The KC Royals announced a few minor league signings late this week. One of which was a returnee.

Catcher Manny Pina, who was outrighted to Triple-A Omaha and elected free agency, decided to re-sign with the Royals. This past season after recovering from a knee injury, he hit .260 in 43 games with Double-A NW Arkansas. He was called up in September to the big leagues, but only got into one game.

The other two signings were newbies to the organization.

Ian Gac

First baseman Ian Gac has been playing professional baseball for ten years, but has yet to reach the big leagues. I had a chance to see him play for High-A Winston-Salem in 2011 (Chicago White Sox), when he was the Carolina League Player of the Year. He hit .279 with 33 homeruns and 96 RBIs.

Gac struggled with a new organization in 2012, as he hit just .247 with seven homeruns and 35 RBIs in 75 games with Double-A Mississippi (Atlanta). I expect Gac will repeat Double-A in 2013. His signing does hurt the re-signing of Matt Fields, as the Royals now have at least three first baseman for two higher level minor league spots.

The other signing was of left fielder Luis Durango, who has some big league time. He was with Triple-A Gwinnett in 2012 (Atlanta) and hit 289 in 132 games. He led the International League in stolen bases with 46.

Durango is expected to participate in the World Baseball Classic Qualifiers for Panama (where he played in 2009). He is currently playing in the Venezuelan Winter League for Caribes (.324 with five stolen bases in 21 games).

Three more KC Royals players have begun playing winter league baseball in Latin America.

Tony Abreu with Omaha via Minda Haas (Royal Blues).

Infielder Tony Abreu has played all three games at second base for Aguilas Cibaenas in the Dominican Winter League. Last week, he went 5-for-12 (.417) with a walk, a run scored, and an RBI. He did strike out three times.

The other two players are both catchers. Julio Rodriguez is playing for Gigantes del Cibao in the DWL. In one game, he has gotten just one at-bat (he struck out). Manny Pina is playing in the Venezuelan Winter League for Bravos de Margarita. He also only played in one game and went 0-for-2.

Pina’s teammates with Margarita are fellow catcher Max Ramirez and pitcher Blaine Hardy. Ramirez played in ten games, two at first base and one behind the plate. He went 6-for-15 (.400) with a double. Ramirez scored two runs, walked twice, and struck out once. Hardy pitched in four games and had a rough week. He blew two saves and allowed seven runs (four earned) over just 2.1 innings. Hardy allowed six hits and five walks while striking out just two.

Mario Lisson is playing in the VWL for Navegantes del Magallanes. He played in three games last week, all in the outfield. He went 3-for-10 with a double, two runs scored, four RBIs, a walk, and a sac fly. He struck out twice.

Juan Gutierrez pitched in three games in his second week in the VWL with Leones del Caracas. In three innings, he allowed three hits and a run (unearned), along with three walks. He struck out two while picking up two saves.

In Mexico, Anthony Seratelli continues to hit for Venados de Mazatlan. In nine games, all in the outfield, he went 11-for-36 (.305) with three doubles, seven walks, and a homerun. He scored six runs and drove in six. He did strike out nine times and stole a base.

Federico Castaneda is pitching for Tomateros de Culiacan. In four games totaling 2.2 innings, he allowed a single run via the long ball. He allowed two hits while striking out three. He picked up two holds.

*Jorge Bonifacio (DWL), Anontio Cruz (DWL), and Brandon Sisk (VWL) did not appear in a game last week.

In a freak accident within the first few days of spring training, KC Royals catcher Manny Pina caught his spike while catching during batting practice and tore his meniscus in his right knee. He will be leaving this weekend for Kansas City to have surgery. Pina is expected to miss at least four weeks.

Brayan Pena

Pina’s injury leaves Brayan Pena as the backup catcher to start the 2012 season. There was supposed to be some competition between the veteran Pena and Pina.

Pina played in just four games in the big leagues in 2011 for the Royals. He went 3-for-14 and two of those hits were doubles. He scored two runs and also walked once. He hit a combined .239 at two minor league levels in 2011 (in Double-A and Triple-A). Pina gets on base, as he walked 36 times compared to 40 strikeouts in 218 at-bats (.365 OBP).

Pena spent all of  2011 in the big leagues, splitting time with veteran Matt Treanor and then rookie Salvador Perez. He blocked the plate well and saved some runs, especially early in the season when the Royals were playing well.

Overall, Pena hit .248 with 11 doubles and 24 RBIs in 222 at-bats. When he received regular at-bats, he hit. In June and July (96 at-bats), he hit .302.

Once Perez made his debut, Pena didn’t get into many games (just 64 at-bats in the final two months). So the Royals already transitioned him into back up duty.

It would have been nice to see some competition in terms of who is going to back up Perez. Now that the Royals are down to five catchers in camp, manager Ned Yost hinted that they will have to bring some catchers up from minor league camp.

Maybe one of those non-roster invitees (Max Ramirez, Cody Clark, and Julio Rodriguez) can sneak in and win the backup role?

Maybe…but I’m sure Yost wants to go with a veteran guy who knows the pitching staff. And that would be Pena.

*Well, whoever wins the backup job, he will be the backup. The starter is definitely Salvador Perez and he has impressed his teammates so far this spring.

Before I get to what the KC Royals players have been doing while participating in winter ball in the Caribbean, there are a few stories coming out of the winter leagues.

Colorado Rockies utility player Eric Young, Jr (better known as EY, Jr) was released by Margarita in the Venezuelan Winter League. The team says that it was due to tardiness, but he said in a statement that

a problem with travel arrangements for a family member led to his arriving in the fifth inning of a game on Thanksgiving Day. Young also stated that the incident was his only attendance issue and added that the team failed to address his safety and security concerns for his family member.

His manager with Margarita is current Arizona Diamondbacks coach Don Baylor (who coached his dad in Colorado), who was relieved of his duties in Venezuela on Monday.

Chris Marrero, who was expected to push veteran Adam LaRoche and Michael Morse as the Washington Nationals starting first baseman in 2012, suffered a torn hamstring in winter ball about two weeks ago. He returned to the States and had surgery and believes he’ll just miss some time during spring training. The Nationals, however, are saying he will miss all of 2012 and are thus looking at other first baseman (aka Prince Fielder).

Wilson Ramos of the Nationals is back playing for Aragua in Venezuela after his kidnapping.

There is an article you should check out by Evan Drellich on MLB.com about the mix of veterans and prospects throughout winter ball. One of those veterans is Dmitri Young, who is attempting a comeback at age 38 after losing around 60 pounds and managing his diabetes.

Now onto the Royals in winter ball update.

Apparently, Panama also has a winter ball league (it’s a league that MLB doesn’t cover on their winter leagues site). After being home to baseball’s World Cup a few months ago, the island country is also home to winter ball. They’ve gotten a lot of rain (like they did during the World Cup), but there are quite a few players playing there. Buck Britton of the Baltimore Orioles, Andrew Lambo of the Pittsburgh Pirates, and Steven Lerud are there (had to mention them since I saw them play over the last two seasons).

The Royals have four players participating in winter ball in Panama. First up is Edul Escobar, who caught for Idaho Falls this past season (.287 average). This past week, he went 1-for-9. Paulo Orlando, who was a member of the Panama team in the World Cup, had a good week. He went 6-for-17 with six RBIs and two runs scored. He also hit two triples. Outfielder Julio Aparicio played with Kane County this past season (.169 average). Last week, he was 0-for-4 in two games.

The final player in Panama is Ryan Dennick, who was a reliever with the Wilmington Blue Rocks this season. His first outing of the week came on November 22nd, as he allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits over five innings. He walked one while striking out three. His next outing came on November 27th, as he allowed five runs (two earned) on four hits and four walks over just 2.2 innings.

» Continue reading “Royals Winter League Update”

The KC Royals lost another player from winter ball this past week, as outfielder David Lough returned home. No injury to report, just that it was time to come home and gear up for the 2012 season.

In this week’s update on the Royals playing winter league baseball, let’s start in the Dominican Republic. Aguilas and Toros are tied at 17-11, with Licey 1.5 games back at 15-12. They are followed by Escogido (13-15), Gigantes (11-17), and Estrellas (10-17).

In the first game of the week (November 15th), Licey took their game over Toros, 10-9. Licey collected just six hits (and made four errors). Yamaico Navarro played shortstop and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. He also committed an error. Gigantes beat Escogido, 4-1. Brayan Pena caught for Escogido and went 0-for-2 with a walk and an RBI (a sac fly) in the loss. Kelvin Herrera pitched two shutout innings for Escogido. He allowed three hits while striking out three. Aguilas shutout Estrellas, 4-0. Joaquin Arias went 2-for-4 with a walk, two RBIs, and a run scored while playing shortstop.

The next day, Escogido beat Aguilas, 3-2. Pena went 1-for-4 with a solo homerun in the 4th inning (he followed up Brandon Belt’s solo homerun with one of his own). Pena got the chance to catch fellow Royal Everett Teaford, who allowed one run on four hits over six innings. He walked one while striking out six. Arias went 1-for-3 with a walk in the loss. Licey lost to Estrellas, 1-0. Navarro went 2-for-3 with a walk (he collected two of the team’s four hits). Manauris Baez started for Estrellas and pitched six shutout innings. He allowed three hits and three walks while striking out seven.

On November 18th, Aguilas beat Escogido, 3-2 in ten innings. Arias went 3-for-5 with two RBIs in the win. He also had a stolen base off Pena. Pena went 1-for-4 in the loss. Herrera pitched 1.1 innings and allowed an unearned run on two hits.

The next day, Gigantes beat Escogido, 9-1. Kevin Pucetas started and picked up the win, as he allowed one run on three hits over six innings. He walked one while striking out seven. Pena went 0-for-4 as Escogido’s DH. Aguilas beat Estrellas, 7-1. Arias went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Toros beat Licey, 3-2. Navarro went 0-for-4 in the loss (he moved up in the order to sixth).

On Sunday, Aguilas beat Licey, 6-5 after scoring four runs in the bottom of the 7th inning. Arias doubled in two runs in that inning to give Aguilas the lead (and the eventual win). He went 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Mario Santiago started for Licey and allowed two runs on two hits and two walks over five innings while striking out four. Navarro went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the loss. Toros beat Escogido, 3-2. Pena hit his second homerun of the week, a solo shot in the 4th inning. He went 2-for-4 in the loss as the DH.

» Continue reading “Royals Winter League Update”

There was a bit of a black eye that reigned down on the Venezuelan Winter League. Washington Nationals rookie catcher Wilson Ramos was kidnapped from his home. Thankfully he was rescued and is okay. Controversy ensued, as many debated whether or not MLB should allow players to participate in winter ball. I believe Ramos would have been kidnapped regardless of whether or not he was playing winter ball. He was at home. Anyway, two of the KC Royals American players left Venezuela prior to the kidnapping, Jarrod Dyson and Lorenzo Cain. Dyson was injured after running into a wall, while Cain didn’t make it through two weeks there because he was tired.

Manny Pina is the lone Royal participating in the VWL. He and Margarita are currently 12-18, 6.5 games out of first place. Pina does not play everyday (veteran Henry Blanco gets the majority of the starts behind the plate). Pina started on November 8th and went 1-for-3 in their loss to Aragua. He got another start on November 12th and went 0-for-2 with a walk. He had another passed ball (his fourth), but he did pick off Joe Thurston at first base.

In the Puerto Rican League, Caguas is tied for second place with Carolina at 4-4, while Mayaguez is in last place at 3-4. Irving Falu is a member of Mayaguez, while Rey Navarro is playing for Caguas. On November 8th, the two faced off against each other. Falu went  1-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base, and two runs scored as he batted leadoff and played second base. Navarro batted ninth and played third base while he went 0-for-3 in the loss. They faced off again the next day (there are only four teams in the league), but only Falu played. He went 0-for-4 with a walk.

The two didn’t play again until November 12th. Navarro pinch-hit in the 8th inning and popped out. He stayed in the game to play shortstop in Caguas’ loss. Falu went 1-for-5 in Mayaguez’ win. Navarro hit his first winter ball homerun on the 13th, a solo shot in the 3rd inning. Overall, he went 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI, and two runs scored in the loss. On that same day, Falu went 0-for-4 in his team’s loss.

» Continue reading “Royals Winter League Update”

The Puerto Rican League got underway on November 4th (the Australian Baseball League began on November 3rd, though I don’t think there are any KC Royals players there). Irving Falu and Rey Navarro are playing in Puerto Rico. Falu is a member of Indios de Mayaguez, who are 1-2. Rumor has it that veteran Roger Clemens has accompanied his son Koby, who is a member of Mayaguez (word is he may try and pitch). I had the chance to watch Navarro play some this season with Wilmington (he was named the Blue Rocks Player of the Year). He is a member of Criollos de Caguas, who are 2-1 and tied for first place.

Caguas lost their opener 7-6 to Carolina in ten innings. Navarro batted ninth and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored while playing third base. Mayaguez also lost their opener, 4-1 despite collecting ten hits. Falu batted second and played second base while going 1-for-4 with a run scored.

Caguas beat Ponce on November 5th, 2-0, as both teams collected three hits. Navarro went 0-for-3 in the win. Mayaguez also picked up their first win, a 7-2 victory over Carolina. Falu went 0-for-4 in the win.

On November 6th, Falu went 2-for-5 with a run scored in Mayaguez’ 6-4 loss to Carolina. He also committed an error, which allowed two runs to score in the 6th inning.

» Continue reading “Royals Winter Ball Update”

When I wrote my last KC Royals Winter League update, I wondered if outfielder Jarrod Dyson was hurt. He wasn’t playing much and after not getting many at-bats in the big leagues before being sent back to the minors, I thought winter ball would be good for him. Turns out, he crashed into a wall while playing in the Venezuelan Winter League for Leones del Caracas and has been shut down. He returned to KC and tests revealed he has a contusion and slight strain of his right shoulder. Dyson is going to be okay but it will take a few weeks to heal.

First, let me update you on the Venezuelan Winter League. Magallanes continues to stay in first place with an 11-4 record, 1.5 games ahead of both La Guaira and Caribes (10-6). Margarita sits in last place with a 5-12 record.

Not sure if Lorenzo Cain and Mario Lisson went home, but neither played this week for Magallanes. Zeke Carrera of the Cleveland Indians is Magallanes’ new centerfielder. William Avinazar did not pitch this week for La Guaira.

The only Royal to play this week was catcher Manny Pina. He came into Margarita’s game late for defense on October 25h, as it has been hard to get playing time behind veteran Henry Blanco. He did however pick Gorkys Hernandez (Pittsburgh Pirates) off second base. He again came on late in the game on October 26th, but did get an at-bat (he struck out) in their 10-3 loss. Pina started in his only game of the week on October 28th, as he went 1-for-4 with a run scored in Margarita’s 5-4 win in extra innings. He came in late in his final game of the week on October 29th, as he walked in his only plate appearance.

» Continue reading “Royals Winter League Update”

The second week of winter ball is complete and quite a few KC Royals players (both majors and minors) are getting some extra work in warm climates.

Let’s start in the Dominican League. Currently, the Royals have ten players participating in the DWL. Aguilas Cibaenas is 5-3 overall (tied for second place) and two games behind Leones del Escogido (7-1). Estrellas de Oriente and Tigres del Licey are both 3-5, while Gigantes del Cibao is in last place at 1-7.

At the start of the week, Escogido beat the Gigantes 5-3. Kelvin Herrera picked up a hold, as he walked one over his one inning of work while striking out two. Aguilas beat Estrellas 3-1 as David Lough batted leadoff for Aguilas (in left field) and Joaquin Arias followed him in the order (at shortstop). Both went 0-for-4.

On Wednesday October 19th, Escogido beat Aguilas 13-3. Elisaul Pimentel made his DWL debut for Escogido, as he threw just a third of an inning while inducing a ground out. In the loss for Aguilas, Lough went 1-for-4 while Arias went 0-for-3. Willy Lebron started for Licey and took the loss (his second), despite pitching well. He allowed one run on five hits over 4.1 innings. He walked three while striking out three, as Licey lost to Estrellas 6-2.

Kevin Pucetas made his first DWL start and earned the win, as he allowed an unearned run on four hits over five innings. The Gigantes earned the win over Toros 6-5 though it got dicey after Pucetas’ exit. Brandon Sisk entered first and allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits and a walk over just 2/3 of an inning.

After the Thursday day off, the DWL was back in action on Friday. The Aguilas lost again, this time to Escogido, 5-3. Lough went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored (though he was caught stealing) and Arias went 1-for-4 with a run scored. Estrellas beat Licey 8-1, as Manauris Baez started and pitched three shutout innings. He gave up two hits and two walks while striking out one.

On Saturday, Everett Teaford got his first DWL start for Escogido and he allowed one run on three hits over four innings while striking out four. The lone run came on Carlos Peguero’s (Seattle Mariners) solo homer. Escogido won 6-2 as Herrera picked up the save (1.1IP, 0H, 0BB, 2K). He came in with two men on base in the 8th inning and shut it down. Aguilas blew out Estrellas 14-2. Lough dropped to the two-hole in the order and went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored.

On Sunday, Licey beat Aguilas 11-6 with a six-run top of the 7th inning. In the loss, Lough returned to the leadoff spot and went 1-for-5 with a triple, an RBI, and a run scored. Arias again batted behind him and went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

» Continue reading “Royals Winter League Update”

What we learned from Wednesday night’s 6-2 KC Royals victory over the visiting Baltimore Orioles:

*Billy Butler has found his power. He hit five homeruns over the last week, earning him American League Player of the Week honors. With the Royals clinging to a 3-2 lead in the 7th inning, Butler hit a three-run homerun off Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie to give the Royals a 6-2 lead.

*Luke Hochevar can pitch like an ace. In his second straight start, he was dominant. In last night’s start, Hochevar limited the Orioles to two runs (one earned due to his pickoff error) on just four hits and one walk over 7.1 innings. He struck out seven. This is how the Royals envisioned him pitching when they chose him number one in the 2006 MLB draft. Let’s hope he can keep it going.

*Eric Hosmer earned July AL Rookie of the Month honors. He will even receive a specially designed trophy. In last night’s game, Hosmer went 0-for-2 but did work two walks. Here’s some of Hosmer’s stats over the month of July via the Royals’ press release:

     Hosmer led A.L. rookies with 34 hits and 12 doubles in 27 games during the month of July.  The 21-year-old also added five home runs, 19 RBI, 12 runs scored and three stolen bases with a .523 slugging percentage and a .358 on-base percentage.  Hosmer, who was the third overall selection in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, recorded a career-best 11-game hitting streak from July 19^th-30^th, batting .426 (20-for-47) during the streak with a home run, five doubles, eight RBI and seven runs scored.  The left-handed-hitting slugger posted 10 multi-hit contests during the month, including a four-hit contest on July 3^rd at Colorado in which Hosmer tied a career-best with four RBI.

*Catcher Manny Pina excelled in first game: Pina was recalled to replace the injured Matt Treanor and made his first start for the Royals last night. He went 2-for-4 with a run scored, picking up his first big league hit against Guthrie in the 7th inning and he scored on Butler’s homerun.