Trending on the Farm: Edgar Quero fires Rocket City pitching into orbit

The Trending on the Farm series will highlight player trends from the top prospects in the White Sox system as well as any other notable performances across all affiliates.

Top of the Crop (Trending on the Farm)

NOTE: This piece will focus on players that are trending on the farm currently in the minor leagues. The “Top of the Crop” portion was determined prior to the Dylan Cease trade, hence why Drew Thorpe, Samuel Zavala, and Jairo Iriarte are all omitted.

RankPlayer (Position) [Level]Last Week (4/9 – 4/14)Trend
1Colson Montgomery (SS) [AAA].217/.333/.522, .855 OPS, 4R, 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 SB
2Noah Schultz (LHP) [A+]4 IP, 4 H, 4R (4 ER), 2 BB, 7 K
3​Bryan Ramos (3B) [AA].050/.136/.050, .186 OPS, RBI↙️
4Edgar Quero (C) [AA].286/.421/.929, 1.350 OPS, 4R, 3 HR, 9 RBI
5Nick Nastrini (RHP) [AAA]4 IP, 5 H, 3R (2 ER), BB, 8 K
6Jake Eder (LHP) [AA]4.2 IP, 8 H, 5R (5 ER), BB, 5 K↙️
7Jacob Gonzalez (SS) [A+] .429/.500/.667, 1.167 OPS, 3R, 2 2B, HR, RBI, SB
8Peyton Pallette (RHP) [A+]3 IP, 4 H, 3R (3 ER), BB, 7 K
9Jonathan Cannon (RHP) [AAA]5 IP, 5 H, 3 BB, 6 K
10Grant Taylor (RHP) [TBD]N/AN/A
Colson Montgomery

Colson Montgomery began to tap into some of his power in the latest series against Jacksonville, tallying three extra base hits. Montgomery also flashed some swiftness by going 3-for-3 on stolen bases. While the 22 year old did strike out 11 times in this series, eight of those came in the first three games of the series.

Edgar Quero

Edgar Quero really does seem to enjoy batting against his former club. The 21 year old catcher made sure to pack his power bat on the trip to Rocket City. Quero homered three times against in the park he once called home. All were from the left side, two of which were pulled to right field while one was launched to left center field.

Jacob Gonzalez

2023 White Sox first rounder Jacob Gonzalez had a very nice week for the Dash. Gonzalez managed three extra base hits in the six game set, recording a hit in every game of the series. The 21 year old even recorded a stolen base in the final game of the series. In the very early going of the season, Gonzalez has also walked more (six) than he’s struck out (five) in nine games played.

Jonathan Cannon – MLB Pipeline White Sox #11

23 year old Jonathan Cannon compiled one of, if not the best start of all Charlotte starters last week against Jacksonville. Cannon threw five scoreless, and while the walks were more than you’d like to see, he was able to navigate around some brief trouble in the fourth inning.

Noah Schultz

If not for an uncharacteristically wild third inning where Noah Schultz’s command seemed to escape him, allowing the first six batters to reach base and four runs to score. The 20 year old southpaw fought back, striking out the next six batters in a row.

Bryan Ramos

Bryan Ramos continues to struggle in the early going of the season, recording one hit during the six game set against the Trash Pandas.

Nick Nastrini

Nick Nastrini endured a tough beginning to his second start of the season with the Knights, allowing a lead off home run and two more runs in the second inning after striking out the first two batters. Across his four innings of work, the 24 year old struck out two batters in each inning. Nastrini has been called up by the White Sox for a start against the Royals on Monday.

Jake Eder – MLB Pipeline White Sox #10

25 year old lefty Jake Eder had a so-so outing against Rocket City. Eder flashed good stuff but left too many hittable pitches in the zone and paid the price with five earned runs.

Peyton Pallette – MLB Pipeline White Sox #12

In what was Peyton Pallette’s first start of the year, Pallette had his arsenal working in his favor in the early going of the start. The 22 year old had seven strikeouts and just one run allowed through his first three innings of work, but allowed a single and home run to begin the fourth and was pulled after that.

Best of the Rest

Trending on the Farm: AAA (Charlotte)

Brett Phillips

Brett Phillips appeared in only three games for the Knights last week, but made the most of his limited action. Phillips had a 1.117 OPS with two extra base hits (double, home run), with five RBI.

Nicholas Padilla & Chad Kuhl

Nicholas Padilla had three successful outings for the Knights against the Jumbo Shrimp. In two and two thirds innings, Padilla didn’t allow a hit, walked one batter, and struck out five.

Chad Kuhl also had another strong start, throwing four innings of one run baseball, allowed three hits, walked one, but struck out six.

Trending on the Farm: AA (Birmingham)

Drew Thorpe – MLB Pipeline White Sox #3

Once again, Drew Thorpe was outstanding for the Barons. The 23 year old fooled hitters with his ridiculous changeup and stymied hitters throughout his six innings of work.

Jairo Iriarte – MLB Pipeline White Sox #9

Despite the walks, 22 year old Jairo Iriarte had a good start for the Barons. The strike percentage (53.5%) will need to improve, but Iriarte did put his disgusting slider on display and the Trash Pandas hitters couldn’t touch it.

Ky Bush – MLB Pipeline White Sox #18

Not to be outdone by Edgar Quero, 24 year old lefty Ky Bush also faced his former team last week and was more than up for the task in his first start of the year. The only blemishes on Bush’s line were a pair of first inning walks and a second inning home run, otherwise Bush spent the majority of his outing dominating the Rocket City lineup.

Trending on the Farm: A+ (Winston-Salem)

Bryce Willits

24 year old first baseman Bryce Willits had a nice week for the Dash, ending the series with Augusta with a .903 OPS and 3 RBI in five games.

Jose Ramirez

23 year old righty Jose Ramirez was fantastic in his lone outing of the week for the Dash. A Rule 5 draft pick over the winter from Boston, Ramirez pitched three and two thirds innings, allowing no hits, no runs, one walk, and struck out three.

Tanner McDougal – MLB Pipeline White Sox #19

In his first start of the season with the Dash, Tanner McDougal got things heading in the right direction early. McDougal had his breaking ball fooling hitters and paired it well with his fastball and it kept the Greensboro lineup in check.

Trending on the farm: A (Kannapolis)

Aldrin Batista

20 year old Aldrin Batista was electric in his first start of the season for Kannapolis. Batista routinely fooled Augusta hitters, as he only allowed one hit and one walk across his five and one third innings of work. Batista ended his outing with eight punchouts.

Jake Peppers

22 year old righty Jake Peppers made his first start of the season with Kannapolis and threw five innings of three hit baseball, allowing no runs, one walk, and struck out three.

Frankeli Arias & Jake Bockenstedt

21 year old lefty Frankeli Arias only made one appearance last week for the Ballers but it was a good one. In two scoreless innings of work, Arias only walked one and struck out four.

24 year old right hander Jake Bockenstedt pitched well despite some defensive lapses behind him. In four and a third innings, Bockenstedt allowed three hits, five runs (one earned), walked one, and struck out nine GreenJackets.