After a brutal stretch where they dropped 11 of 12, the Charlotte Knights finally found their rhythm, taking five of six games from Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (12–14) and flipping the script in a big way.
Let’s talk about Tim Elko. The 26-year-old slugger continues to rake, going 7-for-21 with five home runs and a double this week. That translated into a jaw-dropping 1.095 slugging percentage. Elko’s been on a tear and making a strong case for a promotion—frankly, it’s surprising he’s still in Triple-A.
Outfielder Corey Julks was nearly just as electric at the plate. He reached base at a .550 clip and went 8-for-17 with two long balls. Not far behind was Dominic Fletcher, 27, who went 9-for-21 with two homers of his own and an outrageous 1.288 OPS. Oh, and he even notched a save—talk about versatility. Infielder Tristan Gray, 29, also made his presence felt with a 5-for-13 line and two homers. In total, four Charlotte hitters posted OPS figures north of 1.000, which explains why the team lost just once all week.
Down in Double-A, the Birmingham Barons had themselves a solid series, taking four out of six from Rocket City (6–14).
Wilfred Veras, 22, stepped up in a big way, collecting seven hits—including two home runs—along with five walks. He also stole three bases without being caught. It was a major bounce-back series for Veras after a slow start to the year.
Mario Camilletti joined the offensive party too, smacking a homer and a pair of doubles. He wrapped the week with a 1.040 OPS, and his season OBP now stands at .390. Camilletti has done an excellent job setting the tone at the top of the lineup.
Over in High-A, Winston-Salem had a rough series, dropping four of six to Rome (12–9), and now sit at the bottom of the South division with a 7–14 record—though surprisingly, they still hold a +3 run differential.
One bright spot was Sam Antonacci, 22, who’s proving hard to keep off the bases. The versatile infielder recorded a .567 OBP this week, stole three bags, and added a couple of doubles. Taken in the fifth round last year, Antonacci now boasts a .469 OBP and is 10-for-11 on stolen base attempts for the season.
In Low-A, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers moved above .500 after a strong series against the Pelicans (8–13).
Jordan Sprinkle, 24, stood out thanks to his elite on-base ability. While he didn’t flash extra-base power, he posted a .600 OBP and swiped eight bases in 10 tries—proving to be a constant threat once he reached.
Outfielder Braden Montgomery, 22, wasn’t as loud with the bat this week, but he’s been steady overall with a .304/.393/.493 slash line and six stolen bases. On Sunday, Scott Merkin reported that Montgomery has been promoted to Winston-Salem. After producing consistently in Kannapolis, he’s earned the call-up. Eyes will be on him to see how he adjusts to High-A pitching.
