Jonathan Cannon, the 6-foot-6 right-hander who posted a 0.51 ERA in his senior season at Centennial High School in Roswell, is scheduled to start for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights against the Durham Bulls at 6:45 p.m. Friday, July 17, at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, according to the Knights' game listing reported by North Fulton Today.

The 25-year-old remains on the Chicago White Sox's 40-man roster while working to pitch his way back to the majors. Through 15 appearances (12 starts) with Charlotte in 2026, Cannon carries a 3-3 record with a 5.51 ERA, 64 strikeouts, and a 1.64 WHIP over 67 innings, according to Bally Sports.

From Centennial to the Show

Cannon's path from Roswell to professional baseball took a detour through Athens. He went unselected in the 2019 MLB Draft despite that dominant senior year at Centennial — a 4-1 record with a 0.51 ERA, plus a .368 batting average with two home runs, according to Baseball Reference. He enrolled at the University of Georgia, where he quickly realized his future was on the mound.

In a June 18 "Walk & Talk" video interview with Charlotte Knights broadcaster Kendall Smith, Cannon said he wanted to be a hitter growing up. That changed his freshman year at Georgia, when he watched teammate Emerson Hancock throw a bullpen session. "I was like, 'No chance. I'm not going to be a hitter,'" Cannon told Smith. He went to his coach's office two days later and committed to pitching full time.

The bet paid off. Cannon became Georgia's Opening Day starter in 2022 and went 9-4 with a 4.02 ERA. The White Sox grabbed him in the third round of the 2022 draft, 101st overall, and signed him for $925,000. At the time, MLB Pipeline ranked him the No. 60 overall prospect and the top college pitcher remaining on the board after Day 1.

He climbed fast. By 2023 he was representing Chicago at the All-Star Futures Game, and on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, he made his MLB debut against Kansas City, pitching five innings and allowing one earned run with three strikeouts.

His 2025 season was rougher. Cannon went 4-10 with a 5.82 ERA over 22 appearances for the White Sox, dealt with a back injury, and was optioned to Charlotte twice before starting the 2026 season in Triple-A.

Staying close to home

In the same June 18 interview, Cannon talked about what it means to play near family.

"My whole family's from the South, from Georgia, from South Carolina. I have family here in Charlotte," Cannon said. "We looked at the minor league affiliates and they're all in the South. We have Winston, Kannapolis, Charlotte, Birmingham, and it was all drivable for my family, which was a really big blessing."

Five from North Fulton

Cannon is one of five North Fulton County products playing professionally on Friday, July 17, according to North Fulton Today:

  • Graham Pauley, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, Triple-A (Milton High School, Alpharetta)
  • Jason Delay, Worcester Red Sox, Triple-A (Northview High School)
  • Mark McLaughlin, Birmingham Barons, Double-A (Northview High School)
  • Michael Trautwein, Chattanooga Lookouts, Double-A (Northview High School, Johns Creek)

First pitch for Cannon's start in Durham is 6:45 p.m.