Four Knights Promoted to Chicago on Tuesday
Published on September 3, 2013 under International League (IL1)
Charlotte Knights News Release
(Fort Mill, SC) - A day after the Charlotte Knights ended their 2013 season with a 4-0 win over the Gwinnett Braves, four Knights players had their contracts purchased by the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. The four players earning a promotion to Chicago are: pitchers Erik Johnson and Daniel Webb, infielder Marcus Semien, and catcher Miguel Gonzalez.
Johnson, 23, posted a 4-1 record with a 1.57 ERA in 10 starts for the Knights this season. Ranked as the number four prospect in the White Sox system by Baseball America, Johnson won his final start of the season with Charlotte on August 29. The Mountain View, CA native allowed just five hits over seven scoreless innings in a win over Norfolk that day. The 6'3" right-hander posted a 3-1 mark with a 1.15 ERA in six August starts with Charlotte.
Overall in 2013, Johnson went 12-3 with a 1.96 ERA in 24 starts between Double-A Birmingham and Charlotte. He posted an 8-2 mark with a 2.23 ERA in 14 starts with the Barons.
Webb, a 6'3" right-hander, compiled a 1-1 record with a 2.96 ERA in 21 games for the Knights this season. The Paducah, KY native struck out 38 batters in 27.1 innings and saved four games for Charlotte. The 23-year-old, who was acquired by the White Sox in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays on January 1, 2012, began the 2013 campaign with Winston Salem (A+) and went 1-0 with two saves and a 0.00 ERA in eight games. He later earned a promotion to Double-A Birmingham and was 0-0 with four saves and a 1.77 ERA over 13 games with the team before a promotion to the Knights on June 21.
Semien appeared in 32 games with the Knights and hit .264 (33-for-125) with 20 runs scored, 11 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 17 RBIs, and four stolen bases. The San Francisco, CA native combined to hit .284 (147-for-518) with 32 doubles, six triples, 19 home runs, 66 RBI, 110 runs scored and 24 stolen bases over 137 games between Charlotte and Birmingham.
Earlier in the day, Semien, 22, was named as the Southern League's Most Valuable Player. He ranked among the Southern League leaders in runs scored (1st, 90), on-base percentage (1st, .420), slugging percentage (2nd, .483), batting average (3rd, .290) and walks (3rd, 84).
Gonzalez, 22, entered the season ranked as the Best Defensive Catcher in the White Sox system by Baseball America. The Venezuelan native appeared in 16 games for the Knights and hit .280 (14-for-50) with five runs scored, three doubles, and four RBIs. Overall in 2013, he appeared in 53 games between Double-A Birmingham and Charlotte and hit .254 (43-for-169) with two home runs and 20 RBIs.
In all, 21 players earned a promotion from Charlotte to Chicago in 2013. They are (in order of their promotion): Deunte Heath, Tyler Greene, Jordan Danks, Blake Tekotte, Brian Omogrosso, Donnie Veal, Ramon Troncoso, Brent Morel, Simon Castro, David Purcey, Josh Phegley, Andre Rienzo, Avisail Garcia, Charlie Leesman, Jake Petricka, Leury Garcia, Bryan Anderson, Gonzalez, Semien, Johnson, and Webb. The Knights had 17 players in 2012 earn a promotion to Chicago.
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