With four pitchers leaving the organization, three in AAA or higher, as a result of the Jake Peavy trade there was a domino effect of promotions throughout the organization to fill the vacated spots.

Other than Jhonny Nunez’s promotion to the White Sox, Fernando Hernandez, Charlis Burdie and Joseph Serafin were the most notable names to receive the resulting promotions.

Hernandez, who turned 25 on the day of the trade deadline, was moved up to Charlotte after posting a 1.71 ERA in 52.2 innings out of the Birmingham bullpen. The former Rule V pick of the A’s has struck out 53 and walked 18 this year. He compiled 20 saves for the Barons. Joining him in Charlotte are Justin Cassel and Matthew Zaleski. Both have been with the Knights already this season. Cassel, 24, was demoted to Birmingham after getting shelled for most of his time in Charlotte (3-8, 5.26 ERA). In 6 starts with the Barons Cassel had a 4.50 ERA and a 1.58 WHIP. Zaleski, 27, made a successful spot start for the Knights (6 IP, 1 R) earlier this season.

Infielder turned pitcher Sergio Santos was among the new Barons. Santos is 26 and hasn’t had much success as a reliever at Kannapolis and Winston-Salem, but has struck out 17 in his 15 innings of work this year. Johnnie Lowe, who had a 4.04 ERA in 20 starts with the Dash this season, will take Cassel’s spot in the Barons’ rotation. Lowe, 24, isn’t viewed as much of a prospect despite decent minor league numbers. 23 year-old reliever Miguel Socolovich also got moved up from the Dash, where he had a 3.13 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 37.1 innings.

Moving up to the Carolina League was Burdie and Daniel Albritton. Albritton is a non-prospect, but Burdie has been racking up strikeouts. He had 60 in 56.1 innings for the Intimidators to contribute to his 1.76 ERA. He has had trouble with control (28 BB), but has struck out over a batter an inning at every minor league stop so far. At 23, he will need to move up the system quickly in the next couple years to have any prospect status, but his strikeout rate makes him worth following.

Serafin, the 37th round pick out of Vermont this year, has dominated at Bristol since signing and was promoted to Kannapolis. The lefty is only 5′10″, but he had a 1.64 ERA and a WHIP under 1 during his time with the BriSox. It’s hard to call him a prospect because he’s 23 and performance in rookie ball doesn’t say a lot when you are older than almost all of the players, but he deserved to be moved up. Organizational players Enrique Lechuga and Dylan Axelrod also got promoted to the I’s.