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 was my toughest decision among all of the KC Royals end of season awards. It was so hard that I could not chose the Minor League Pitcher of the Year and am leaving the decision up to YOU.

Pitching carried High-A Wilmington into the postseason in 2012 and I had a chance to see all three of the following candidates pitch at least once.

Yordano Ventura is the rail-thin fireballer, who was not only a Carolina League All-Star but also a Futures Game starter. He started the game at Kauffman Stadium for the World. In Wilmington, opponents hit just .229 against him and he struck out 98 in 76.1 innings. He struggled with walks and high pitch counts upon his promotion to Double-A, as he lasted more than 5.2 innings once in six starts there.

Sugar Ray Marimon (screen capped from the WBC game on MLB Network)

Sugar Ray Marimon joined Ventura as a Carolina League All-Star and surprised many with his performance in 2012. He was part of a piggyback combination for much of his time in Wilmington, but still struck out 60 in 68 innings. He also carried a 2.12 ERA to Double-A, where he also struggled. He walked 29 in 66.2 innings and opponents hit .264 against him. Marimon did shine in his one start for Columbia in the World Baseball Classic Qualifier (one run in five innings of work to earn the victory).

Jason Adam spent the entire season in Wilmington and dominated at the beginning and at the end (though he struggled to record victories due to a lack of run support). He was a workhorse, as his 158 innings attest. In his final start (a postseason win), Adam pitched one batter into the 8th inning. In the end, he allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks while striking out four.

There are two surprises to this list. Let’s start with lefty Justin Marks, who finished a successful 2012 season with a solid run in the Arizona Fall League. He was the lone Royal to be named to the AFL All-Prospect Team. His performance this past season also earned him a spot on the Royals 40-man roster.

Marks made 17 starts in Double-A and carried a 3.08 ERA. Despite missing some time due to injury, he was promoted to Triple-A to make one start prior to the postseason (which was disastrous). In the AFL, he was 5-1 with a 2.59 ERA in seven starts. He struck out 22 in 24.1 innings and walked just five. Left-handed hitters hit just .160 against him.

» Continue reading “RBA Minor League Pitcher(s) of the Year”

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).

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.

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”

Omaha made an RBI ground out in the 2nd inning hold up, as they beat Memphis, 3-0. The Storm Chasers tacked on two runs in the bottom of the 8th inning on a Clint Robinson two-run double.

Jake Odorizzi made the start but lasted just five innings due to four walks (95 pitches). He allowed just two hits in his scoreless innings. Doug Davis pitched three shutout inning of relief behind Odorizzi.

On offense, David Lough picked up two of Omaha’s five hits.

NW Arkansas scored five runs in the top of the 10th inning en route to their 10-5 win. Julio Rodriguez drove in two runs with a single and Paulo Orlando followed with a three-run homerun (Rodriguez had three hits and Orlando finished with two hits).

Leading 5-3 heading into the bottom of the 9th inning, Patrick Keating allowed a two-run homerun to Mike Olt (his second of the game) to tie the game and send it to extra innings. Keating rebounded with a 1-2-3 bottom of the 10th inning.

The much-anticipated matchup between Wilmington’s Yordano Ventura and Frederick’s Dylan Bundy was just as advertised. Both had similar lines, but the Blue Rocks handed Bundy his first professional loss, 1-0.

Ventura pitched five shutout innings and allowed three hits and three walks while striking out six. Bundy allowed one run on three hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out seven. “Bundy looked incredible,” said Blue Rocks manager Vance Wilson following the game.

The Blue Rocks scored their lone run on a suicide squeeze by Alex McClure in the bottom of the 5th inning.

The Blue Rocks took the second game of the doubleheader, 2-1 with another solid pitching performance. Greg Billo followed up his Carolina League Pitcher of the Week performance with five innings. He allowed one run on four hits and a walk while striking out six.

Nick Rogers picked up his seventh save of the save with two 1-hit innings of relief.

Frederick had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the 4th inning, only to see the Blue Rocks score two runs in the bottom of the inning. Cheslor Cuthbert, who hadn’t played since May 29th, went 2-for-3. Geulin Beltre also went 2-for-3.

Kane County was pummeled 15-3 by Peoria. The Cougars runs were scored in the final two innings.

Jorge Bonifacio went 2-for-3 in the loss. The Cougars used five pitchers, including yesterday’s starter Angel Baez, who was ejected in the 9th inning (though I think someone typed in the wrong reliever). Michael Giovenco pitched two hitless innings of relief while striking out three.

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.

Guillermo Quiroz hit a two-out solo homerun in the top of the 7th inning to lead Tacoma over Omaha, 3-2.

Will Smith was the hard-luck loser, as he allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits and a walk over 7.2 innings.

Wil Myers made his Triple-A debut in centerfield. He went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Tony Abreu and Anthony Seratelli each had two hits.

Tomorrow’s starter for Omaha is listed as TBA, but it would make sense for newly promoted Jake Odorizzi to make that start. He last pitched last Friday in a win for NW Arkansas.

NW Arkansas won the pitcher’s duel over Tulsa, 2-1. Noel Arguelles picked up his second win of the season, as he allowed one run on seven hits over six innings. Ethan Hollingsworth pitched the final three innings to pick up his first save.

Both teams collected ten hits and the Naturals were 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position (Tulsa was just 1-for-7). Yem Prades, Sharlon Schoop, and Julio Rodriguez each collected two hits.

With the four-game series sweep over the Drillers, the Naturals are now just one game back of first place (they have won five in a row).

In a rarity, Wilmington won a pitcher’s duel. They won tonight over first place Lynchburg, 2-1. Yordano Ventura picked up the victory, as he allowed one run on two hits and two walks over six innings. He struck out seven. The lone run came via Robby Hefflinger‘s solo homerun.

JR Graham allowed just one hit and an unearned run for the Hillcats over six innings while striking out six. The Blue Rocks bullpen of Leondy Perez and Chase Boruff pitched two shutout inning of relief to close out the game.

For the second straight game, manager Vance Wilson was ejected.

Kane County led 5-4 headed into the bottom of the 9th inning, but Cedar Rapids scored one run in that inning and two more in the 10th inning to win 7-5. Chevy Clarke hit a solo homerun to tie the game and Andy Workman hit a two-run walk-off shot.

Michael Antonio and Murray Watts each hit homeruns in the loss. Tim Ferguson, Daniel Mateo, and Lane Adams each had two hits.

Jason Mitchell pitched four innings of relief. He allowed an unearned run on one hit and a walk while striking out three.

The loss ended the Cougars four-game winning streak.

With a 7-5 lead in the 9th inning, Roman Colon allowed a game-tying two-run homerun to Justin Ruggiano. His Omaha teammates came back with a three-run bottom of the 9th inning to give him the 10-7 victory.

Cody Clark hit a walk-off three-run homerun with two outs. Omaha had just nine hits with Johnny Giavotella, Clint Robinson, and David Lough collecting two each. Gio scored three runs. Robinson scored three runs, drove in two, and walked three times. Lough had two RBIs.

Down 3-1 heading into the bottom of the 6th inning, NW Arkansas put up a three-spot en route to their 4-3 victory over Tulsa. Those three runs came on a Mario Lisson homerun.

That blast made a winner of Noel Arguelles, who allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks over 6.1 innings. Elisaul Pimentel followed up with two one-hit innings of relief.

On offense, Wil Myers went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. He hit his ninth homerun of the season. Christian Colon also went 2-for-4.

Wilmington lost yet another pitcher’s duel, this time in Potomac, 3-1. Yordano Ventura took the loss, as he allowed two runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out six.

The Blue Rocks could do nothing against the Nationals bullpen. Over the final 2.2 innings, Nationals’ pitchers racked up six strikeouts.

The Blue Rocks’ lone run came via Cheslor Cuthbert‘s first homerun of the season (he went 2-for-4). Whit Merrifield and Roman Hernandez both went 2-for-4.

Just 297 fans showed up to watch Beloit beat Kane County, 5-3. All of the Cougars’ runs came over the final two innings.

Aaron Brooks took the loss, as he allowed two runs (two solo homeruns) on five hits over six innings. He struck out nine.