The KC Royals swept the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night, 3-0 and played through some crazy fog and cold weather. It also happened to be the official 40th anniversary of Kauffman Stadium.

Billy Butler quickly got the fans that were actually in attendance into the game (just over 10,000 though I doubt that many showed up) with a solo homerun in the bottom of the first. The pitching made that lone run hold up.

Somehow, starter Wade Davis escaped jam after jam. After striking out the first two batters he faced, he then loaded the bases. But Davis got out of the inning with a pop up. In the second, he again loaded the bases before striking out two (one of which was Joe Mauer, who struck out last night to end the game with the bases loaded) and getting out of the inning.

Davis lasted five innings, allowing four hits and three walks while striking out six. Lefty Bruce Chen followed with three scoreless innings of relief.

With a save situation, manager Ned Yost went with Kelvin Herrera instead of Greg Holland (and you wonder why people talk about a closer controversy). Herrera struck out the side around a double to pick up his second save of the season.

Jeff Francoeur added a solo homerun in the 7th inning and Alcides Escobar drove in another run later that inning. After struggling on the road to start the season, Salvador Perez has really heated up at home. He went 3-for-4 tonight to improve his average to .263.

*The Royals will enjoy the chilly off day on Thursday before welcoming the Toronto Blue Jays to town over the weekend.

**After not committing an error this season until last night, the Royals committed two tonight (one each by Escobar and Lorenzo Cain).

Billy Butler was the lone KC Royals representative in the 2012 MLB All-Star Game and the hometown fans at Kauffman Stadium made sure to make him feel loved.

Butler, who wore a smile throughout all of the festivities, got into the game in the 7th inning, when he pinch-hit for DH starter David Ortiz. He grounded out against Philadelphia Phillies starter Cole Hamels. He batted again in the 9th inning against Pittsburgh closer Joel Hanrahan (the crowd again cheered loudly as he took his warm-up swings and stepped to the plate). Unfortunately, he struck out.

Another player who felt right at home was SF Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera, who was voted in by the fans and started for the National League. The Melk-Man went 2-for-3 with a two-run homerun as the NL beat the American League for the third straight year. Melky played for the Royals in 2011 and was traded in the offseason (a trade most fans wish hadn’t happened).

The NL broke out for five runs in the first inning against Detroit ace Justin Verlander and never looked back in their 8-0 victory. Despite the lopsided outcome, the 40,000+ crowd stuck around for the very last out and cheered for the MVP (Melky).

With the MLB All-Star Game being played in Kansas City, you would think that the KC Royals lone representative would get into the game. That is my hope for DH Billy Butler.

However, with the American League carrying three DH’s (David Ortiz, who received the fan’s vote, and Adam Dunn, who received the players’ vote), Butler could be one of those bench players saved for possible extra innings.

Plus, he is a first-timer. If the manager (Ron Washington) has his choice between a veteran of the ASG and a newbie, the newbie is usually left picking splinters.

Just ask Royals reliever Aaron Crow, who was a first-timer last year and the Royals lone representative, but did not pitch. Or former closer Mike MacDougal in 2003.

The last time a Royals representative played in the ASG was back in 2009 when Zack Greinke pitched a scoreless inning of relief.

Stay tuned Tuesday night to FOX to see if Butler breaks the streak of no Royals‘ playing in the ASG.

The All-Star Game festivities officially kicked off on Sunday (okay, I know the Fan Fest is already underway) with the Futures Game, as the game’s top minor league players from the US faced the top the World has to offer.

The game started with a distinct KC Royals flare, and not just because the Royals and Kauffman Stadium play host.

Right-hander Jake Odorizzi started for the US team (his locker is Billy Butler’s at Kauffman Stadium). He threw just two pitches to get Jean Segura of the LA Angels to fly out, but Texas’ Jurickso Profar tagged him for a homerun to give the World a 1-0 lead. Odorizzi recovered to retire the next two, including a strikeout of Alfredo Marte (Arizona) to end the inning.

Here’s Odorizzi‘s line: 1IP, H, R, 0BB, K. He threw 14 pitches, ten for strikes.

Right-hander Yordano Ventura then strolled to the mound for the World team in the bottom of the first inning. He had a quick and uneventful inning. Ventura induced three ground outs and threw just 11 pitches, eight for strikes.

Here’s Ventura‘s line: 1IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 0K. He is headed to Double-A after the game. It was weird seeing him with his pant legs down to his shoe tops (all Royals minor leaguers must have their socks showing to about their knees). Ventura had the only 1-2-3 inning for the World until the 8th inning.

The cool thing about that bottom of the first inning? Ventura facing the third-place hitter, right fielder Wil Myers. Myers saw just three pitches from his organizational counterpart and almost beat out the ground ball to short.

Every Royals player received a nice ovation. Myers‘ may have been the loudest, as many fans were on their feet for his first at-bat. Kauffman Stadium was PACKED for the game (which was nice to see).

Myers came up again in the bottom of the 3rd inning with one out and the tying run on third base. He took a big hack on 3-0 and on 3-1 he grounded out to second base to tie the game. He took Odorizzi off the hook for the loss (it also took away the win for Ventura).

Myers then moved to centerfield in the top of the 5th inning. In the bottom of that inning, he singled to right field with one out off Enny Romero (TB). He was left stranded.

In the 6th inning, Myers flied out to centerfield, driving in his second run of the game. In that at-bat, he fouled a ball straight back that shattered the ESPN camera.

In the 7th inning, Myers singled to left field, driving in another run. He finally scored a run with two outs.

Game Recap:

Jae-Hoon Ha (Chicago Cubs) hit a two-run homerun off Gerrit Cole (Pittsburgh) in the 2nd inning to give the World a 3-0 lead. Billy Hamilton (Cincinnati) showed off his speed with a two-run triple in the bottom of the 3rd inning off Chris Reed (LA Dodgers) to cut the World lead to 4-2. He has 100 steals so far this season in the minors. Hamilton then scored on Reed’s errant throw to first base on Kolten Wong‘s (St. Louis) comebacker.

The US took their first lead of the game on a Tommy Joseph (SF) RBI double in the 4th inning. Another run scored on the poor throw in from the outfield (missed the cutoff).

The US really took it to the World in the 6th inning, as they scored NINE runs to blow the game wide open (against two pitchers). Detroit prospect Nick Castellanos hit a three-run homerun to dead-center.

Everybody played and everybody pitched who made the trip to KC. Matt Barnes (Boston) closed out the 17-5 victory for the US with former UConn teammate Mike Olt (Texas) at first base.

The 2012 MLB All-Star Game events officially begin on Sunday at Kauffman Stadium with the Futures Game. Make sure to tune in at 5pm ET on ESPN2 when the game gets underway or you may miss the three KC Royals representatives.

Jake Odorizzi will be getting the start for the US team under manager George Brett. Wil Myers will be starting behind Odorizzi in right field (while batting third in the order).

Yordano Ventura will be starting for the World team under manager Bernie Williams. So there is the potential that a Royals minor leaguer could both win and lose the game.

Both pitchers are deserving of the starts and it will be kind of neat to watch two pitchers I have seen start over the last two years start in a game like the Futures Game.

Odorizzi is the closest Royals pitching prospect to the big leagues. He started the season with Double-A NW Arkansas, but only lasted through seven starts. He is 5-0 in nine games (eight starts) in Triple-A. Overall, Odorizzi is 9-2 with a 3.05 ERA. In 85.2 innings, he has struck out 92.

Myers is the closest Royals prospect to the Majors. How close? He may not return to Triple-A following his All-Star week (he is also expected to start in the Triple-A ASG in Buffalo on Wednesday night).

Like Odorizzi, Myers began the season with the Naturals. Overall, he is hitting .327 with 20 doubles, five triples, 27 homeruns, 72 runs scored, and 72 RBIs.

Ventura has been toiling in High-A Wilmington all season and has hit a few bumps of late (well two starts in his last five). Overall, he is 3-5 with a 3.30 ERA. In 76.1 innings, he has allowed 66 hits while striking out 98.

*The Legends & Celebrity Softball Game will follow the Futures Game on Sunday night. Here are just a few legends who are slated to play: George Brett, Bo Jackson, Mike Sweeney, Andre Dawson, Joe Carter, Rickey Henderson, and Ozzie Smith.

Some of the celebrities slated to play are Jennie Finch, Carlos Boncanegra, Bill Self (Kansas men’s basketball coach), Matt Cassell (KC Chiefs quarterback), Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family), Jon Hamm, and James Denton (Desperate Housewives).

The 2012 MLB All-Stars were announced this afternoon. With the KC Royals serving as host, there was hope that they could garner more than one all-star (and they had more than one deserving). Fans have a chance to send two Royals (more on that later).

DH Billy Butler was named to the American League reserves and right now is their only honoree. He was one of AL manager Ron Washington’s seven selections (how did the players not pick him?)

Right now, Butler is hitting .297 with 16 homeruns and 48 RBIs. The homeruns and RBIs lead the Royals.

It will be his first All-Star Game and playing at Kauffman Stadium makes it extra special.

Closer Jonathan Broxton is one of five AL players vying for the final spot on the team. Broxton needs the fans vote, as he is going up against Texas’ Yu Darvish (who admitted he is not an all-star), LA’s Ernesto Frieri, Chicago’s Jake Peavy, and Baltimore’s Jason Hammel.

No team hosting the All-Star Game has had a final vote winner. Maybe this is the year. Right now, Broxton has a 2.05 ERA with 20 saves.

Fans have until 4pm ET on Thursday.

*Former Royal Carlos Beltran was voted in as a National League starter in the outfield.

When you talk about potential All-Stars, KC Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar‘s name doesn’t usually come up. Everybody wants to Vote Moose (Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas) to the American League team, but what about Escobar? Outside of having less homeruns and RBIs, he is more deserving.

Escobar has similar offensive numbers to the NY Yankees’ Derek Jeter. Escobar doesn’t have the power (just two homeruns), but he does leads AL shortstops with 19 doubles (along with leading the Royals). He also has speed: 12 stolen bases to being caught just twice.

Escobar is the only Royals hitter with a batting average over .300. His .315 average leads all AL shortstops and sits in the top ten in the AL in hitting.

He has made eight errors in 70 games (317 chances), which is definitely a negative. His other downside is the lack of plate discipline (just nine walks to 43 strikeouts).

Escobar plays on a team that doesn’t have a potent offense and normally bats ninth in the Royals order. That limits the amount of RBI and run scoring chances.

I would like to see the Royals have more than one player representative at Kauffman Stadium for the All-Star Game on July 10th. Right now, I think Escobar is quietly stating a case for himself, but he needs your help. At the last official count, he was 5th in the league in voting with just 880,111 votes, way behind Jeter’s 4-plus million and Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus with 2-plus million (and the AL manager is Rangers manager Ron Washington).

Voting ends TODAY at 11:59pm ET. You can vote up to 25 times online.

So click HERE and go VOTE!

from milb.com

At least the KC Royals will be well represented at the Futures Game as part of the All-Star festivities at Kauffman Stadium this July. The Royals are the only team with three representatives. The Futures Game will be held on Sunday July 8th at 5pm ET on ESPN2.

Right-handed pitcher Jake Odorizzi, a key piece in the Zack Greinke deal, will be a member of the US roster. He began the season with Double-A NW Arkansas, but has been with Triple-A Omaha for his last five starts (six appearances). Overall, Odorizzi is 8-2 with a 2.89 ERA. He has allowed 59 hits over 71.2 innings and has struck out 81. Opponents are hitting just .219 against him.

Outfielder Wil Myers will be joining him on the US roster, with this being his second time. He will surely receive a LARGE ovation when his name is announced (if he is still in the minors at that point). He began the season with NW Arkansas, hit .343 over 35 games, and was promoted to Omaha. In 33 games, he has hit .328 with 11 homeruns and 32 RBIS. Overall, Myers has 24 homeruns, 62 RBIs, and 60 runs scored.

Nearly half of the Top 100 prospects (23) will be in Kansas City. The top four picks in the 2011 draft are on the US roster (Gerrit Cole of Pittsburgh, Danny Hultzen of Seattle, Trevor Bauer of Arizona, and Dylan Bundy of Baltimore). Former Royals great George Brett will be managing the US Team.

» Continue reading “Three Royals Prospects on Futures Game Rosters”