Sale confirmed that the organization has told him he will start the year in High-A with the Dash.

 

Yup. He had like a 30-second interview w/ Stoney in the booth.

http://www.twitvid.com/QMMO6

Sale has been promoted to AAA. His final line in Winston-Salem: 4 IP, 3 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned, 4 k's, 2 BB's. All of the damage other than 1 walk was in his last outing.

SEATTLE -- With four strikeouts over 1 2/3 innings of relief work, Chris Sale already has made a strong impression in his jump from Class A Winston-Salem to Triple-A Charlotte.

 

The fast move for the White Sox top pick in the 2010 First-Year Player Draft has been on the mind of the organization since he fell to the South Siders back in June at selection No. 13.

 

"No. 1, we're excited that he fell to us," said White Sox general manager Ken Williams. "But in my conversations with him, I absolutely told him, 'We see you as a guy that could move very quickly,' and it was important for us to watch his innings this year.

 

"That's why we put him in the bullpen, with the mindset that we're going to watch his innings, get him some pro experience. He's in Triple-A right now, so that means he's in the mix like everyone at Triple-A."

 

Sale hopes to spend many years as part of the White Sox starting rotation. But if Sale proves he can handle relief work, then the White Sox could have a situation somewhat akin to Mark Buehrle in 2000. Buehrle pitched in 28 games and started just three for the AL Central champs under Jerry Manuel and has been a rotation staple ever since.

 

"When you can throw strikes and got some deception and throw strikes with all your pitches and got some action, particularly on the changeup he has, which I think is one of the toughest pitches to hit when you have a fastball on both sides of plate, you can pitch in this league," Williams said. "Can you handle it from a mental standpoint? Well, some things we'll have to find out together."

Whitesox.com

Profile on FutureSox.com

 

Chris #1 in the offseason list.