New Sox acquisition Rutherford to Kannapolis

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. (July 20, 2017) - The Kannapolis Intimidators, Class A Affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, have received outfielder Blake Rutherford prior to Thursday's game against West Virginia. Rutherford, whom the White Sox acquired from the New York Yankees on July 18 as part of a 7-player deal, will bat second and play centerfield for Kannapolis tonight with first pitch at 7:05 p.m. at Intimidators Stadium supported by Carolinas HealthCare System. In a corresponding move, catcher Casey Schroeder has been placed on the Disabled List.
Rutherford, 20, opened this season with Class A Charleston (S.C.), batting .281 (77-274) with 20 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 30 RBI, 41 runs scored, and nine stolen bases in 71 games for the RiverDogs in the South Atlantic League. The Canoga Park, Calif., native is rated the No. 30 prospect in baseball according to MLB.com. The 6'3", 195-pound left-handed hitter was the No. 3 prospect in the Yankees organization according to Baseball America's updated midseason rankings. In his professional debut season in 2016, Rutherford hit a combined .351 (40-114) with eight doubles, four triples, three home runs, 12 RBI, and 16 RBI in 33 games between the GCL Yankees West and Advanced Rookie Pulaski. The Yankees selected Rutherford in the first round of the June 2016 First-Year Player Draft.  
On Tuesday, the White Sox acquired Rutherford, left-handed pitcher Ian Clarkin, outfielder Tito Polo, and right-hander Tyler Clippard from the New York Yankees in exchange for third baseman Todd Frazier and right-handers Tommy Kahnle and David Robertson. 
Schroeder, 24, has appeared in 19 games with Kannapolis this season, batting .138 (8-58) with two doubles, a triple, a home run, and six RBI in the South Atlantic League. The White Sox selected Schroeder in the eighth round of the June 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of Coastal Carolina.  
The Intimidators continue a 3-game series against the West Virginia Power on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. Kannapolis sends RHP Yosmer Solorzano (3-7, 5.70 ERA) to the mound against West Virginia's RHP Eduardo Vera (3-4, 304 ERA). Thursday's game features a special appearance by former Kannapolis A.L. Brown Wonders and Charlotte 49ers running back Kalif Phillips, who will throw out the first pitch and sign autographs for fans before he begins his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers. The first 300 kids on Thursday will receive a set of Topps Baseball Cards as part of Minor League Baseball's Domestic Violence Awareness initiative in conjunction with the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation. Tickets are available by calling the F&M Bank Box Office at 704-932-3267 or by visiting IntimidatorsBaseball.com.