Quick Q&A with Knights LHP / White Sox No. 12 prospect Scott Snodgress

Scott Snodgress compiled a 6-7 record with a 3.89 ERA in 21 starts for the Double-A Birmingham Barons before being promoted to the Knights on Thursday. The 24-year-old 6-foot-6-inch southpaw tossed a one-two-three ninth inning with two strikeouts on the day of his callup. 

The appearance out of the bullpen was Snodgress' first since his junior season at Stanford University. He entered this season ranked as the 12^th best prospect in the Chicago White Sox system by MLB.com.

He answered a few questions on Tuesday... 

When was the last time you made a relief appearance?

Snodgress: I was a reliever primarily in college, so I have some experience with it. It’s just another opportunity, however they need to use me.

How comfortable did you feel coming out of the pen the other night?

Snodgress: It felt fine. It’s the same game – you’re just coming in at a different point so it didn't feel too much different than starting does to me to be honest.

Do you approach the game differently knowing you’re only throwing an inning or two?

Snodgress: I’d like to think that I’ll be throwing a little bit harder since I don’t have as many pitches that I’ll be throwing throughout the course of he game, and also, I’m probably going to limit it to two or three pitches primarily, as opposed to mixing in four. But that doesn’t mean that I won’t ever throw all four. I threw them all in my outing the other night.

What pitch are you planning to phase out?

Snodgress: I think, eventually, I’m going to get to where I’m throwing three pitches. Right now, I’m thinking I’m going to keep my curveball and slider and probably lose the changeup. But to be honest, I don’t even like thinking about losing a pitch. I hope to use all four, but my primary three will be the slider, curveball and fastball.

What did the White Sox say when they promoted you and shifted you to the pen?

Snodgress: They just said that, ‘We want to see how you do out of the bullpen,’ and kind of left it at that. They said, ‘You’ve been doing a good job as a starter and we’d like to see you out of the bullpen.’ They haven’t said too much other than that.

Jordan Danks sets Knights all-time hits mark in 7-1 win; Matt Lindstrom allows run in rehab appearance

Jordan Danks added yet another milestone to his still young career as he became the Charlotte Knights’ all-time hits leader with No. 440 against the Durham Bulls in Friday’s continuation of Thursday’s rain-suspended game.

Danks laced a 0-2 two-run home run to left center field off Durham’s Brandon Gomes in the seventh inning to jump ahead of Joe Borchard atop the 26-year-old franchise’s record books.  

The home run was Danks’ 51^st with the Knights and helped lead Charlotte to a 7-1 win over the Bulls in front of 9,919 at BB&T BallPark – most of whom rose as one to salute Danks as he rounded the bases.

“I got behind 0-2 in the at-bat and wasn’t trying to do anything too big, but I was able to square up a ball and it got out,” said Danks moments after taking a shaving cream pie to the face from teammates Carlos Sanchez and Frank De Los Santos.

The 27-year-old Danks began Friday’s action with a 3-2 count and the Knights leading 3-0 in the top of the third after rain forced Thursday’s game to be suspended in the middle of his second at-bat.

After fouling off a pitch, Danks, who had a sacrifice fly in the first inning of the game on Thursday, flied to left.

Danks finished the game 1-for-4 with 3 RBI and a run scored. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2008 amateur draft by the Chicago White Sox. He made his Knights debut on April 8, 2010 and recorded one hit – a two-run home run.

In parts of five seasons with the Knights, the 6-foot-4-inch outfielder has amassed team records in games played (451), runs scored (243), triples (12), walks (208) and strikeouts (516). He’s also appeared in 150 games with the White Sox.

Andy Wilkins, who was earlier in the day named the International League’s Player of the Month, provided the rest of the Charlotte offense with two doubles and a 3-for-4 showing overall.

For the month of July, Wilkins led the International League with 12 home runs, 31 RBI, 44 hits, 21 extra‐base hits, and a .857 slugging percentage

White Sox closer Matt Lindstrom (with the Knights on a Major League rehab assignment) got the call to start the top of the fourth inning and allowed a run on one hit, a walk and a hit batter. He threw 16 pitches, eight for strikes.

“I felt pretty good,” said Lindstrom, who has been on the White Sox disabled list since a tear in his left ankle required surgery the past May. “I was a little apprehensive with the mound being a little bit wet, but everything felt as close to normal as I think it’s going to feel.”  

After being promoted from Class AA Birmingham on Thursday, Scott Snodgress made his Knights debut and tossed a one-two-three ninth inning with two strikeouts.

But the night belonged to Danks.

“It’s an honor,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed the past five years here and as my wife said the other day, ‘as much as you’d (rather be in the Majors) this is still something to be pretty proud of.’”

Game 114: Charlotte Knights vs. Durham Bulls

Here are the lineups:

Knights (50-63)

Micah Johnson 2B

Marcus Semien SS

Jordan Danks CF

Josh Phegley C

Andy Wilkins 1B

Michael Taylor RF

Matt Davidson 3B

Matt Tuiasosopo LF

Dan Black DH

Pitching: RHP Bobby Doran (2-1, 8.36 ERA)

Bulls (59-51)

Justin Christian CF

Ray Olmedo 3B

Vince Belnome 1B

Mikie Mahtook LF

Jeremy Moore RF

Jayson Nix 2B

Mike Fontenot DH

Ali Solis C

Hak-Ju Lee SS

Pitching: RHP Mike Montgomery (9-3, 3.77 ERA)

Game time: 7:05 p.m.

TV/Radio: MiLB.tv / ESPN 730

Notes: With a single in the eighth inning of last night’s game, Jordan Danks tied Joe Boarchard for the all-time franchise hits record (439). … This is Bobby Doran’s fourth start since he joined the team on July 13 from the Houston organization. … LHP Scott Snodgress, who compiled a 6-7 record with a 3.89 ERA in 21 games with Class AA Birmingham, was promoted to Charlotte earlier today. In a corresponding move, LHP Nelvin Fuentes was optioned to Birmingham. Snodgress entered 2014 as the No. 12 prospect in the White Sox organization, according to Baseball America. Carlos Sanchez (back) is out for the third straight game.