance at extended playing time in the major leagues when Joe Crede went down with a season-ending back injury.  Fields appeared to be one of the bright spots on that miserable team, finishing the year with a .244 average and 24 home runs in only 100 games, good enough for one third place Rookie of the Year vote.

With a healthy Crede back in the fold for 2008, Fields returned to Triple A, where he had a disappointing, injury-marred season.

Fields became the starting third baseman in 2009, with Joe Crede moving on to the Twins.  Fields appeared in 79 games, but struggled to hit with consistency and was eventually replaced by rookie Gordon Beckham.  The highlight of his season came on July 23, when he hit a grand slam and recorded the final putout in Mark Buerhle’s perfect game against the Rays.

Following the season, Fields, along with Chris Getz, was traded to the Royals for Mark Teahen.

Fields’ numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:

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#138 – Doug Drabek

Doug Drabek

Name: Doug Drabek

Rank: 138

Position: P

Year With White Sox: 1997

Doug Drabek first joined the White Sox organization as their 11th round draft pick in the 1983 draft.  Little more than a year later, he was traded, along with Kevin Hickey, to the Yankees for veteran Roy Smalley.  After establishing himself elsewhere, and on the downside of his career, Drabek rejoined the White Sox, signing as a free agent prior to the 1997 season.

Drabek struggled with the White Sox, putting up a 12-11 record with a 5.74 ERA, the worst of his career to this point.  Following the season, he became a free agent and left the White Sox for the second, and final, time.

Drabek’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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#144 – Rodney McCray

mccrayName: Rodney McCray

Rank: 144

Position: OF

Years With White Sox: 1990-1991

Rodney McCray was originally drafted by the White Sox in the 1st round of the 1982 draft, but didn’t sign.  In December of 1987, he finally joined the White Sox organization after being selected from the Padres in the minor league draft.  He made his major league debut with the White Sox on April 30, 1990, appearing as a defensive replacement in the team’s 5-4 victory against the Rangers.

McCray was used primarily as a pinch runner and defensive replacement, appearing in 32 games but getting only 6 at bats.  He ended the season with 6 stolen bases but still in search of his first major league hit.

McCray spent most of 1991 in Triple A Vancouver, where he became internationally famous.  On May 27, McCray was playing right field and was tracking down a flyball hit by current Diamnodack manager Chip Hale.  After initially catching the ball, McCray barrelled through the plywood fence.  The video of the play has lived on through the years in sports blooper videos.

McCray later earned a call-up to the White Sox in 1991, but again saw limited playing time and even more limited batting opportunities.  This time he made it in to 17 games, but got only 7 at bats.  He did manage to get 2 hits this time around.  Following the season, McCray became a free agent and his White Sox career came to an end.

McCray’s numbers in a White Sox uniform were:

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Franchise Four – Chicago White Sox

Major League Baseball is asking its fans to vote for the four most impactful players who best represent the history of each franchise.  The winners will be announced in July at the All Star Game in Cincinnati.  Today, we finish up the entire league as I give my Franchise Four picks for the Chicago White Sox.

F4WhiteSox

LALuis Aparicio played for the White Sox from 1956 – 1962 and again from 1968 – 1970.  He was an All Star 6 times in those years and was elected to Hall of Fame in 1984.  His number 11 was retired by the White Sox in 1984.

NFNellie Fox teamed with Aparicio to make up the double play combination for the 1959 American League Champions.  Fox came to the White Sox in 1950 and manned second base through the 1963 season, earning 12 All Star nods and the 1959 AL MVP.  He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1997.

LAppAfter the White Sox roster was decimated by the banishments following the throwing of the 1919 World Series, there were few bright spots until Luke Appling debuted in 1930.  20 years later, Appling retired, with 7 All Star nods, 2 batting titles, 3 top 10 MVP finishes, and too many team records to count.  He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1964.

PKPaul Konerko came to the White Sox via trade prior to the 1999 season and became a fixture at first base until his retirement last year.  Having led the White Sox to victory in the 2005 World Series, he finished his career as the White Sox all time leader in total bases and second all time in home runs, RBIs, and games played.

HBHarold Baines was selected by the White Sox as the first overall pick of the 1977 draft.  He spent parts of 14 seasons with the team, in three different stints, until his retirement following the 2001 season.  He holds the White Sox team records for home runs, RBIs, and extra base hits for left handed hitters. Continue reading →

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#147 – Matt Merullo

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Name: Matt Merullo

Rank: 147

Position: C

Years With White Sox: 1989, 1991-1993

Matt Merullo was selected by the White Sox in the 7th round of the 1986 draft.  When Carlton Fisk broke his hand days in to the 1989 season, Merullo got his chance with the big league club.  He made his major league debut on April 12, 1989, going hitless in one at bat against the Mariners.  2 days later, he made his first start in the White Sox home opener, and notched his first hit, his first home run, and his first caught stealing behind the plate.   He got in to 31 games total that season, hitting .222 in 81 at bats with that lone home run.

A knee injury, plus the continued presence of Fisk and Ron Karkovice, kept Merullo in Birmingham in 1990.  He split the 1991 season between Double A and the big leagues, appearing in a career high 80 games despite hitting only .229.

1992 saw Merullo splitting time between Triple A and the White Sox, and he only made it in to 24 games with the big league club.  He spent the majority of 1993 back in Triple A, playing only 8 games with the White Sox, hitting an anemic .050.

With spring training winding down in 1994, Merullo was dealt to the Indians.

Merullo’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:

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You Get A Prospect! And You Get A Prospect!

chi-russellApparently, the joy of calling up Kris Bryant on Friday wore off for Cub nation, so they decided to dip in to the well one more time on Monday when they decided to call up Addison Russell, the stud shortstop prospect they acquired from the A’s in the Jeff Samadzija trade.  Russell, who had been moved to second base last week, replaces Arismendy Alcantara, who kicked off the prospect parade last summer but had struggled in limited playing time this year, on the roster.  Like Bryant, Russell struggled in his major league debut, going hitless in 5 at bats and garnering 3 strike outs.

AP INDIANS WHITE SOX BASEBALL S BBA USA ILNot to be outdone, the White Sox also decided to call up their top prospect on Monday.  Carlos Rodon, the team’s first round draft pick last summer, was slated to join the starting rotation at some point this season, but instead was brought up to head to the bullpen.  He also made his debut Tuesday night, and it was also a rocky one.  He gave up 2 runs on 3 hits and 3 walks in 2 and a third innings.

Chances are both will bounce back and help their respective teams this summer and for years to come.  The hopes of an entire city lie on their shoulders.

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Crosstown Competitors

cws-chiLast Saturday, Geovany Soto and Jeff Samardzija became the 25th and 26th people I’ve seen play in person for both the Cubs and the White Sox.  Here’s a look at those players, in alphabetical order.

DavidAardsma2David Aardsma

After posting a decent season with the Cubs in 2006, Aardsma was traded to the White Sox for Neal Cotts.  Aardsma lasted one season with the Sox, where he was unable to duplicate his success from the year before.

Jason Bere

Drafted by the White Sox in the 36th round in 1990, Bere debuted with the big league club in 1993, finishing 2nd in Rookie of the Year voting.  After an All Star selection in 1994, injuries marred the remainder of his tenure on the South Side, which ended in 1998.  He resurfaced with the Cubs in 2001 and had a decent season, but he went 1-10 in 2002 before being let go.

Neal Cotts

Acquired by the White Sox in the Billy Koch trade, he debuted with the team in 2003.  He was a key contributor in the bullpen during the 2005 championship season, and was the only relief pitcher to appear in all 3 rounds of the playoffs that season.  Following the 2006 season, he was traded to the Cubs for David Aardsma, and he spent the next 3 injury filled seasons on the North Side.

scott_eyre_autographScott Eyre

Joining the White Sox organization in a 1994 trade with the Rangers, he debuted with the big league team in 1997.  He split the next 4 seasons between the rotation and the bullpen, not to mention between Chicago and Charlotte, before being moved to the Blue Jays following the 2000 ALDS loss to the Mariners.  He joined the Cubs as a free agent for the 2006 season and enjoyed 2 seasons of relative success, before falling apart in 2008, when he was traded to the Phillies.

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#165 – Ryan Sweeney

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim v Chicago White SoxName: Ryan Sweeney

Rank: 165

Position: OF

Years With White Sox: 2006-2007

Ryan Sweeney joined the White Sox organization as their 2nd round pick in the 2003 draft.  He worked his way through the system before making his major league debut on September 1, 2006, appearing as a late inning defensive replacement.  Sweeney appeared in 18 games for the defending champions, hitting .229 in 35 at bats.

Sweeney returned to Charlotte for the 2007 season, as the number one prospect in the White Sox organization according to Baseball America.  He earned himself another September call-up, appearing in 15 games and batting only .200.

On January 3, 2008, Sweeney was packaged along with pitchers Fautino de los Santos and Gio Gonzalez, in the ill-fated deal with the A’s that brought Nick Swisher to the south side.

Sweeney’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:

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#166 – Addison Reed

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Name: Addison Reed

Rank: 166

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 2011-2013

Addison Reed was the 3rd round draft pick of the White Sox in 2010.  He made his major league debut the following September, giving up 4 hits and 1 earned run in an inning and two thirds as the White Sox were blown out by the Tigers 18-4.  Reed appeared in 5 other games down the stretch as the White Sox finished up a disappointing season.

Reed made the White Sox bullpen out of spring training in 2012.  He picked up his first career save on May 5 and was officially named the closer by manager Robin Ventura on May 23.  He finished the season with 29 saves, despite an ERA near 5, as the White Sox faded out of contention over the season’s last month.

2013 saw Reed again holding down the closer role for the White Sox.  On August 22, he saved his sixth consecutive game, becoming the first White Sox reliever to accomplish the feat and the first overall since Eric Gagne in 2003.  When the season came to an end, he wound up with 40 saves in 48 opportunities, and he had lowered his ERA by nearly a run from the year before.

That December, Reed was traded to the Diamondbacks for minor league third baseman Matt Davidson, drawing his White Sox career to a close.

Reed’s numbers in a White Sox uniform, both for games I attended and overall, were:

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