The Chicago White Sox made headlines with a trade announcement during their 2-1 victory over the Mariners. They struck a deal with the Tampa Bay Rays, swapping players who have been toiling away at Triple-A. The Sox acquired left-handed reliever Joe Rock, a towering 6-foot-6 presence, in exchange for infielder Oliver Dunn.
Rock, who was initially drafted by the Rockies in 2021, had a brief but notable stint with the Rays last year. Over three appearances, he allowed just two runs on seven hits and two walks across 7⅔ innings while striking out 11.
However, this season has been a different story. Rock’s control has faltered at Triple-A Durham, where he’s issued 17 walks over 15 innings, contributing to a 5.40 ERA.
His struggles against left-handed hitters have been particularly pronounced, with 10 walks and three hit batters out of 28 lefties faced.
On the other side of the trade, Oliver Dunn, a 28-year-old infielder, was in the midst of a game with Charlotte against Gwinnett when the trade went down. Dunn, who joined the White Sox organization on a minor league deal, has been swinging a hot bat with a .295/.393/.545 line. However, his performance has been heavily skewed by home-field advantage, boasting a .367/.479/.723 slash line at home compared to a .172/.226/.241 mark on the road.
To accommodate Rock on the roster, the White Sox moved Kyle Teel to the 60-day injured list due to a right knee sprain, sidelining him for an expected 3-6 weeks.
In other action, Charlotte edged out Gwinnett 5-4, with Rikuu Nishida contributing two hits and a stolen base. Austin Hays, on a rehab assignment, showed some power with a homer. Meanwhile, Jacob Gonzalez managed to add a road homer to his tally despite his struggles away from home.
In the minors, Biloxi narrowly defeated Birmingham 4-3, with Lucas Gordon pitching five innings, allowing three earned runs. Winston-Salem’s bats were alive in their 13-9 victory over Greensboro, highlighted by George Wolkow’s impressive 4-for-5 performance, including a homer and a triple.
Kannapolis secured a 3-1 win over Myrtle Beach, with Abraham Nunez drawing three walks and swiping two bases. The ACL White Sox fell to the ACL Royals 6-4 in a shortened seven-inning game, with Diego Perez struggling on the mound, allowing two runs in 1.2 innings.
This trade and the accompanying roster moves underscore the White Sox’s ongoing efforts to tweak their lineup and find the right mix of talent to bolster their bullpen and overall performance.
