There are always a lot of movement following minor league All-Star games. 2012 was no different for the KC Royals organization.

Alex McClure

First baseman/left fielder Brian Fletcher and shortstop Alex McClure were promoted to Double-A NW Arkansas and played on Wednesday for the Naturals. Both are replacements for injured Naturals (Christian Colon and Sharlon Schoop), so not sure how long they will be there. Fletcher had been Wilmington’s best hitter. McClure struggled mightily in his second season with the Blue Rocks.

One of the Blue Rocks Carolina League All-Star Game representatives, Sugar Ray Marimon, was also promoted to NW Arkansas. He was also deserving of the promotion because he was the Blue Rocks best pitcher. Marimon will be the first Columbian-born player to wear a Naturals jersey. To make room for him, Tim Sexton was released.

With all of those moves from Wilmington, Kane County lost three players to Wilmington (two of which were all-stars). One of those All-Stars was outfielder Lane Adams, who will join buddy Jason Adam in Wilmington. He was hitting .298 at the Midwest League All-Star break with 13 doubles, 40 runs scored, and 44 RBIs.

Matt Ridings, a reliever, is the other All-Star. He was 4-3 with a 2.43 ERA in 21 games. In 37 innings, he struck out 39.

Shortstop Orlando Calixte, he of the 20+ errors, will take McClure’s spot. He was hitting .241 with 13 doubles, ten homeruns, 31 runs scored, and 34 RBIs.

Replacing those guys in Kane County will be four from Short-Season Idaho Falls: shortstop Jack Lopez, outfielder Julio Aparicio, and right-handers Kyle Smith and Bryan Brickhouse.

 Congrats to all those receiving promotions over the last two days!