Dash announce 2016 starting rotation
With the season opener in Lynchburg only one day away, the Dash have announced their starting rotation to begin the 2016 season:
Thursday at Lynchburg: RHP Spencer Adams
Friday at Lynchburg: RHP Matt Cooper
Saturday at Lynchburg: RHP Thad Lowry
Sunday at Lynchburg: RHP Jordan Stephens
Monday at Myrtle Beach: LHP Blair Walters
If everything goes accordingly (and weather cooperates), Lowry will get the start in the Dash’s home opener on April 14 against Salem.
The 19-year-old Adams, who is the third-best prospect in the White Sox system according to multiple outlets, earns the nod for Opening Day. The right-hander made 24 starts between Kannapolis and Winston-Salem last season and posted a 2.99 ERA. Adams is the youngest player on Winston’s roster by more than a year.
Lowry joins the Winston-Salem rotation after spending 2015 with Low-A Kannapolis. The 21-year-old led the South Atlantic League last season in innings (150.2) and the Intimidators in wins (12).
Walters begins his 6th year of pro ball as the only southpaw in the rotation. Similar to Lowry, Walters pitches to contact. After fanning 8.4 hitters per nine innings over the first three years of his career, that average has dropped to 5.9 in the last two seasons. Interestingly, his ERA has dropped as well:
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2011–13: 5.34
2014–15: 2.93
The 26-year old is no stranger to the Dash organization. He started five games for the Dash in 2012 before getting shipped to Houston (in a package for big leaguer Brett Myers). After spending time in the Astros and Braves systems, he is now back in the White Sox organization.
Cooper and Stephens do not have any starting experience in the Minor Leagues, but both were starters in college.
As a senior at the University of Hawaii in 2014, Cooper posted a 1.60 ERA in 15 starts. Stephens, who begins his first full season of pro ball, dazzled during his collegiate career at Rice. As a sophomore in 2013, he led the Owls in innings (118.2) and finished third on the team in ERA (2.43). With Stephens about two years removed from Tommy John surgery, the organization is ready to unleash their 2015 fifth-round pick in an expanded role.
Be on the lookout for our preview of the season opener. We’ll have it on the blog Thursday. You can catch the action on 600 AM-WSJS and the TuneIn App.
-Joe
