Tag / Tim Hulett

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#171 – Tim Hulett

dpccwshule_20080716139Name: Tim Hulett

Rank: 171

Position: 2B/3B

Years With White Sox: 1983-1987

Tim Hulett joined the White Sox organization as their first round pick in the 1980 January secondary draft.  He made his major league debut on September 15, 1983, replacing Julio Cruz in the White Sox 12-0 victory over the Mariners.  Hulett ended up appearing in 6 games for the AL West champions, getting 1 hit in 5 at bats.

Hulett returned to Triple A Denver for the 1984 season, again earning a late season call-up.  This time he appeared in 8 games, going hitless in 7 at bats.

1985 saw Hulett getting his first extended shot in the big leagues.  Splitting time between second base and third base, he found his way into 141 games and hit .268.  In 1986, Hulett found himself as the opening day second baseman, but, while he set career highs in games, at bats, and home runs, his average fell to .231.

Hulett was the opening day third baseman in 1987, but things turned south quickly.  After being one of the few bright spots on the team in April, hitting .294 with 3 home runs, he fell of a cliff.  He hit .194 in May and .196 in June, before he was demoted to Triple A on June 26.  He returned for 3 games in August before returning to the minors for the rest of the year.  “I went bad at the wrong time,” said Hulett, who finished the season with a .217 batting average. “Five guys went bad the first month, but the team was still patient. I went bad the second month, but the team wasn`t patient anymore. I guess my timing was bad.”

When spring training of 1988 arrived, Hulett found himself off the 40-man roster and he was given a non-roster invite to camp.  “I have no chance here,” Hulett said.  “I`m at the stage in my career where I don`t have two or three years to waste in the minors. My confidence is a lot better this year. I know I can play in the big leagues. I just want to get a chance to prove it.”  He would not get a chance to prove it with the White Sox, though.  Prior to the start of the season, Hulett was traded to the Expos for a player to be named later.

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

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#278 – Jerry Royster

Jerry Royster (1987 White Sox) 2

Name: Jerry Royster

Rank: 278

Position: 3B/LF

Year With White Sox: 1987

Veteran infielder Jerry Royster joined the White Sox as a free agent in January of 1987.  “My biggest concern when I took over the team wasn’t our starters as much as our depth,” said then-Sox general manager Larry Himes. “With the previous acquisitions of Hill and Manrique, Jerry solidifies our infield. We can cover ourselves at all positions for 162 games.”

Royster moved into the starting lineup, platooning with Steve Lyons, in late June when manager Jim Fregosi sent Tim Hulett back to Triple A.  He put up a .240 average in 55 games through late August.

On August 26, his time with the White Sox came to an end when he was traded to the Yankees, along with minor leaguer Mike Soper, in exchange for lefty reliever Ken Patterson and a minor league player to be named later.

Interesting note on career minor leaguer Soper, an infielder who, at the time of this trade, had been part of a White Sox-Yankees trade three times over the previous two years.

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

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