After not playing the three game series at home versus Kannapolis, it was announced that KC Royals minor league prospect Bubba Starling was in Kansas City seeing an eye specialist to determine if he needs Lasik surgery. Apparently, he has complained that he cannot see well during night games and his eye sight has gotten worse since his last checkup in 2012.

I thought maybe the Royals would try out glasses or the goggles that have become so popular of late first before trying surgery.

So are his early season struggles due to his eyes?

I had a chance to see Starling play in Lakewood at the beginning of May, but it was a day game. He went 1-for-3 in that game and did not strike out. He did take a lot of good pitches. Personally, I have no way to judge.

Take a look at his splits:

Bubba Starling’s day-night splits via milb.com

» Continue reading “Are Bubba Starling’s Struggles Really His Eyesight?”

It started out so well for the Lexington Legends on a sunny, but quite chilly and windy Sunday afternoon in Lakewood, NJ. It also ended up well, as the Legends won, 7-5.

I can’t say I went home overly impressed. But then again, Lakewood is the worst team in the South Atlantic League and Lexington isn’t that far ahead in the standings. There were a combined 13 walks, three hit batters in one inning, two errors (but I would have given at least three), seven pop ups in the infield, ten stolen bases, and a combined 26 men left on base.

The Legends got on the board in the very first inning, as Terrence Gore singled to lead off the game. He then stole second and third base on consecutive pitches (he is second in the league in stolen bases with 17). The Blue Claws pitcher never looked at him to hold him on. With one out, Bubba Starling drove him in with a double and he scored on a Michael Antonio single. But that was all they would get in the first.

Aroni Nina did NOT have it on Sunday. He allowed a run in the first and then three more in the 3rd inning that chased him from the game. Lakewood did not hit him hard. He just couldn’t throw strikes. Nina walked five and did not hold runners well. The Blue Claws’ Brad Pointer stole three bases off him without a look back. It was really hard to watch.

Ali Williams entered and wasn’t a whole lot better. He went 3-0 to the first batter he faced. He ended up walking three and allowing a run in the fourth before the Lexington bullpen FINALLY shut down Lakewood.

After having Blue Claws starter Kevin Brady on the ropes in the 1st inning, Lexington went down quietly in the second. He struck out the side. But Lexington came back to score another (and could have been more) in the top of the third.

» Continue reading “Lexington Wins a Sloppy Game in Lakewood”

Strikeouts have been a problem throughout the KC Royals minor league system over the last two seasons that I have been covering the team for Aerys. With a week of the minor league season in the books, it looks as though the 2013 season will be no different.

With today being a Royals off day, I decided it would be a good time to look at some of the strikeout Kings of the Royals farm system. I will be checking out the strikeouts on every Royals off day.

Despite being the Wilmington Blue Rocks strikeout King in 2012, the Royals decided to promote centerfielder Brett Eibner to Double-A. Well, things have not started out too well for Eibner. Over NW Arkansas’ first five games, he had batted leadoff. He has not collected a hit in 20 at-bats. Eibner has struck out ten times. He also has not played in the Naturals last two games (he came on as a defensive replacement tonight).

But Eibner is not the only Natural to be striking out at a record pace. As a team, they have struck out 53 times in 223 at-bats. That total is not tops in the Texas League, mainly because they have about twenty fewer at-bats than the teams in front of them. They have only walked eight times (which is the least amount in the TL).

It has been a rough full season debut for uber prospect Bubba Starling. The outfielder has just two hits in 26 at-bats with Low-A Lexington. He has struck out 11 times.

Starling is hardly the only Legend to be striking out. As a team, they have struck out 62 times in 228 at-bats. However, that total is not tops in the South Atlantic League, mainly because the Legends have close to 30 less at-bats than teams in front of them. They have walked just 11 times, which is fewest in the SAL.

*On the next Royals off day, I’ll update you on how these two are doing, while also looking at a few more Kings.

On Tuesday night, MLB Network aired the 2013 Top 100 Prospects list. I unfortunately missed it, but did get a chance to check out the list yesterday.

There are just three KC Royals on that list, two of which have not played a full professional season yet.

Yordano Ventura making a start in Wilmington on June 7, 2012.

Outfielder Bubba Starling is the first Royal on the list, at number 26. He made his much-anticipated professional debut last June with rookie level Burlington. He hit .275 with ten homeruns and 33 RBIs (while also stealing ten bases). MLB.com’s Jonathan Mayo (who comes up with the list) thinks that Starling is the one player in the Royals system who could become that elite prospect who could turn into an impact big leaguer.

Right-hander Kyle Zimmer came in at number 34. He was the Royals top pick in last June’s draft. He pitched in just nine games combined for rookie level Surprise and Low-A Kane County before having bone chips removed from his elbow.

The final Royal on the list is right-hander Yordano Ventura. He came in at number 59. Ventura split last season between High-A Wilmington (where he dominated for the most part) and Double-A NW Arkansas (where he struggled). He also started the Futures Game at Kauffman Stadium in July for the World Team.

*Former Royals Wil Myers (number four) and Jake Odorizzi (number 45) were also on the list representing their new team, the Tampa Bay Rays.

**For the entire Top 100 list, click HERE.

This week, MLB released their top 100 prospects, both live on MLB Network and on MLB.com. The KC Royals have widely been considered to have one of the best farm systems in the game and that young talent is what will carry the Royals to future success.

On the 2011 list, the Royals had six players on the list. Mike Moustakas (seventh) and Eric Hosmer (eighth) have graduated to the big leagues. John Lamb (34th) dropped off the list after missing most of 2011 due to Tommy John surgery. The other three have reappeared in the 2012 rankings.

Wil Myers, now an outfielder, has been ranked over the last three years (33rd in 2010 and 16th in 2011). He dropped a bit this year to 19th, as he struggled for the first time in his first season in Double-A. However, he rebounded in the Arizona Fall League and should carry that success into 2012.

Mike Montgomery, a left-handed starter, has fluctuated all over this list the last three years. He was ranked 43rd in 2010 and then jumped to 14th in 2011. Many thought he would be the first young pitcher to the big leagues for the Royals. Instead, he struggled at Triple-A and slipped to 31st on this list. Still, scouts (and the Royals) are high on Montgomery and maybe he can crack the Royals rotation sometime in 2012.

Right-handed pitcher Jake Odorizzi was 37th in 2011, but dropped in 2012 to 47th. He was dominant at times in High-A in his first season with the Royals, but sometimes he struggled to pitch five innings. Upon his promotion to Double-A, he struggled a little more with consistency. Still, he is the Royals most intriguing right-handed pitching prospect.

The newest Royal on the list (and the highest ranked) is Bubba Starling. The athletic outfielder that was lured away from a Nebraska football scholarship came in at 17th. He will begin his professional career in 2012 with high expectations, but in the lower rungs of the minor leagues.

All in all, the Royals have four prospects in the top 50 and still have a potent farm system.

Yesterday, I talked about the KC Royals top prospect, left-hander Mike Montgomery, as ranked by Baseball America.

Today I will delve into prospects two through five. These four are not really surprises.

Number two is the Royals top draft pick this past June, Bubba Starling. The local two-sport star signed a mega-deal to give up football at Nebraska. His only time on the diamond with the Royals so far came in instructional league last fall.

BA projects that the Royals could send him to Low-A Kane County to start his professional career or have him begin his first professional season in extended spring training. Many believe Starling will need more development time than both Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas, but he is expected to be a stud.

You can follow the new to Twitter Bubba Starling (@Bubba_Star10).

Despite his struggles at the plate and with a knee injury in Double-A, Wil Myers showed off his prospect skills in the Arizona Fall League to rank third on the Royals prospect list. Myers also dealt with a position switch as a 21-year old experiencing just his second full professional season. It is expected that Myers will return to NW Arkansas to begin the 2012, but a good spring could push him to Triple-A.

Go follow Wil on Twitter (@wilmyers).

Jake Odorizzi with the Blue Rocks

Right-hander Jake Odorizzi, who sat atop the Milwaukee Brewers prospect list last year before being traded to the Royals, is ranked fourth now with the Royals. He had one of the better seasons for the young Royals pitching prospects in 2011, especially with High-A Wilmington.

I had the chance to watch Odorizzi pitch for the Blue Rocks and he was dominant in some outings. The only downside was that his high pitch counts cost him some innings (and wins). BA expects Odorizzi to return to Double-A to start the 2012 season, as he struggled there over 12 starts last season (mainly due to trying to be too fine with his pitches).

One of the biggest jumps on the prospect list comes at number five, as third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert jumped from number 15 last year. The now 19-year old from Nicaragua had a solid season in 2011 with Low-A Kane County as the Midwest League’s youngest position player.

BA expects Cuthbert to again be pushed, this time to the pitcher friendly Carolina League with the Wilmington Blue Rocks. He is one of the players I am most excited to see play in 2012 with the Blue Rocks.

*Check back tomorrow for prospects 6-8.

It has been a whirlwind year for left-handed pitcher Aaron Laffey.

Aaron Laffey with Buffalo

He went to spring training in Arizona with the Cleveland Indians, the only team he had ever known. He was a 16th round draft pick of the Indians in 2003. From 2007-2010, Laffey bounced around from the minors to the majors with the Indians. His best minor league season came in 2007 when Baseball America named him a Triple-A all-star with Buffalo (9-3 with a 3.08 ERA). Overall he went 13-4 with a 2.88 ERA in 22 games (21 starts) in the minors in 2007.

In the beginning of March, Laffey was traded to the Seattle Mariners for a minor leaguer so the Indians could make room for right-handed reliever Chad Durbin. It seemed like a good move because the Mariners were looking for a lefty in both the rotation and the bullpen. Laffey made the Mariners out of spring training as a lefty reliever.

He pitched very well over the first month, as he allowed just three runs in ten games (15 innings). He was still pitching well in May, as he allowed three runs (two earned) over eight games (10.1 innings). He only pitched in seven games (7.1 innings) in June, but allowed just two runs.

Then July happened. He pitched in eight games, three of which he gave up three runs in each. One however was in a three inning relief stint. In the other two, he allowed six runs on eight hits in just 1.2 innings. The struggles continued into August and after his outing on August 16th against Toronto (1.2 IP, 4H, 3R), the Mariners designated him for assignment to make room for Chance Ruffin (who was included in the Doug Fister/David Pauley deal from the Detroit Tigers).

The NY Yankees immediately claimed him and he made his first appearance with the Yankees on August 20th against the Minnesota Twins. In a three inning relief appearance, he allowed two runs on five hits. Laffey was then designated for assignment by the Yankees and placed on optional waivers (he wasn’t claimed). Thus he was optioned to Triple-A Scranton. There he made two appearances (one start), but allowed five runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks over just 3.2 innings. He was however recalled by the Yankees when rosters expanded in September.

In ten games after his September promotion, he allowed two runs on eight hits over 7.2 innings. He did however hit two batters and walk three. Laffey was left off the Yankees playoff roster and was again designated for assignment.

This time, the KC Royals claimed him and the Royals have designated right-hander Jess Chavez for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Laffey. Laffey gives the Royals more of a veteran presence in the bullpen and he should push lefties Tim Collins and Everett Teaford in spring training.

Hopefully Laffey can settle in with the Royals as he is back in the American League Central. After his whirlwind 2011 with now four Major League teams, things have to be calming down for him right?

*In other news, there are rumors that stud top pick Bubba Starling will be shut down until spring training. He has been sidelined with a minor quad injury after just about a week in instructional league. The team is being overly cautious, but it can’t be something the organization is thrilled about. First an underage drinking citation and now a quick injury. Starling’s Royals career is not starting out with a positive light.

**Reliever Robinson Tejeda has become a  free agent. He was the primary setup man for closer Joakim Soria when the season began, but struggled to regain his velocity and consistency. He was designated for assignment in the middle of May and spent the rest of the season with Triple-A Omaha.

Instructional league is about a week in and from the win-loss standpoint, the KC Royals haven’t been doing well. Thank goodness the wins and losses don’t really matter. It’s all about the learning experience and the players working on things or just trying to get back into the game (loss of games due to injury or late signing).

The following is a day-to-day recap with stats coming from Royals Media guy David Holtzman:

In their first game on September 26th, the advanced Surprise team lost 9-1. Brett Eibner went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Cheslor Cuthbert went 2-for-4. Alex McClure went 1-for-3 and Jose Bonilla went 1-for-1 (both played in Wilmington). On the pitching side, Antonio Cruz allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk over 2.1 innings. He struck out two. Santiago Garrido went two innings and allowed one hit and one run while walking one and striking out three. The more “instructional” team, KC, also lost. 2011 draft pick Cam Gallagher went 1-for-2 with an RBI and fellow draft pick Dean Espy went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk.

On 9/27, Cuthbert went 1-for-4 with a double. Brian Fletcher went 2-for-4 with a homerun, two RBIs, and two runs scored (he spent 2011 with Kane County). Julio Rodriguez went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Murray Watts went 1-for-1 with a double and a run scored for the KC team.

On 9/29, Eibner went 1-for-3 with a triple, a walk, and two runs scored. Fletcher went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, an RBI, and a run scored. Cuthbert went 1-for-4 while Rodriguez went 2-for-4. For the KC team, top pick Bubba Starling made his Royals debut and went 1-for-4. Espy went 1-for-2 with two runs scored. Orlando Calixte went 1-for-4 and Alex Llanos went 1-for-2 (both spent 2011 with Kane County).

» Continue reading “Royals Instructional League Update”

The KC Royals season came to an end on Wednesday night, with a walk-off loss to the host Minnesota Twins. It was one of the many exciting finishes across Major League Baseball.

Unfortunately, today is the start of the offseason for the Royals.

*The team announced that bench coach John Gibbons and pitching coach Bob McClure will not return for the 2012 season. As of now, the remaining coaches will stay on for 2012 with manager Ned Yost: hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, first base coach Doug Sission, third base coach Eddie Rodriguez, and bullpen coach Steve Foster.

*On Wednesday, the Royals announced that Rick Knapp was named the minor league pitching coordinator. Knapp was the pitching coach for the Detroit Tigers this season, but he was relieved of his duties on July 3rd (and now the Tigers are American League Central champs). He had spent the 12 previous seasons as minor league pitching coordinator for the Minnesota Twins. Maybe Knapp will be named the Royals new pitching coach? Or maybe he get to work with the Royals up-and-coming arms?

*A bit of a black eye came at the end of the season for the Royals, mainly top pick Bubba Starling. After attending a college football game last Saturday while participating in instructional league in Arizona, a car carrying five Royals minor leaguers was stopped in a police checkpoint. The driver took a breathalyzer, but did not register anything. Starling and two other minor leaguers were cited for underage drinking. I know what a lot of you are saying, what’s the big deal about a teenager having a beer? When you just received a HUGE signing bonus and are expected to be a PR dream, this is not the publicity the Royals were hoping for. Hopefully Starling (and the two unnamed teammates) can grow from this incident.

Here are GM Dayton Moore’s comments:

“The players involved, which included Bubba Starling, put themselves in jeopardy by having a drink and not being of legal age.  It was not a good decision on their part.  We’re disappointed in their actions and we’ll deal with it internally.”

Now onto some brighter news.

» Continue reading “Royals News & Notes”

Via Cheryl Norman

On Thursday morning, it was announced that KC Royals right fielder Jeff Francoeur signed a two-year extension, taking his contract through the 2013 season. This isn’t too big of a surprise since Frenchy has expressed his desire to stay with the Royals and watch the young guys debut and hopefully help the team win.

From the Royals press release:

“The 27-year-old Francoeur is hitting .277 this season for the Royals, his first with the club.  He has recorded 35 doubles, fifth-most in baseball, with three triples, 15 home runs, 66 RBI, 60 runs and a career-high 19 stolen bases.  In addition, the 2007 Rawlings Gold Glove winner is third in the Majors with 12 outfield assists and leads all of baseball with 93 assists since the 2005 season.”

Francoeur will be available to the media at 4pm CT today, where I am sure more details about the deal will be discussed. What has been reported is that the deal is worth $13.5 million.

» Continue reading “Francoeur Signs Extension and Other Royals News”