There is something different about this year’s Charlotte Knights

Charlotte Knights officials say the addition of a few experienced players could make a difference in the team’s won-loss record this season.

While the test sample – three games – is small, the early returns are good.

The Knights took two of three games in a season-opening series with the Durham Bulls, and some of those experienced faces made a difference.

Dylan Covey, a right-handed pitcher acquired by the Chicago White Sox organization last year in a trade with the Oakland A’s, had a strong outing in the Knights’ 6-2 season-opener Thursday in Durham.

And Sunday evening, it was newly-acquired righthander Donny Roach who pitched Charlotte to a 5-0 victory.

In the team’s media day last Monday, Knights’ manager Mark Grudzielanek told reporters, “We’ve got some free agents who came over (to the Chicago organization), and we should be a bit more experienced this year.”

The White Sox have been stocking up on young talent, and Charlotte’s roster last summer was loaded with those players. But the Knights finished last in the International League’s South Division, and the idea this season is to mix a few more established players with the young talent.

Bruce Rondon, 27, who was signed by Chicago as a free agent on Jan. 31, pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Knights on Thursday. Covey, 26, appeared in 18 games with the White Sox last season. Roach, 28, pitched for KT Wiz of the Korean Baseball Organization in 2017.

In contrast is Knights’ starting pitcher Michael Kopech, 21, a flame-throwing right-hander who is among the White Sox’ top prospects. Kopech, who could reach the major leagues sometime this season, is scheduled to start Monday night when the Knights open a three-game series in Norfolk.

Here is a look at the Knights’ past week, and the week ahead:

Thursday: Covey allowed one run in five innings as the Knights beat Durham 6-2. Ryan Cordell and Matt Skole got Charlotte started with first-inning RBIs.

Friday: The Bulls jumped on starting pitcher Chris Volstad and continued the assault on the Knights’ relievers, winning 11-1. Volstad, in his third season with Charlotte, was touched for five runs in 4.2 innings pitched.

Sunday: After a Saturday rainout, the Knights took the series from Durham with a 5-0 shutout. Roach pitched six innings; relievers Xavier Cedero, Jeanmar Gomez and Chris Beck completed the shutout. First baseman Casey Gillaspie had two hits for Charlotte.

Player moves: More than 20 Knights players were called up by the White Sox at one time or another in 2017, and the moves began early this season. Rondon, who pitched a scoreless ninth inning in Thursday’s opener, got the call to the majors Sunday. Chicago sent reliever Juan Minaya, who led American League rookies in saves last season, down to Charlotte.

The week ahead: The Knights play Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings in Norfolk. Their home opener is at 7:04 p.m. Thursday against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the New York Yankees’ AAA farm club. The two teams also play at 7:04 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and at 2:05 p.m. next Sunday.

This story was originally published April 8, 2018 at 9:33 PM with the headline "There is something different about this year’s Charlotte Knights."