Back in November, MiLB.com named the KC Royals Organizational  All-Stars (one player at each position). As of now, only eight players are still in the organization.

First, lefty Brandon Sisk was traded to the LA Angels for Ervin Santana. Sisk was named the Royals top reliever. He pitched in 50 games with Triple-A Omaha and recorded a 2.54 ERA in 67.1 innings. He also struck out 73 batters. Over his final ten regular season appearances, Sisk allowed just one run in 17.1 innings. JJ Picollo, the Royals‘ assistant GM, said that opponents do not get good swings against him. Maybe he has a chance in LA?

Next was first baseman Clint Robinson, who was designated for assignment and then traded to Pittsburgh for two low minor leaguers. His 37 doubles and 79 walks were tops in the organization, despite having lesser offensive numbers than in 2011 (.292, 13 homeruns, and 67 RBIs). Picollo talked about how Robinson makes everyone around him in the lineup better. Who’s going to be THAT guy in 2013?

Jake Odorizzi with the Blue Rocks

Last week came the trade with Tampa Bay that sent Wil Myers, Jake Odorizzi, and Patrick Leonard to the Rays. Since Myers was the Royals Minor League Player of the Year, he was obviously named one of their top outfielders. He made mechanical adjustments to his swing, which increased his power (29 more homeruns than in 2011). And he did not sacrifice his average (he hit .314 in 2012). Myers is expected to be starting in the Rays outfield in 2013.

Odorizzi was the Royals top right-handed starter, as he won an organization-high of 15 games. In five Double-A starts, opponents hit just .191 against him. Overall, he had a 3.03 ERA and struck out 135 batters in 145.1 minor league innings. After the trade, Odorizzi stated that he plans on being ready to compete for one of the Rays rotation spots in 2013. He’ll just have to pitch down in the zone or he’ll continue to get beat by the long ball.

Leonard was the least touted of the Royals to be traded, but he was the best third baseman in the organization. In his first season of pro ball, he hit a homerun every 17 at-bats at rookie level Burlington (he led the Appalachian League with 14 homeruns). He is a big guy (6’4, 225) and the Royals were shocked with how good he is on defense. It’s too early to tell how Leonard will pan out, but maybe he will move Evan Longoria to first base sometime in the future.

So who is still left?

» Continue reading “Who’s Gone and Who’s Left in the Royals Organization?”

The KC Royals on Wednesday afternoon traded first baseman/DH Clint Robinson and pitcher Vin Mazzaro to the Pittsburgh Pirates for two minor leaguers. Both Robinson and Mazzaro were designated for assignment last week when the Royals restructured their 40-man roster.

Robinson never really got a chance with the Royals, despite the fact that he hit at every minor league level. He finally made his Major League debut in 2012 during Interleague Play, but only as a pinch-hitter. Robinson was blocked in the big leagues by both Eric Hosmer and Billy Butler. First base isn’t exactly a position the Pirates are in need of, but hopefully Robinson gets a shot of making the club out of spring training.

Mazzaro really never got a shot after manager Ned Yost left him in to die in 2011(which made headlines on ESPN). He pitched pretty well for Triple-A Omaha in 2012. The Pirates need pitching, so Mazzaro will most likely get a look during spring training.

So what did the Royals get? Two minor league pitchers who are a WAYS away from reaching the big leagues.

Luis Rico will be 19 years old and is a lefty. He has made just 20 appearances as a professional. In those outings, he has a 5.29 ERA. He pitched in the Dominican Summer League and has yet to make his US debut.

Luis Santos is a 21 year old right-hander. He has made just 24 minor league appearances, but has a 2.51 ERA. He was Rico’s teammate in the DSL and also gas yet to make his stateside debut.

The KC Royals designated SEVEN players for assignment on Tuesday. Yup, you read it right, seven.

First, it was catcher Adam Moore, who was a September callup in 2012 and caught Jake Odorizzi while he was up.

Then it was the slew of six that followed.

Brayan Pena was the one that shocked me the most. He had done well in his tenure with the Royals and proved to be a solid hitter and back up catcher. Now I’m curious as to who will back up Salvador Perez in 2013. Will it be Brett Hayes, who hasn’t done much of anything as a back up with the Marlins? The Royals avoided arbitration with Hayes and he signed a $600,000 contract.

They designated pitchers Vin Mazzaro, Chris Volstad, and Ryan Verdugo. They had just picked up Volstad off waivers. Mazzaro had the infamous 12 run game in 2011. Verdugo came over with Jonathan Sanchez last spring from the SF Giants.

First baseman/DH Clint Robinson along with speedy outfielder Derrick Robinson was also designated. Both Robinson’s are interesting cases. Clint had the chance to take over for either Billy Butler or Eric Hosmer if either were traded. He has always hit and if he does clear waivers, he will be eligible for the Rule V draft. Derrick had a solid 2012 season and has always been a stolen base threat. He just struggles with reaching first base.

It is expected that Pena and Volstad will be non tendered, as both are eligible for arbitration. The others could go in the Rule V draft.

So what did the Royals do with all that free roster space? They filled it immediately. They added players that they may have lost in the upcoming Rule V draft.

They added lefty John Lamb, who is coming back from Tommy John surgery, along with fellow lefty Mike Montgomery (who I would have left unprotected and let another team deal with his inconsistencies).

Other left-handed pitchers that the Royals added to their 40 man roster are Donnie Joseph (who they received from Cincinnati for Jonathan Broxton), Chris Dwyer (who had a disastrous 2012), and Justin Marks (who pitched well in the Arizona Fall League and was one of only a few Royals pitchers in the upper levels to pitch well).

The lone right-handed pitcher they protected was Juan Gutierrez, who is dominating in winter ball. They also did not add any position players.

All of those moves filled the Royals roster. They now have 25 pitchers on their roster, but just two catchers.

This past week started out really well for the KC Royals with a home sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays. They then won the first game of their road trip in Minnesota. However they have now lost three in a row (they went 4-3 this past week). The Royals continue on the road in Toronto with four games, as they sit in fourth place in the American League Central at 35-42.

Omaha continues be one of the elite teams in the Pacific Coast League. The Storm Chasers went 6-1 this past week. They now have an 18 game lead in the American Northern Division at 53-31. They continue their homestand with two more games against Albuquerque.

Since the Texas League All-Star break, NW Arkansas is just 1-2 (they lost a series to Corpus Christi). The Naturals are tied for second place in the North Division with a 4-5 second half record.

Wilmington had a very successful week, going 5-2. Problem is, everyone else in the Northern Division of the Carolina League is 5-5 in their last ten games. That puts the Blue Rocks tied for last place at 5-6. They continue their road trip with two more in Frederick before heading to Lynchburg.

Kane County went 4-3 this past week and sit in second place in the Midwest League’s Western Division at 6-4 (three teams are tied). The Cougars continue their series tonight at Peoria.

Hitters of the Week

Majors: The MLB All-Stars were announced on Sunday and shortstop Alcides Escobar‘s name was not on it (despite having better numbers than the three who made the team). He earns the award this week, as he went 9-for-20 (.450) with three doubles, a homerun, and six runs scored. He also walked three times.

Honorable Mention: Could it be? Is Eric Hosmer FINALLY breaking out? He started to show signs over the last week, as he went 11-for-26 (.423) with two doubles, a homerun, four runs scored, and three RBIs. He also stole two bases.

Minors: Clint Robinson, Omaha. He didn’t let his demotion back to the minors faze him. Over the week, he went 10-for-29 (.345) with four doubles, six runs scored, and six RBIs.

Pitchers of the Week

Majors: Luis Mendoza was dominant in his start this past weekend in the Royals lone win in Minnesota. He allowed just one run on five hits over eight innings. He did not walk a batter while striking out five.

Minors: Pitching was key this past week for teams having winning records. That means that I had a difficult time choosing just one pitcher.

Will Smith had two dominant starts this past week for Omaha. He picked up two wins and lowered his ERA to 3.81. In those two starts, he allowed just one unearned run on eight hits and one walk over 13.2 innings. He struck out 16.

Sugar Ray Marimon made his first two starts for Double-A NW Arkansas. Combined, he allowed just one run on six hits over 11.2 innings. He struck out eight.

Yordano Ventura continues his dominance in the Carolina League with Wilmington. In two starts this past week, he allowed two runs on seven hits and three walks over 12.2 innings. Despite striking out 17, he did not pick up a decision.

The reliever of the week goes to Cody Fassold of Kane County. In two appearances (five innings), he did not allow a hit or a run. Fassold did walk three while striking out five.

The KC Royals will once again be well represented in a minor league all-star game. Four members of Triple-A Omaha were named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team, which will face off against the International League in the Triple-A All-Star Game in Buffalo on Wednesday, July 11th.

It will be a busy few days for outfielder Wil Myers. In addition to traveling to Kauffman Stadium to participate in the Futures Game on Sunday, July 8th, he was voted as a starting outfielder for the PCL. This from a guy that needed to be written in to receive votes (he has played in just 40 games and started the season in Double-A).

Myers leads minor league baseball in homeruns with 25, as he hit his 12th in Triple-A last night. He is hitting .309 with 35 RBIs and 33 runs scored.

Maybe he will head back to Kansas City to make his Major League debut after the Triple-A ASG? 

First baseman/DH Clint Robinson will be in his second Triple-A ASG. This season, he is hitting .313 with 21 doubles, 10 homeruns, 44 RBIs, and 40 runs scored. He has also walked (42) more than he has struck out (33).

Lefties Ryan Verdugo and Tommy Hottovy (who have both seen time this season with the Royals though Verdugo did not pitch) will be making appearances out of the bullpen.

Verdugo, a starter, is 5-2 with a 3.65 ERA in 14 starts (79 innings). Opponents are hitting just .212 against him.

Hottovy is 2-0 in 20 games with seven saves and a 1.69 ERA (which went up after his last outing). He had not allowed a run over his last nine appearances prior to June 25th when he allowed two runs in three innings. In 26.2 innings, Hottovy has allowed just 17 hits and six walks while striking out 36.

The game will be televised live on MLB Network. You can check out the rest of the PCL roster HERE.

The KC Royals ran into a hot Pittsburgh Pirates team and lost 4-2. The Pirates have won 10 of their last 13 games.

There was no scoring after the third inning. The Royals did not have a base runner after the 6th inning.

Erik Bedard allowed two runs in five hits over seven strong innings. Jason Grilli followed with a perfect 8th inning and Joel Hanrahan finished off the Royals for his 16th save.

Luke Hochevar wasn’t bad. He allowed four runs on nine hits and just one walk over six innings. It was a lot better of a showing then how he had been pitching.

*Eric Hosmer played right field and committed an error.

**Clint Robinson made his Major League debut in the 9th inning as a pinch-hitter. He struck out against Hanrahan.

The KC Royals announced “major baseball related news” this afternoon, as their first round pick (fifth overall), Kyle Zimmer, signed. He signed for a $3 million bonus (slot was $3.5 million).

Zimmer, a right-hander, bloomed late at USF and really burst onto the scene in the Cape Cod League last summer. He didn’t pitch a whole lot this spring, as a hamstring injury hampered him.

Here is what Zimmer had to say on Monday night via the Kansas City Star:

“I feel like I command all of my pitches pretty well. I feel like my curveball is an out pitch, and I feel like I do a really good job of staying on top of my fastball and moving it to both sides of the plate.”

He will be evaluated for a few weeks in Surprise, Arizona at the spring training complex (recovering from the injury) before the Royals decide on where to send him to start his professional career.

*In other Royals news, first baseman/DH Clint Robinson was called up and will be traveling with the team to Pittsburgh, as the Royals start Interleague Play (again) on Friday night. Whenever he gets into a game, it will be his big league debut. Lefty Ryan Verdugo was optioned to Triple-A (he did not pitch when he was up with the Royals).

Omaha led 5-0 after the top of the 3rd inning and held on for the 6-3 victory over New Orleans. Brandon Sisk earned the win in relief of starter Jake Odorizzi, who lasted just four innings. Sisk pitched two shutout innings and allowed just one hit.

New Orleans brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the 9th inning against Roman Colon, but he struck out Gaby Sanchez (who was recently demoted from Miami) to end the game (Sanchez left seven men on base).

Wil Myers, as the DH on Monday, went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs, and two runs scored. Clint Robinson went 2-for-3.

Omaha returns home on Tuesday to face Iowa and Memphis.

A four-run top of the first inning did in NW Arkansas, as they lost to Frisco, 9-6. The Naturals had 11 hits, including five doubles (two from Julio Rodriguez) and a solo homerun by John Whittleman.

Yem Prades went 3-for-5 and Mario Lisson went 2-for-3 in the loss. The Naturals will enjoy Tuesday’s off day before heading out on the road to play Midland and Frisco again.

Two 2-run innings held up, as Wilmington beat Carolina, 4-3. Angel Franco hit a two-run homerun in the top of the 4th inning to break the 2-2 tie. It was his first of the season (he went 2-for-5)

Brian Fletcher went 2-for-4 and Geulin Beltre went 3-for-5. The seldom used Luis Piterson went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.

The new piggy-back combination of Leondy Perez and Greg Billo pitched well, especially Billo. He pitched 2.1 shutout innings of relief and did not allow a hit.

Kane County scored two runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game at 9-9 and send it into extra innings. Orlando Calixte hit a two-run homerun to tie the game (he went 4-for-7). They had a chance to win it with the bases loaded by Jorge Bonifacio struck out to end the inning.

The game would go to the 12th when the Cougars needed to use a position player to pitch. That was Dean Espy and things fell apart. Beloit scored six runs on five hits in the top of the 12th and won 15-9. The two teams combined for 41 hits (Michael Antonio went 4-for-7)

The Cougars had the bases loaded with nobody out to start the bottom of the 12th inning, but did not score.

Nick Graffeo pitched three scoreless innings of relief before Espy came on in the 12th inning. Graffeo allowed just one hit while striking out three.

Jake Odorizzi won his first Triple-A game, as Omaha beat Salt Lake, 5-2. He allowed just one run on six hits over six innings. He struck out seven.

The Storm Chasers hit three homeruns: Clint Robinson, Tony Abreu, and Wil Myers. Myers went 2-for-4 and Derrick Robsinon went 2-for-3 in the win.

Down 8-0 after the top of the second inning was a deficit NW Arkansas could never completely dig out of, as the Naturals lost to Midland, 9-8. Noel Arguelles lasted just 1.1 innings in the loss.

The Naturals out-hit the RockHounds, 12-8. Christian Colon, Sharlon Schoop, Eric Duncan, and Nick Van Stratten each had two hits. CC scored three runs and Schoop hit a three-run homerun.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks complete their first series sweep of the season, with a 3-0 victory over visiting Potomac with a day game. They held just a 1-0 lead until the 8th inning when Brett Eibner and Cheslor Cuthbert drove in runs (Cuthbert had two hits).

Tyler Sample and the Blue Rocks bullpen outdueled the P-Nats. Sample allowed just two hits (though he walked four) over five innings. He struck out six. Jon Keck followed Sample with three scoreless innings of relief. Sam Runion picked up his first save of the season with a perfect 9th inning.

Jose Bonilla, who was just added to the roster from extended spring training on Tuesday, went 3-for-4 in his first start of the season behind the plate.

Kane County scored two runs in the bottom of the 8th inning en route to their 4-3 victory at home over Burlington. Michael Antonio hit a two-run double in the 8th inning for the win.

Lane Adams and Antonio went 6-for-8, as Adams scored two runs in the win.

Jason Mitchell earned the win in relief of Edwin Carl (5IP, 6H, 3R, BB, 4K), as he pitched two shutout innings and allowed just one hit.

The Omaha Storm Chasers split their doubleheader against Tacoma. They won the first game, 8-5 in comeback fashion. Down 4-0, they scored six runs in the 4th inning to take the lead for good.

Despite giving up two solo homeruns, Storm Chasers starter Vin Mazzaro picked up the win. He allowed five runs on nine hits and a walk over 5.1 innings.

On offense, Omaha collected just nine hits (only one extra base hit), but went 5-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Jason Bourgeois, Clint Robinson, and David Lough each had two hits. Robinson drove in three runs.

Omaha lost the second game, 4-0. They collected as many hits (3) as they made errors (3).

If you check out the box score, it has Omaha starter Sean O’Sullivan allowing three runs (two earned) over 5.1 innings. It then has no one else allowing a run. It also had the Tacoma reliever allowing a run.

Moving on to NW Arkansas, who lost 4-3 to Arkansas. The Travelers scored two runs each in the 7th and 8th innings to win. Yem Prades‘ 8th inning solo homerun gave the Naturals a short-lived 3-2 lead.

Naturals starter Chris Dwyer was solid, as he allowed two runs on three hits and three walks over 6.2 innings. He struck out five.

On offense, Christian Colon went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and Julio Rodriguez went 2-for-3 in the loss.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks walked off against the Myrtle Beach Pelicans for the second time in three days, as they won 2-1. Brett Eibner drove in the game winner in the bottom of the 9th inning on a shot into the left-centerfield gap (it may have been gone in any other ballpark). You can check out my live blog HERE.

Check out my Facebook page for video of Vance Wilson’s postgame interview and pictures of today’s game. I will also have video up shortly of Eibner’s postgame interview.

Despite a strong start from Brooks Pounders, Kane County lost to Wisconsin, 7-6. All but three of the game’s runs were scored from the 7th inning on.

The Timber Rattlers walked off on Nick Ramirez‘ two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the 9th inning. Kane County reliever Robinson Yambati walked three in that inning to load the bases.

On offense for the Cougars, Justin Trapp, Jorge Bonifacio, Lane Adams, and Michael Antonio each had two hits. Adams hit a two-run homerun in the top of the 9th inning that gave the Cougars a short-loved 6-5 lead (he also scored three runs while driving in three).

Pounders allowed one run on four hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out eight.