For the first time, the 2021 MLB Draft is part of All-Star Week, at Bellco Theatre in Denver.
Schedule
• Round 1 – Sunday, July 11 at 6:00 pm CDT on ESPN • Rounds 2-10 – Monday, July 12 at 12:00 pm CDT on MLB.com • Rounds 11-20 – Tuesday, July 13 at 11:00 am CDT on MLB.com
Analysis
For an in-depth look at every White Sox draft pick, monitor the coverage by Sox on 35th.
The All-Stars take batting practice, leading into the Home Run Derby:
4:15 pm – NL Batting Practice 5:15 pm – AL Batting Practice 6:10 pm – Extra BP for Home Run Derby participants
Coors Field – 4:00 pm CDT
MLB Advanced Media, LP
The Home Run Derby is a single-elimination, bracket tournament with three rounds total. In each bracket, the higher seed hits second.
Coors Field – 7:00 pm CDT
The matchups (with season-to-date home runs, through July 6) are:
#1 Shohei Ohtani (31) vs. #8 Juan Soto (10) #2 Joey Gallo (21) vs. #7 Trevor Story (11) #3 Matt Olson (20) vs. #6 Trey Mancini (15) #4 Salvador Pérez (20) vs. #5 Pete Alonso (15)
Round 1
Trey Mancini (24 HR) edges out Matt Olson (23 HR).
Trevor Story (20 HR) edges out Joey Gallo (19 HR). Story slams one 518′, beating the previous Home Run Derby record of 513′ (Aaron Judge).
Defending Champ Pete Alonso (35 HR) beats Salvador Perez (28 HR).
After tying the match at 22, then tying the tie-breaker at 28, Juan Soto wins in the “swing off” with 31 total HRs to Shohei Ohtani’s 28. Soto launches a 520′ bomb, breaking the distance record that Story had just set. Ohtani hits all of the highest-velocity drives of the night at 117 MPH.
Semifinals
Mancini (13) beats Story (10).
Alonso (16) beats Soto (15).
Finals
Both sluggers go into their bonus time with 17, but Alonso slams 6 more to Mancini’s 5 to win his second consecutive Home Run Derby.
The American League wins 5-2, its eighth consecutive win and fifteenth win across the past eighteen All-Star Games. Japanese-born Angels starter Shohei Ohtani—who qualified for the ASG as both pitcher and hitter—books the win. Australian-born White Sox closer Liam Hendricks makes the save. Canadian-born/Dominican-raised Vladimir “Vladito” Guerrero, Jr. earns MVP, delivering a 468′ solo home run in the 3rd and a run-scoring groundout in the 5th. Vladito and his father, Vladamir Guerrero, Sr. (2006), are the third father-son duo to hit home runs in All-Star Games, along with Bobby (1973) and Barry (1998) Bonds, and Ken Griffey, Sr. (1980) and Jr. (1992). Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
July 13—Outfielder Eloy Jiménez to continue rehab at Charlotte Knights (AAA), moving up from Winston-Salem Dash (A+)
July 15—Aaron Bummer activated from IL
Three-Game Series vs. Houston Astros
White Sox win series 2-1
July 16, 1:10 pm—At six hours before the start of Game 1, the White Sox have not yet announced probable pitchers for any games in the series. Update, 2:30 pm—Probable pitchers for the series have been posted.
➤ Tim Anderson extends his hitting streak to 13 consecutive games.
Dylan Cease pitches well, striking out 10 across 5 ⅔ innings (6 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 HBP), but Lance McCullers, Jr. pitches even better, allowing just 2 hits and striking out 10 in 7.0 IP (1 ER, 2 BB, 1 HBP). In his first appearance since being activated from the IL (yesterday), Aaron Bummer whips his first pitch at the head of Michael Brantley (missed), then lets Brantley single, then allows Brantley to steal 2B and 3B on two wild pitches, then manages to hit Abraham Toro in just ⅔ of an inning. Tough day at the office! Wearing the all-black City Connect uniforms, the White Sox start strong. Dylan Cease pitches a 1-2-3 first inning, striking out both #2 Michael Brantley and #3 Yuli Gurriel, then retires #3, #4, and #5 in the Astros lineup on swinging strikes in the 2nd. Lead-off batter Tim Anderson triples on the first pitch in the bottom of the 1st, and Yoán Moncada (#2 in the lineup) bats him in on the first pitch with a double. But the offense was all downhill from there. The White Sox score just 1 R on 3 H. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Jake Lamb to Rehab
MLB Advanced Media, LP
July 16—Outfielder Jake Lamb has been assigned to rehab at Charlotte Knights (AAA).
Giolito
Odorizzi
7-6, 4.15, 125 | 3-4, 3.61, 44
Saturday, July 17, 2021 at 6:15 pm CDT Guaranteed Rate Field Lucas Giolito, RHP vs. Astros / Jake Odorizzi, RHP
W, 10-1, 55-36 (.604), W1 | Lucas Giolito (8-6, 3.90) | Game 91
➤ Tim Anderson extends his hitting streak to 14 consecutive games.
LUCAS F’ING GIOLITO!!! Giolito commands and controls all night, retiring 27 of 30 Astros for a complete game (3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 SO). After throwing a scoreless, one-hit 7 ⅔ innings, he gives up the Astros’ only run to Abraham Toro (HR) in the 8th. World class!!! Tim Anderson goes 3 for 5 with a solo HR (7) in the 3rd, an RBI 1B in the 4th, and a 2B in the 6th. Zack Collins scores a solo HR (4) in the 3rd. Newbie Jake Burger–DH (called up 7/2) steps up with an RBI 2B in the 4th and a solo HR (career first) in the 7th. Newbie Gavin Sheets (called up 6/29) contributes a 2-run HR (4) in the 5th. Hitting a 3-run HR (16) in the 6th, José Abreuties Carlton Fisk for fourth place in career home runs (214), in the franchise record book. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Rodón
Valdez
7-3, 2.31, 130 | 5-1, 2.98, 52
Sunday, July 18, 2021 at 1:10 pm CDT Guaranteed Rate Field Carlos Rodón, LHP vs. Astros / Framber Valdez, LHP
W, 4-0, 56-36 (.609), W2 | Carlos Rodón (8-3, 2.14) | Game 92
➤ Tim Anderson extends his hitting streak to 15 consecutive games.
Another championship-level gem from Carlos Rodón—0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 10 SO, on 7.0 IP. Michael Kopech (1 SO) and Liam Hendriks (2 SO) pitch a 1-2-3 inning each to shut out the Astros. Danny Mendick RBI 1B in the 2nd. Yoán Moncada–DH solo HR (6) in the 4th. Tim Anderson solo HR (8) in the 5th makes him the first player in White Sox history to record a hit and a run scored in 11 consecutive games. Adam Engel RBI 1B in the 7th. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
July 9—Injured outfielder, Eloy Jiménez, begins a rehab assignment with the Winston-Salem Dash (A+) today—a sign that the Silver Slugger Award winner may return to the White Sox yet this season.
July 7—The White Sox have designated veteran outfielder Adam Eaton for assignment. Since signing a one-year deal for $8 million in December, Eaton has struggled at the plate. According to manager Tony La Russa, Eaton has been dealing with “leg miseries” all season. He was on the injured list from June 17 to July 2 with a hamstring injury. Before re-signing with the White Sox this year, Eaton spent the past four seasons with the Washington Nationals, batting near the top of the order in 2019 when the Nationals won the World Series.
Eaton signs with the Angels as a free agent on 7/14.
➤ Injury—Yasmani Grandal leaves game in the 6th following an injury to the left leg on a checked swing.
Rodón
Berríos
6-3, 2.37, 122 | 7-2, 3.52, 96
Tuesday, July 6, 2021 at 7:10 pm CDT Target Field Carlos Rodón, LHP vs. Twins / José Berríos, RHP
W, 4-1, 50-35 (.588), W1 | WP: Carlos Rodón (7-3, 2.31) | S: Liam Hendriks (22) | Game 85
In the pouring rain, Billy Hamilton leaps from the edge of the warning track to grab Max Kepler’s line drive to left-center, landing in the mud and sliding to the wall with the ball firmly in his glove, as Liam Hendriks looks on in disbelief. Spectacular! Game highlights from mlb.com:
Yasmani Grandal to Injured List
MLB Advanced Media, LP
July 6—Catcher Yasmani Grandal was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a torn tendon in the left knee, sustained during yesterday’s loss to the Twins. Grandal is expected to be out for 4-6 weeks.
July 7—Adam Engel activated from IL
Lynn
Pineda
8-3, 2.02, 99 | 3-4, 3.70, 51
Wednesday, July 7, 2021 at 12:10 pm CDT Target Field Lance Lynn, RHP vs. Twins / Michael Pineda, RHP
Saturday, July 10, 2021 at 3:05 pm CDT Oriole Park at Camden Yards Lucas Giolito, RHP vs. Orioles / Thomas Eshelman, RHP
W, 8-3, 53-35 (.602), W4 | WP: Lucas Giolito (7-6, 4.15) | S: Liam Hendriks (23) | Game 88
Today’s 2-inning start notwithstanding, in the course of three seasons (2013-2015) pitching for Cal State–Fullerton (NCAA Division 1, Big West Conference), Thomas Eshelman issued just 18 walks on 376 ⅓ innings pitched. That’s 0.43 walks per nine innings—likely an all-time record in college baseball. By way of reference, the major league record is held by right-handed-Hall-of-Famer-and-curve-ball-inventor, William Arthur “Candy” Cummings who allowed 0.47 walks per nine innings across six seasons (1872-1877) as a pro. Cummings was also the first major leaguer to start, complete, and win both games of a doubleheader (Sep 9, 1876). See, Control Freak: The college pitcher who walks alone in baseball history. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
Cease
Watkins
7-4, 4.14, 111 | 1-0, 1.50, 2
Sunday, July 11, 2021 at 12:05 pm CDT Oriole Park at Camden Yards Dylan Cease, RHP vs. Orioles / Spenser Watkins, RHP
W, 7-5, 54-35 (.607), W5 | WP: Liam Hendriks (4-2, 2.75) | S: Matt Foster (1) | Game 89
Starter Dylan Cease allows 2 ER on 5.0 IP (2 H, 2 BB, 6 SO). Michael Kopech (3 SO, 3 batters), Codi Heuer (1 BB, 4 batters), and Garrett Crochet (2 SO, 3 batters) pitch a scoreless inning each. Liam Hendriks gives up a 2-run HR to Trey Mancini (16) in the 9th to tie the game and blow the save (3 SO, 5 batters). Backed up by José Ruiz (1 H, allowing the free runner to score, 1 BB, 3 batters) and Matt Foster (2 hard-hit lineouts, 2 batters) in the 10th, Hendriks is credited with the win anyway. Andrew Vaughn solo HR (9) in the 4th, 3-run HR (10) in the 6th. Adam Engel 3-run HR (4) in the 10th. Watch game highlights from mlb.com:
All-Star Sunday
MLB Advanced Media, LP
All-Star Week 2021 festivities begin on Sunday in Denver. The day’s events include the All-Star Futures Game and Round One of the 2021 MLB Draft.
MLB Advanced Media, LP
LaTroy Hawkins (AL) and Vinny Castilla (NL) will serve as managers for the 7-inning contest featuring top minor league prospects. Coors Field – 2:00 pm CDT
Representing the Chicago White Sox farm system will be Yoelqui Cespedes—yet another Cuban/Dominican “Y” name—outfielder with the Winston-Salem Dash (A+), where slugger Eloy Jiménez is currently rehabbing.
MLB Advanced Media, LP
For the first time, the 2021 MLB Draft will be part of All-Star Week, beginning with Round One on Sunday.
Bellco Theatre at the Colorado Convention Center – 6:00 pm CDT
July 2—After a record-setting start to the season, super slugger Yermín Mercedes hit an extended slump and has been optioned to the Charlotte Knights (AAA). Mercedes had batted just .155 over his last 30 games.
