Former Ole Miss Captain Tim Elko promoted to Double-A Birmingham Barons; gets a hit in first-at bat
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Former Ole Miss first baseman Tim Elko received a well-earned promotion to the Birmingham Barons Tuesday, the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.
Starting the year with the A-Ball affiliate, the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, Elko played in 66 games, pounding 17 home runs, 14 doubles and 144 total bases. The Ole Miss captain was named White Sox Minor League Player of the Month for June.
He soon advanced to the High-A White Sox team, the Winston Salem Dash, in late June. Despite the increased level of competition, Elko’s production increased.
In fewer than half the games he had played in Kannapolis, Elko powered five home runs, took 11 walks, hit eight doubles, tallied 26 RBIs, and lowered his strikeout ratio to one per game.
His batting average increased from .297 to .319, while his on-base percentage increased from .360 to .374 and his slugging went from .360 to .374.
Many of Elko’s adoring fans let their voice be heard on social media and apparently Birmingham was listening.
Tim Elko. Ole Miss -> Birmingham Barons.
Had 2 HR in Hoover with 1 ACL in 2021. https://t.co/xJ1QuueNZZ
— BirminghamSports (@BirminghamSport) August 9, 2023
Elko, donning No. 46, got the start in his first game with the Barons — and notched a hit and an RBI in his first at-bat!
Elko was born ready 😤
His first hit and RBI in Double-A ball 👊 pic.twitter.com/Llj3LzGfKe
— Birmingham Barons (@BhamBarons) August 8, 2023
We asked Tim’s parents for their thoughts Tuesday night on Tim’s advancement. Proud father John Elko had this to share from both his mom Cheryl and himself:
“We are very excited to see Tim get promoted to the next level. All of his hard work and determination to succeed is really paying off in his first year of pro ball. There is still a lot of his story left to be written.”
John Elko on Tim’s advancement to the Barons
We at The Rebel Walk wish Tim all the success in the world at this level and can’t wait for this next chapter in the “Book of Elko” to be written.
Chris Muller
Chris is our Director of Baseball Content and Senior Baseball Writer. Muller is a 1995 Graduate of Ole Miss. He is a collegiate recreational sports professional currently residing in Arlington Texas with his wife of 25 years, Amber, and German Shorthaired Pointer, Sophie. Chris is an avid Ole Miss Baseball and Football fan. His hobbies include watching college football and baseball and playing poker with his friends.
