This White Sox prospect has played 8 different positions

May 14th, 2023

CHICAGO -- Triple-A Charlotte has gone through 38 games entering Sunday afternoon’s action, and Zach Remillard already had played at least one game in eight different positions, including designated hitter.

“I have played every position besides pitcher and catcher,” Remillard told MLB.com during a recent phone interview. “I’ve started at every one.”

Remillard is listed as a shortstop on his MiLB.com player page. When he was selected in the 10th round of the 2016 MLB Draft, Remillard played third base for the national champion Coastal Carolina squad.

But if the 29-year-old wants to achieve his Major League dream, Remillard understands versatility is the key. He clearly enjoys the defensive variety.

“I’d say I love being in the middle of the field,” Remillard said. “So, I love playing short, I love playing center and I love playing second. But honestly, I kind of like bouncing around each day. I like completing a lineup defensively in whatever way that looks to the manager.

“You play whatever position they ask of you to the best of your ability and go out and play good defense and handle the bat. My mindset is built on doing whatever I can to help a team win the game: On the bases or making a play or moving a runner. I would say I’m a little bit of an old-school, blue-collar kind of baseball player.”

Through his seven Minor League seasons, missing ’20 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Remillard has amassed 2,326 at-bats. He followed up a strong ’22 campaign for the Knights with a solid start to ’23, featuring a .283/.397/.417 slash line with three home runs, eight doubles, nine stolen bases and 30 runs scored.

He was a Minor League free agent after the ’22 season but decided to return to the White Sox. Some people compare his skillset along the lines of former White Sox shortstop Danny Mendick, and Remillard hopes to get the same sort of big-league opportunity Mendick earned.

“I’ve had a really good experience with the White Sox,” Remillard said. “There was something inside of me that being with this organization for so long, I really wanted to see this through.

“I figured one more year will be a good opportunity to do that. I felt like I had unfinished things here.”

Triple-A Charlotte
Oscar Colás has been crushing the baseball since being optioned from the White Sox to Charlotte. The No. 2 White Sox prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, has a slash line of .429/.468/.714 with nine doubles and one homer in 42 at-bats. The White Sox want Colás to be fully prepared to take off and compete at a high level for the rest of the season once he returns to the big leagues. … Veteran outfielder Victor Reyes has 34 RBIs in 33 games for the Knights.

Double-A Birmingham
Cristian Mena, the No. 7 White Sox prospect, has posted 46 strikeouts over 27 2/3 innings in six starts for the Barons. Matthew Thompson (No. 14) has 34 strikeouts in 28 innings with a .222 average against. 

High-A Winston-Salem
Terrell Tatum, the No. 24 White Sox prospect, continues his great start for the Dash. Tatum has a .296/.444/.480 slash line with 30 runs scored and 16 stolen bases. DJ Gladney leads the team with nine home runs and 36 RBIs.

Single-A Kannapolis
Tim Elko is still hitting the ball with authority for Kannapolis. He has a .319 average, nine homers and a .979 OPS.