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 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.

It was a good week to be a Kansas City Royal.

The big league Royals went 5-1 last week. They are currently in the midst of a three-game winning streak after sweeping Chicago out of Kauffman Stadium. They continue their stretch of playing playoff contenders, as they begin a three-game road series against Wild Card leading Tampa tonight.

The Royals moved into sole possession of third place in the American League Central, 11 games back.

Omaha clinched their second consecutive American Northern Division title on Saturday night and went 5-2 on the week. Currently, they have the best record in the Pacific Coast League (tied at 77-52). The Storm Chasers continue their long homestand against Nashville tonight.

NW Arkansas was eliminated from postseason competition this week, as they went 1-4. The Naturals are just 17-37 in the second half. They finish up their road trip in Frisco tonight.

Wilmington went 5-2 last week and continue to sit in first place in the Northern Division of the Carolina League (29-26). The Blue Rocks hold a 2.5 game lead over both Frederick and Lynchburg. They begin a BIG road trip tonight, with five in Frederick and three in Lynchburg.

Kane County went 2-4 last week and fell to six games back in the Western Division of the Midwest League (a tie for third place at 28-27). The Cougars continue their road trip in Burlington tonight.

Hitters of the Week

Majors: Alcides Escobar is on FIRE. He went 12-for-25 last week (.480). He scored six runs and stole four bases.

Minors: It is a tie between the left side of the Wilmington infield. Third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert is in the midst of a six-game hitting streak. Last week, he went 11-for-25 (.440) with six runs scored and three RBIs.

Shortstop Orlando Calixte has a hit in five of his last six games, including the game winner on Saturday night. He went 9-for-27 (.333) with two runs scored and four RBIs.

Pitchers of the Week

Majors: Jeremy Guthrie wins this award again, and why not? He carried a no-hitter into the 7th inning on Sunday against the White Sox. In two starts last week (totaling 14.2 innings), he allowed just two unearned runs on six hits and three walks. He struck out 13.

Minors: This is a tie between two pitchers who helped their teams have winning records last week. Ryan Verdugo picked up the victory in Omaha‘s clinching game on Saturday. In two starts last week, he allowed four runs (three earned) on 11 hits and five walks over 13 innings. He struck out 11. Verdugo has won four straight starts.

Brooks Pounders has put together two straight dominant starts, one of which came with a pie in the face. In two starts last week (14 innings), he allowed just one unearned run on seven hits and one walk. He struck out 12.

A day after Jonathan Sanchez could not get out of the 2nd inning, his trade mate from the SF Giants (and fellow left-hander), Ryan Verdugo, lasted just 1.2 innings. The KC Royals yet again lost to the Seattle Mariners, 9-6.

Ryan Verdugo via Minda Haas/Royal Blues

It wasn’t a great Major League debut for Verdugo, was was acquired by the Royals from the Giants for outfielder Melky Cabrera this offseason. I can’t say I was surprised by the performance. After his first callup (in which he did not pitch), Verdugo was moved to the bullpen in Triple-A (except for one start on July 5th). He pitched an inning of relief just two days ago (July 14th) for Omaha.

Anyway, back to his debut.

It started out so well. He recorded the first two outs before allowing a single to Casper Wells. Jesus Montero followed with an RBI double and Justin Smoak followed with a two-run homerun. Verdugo then walked Kyle Seager and gave up a single to Miguel Olivo before escaping the first inning.

Verdugo picked up his first big league strikeout by getting Brendan Ryan on five pitches leading off the 2nd inning. Dustin Ackley and Ichiro followed with back-to-back singles. After striking out Wells, Montero delivered an RBI single. After a coaching visit, Smoak walked to load the bases before Seager drove in two with a double. That ended Verdugo’s debut.

Verdugo threw 55 pitches, 31 for strikes. His final line looks like this: 1.2IP, 8H, 6R, 2BB, 2K.

» Continue reading “Another Day, Another Royals Start of Less Than 2 Innings”

I am hopeful that I will never have to write another title like last night’s (“Royals Sanchez Bombed Again”) after today’s news: the KC Royals designated lefty Jonathan Sanchez for assignment.

Peace Out from Jonathan Sanchez (via Minda Haas, Royal Blues).

That news is great because many couldn’t figure out how he kept his roster spot after each of his starts (just one win, an ERA closer to 8.00, and not reaching six innings in a start). The bad news is that Melky Cabrera is still lighting it up for the SF Giants.

As I mentioned last night in my rant of his poor start, I criticized this trade from the beginning. Sure Sanchez pitched a no-hitter and pitched well in the Giants run to the 2010 World Series, but he was terrible in the postseason and hasn’t done much since.

I doubt that Sanchez will accept an assignment to Triple-A, but maybe someone will take him off the Royals hands. So, say goodbye!

In the last hour, the Royals FINALLY named a starter for tonight’s game: lefty Ryan Verdugo. This is interesting considering he has been pitching out of the bullpen for Triple-A Omaha over the last month. Verdugo is the other piece the Royals received for Melky.

The Royals also sent outfielder Jason Bourgeois to Omaha to bring up right-hander Vin Mazzaro. I’m not sure Mazzaro is the answer to the Royals pitching problems, but if he pitches a few innings tonight, he’ll probably be sent back to the minors anyway.

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.

Omaha and Memphis finished up their series on Tuesday, as both teams scored two runs each in the 3rd and 5th inning, but Omaha got a solo homerun from Jason Bourgeois in the 8th inning for the 5-4 victory.

Bourgeois is finally starting to hit, as he went 3-for-4 to up his average to .202. Tony Abreu went 2-for-4 and Wil Myers hit his 7th homerun in Triple-A (20th overall) off Redbirds prospect Shelby Miller.

Mike Montgomery struggled with his command yet again (103 pitches, 53 strikes) and lasted just 4.2 innings. However, Sean O’Sullivan picked him up with 3.1 shutout innings of relief to pick up the win.

Lefty Ryan Verdugo was promoted to the big leagues to take the place of Will Smith (who was demoted to Omaha). Verdugo is expected to pitch out of the bullpen.

Wilmington beat Carolina 5-2 on the arm of Sugar Ray Marimon. Marimon allowed just three hits (all singles) over seven shutout innings. He walked two while striking out five. All three pitches were working and he had great command. Manager Vance Wilson said after the game that it was his best outing of the year.

Centerfielder Brett Eibner was taken out following the 5th inning. He was 2-for-3 in the game. He cramped up a bit.

After being named to the Midwest League All-Star, pitcher Nick Graffeo was promoted to Wilmington to replace the injured Santiago Garrido. Early diagnosis is that Garrido has a sports hernia and he was really sore today.

Lynchburg lost again in walk-off fashion to Myrtle Beach in ten innings. The Blue Rocks are now just a 1/2 game back.

Omaha tied the game in the top of the 8th inning at 2-2 (three straight two-out doubles), only to give up three runs in the bottom of the 8th inning en route to their 5-2 loss at New Orleans. Luke Montz hit a three-run homerun off Francisley Bueno.

The Storm Chasers had a chance in the top of the 9th inning, as they had two men on base with two outs, but David Lough struck out to end the game.

Ryan Verdugo got the start for Omaha and allowed two runs on five hits and two walks over seven innings. He struck out five.

NW Arkansas scored seven runs over the 5th and 6th innings to defeat Frisco, 9-5. The five-run 6th inning was capped by Carlo Testa‘s bases-clearing triple. Testa fell a single short of the cycle and drove in five runs.

Buddy Baumann picked up the win in relief for the Naturals. He allowed just one hit and a walk over three scoreless innings. He struck out four.

John Whittleman went 2-for-4 and Yuniesky Betancourt, who is still on big league rehab, went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.

A three-run 3rd inning did in the Wilmington Blue Rocks, as they lost the final game of their three-game series in Myrtle Beach, 3-1.

The Blue Rocks had just six hits, with Whit Merrifield and Angel Franco picking up two each.

The Blue Rocks bullpen pitched three scoreless innings of relief behind losing pitcher Yordano Ventura (5IP, 5H, 3R, BB, 3K). Edwin Carl made his Blue Rocks debut with a perfect inning of relief.

Beloit received a great starting performance from Jason Wheeler, en route to their 7-2 win over Kane County. Wheeler allowed two runs on five hits over eight innings (his longest outing of the season). He allowed a two-run homerun to Orlando Calixte in the 4th inning.

The Cougars collected just six hits, with Michael Antonio picking up three of them.

Only two of the KC Royals full season minor league affiliates were in action on Tuesday night. Both NW Arkansas and Kane County enjoyed the day off.

Up 2-0 after the first inning, Omaha couldn’t hold on against Salt Lake, as they lost 6-3. In that inning, Wil Myers hit a two-run homerun, his first in Triple-A. He went 3-for-4 and is hitting .400.

Many questioned why lefty Ryan Verdugo wasn’t promoted to the big leagues instead of Will Smith, as he was already on the 40-man roster and had better numbers. Well Verdugo started tonight for Omaha and was lit up a bit. He allowed five runs on six hits and four walks over 5.2 innings.

In the loss, Max Ramirez went 3-for-3 and Jason Bourgeois collected two hits.

Down 2-1 heading into the bottom of the 8th inning, the Wilmington Blue Rocks scored three runs en route to their 4-2 victory to take a two game lead over Potomac for second place.

In that 8th inning, Roman Hernandez hit a ground-rule double to drive in the first run (he had two hits). Alex McClure followed with a two-run single. Brian Fletcher also had two hits in the win.

Nick Rogers pitched two perfect innings of relief with three strikeouts to pick up the win. Yordano Ventura started and allowed one run on three hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out nine.

Bruce Billings of Sacramento carried a no-hitter into the 7th inning when Tony Abreu led off the inning with a single (he was then picked off). Omaha battled back in the 9th inning, with a wild pitch tying the game at 2-2. However Derek Norris hit a two-run walk-off homerun in the bottom of the 9th inning to send the Rivercats to a 4-2 victory.

Ryan Verdugo started for the Storm Chasers and allowed two runs on five hits and a walk over seven innings. He struck out six. Roman Colon took the loss.

NW Arkansas enjoyed an off-day as they welcome Springfield into town for a four-game set beginning on Thursday. The two teams just met in Springfield last Tuesday through Thursday (the Cardinals won three of four). Ryan Dennick was officially added to the roster, as Tim Melville was placed on the DL. Blaine Hardy was promoted to Triple-A. Catcher Ben Theriot retired.

Jason Adam of the Wilmington Blue Rocks dropped to 1-4 despite giving up just one run (on a solo homerun in the 6th inning), as the Blue Rocks lost another pitcher’s duel. This time they lost to the Lynchburg Hillcats, 1-0.

Click HERE for how the game played out. For more on Cody Martin‘s outing (a no-hitter through six innings), click HERE. Check out the Facebook page for manager Vance Wilson’s postgame comments. Photos and videos of Adam and Martin should be up tomorrow.

Down 2-0 heading into the bottom of the 6th inning, Kane County battled back to defeat Clinton, 5-2. Four of the five runs the Cougars scored were unearned (the LumberKings made three errors).

The Cougars bullpen pitched three shutout innings of relief behind Kellen Moen (6IP, 6H, 2R, 2BB, 3K). Michael Giovenco picked up the win with two scoreless innings while striking out three. Nick Graffeo picked up his seventh save by escaping a two on, one out jam (he got a game-ending double play).

On offense, Lane Adams and Tim Ferguson each collected three hits. Daniel Mateo went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.