CSN Chicago Spotlights White Sox Rising Stars With Pair of Behind-the-Scenes Half-Hour Specials

'White Sox Cornerstones: Charlotte' and 'White Sox Cornerstones: Birmingham & Winston-Salem' are both CSN Original Productions

CSN Chicago (CSN) will be debuting a pair of brand new, behind-the-scenes, CSN Original Productions that will provide an up-close and personal look at numerous rising stars in the White Sox organization with the back-to-back airings of White Sox Cornerstones: Charlotte and White Sox Cornerstones: Birmingham & Winston-Salem presented by Ozinga on Monday, May 22 at 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. CT, respectively.  The CSN live stream also available on CSNChicago.com/WatchLive or via the NBC Sports app to authenticated CSN Chicago subscribers. 

Yoan Moncada (#1 prospect in organization) being interviewed for the “White Sox Cornerstones” production

Among the top prospects featured in the two half-hour specials will be Yoan Moncada (ranked #1 overall in MLB’s 2017 Top “100 Prospects”), Lucas Giolito (ranked #8), Michael Kopech (ranked #13), Reynaldo Lopez (ranked #39), Carson Fulmer (ranked #63), Zack Collins (ranked #73), along with Nicky Delmonico, and Downers Grove native Zack Burdi among many others.

Produced & written by CSN Senior Producer of Original Content Ryan McGuffey and edited by CSN Executive Producer of Original Content Sarah Lauch, White Sox Cornerstones takes an in-depth look at the highly-touted prospects in the White Sox farm system at Class AAA Charlotte, Class AA Birmingham, and Class A Winston-Salem with exclusive, candid interviews with players, managers, front office execs, along with a unique study of day-to-day life for these prospects, whose goals are micro-focused on their development and making their dreams come true by being called up as a member of the Chicago White Sox.

“It is our passion to create content that appeals to the fans of all our teams,” says Kevin Cross, Sr. Director of News & Original Content for CSN Chicago. “If you follow the White Sox and you care about any aspect of this rising organization, we want our viewers to continue to know we share that same passion with them. Cornerstones is a prime example of that philosophy.”

As previously announced, CSN Chicago is carrying eight AAA Charlotte Knights games this month. 

White Sox Cornerstones: Charlotte Goes Behind the Scenes With Charlotte Knights
White Sox Cornerstones: Charlotte (debuting at 7:00 PM on May 22) will lead it off providing viewers with an in-depth look at the White Sox top prospects at AAA Charlotte.

Lucas Giolito (#2 prospect in organization)

Led by future MLB superstar Yoan Moncada, the Knights feature several prospects from one of baseball’s best minor league systems.  Moncada, acquired in a December trade for pitcher Chris Sale, has been the talk of the International League.  He ranks at or near the top of nearly every statistical category and Cornerstones details why he’s ready to call Chicago home and why he is a key factor in the team’s promising future.  The Cuban native discusses his development in the six months since becoming a member of the White Sox, as well as his relationship with friend and current White Sox slugger Jose Abreu.

The Charlotte Knights also feature one of the more promising starting rotations in the minors with Lucas Giolito, Reynaldo Lopez and Carson Fulmer.  Fulmer, the White Sox #1 pick in 2015, joins Zack Burdi (a 2016 1st round pick) in a ‘walk to work’ with CSN, discussing their thought process leading up to a game, being a part of the rebuild and how members of the team are as competitive off the field as they are on it. Featured interviews include:

• Yoan Moncada (#1 prospect in organization)
• Lucas Giolito (#2 prospect in organization)
• Reynaldo Lopez (#4 prospect in organization)
• Carson Fulmer (#5 prospect in organization)
• Zack Burdi (#7 prospect in organization)
• Nicky Delmonico (3rd baseman – Knights)
• Rick Hahn (Chicago White Sox Sr. VP/GM)
• Mark Grudzielanek (Knights Manager)
• Steve McCatty (Knights Pitching Coach)
• Mike Pacheco (Radio voice of the Knights)

White Sox Cornerstones: Birmingham & Winston-Salem Spotlights AA and A Clubs
Then, at 7:30 PM on May 22, White Sox Cornerstones: Birmingham & Winston-Salem will provide viewers with a deep look at the top prospects at Class AA Birmingham and Class A Winston-Salem in the White Sox organization.

Michael Kopech (#3 prospect in organization)

In Birmingham, CSN exclusively ‘rides the bus’ with the Barons after a road win against the Montgomery Biscuits.  The 90-plus minute ride featured extensive interviews with several key members of the Barons, including the organization’s #3 prospect Michael Kopech and #11 prospect Spencer Adams.  Kopech, whose fastball routinely hits 100mph, is the talk of the Southern League and opens up about the trade to Chicago and how his obsession with being the very best factors in to the overall White Sox rebuilding mindset.

In Winston-Salem, CSN travels to Salem, Virginia for a road game against the Salem Red Sox.  Hours before the game, CSN sits down for lunch with 2016 top draft pick/White Sox #6 prospect Zack Collins and teammate, pitcher Tanner Banks.  The lunch showcases Collins in a different light and brings out personality and character in the hopeful future catcher.  Also included is a trip to the Salem ballpark for interviews with players and former White Sox star/current Winston-Salem Dash manager Willie Harris. Featured interviews include…

• Michael Kopech (#3 prospect in organization)
• Zack Collins (#6 prospect in organization)
• Luis Alexander Basabe (#8 prospect in organization)
• Dane Dunning (#10 prospect in organization)
• Spencer Adams (#11 prospect in organization)
• Willie Harris (former White Sox infielder/current manager Winston-Salem Dash)
• Matt Cooper (#28 prospect in organization)
• Courtney Hawkins (13th overall pick – 2012 MLB draft)
• Eddy Alvarez (Barons second baseman, 2014 Olympic Silver Medalist-Sochi)
• Jake Dunning (Barons pitcher, brother of Dane)
• Brett Austin (Barons catcher)

Re-Airs and CSNChicago.com
CSN will also re-air White Sox Cornerstones: Charlotte on Fri, May 26 at 3:00 PM – Sat, May 27 at 4:30 PM – Mon, May 29 at 11:00 PM & Wed, May 31 at 11:00 PM…additional airings of White Sox Cornerstones: Birmingham & Winston-Salem will take place on Sat, May 27 at 5:00 PM – Mon, May 29 at 7:00 PM & 11:30 PM & Wed, May 31 at 11:30 PM.

Viewers are also urged to visit CSNChicago.com’s White Sox section: (http://www.csnchicago.com/whitesox), which will include video footage from White Sox Cornerstones and additional “web-exclusive” video excerpts.  In addition, CSNChicago.com will provide White Sox minor leagues commentary write-ups from CSNChicago.com’s White Sox “Insider” Dan Hayes throughout the season.  In addition, the popular “White Sox Talk PODCAST” (presented by Wintrust) with White Sox Pre/Postgame Live host Chuck Garfien and an array of special guests, features in-depth White Sox minor league reports, including the latest news on all the key prospects at AAA Charlotte, each and every week throughout the season. Fans can download all of CSN’s podcasts atCSNChicago.com/podcasts and simply subscribe to them via iTunes, Google Play or Stitcher.  The podcasts can be played on any mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer.