2021 Kannapolis Cannon Ballers preview

The Kannapolis Cannon Ballers were finally welcomed to the world on Tuesday, May 4. The long time White Sox’s affiliate was in dire need of a refresh and the new identity was eventually unveiled on Oct. 24, 2019. The brand new Atrium Health Ballpark has hosted events over the past year but Minor League Baseball finally arrives there.

Amid the massive restructure of the minor leagues, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers will be a member of the Low-A East Division. The league is comprised of seven former members of the Class A Advanced Carolina League and five from the Class A South Atlantic League. The Ballers will play in the Central Division with the Carolina Mudcats (Milwaukee Brewers), Down East Wood Ducks (Texas Rangers) and the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Houston Astros). The North Division will be comprised of the Delmarva Shoebirds (Baltimore Orioles), Fredericksburg Nationals (Washington Nationals), Lynchburg Hillcats (Cleveland Indians) and Salem Red Sox (Boston Red Sox). The Augusta Green Jackets (Atlanta Braves), Charleston River Dogs (Tampa Bay Rays), Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals) and Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Chicago Cubs) will play in the South Division.

Kannapolis hosts the Down East Wood Ducks this week and Guillermo Quiroz made his debut as manager. Patrick Leyland, son of legendary manager Jim Leyland will serve as the bench coach. John Ely has moved from Great Falls and will take over as the pitching coach for the departing Jose Bautista. Cole Armstrong, who previously served as the hitting coach in Kannapolis has accepted a job as the manager of the Kamloops NorthPaws in the West Coast League and he’s been replaced by Charlie Romero. Jeremy Kneebusch takes over as Head Athletic Trainer and Kevin Childs will serve as the Performance Coach.

Here is a look at how the Cannon Ballers’ roster is constructed, who to watch, and what to expect from the club.

Top 30 Prospects: Jared Kelley (5), Matthew Thompson (7), Andrew Dalquist (8), Bryan Ramos (17), Jose Rodriguez (20), Benyamin Bailey (21), James Beard (22), DJ Gladney (24), Bailey Horn (28) and Chase Krogman (30).

Opening day ages of the players are listed in parentheses, along with position for non-pitchers. Players on the disabled list have an asterisk. 

Pitchers

Acquired via Draft: Garvin Alston (24), Jerry Burke (22), Andrew Dalquist (20), Rigo Fernandez (23), Bailey Horn (23), Trey Jeans (25), Jared Kelley (19), Tyson Messer (24), Dan Metzdorf (24), McKinley Moore (22), Sammy Peralta (22), Chase Solesky (23), Matthew Thompson (20).

Acquired via International Free Agency: Yoelvin Silven (21)

Free Agency/Trade/Rule 5: Martin Carrasco (21), Marcus Evey (23), Brandon Jenkins (22), Ty Madrigal (24)

The pitching staff features three of the top prospects in the entire system with recent prep draftees Jared Kelley, Matthew Thompson and Andrew Dalquist scheduled to take the ball this week in Kannapolis. Thompson and Dalquist were drafted in the second and third rounds respectively in 2019. With less than five professional innings between them, it’s a big development year for the promising righties.

Thompson is the most athletic pitcher in the system. The 20-year-old participated in fall instructional league as well as with coaches at the alternate site in Schaumburg last season. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder shows a fastball that gets into the mid 90s and scouts have given it 60 grades. The righty is working on a changeup and he also has a breaking ball that has a chance to become a plus pitch.

Dalquist possesses more polish than stuff, but the stuff is an intriguing package as well. The California product shows a four-pitch mix highlighted by a curveball and slider that could both become plus offerings in the future. Strength gains were evident during instructional league action. The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder will continue to add mass to his frame and increase the velocity on his fastball.

Kelley is the headliner of this trio. He’s the best prospect in the organization that isn’t already in the majors. The 19-year-old Texan is as polished as it gets for a pitcher entering professional baseball from the high school ranks. Kelley possesses a 70-grade fastball that he regularly pumps into the high 90s. The former second rounder shows a plus changeup as well which is a big reason why the White Sox gave him $3 million to sign at pick No. 47 last year.

Kelley deploys a low effort delivery with a really good feel to pitch. He possesses a strong, physical frame and durability is one of his prime attributes. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder needs to develop his breaking ball. He’s also battled conditioning issues previously, but he’ll be an attraction for fans and scouts in North Carolina.

Bailey Horn, a 23-year-old southpaw, should be another member of the Ballers’ rotation. The fifth rounder from 2020 posted a 2.08 ERA for Auburn last year prior to signing with the White Sox. The lefty participated in fall instructional league and his stuff wasn’t as crisp as expected. Horn features a four-pitch mix with a fastball that gets into the mid 90s. A plus slider is his best offering and he shows a clean delivery to go with a fiery, bulldog demeanor on the mound.

Southpaw Dan Metzdorf and righty Chase Solesky have started games in the past as well. The 24-year-old Metzdorf was a fifth rounder out of Boston College back in 2019. He posted a 3.60 ERA in 40 innings for the Great Falls Voyagers after signing. Solesky is a 6-foot-3, 200-pounder that was taken in the 21st round of the same draft. He struggled in rookie ball over the course of 42 innings, but did average 10 strikeouts per nine. Tyson Messer and Jerry Burke are two more hurlers from the 2019 draft class. Messer went in the ninth round and Burke posted a 4.33 ERA in 54 innings after being selected out of Georgetown.

Martin Carrasco was selected in the minor league phase of the Rule 5 Draft this past December from the San Diego Padres and he debuts with Kannapolis. The 21-year-old right hander posted a 1.46 ERA in rookie ball in 2019 while averaging 15 K/9 and 1.46 BB/9 in 24.2 innings. He moved on to throw five innings in Low-A as well. Righty Brandon Jenkins joined the organization as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Seattle this past year and he’ll contribute to the staff as well. Lefties Rigo Fernandez, Trey Jeans, Ty Madrigal and Garvin Alston Jr. will also participate.

The back end of the Cannon Ballers’ bullpen should be headlined by Sammy Peralta, Yoelvin Silven and McKinley Moore. The 22-year-old Peralta was an 18th round pick out of the University of Tampa in 2019. The southpaw averaged 13.5 K/9 with 2.37 BB/9 and a 2.37 ERA in 30.1 innings with Great Falls in 2019. Silven is a 6-foot-1 180-pound Dominican who posted a 2.63 FIP and struck out over 10 per nine innings in the AZL. The 21-year-old posted a 3.48 ERA in 44 innings. Silven frequently hit 96 mph with his fastball during fall instructs, but he shows below average secondary offerings. Moore is a 22-year-old righty that throws very hard. The 6-foot-6, 225-pounder out of Arkansas-Little Rock walked too many guys during his professional debut but averaged nearly 13 strikeouts per nine as well.

Position Players

Acquired Via Draft: Sam Abbott (1B, 22), James Beard (OF, 20), Lency Delgado (SS, 21), DJ Gladney (3B, 19), Ivan Gonzalez (C, 24), Chase Krogman (OF, 20), Daniel Millwee (C, 25), Victor Torres (C, 20), Caberea Weaver (OF, 21).

Acquired Via International Free Agency: Benyamin Bailey (OF, 19), Samil Polanco (INF, 21), Bryan Ramos (3B, 19), Jose Rodriguez (SS, 20)

Free Agency: Brandon Bossard (INF, 23)

Lots of interesting young hitters will take the field for the Cannon Ballers in 2021. Ten of our top 30 prospects are on this roster and six of them are position players. On the infield corners, DJ Gladney, Bryan Ramos and Sam Abbott will split time and occupy the designated hitter spot as well.

Ramos is a 19-year-old Cuban that hit .277/.353/.415 with a 110 wRC+ in the AZL in 2019. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder has raw power, hitting ability and patience. Gladney was taken in the 16th round in 2019 and signed for $225,000. The Illinois native smashed eight homers in the Arizona Rookie League while striking out 37% of the time.

Abbott is a former water polo standout that signed with the White Sox after being drafted in the eighth round back in 2017. Still just 22 years old, the lefty slugger posted a 114 wRC+ with 9 homers in Great Falls in 2019. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder strikes out too much, but he walked at a 12% clip.

Jose Rodriguez, Lency Delgado, Samil Polanco and Brandon Bossard will make up the rest of the infield. Delgado was a fourth rounder out of a Miami area high school in 2018. The 21-year-old has huge raw power, but he’s struggled in professional ball to this point. Bossard signed as an undrafted free agent this year and Polanco is a 21-year-old Dominican with defensive skills.

Rodriguez might be the player with the most upside on the team. The 20-year-old Dominican has an ultra-aggressive approach at the dish, but all he does is hit baseballs. He posted a 121 wRC+ in the Arizona League in 2019 with 9 homers playing in the middle infield. Rodriguez hit .293/.328/.505 and he’s looking to continue that success in Kannapolis. Ivan Gonzalez, Daniel Millwee and Victor Torres will be doing the catching. Torres is a 20-year-old former 11th rounder out of Puerto Rico who has elite defensive skills behind the plate. The outfield is loaded with prospect types as well.

Benyamin Bailey is the international man of mystery after bursting onto the scene in the Dominican Summer League. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Panamanian posted a 166 wRC+ with two homers and staggering .477 OBP in 55 games in the D.R. The 19-year-old is probably a left fielder and scouts have questions about the swing and approach, but his approach should serve him well.

James Beard (4th round) and Chase Krogman (34th round) were both members of the 2019 draft class. In addition to creating the great meals for the team on the road, Beard possesses 80-grade speed. He’s a premium athlete with really raw baseball skills.

The 20-year-old Krogman signed for $190,000 in the 34th round. Chase only played in seven games in the Arizona League in 2019 after signing late and battling myriad injuries in his debut. Krogman really improved his game during the pandemic and he profiles in an outfield corner with the raw pop to project there.

Cabera Weaver was a seventh rounder out of a Georgia high school in 2018. Weaver posted a 112 wRC+ two years ago in rookie ball, but his speed and defense are his carrying tools. There is some power in his game, but it comes with way too many strikeouts.

Overall Thoughts

The Cannon Ballers are the most interesting team in the White Sox system. The starting rotation is filled with recent prep draft picks and the staff is dripping with upside. Kelley, Thompson and Dalquist will be must see attractions for most of the season. Moore will try to establish his place in the organization as a late-inning reliever.

On the position player side, six members of the team ranked on our preseason top 30 list. Bailey is playing stateside for the first time. Rodriguez, Gladney, Ramos, Krogman and Beard make their full season debuts. The players will want to win every game they play, but development will reign supreme in North Carolina. Kannapolis should have a packed house most nights.

Note: Cuban right-hander Norge Vera would slot nicely into this starting rotation, but he will stay in the Dominican Republic due to tax purposes. He’ll participate in the Dominican Summer League and will likely debut in full season ball in 2022.

Want to know right away when we publish a new article? Type your email address in the box on the right-side bar (or at the bottom on a mobile device) and click create subscription. Our list is completely spam free and you can opt out at any time. Also, consider supporting FutureSox on Patreon! You can get early access to special articles and Patreon-only posts, in addition to more benefits.

Shop our exclusive merchandise! Show your support with FutureSox apparel.