Former Knights Helping White Sox in 2012

This season, the Chicago White Sox are pushing for the American League Central Division title crown. Four former Charlotte Knights have been vital components of a White Sox team looking to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2008.

The White Sox were in a tight race for first place with the Cleveland Indians as June winded down. Alejandro De Aza, Dayan Viciedo, Chris Sale, and Addison Reed have all had terrific seasons thus far since leaving Charlotte.

Alejandro De Aza spent the 2010 and 2011 seasons with the Charlotte Knights. Last season, De Aza hit an impressive .322 with nine HRs, 37 RBIs and 22 stolen bases. On June 9, 2012, now playing for the White Sox, De Aza had his best game of the year, as he had four hits in a 10-1 blowout against the Houston Astros.

Dayan Viciedo, 23, was a Charlotte Knight for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Over the course of both seasons combined, Viciedo, clubbed 40 home runs for the Knights.

Viciedo had a terrific 2011 campaign batting .296 with 20 HRs and 78 RBIs en route to being named to the 13th annual 2011 MLB Futures Game. On May 26, 2012, Viciedo led the White Sox with three hits, a home run, and a season best five RBIs as the club pounded the Indians 14-7.

Chris Sale pitched in just seven games with the Charlotte Knights in 2010, but has gone on to be a solid starter at the Major League level. Sale boasted a 2.84 ERA in those seven games. Thus far, Sale has been brilliant -- putting his name into the American League Cy Young discussion. On May 28, 2012, he had his best effort of the season against the Tampa Bay Rays, as he threw going 7.1 strong innings. The young lefty struck-out a career high 15 batters.

Addison Reed spent 11 games in 2011 with the Charlotte Knights. In 21 innings as a Knights pitcher, Reed had a 1.27 ERA and two saves. Reed, 23, is currently the Chicago White Sox closer and has excelled in that role. He's become a go-to-guy at the end of games.

The recent success of the Charlotte Knights on and off-the-field, combined with the success of former players, has made it an exciting time for the Charlotte Knights franchise. As the Knights continue their push toward the postseason, the question is not only who will be the next Knights player to succeed in the majors, but when.