Tag / Draft

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#113 – Brent Morel

morelName: Brent Morel

Rank: 113

Position: 3B

Years With White Sox: 2010-2013

Brent Morel joined the White Sox organization as their third round selection of the 2008 draft.  He made his major league debut a little over 2 years later on September 7, 2010, appearing as a pinch hitter against the Tigers in a 9-1 White Sox loss.  A few days later, he hit a home run for his first major league hit against Bruce Chen and the Royals.  He finished the year with a .231 average in 21 games.

Morel spent the entire 2011 season with the White Sox, earning the starting third baseman job.  He boosted his average to .245 and appeared in a career high 126 games.  Unfortunately, this was the high point of his career.

2012 saw Morel battling injuries which affected him at the plate, as his average plummeted to .177 in only 35 games.  In 2013, Morel was back in Triple A for most of the year, getting into only 12 games for the White Sox.  Following the season, Morel was selected off waivers by the Blue Jays, ending his White Sox career.

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

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#116 – Kip Wells

kipwellsName: Kip Wells

Rank: 116

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1999-2001

Kip Wells joined the White Sox organization as the 16th overall pick of the 1998 draft.  After splitting most of the 1999 season between A and AA, he was called up to the White Sox to make his major league debut August 2nd against the Tigers in Detroit.  In a game I just so happened to attend, he earned his first major league win, going 5 1/3 innings in the Sox 6-2 victory.  He started 6 more games for the White Sox, winning 3 of them and finishing with a respectable, if unspectacular, 4.04.

2000 again saw Wells splitting time between the minor leagues and the big leagues.  As the White Sox ran away and hid with the AL Central crown, Wells started 20 games, struggling through most of them.  He finished with less than 100 innings pitched, which averages out to less than 5 innings per start, and an ERA over 6.  While the White Sox battled the Mariners in the ALDS, he did not see any post-season action.

Wells again spent most of 2001 in Chicago, though he split time between the bullpen and the rotation.  He again started 20 games, but also appeared in another 20 in relief.  He did manage to win 10 games for the first time in his career, but finished with a losing record for the second straight year, despite lowering his ERA by 1 and a quarter runs.  That December, he was packaged with fellow pitchers Josh Fogg and Sean Lowe in a trade to the Pirates for Todd Ritchie.

Wells rejoined the White Sox organization on a minor league deal in April of 2012, but he was released 10 days later.

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

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#118 – Jim Parque

parque

Name: Jim Parque

Rank: 118

Position: P

Years With White Sox: 1998-2002

Jim Parque was selected by the White Sox in the first round of the 1997 draft, signing less than a week later.  He spent less than a year in the minor leagues, making his big league debut on May 26, 1998 against the Yankees.  Parque spent the rest of the season in the White Sox rotation, finishing with a winning record but with an inflated 5.10 ERA.

Parque spent the entire 1999 season in the big leagues, starting 30 games, but finding little success.  He finished with a 9-15 record and saw his ERA rise to 5.13.

2000 was Parque’s best year in the big leagues.  His most infamous moment in a White Sox uniform came in early April, when the White Sox and Tigers were involved in 2 brawls during the Sox’s 14-6 victory.  Parque hit Dean Palmer with the first pitch of the 7th inning, igniting the first brawl of the day and earning himself a 3 game suspension.  Many claim that the brawl united the young White Sox team, spurring them on to winning the AL Central title.  Parque finished the year with a 13-6 record and lowered his ERA to 4.28.  He started game one of the ALDS against the Mariners, giving up 3 runs in 6 innings and getting a no decision in the White Sox loss.

Parque’s career began to fall apart in 2001, as a torn labrum limited him to 13 games for the White Sox over the 2001 and 2002 seasons, with ERAs of 8.04 and 9.95 respectively.  With his recovery in doubt, he was non-tendered in December of 2002, making him a free agent.

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

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#121 – Chris Getz

getz

Name: Chris Getz

Rank: 121

Position: 2B

Years With White Sox: 2008-2009

Chris Getz was selected by the White Sox in the 6th round of the 2002 draft, but instead elected to attend Wake Forest.  3 years later, following a transfer to Michigan, Getz was again drafted by the White Sox, this time in the 4th round.  By 2008, Getz appeared in the Futures Game before making his major league debut on August 12 against the Royals.  He appeared in 10 games, but managed only 7 at bats for the year as the White Sox won the AL Central.

With Alexei Ramirez moving to shortstop in 2009, second base was left open for Getz and manager Ozzie Guillen awarded him the every day job coming out of spring training.  Getz led the league with a 92.6 stolen base percentage and tied for first among AL rookies with 28 multi-hit games.

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

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

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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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