The baseball season has reached the All-Star break. It’s time for a breather and a breakdown of the North Carolina MiLB athletes wearing one glove this summer.
In this article, we examine a few of the Minor League Baseball teams in the Tar Heel State and the standout players who may get a call-up this year.
With North Carolina online sports betting now legal, the major league prospects we mention here are worth noting, from a fan’s and a bettor’s perspective. Some of them could be the MLB stars of the future.
- Related: The Best MiLB Betting Apps In North Carolina
Charlotte Knights
41-49, last place in the American Association East Division
The parent team of the Knights are the White Sox, and if any MLB club needs help fast, it’s the ChiSox. The Southsiders are on pace to lose 118 games. Which is only slightly fewer games than the 1994 White Sox would lose today, keeping in mind that the members of the ’94 Sox are 50-60 years old.
Colson Montgomery
The exciting prospect in Charlotte this spring and summer has been shortstop Colson Montgomery, who sounds more like a law firm than a ballplayer. But, make no mistake, the 2021 first-round pick will take over in the middle of the diamond for the ChiSox soon.
The Indiana native has struggled with his batting average in a Knights’ uniform, but he has top-shelf skills: scouts rate his power at 60 and his arm at 55. He’s a left-handed power-hitting shortstop in the mold of Corey Seager. If he can be 85 percent of what Seager has become, Monty will be embraced in the Windy City by Sox rooters.
The White Sox are in no rush to promote Montgomery, given the futility of their season. We expect he will get a late-season call-up and see action in September.
Edgar Quero
It’s worth it to take in a Knights game just to watch Edgar Quero take his hacks. The White Sox will be patient with the 21-year-old, but they can’t hide their excitement for his potential at the plate. Quero is a catcher, but no one cares, because his bat draws comparisons to former All-Star Victor Martinez. Like Martinez, Quero is a switch-hitter who doesn’t run well. He is also not particularly adept at handling the tools of the catcher position. He might get a call-up to The Show in September.
Noah Schultz
Keep an eye out for Noah Schultz, which won’t be hard to do: he’s a 6’9 lefthanded pitcher who draws comparisons to Randy Johnson. The 20-year-old is currently at Double-A but could be summoned to Charlotte later this summer. He began the ’24 season at Winston-Salem. He has a phenomenal slider and will likely add miles to his fastball, which hovers in the mid-90s. He’s the No. 2 prospect in the White Sox system and the fourth-ranked MLB pitching prospect overall.
Durham Bulls
45-48, 5th place in International League East Division
The Bulls have a trio of pitchers ranked among the best young arms in the Rays’ organization, but only one is enjoying a satisfying 2024.
Joe Rock
A spindly lefty with the intimidating name Joe Rock has flashed a nasty slider and changeup combo at every level since the Rockies drafted him in 2021. Rock has a funky drop-down three-quarter arm slot on some of his pitches. With his long arms, it can seem like he’s handing the ball to his catcher, especially when the pitch is dropping in on a lefty.
Mason Montgomery and Jacob Lopez
The other Tampa Bay lefties who have spent time at Durham are Mason Montgomery (top-rated pitcher in the organization) and Jacob Lopez. Only the latter has tasted The Show, and Montgomery has struggled in Durham, allowing 16 HR in 69 1/3 innings(!).
Asheville Tourists
37-47, 4th place in South Atlantic League South Division
The Astros have a reputation for developing their young players.
Luis Baez
The perennial AL powerhouse is anxious to see how outfielder Luis Baez pans out. Signed at 18 out of the Dominican Republic, Baez has 30+ HR potential. He’s smacked 15 jacks in 73 games for Asheville. MLB.com lists Baez as the Astros’ No. 2 prospect.
Image Credit: Matt York / AP Images
About the Author
