However, fans are starting to become very aware of him, as he has steadily built a reputation for pinpoint control and versatility.

Sotillet began his pro career in 2016 with the DSL Royals, finishing second in innings pitched (65), first in fewest walks allowed among starters (a minuscule eight), and second in strikeouts (41). Over 13 starts, he recorded a 7-2 record with a 1.52 ERA as a 19-year old. The next season was disastrous, as he finished the year with a 6.67 ERA over 13 appearances (12 starts), split among all three stateside rookie-level Royals affiliates. Of note was his walk rate and K/BB ratio (2.1/9 IP and 3.23, respectively), a continuing sign of things to come.

Sotillet turned 21 in March, just a few weeks before he made his Class-A debut. April went very well for him, as he struck out 21 in 19 innings while walking only four, posting a 3.32 ERA. May was even better, as he recorded a 2.70 ERA over 30 innings (5 appearances, 4 starts), and walked only two batters while sending 27 down on strikes. Of some concern was his OPS against (.779), which was 137 points higher than April. Still, he showed an ability to limit damage with runners on (.257 BAA overall, .619 OPS).

June was an aberration, in terms of his previous results this year; a disastrous start at home vs. the Charleston RiverDogs severely inflated his numbers for the month (4 2/3 IP, 9 R, 8 ER, 11 H, 1 BB, 2 K). Take away that outlier, and his ERA for the month is 3.98, much closer to his norm.

While the Asheville Tourists touched him up for five runs on seven hits in four innings on July 2^nd, Sotillet made a statement in his next start when he went the full nine vs. Greensboro at Lexington (7 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K). Despite the base hits, he was never once rattled; when Manager Scott Thorman approached the mound to speak with him in the 9^th inning as the bullpen was ready to take over, Sotillet spoke with him for about five seconds before he repeatedly shook his head “no”, as his infielders simply smiled. The game was over, only moments later.

Sotillet threw 113 pitches, that night, 79 for strikes (23 looking, 15 swinging), and gave up only one XBH as he faced 32 batters. It was only his second career complete game in 38 starts, the first since 2016.

As a starter, Sotillet generally sits around 92-93 with his fastball, spotting and commanding it well, and he compliments it with a mid-high 70s curve with 11-5 break and a change-up at 82-84. Sotillet generally commands all three pitches well, and when he’s on top of his game he carves up the strike zone, attacking hitters and keeping his defense in the game.

As a reliever, Sotillet’s fastball ramps up to 95-96 and the curve touches 82 with sharp break. He does get up in the zone with the curve, sometimes, but it seems to happen more often when he’s front-dooring it to a right-hander (as far as what I’ve seen, myself). I’d like to see the change refined a bit, with perhaps a bit more tail and/or sink; such a change would make Sotillet a lock to remain in the rotation as he climbs the ladder.

Sotillet’s mechanics are simple and he repeats his motion easily. He drives to the plate and squares up to it in his follow-through, but he also spins off toward first pretty often. This doesn’t seem to cost him in terms of control, however. He maintains a three-quarter arm slot that sometimes gets slightly low, but he seems to remain on top of the ball consistently. Sotillet has great ratios, so far (8.46 K/9, 1.31 BB/9, 6.46 K/BB ratio), and though his BAA is at .294, this is largely due to a .369 BABIP, and I would assume it is unlikely to remain so high.

I asked Sotillet about what he’s been focusing on, and what he’d like to improve. “Well, I’ve been working on lowering my chest more in order to finish with better angles/command on my throws,” he said.

He’s a ground-ball pitcher, for sure (52.4 percent, 1.96 GB/FB ratio), and has given up only 6 homers in his 16 appearances. One could make an argument that he’s around the heart of the zone too often (107 H in 89 1/3 IP, 69.8 percent strike pct.), but he makes it work.

Sotillet has the profile of a back-end starter, and if he’s moved to the pen, he’s a multi-inning option with mid-90s velo and three solid pitches. His star is on the rise, but his future role (starter or reliever) will likely determine his advancement up the ladder as much as anything else. As I finish this article, Sotillet is finishing his first day at High-A Wilmington (how dare he leave before I finish writing this!), due in part to the arrival of LHP Daniel Lynch and RHP Jackson Kowar. However, he said that he thoroughly enjoyed playing in Lexington. “I thought (Lexington) was very nice. I liked it a lot,” he related to me.

The list of prospects in Lexington just keeps on growing.

BPKC Hitter of the Day Emmanuel Rivers 4-6 2R, 2-2b, 3 RBI

BPKC Pitcher of the Day Andres Sotillet 9 IP 7 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 10 K 7-6 GO-FO 113p/79k

The Royals signed a pair of international prospects in OF Jaswel De Los Santos and Japanese 16 year old pitcher Kaito Yuki.

Lexington Legends 5 Greensboro Grasshoppers 0

The Legends received one of their best pitching performance of the season on Saturday night as right-hander Andres Sotillet dominated the Greensboro lineup for a complete game shutout. Setting a new career high in strikeouts the Venezuelan born 21-year old put away 10 hitters via strikeout while allowing just seven hits on 113 pitches (79 strikes) during the outing. The offense was led by Sotillet’s batterymate, MJ Melendez as the catcher drove in four of the team’s five runs with a solo home run in the second, a two-run double in the second and a rbi groundout in the seventh.

MJ Melendez 2-4 HR, 2b, 4 RBI
Brewer Hicklen 2-3 2R, HR, RBI, BB, 2 SB
Cal Jones 2-3 R

Wilmington Blue Rocks 9 Lynchburg Hillcats 7 F/13

The Rocks welcomed Emmanuel Rivera back in the lineup with the third baseman helping lead the way to an extra-inning win. The third baseman connected on four hits including a pair of doubles while driving in three and scoring two himself. The two teams were tied after nine innings where they exchanged runs through 12 innings before D.J. Burt’s twelfth inning singled scored two and reliever Tyler Zuber closed out the inning to earn the save.

Gabe Cancel 1-5 3R, BB
Rudy Martin 1-5 3K
Jace Vines 6 IP 7 H 2 R 2 ER BB 3 K 7-3 GO-FO 84p/57k

Corpus Christi Hooks 4 NW Arkansas Naturals 0

Starter Scott Blewett got off to a slow start, giving up three consecutive hits to start the game including a two-run double. After recording one out Blewett walked the bases loaded before giving up a two-out single to put the Naturals down 4-0. From there Blewett would give up just one hit over his final four innings of work while the NW Arkansas offense mustered just six singles in a shutout loss.

Khalil Lee 1-4
Grant Gavin 2 IP 0 H 0 R 0 ER 2 BB 1 K 2-1 GO-FO 33p/17k
Scott Blewett 5 IP 5 H 4 R 4 ER 2 BB 4 K 5-2 GO-FO 82p/55k

Memphis Redbirds 3 Omaha Storm Chasers 2

The two teams exchanged multiple run innings but Memphis did a tad more in this win. Three consecutive hits to start the second inning off Jake Kalish led to three runs in that inning with Oscar Mercado’s double and a one-out single by Alex Mejia accounted for all three Memphis runs. The Chasers countered with a pair of runs in the fifth on a rbi single by Donnie Dewees and Billy Burns but had just one hit over the final four innings to drop the game.

Nicky Lopez 1-4
Donnie Dewees 1-3 RBI
Jake Kalish 7 IP 9 H 3 R 3 ER 0 BB 5 K 4-4 GO-FO 95p/71k

Burlington Royals 2 Greeneville Reds 1

The Royals got a late home run from Jackson Lueck to snap their losing streak after receiving some quality pitching. Starter Malcolm Van Buren who came in with seven runs allowed in two and two-thirds innings tossed five one-run innings. The hard-throwing right-hander struckout five hitters in that time while allowing five hits and one walk. The two teams exchanged runs in the fifth inning before Lueck’s eighth-inning home run gave Burlington the eventual lead and the win.

Jackson Lueck 1-4 HR, 3K
Jose Marquez 2-3 2b
Malcolm Van Buren 5 IP 5 H 1 R 1 ER 1 BB 5 K 4-4 GO-FO 72p/46k

Idaho Falls Chukars 11 Orem Owlz 8

For the second night in a row, the Chukars broke out the big bats in Orem. A pair of two-run home runs by Reed Rohlman and Nick Hutchins helped lead the way as the combined nine hits, four walks with three Orem errors to help put up three runs in the second and six more in the fifth as they built a 9-1 lead. Second-round pick Jonathan Bowlan did plenty with that lead, tossing five innings with just one run allowed on two hits and two walks while striking out six on just 61 pitches. The Hutchins home run in the seventh pushed the advantage to 11-1. The relief corp of Nathan Webb and Christopher Marte struggled, giving up seven runs in two and two-thirds innings before Jaret Hellinger closed out the game.

Jonathan Bowlan 5 IP 2 H 1 R 1 ER 2 BB 6 K 6-3 GO-FO 61p/41k
Reed Rohlman 2-5 2R, HR, 2 RBI
Nick Hutchins 2-4 3R, 2b, HR, 2 RBI

Saturday Boxscores

Sunday Probables
Omaha – Glenn Sparkman 7-3 3.96 ERA 1.27 WHIP
NW Arkansas – Foster Griffin 3-10 6.00 ERA 1.58 WHIP
Wilmington – Ofreidy Gomez 2-7 4.06 ERA 1.55 WHIP
Lexington – Yefri Del Rosario 0-4 6.95 ERA 1.68 WHIP
Burlington – Austin Cox 0-1 0.00 ERA 0.90 WHIP
Idaho Falls – Jon Heasley 0-0 4.66 ERA 1.86 WHIP
Surprise – Adrian Alcantara 1-0 5.68 ERA 1.89 WHIP

BPKC Hitter of the Day Elier Hernandez 3-4 2R, 2-2b, RBI, OF Assist

BPKC Pitcher(s) of the Day Andres Sotillet, Dan Tillo, Zach Lovvorn and Jon Dziedzic
25 IP 13 H 1 R 0 ER 4 BB 25 K 32 GO-6 FO

Lexington Legends 3 Asheville Tourists 0

A pair of Legends pitchers combined to shutout Asheville to even up their series at 1-1. Starter Andres Sotillet put together his third quality start in four chances, shutting out the Rockies farm club for six innings. A three-run fourth inning by Lexington saw the club get three of their six hits in the frame with Nick Pratto singling with one out prior to scoring on a Dennicher Carrasco double. An additional two runs were scored on a Sebastian Rivero single and a squeeze bunt by Marten Gasparini. That run support would be all the offense could give but also all that Sotillet and Holden Capps would need as the pair yielded just one free pass and worked around eight hits in the shutout win.

Seuly Matias 1-3 R, HBP
Nick Pratto 1-4 R, 2K
Andres Sotillet 6 IP 6 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 7 K 93p/62k 4-1 GO-FO

Wilmington Blue Rocks 6 Salem Red Sox 1

The Rocks did a little bit of everything in a comfortable win on Saturday against the Red Sox High-A club. Starter Daniel Tillo worked an outstanding six innings in his second start for the Rocks, moving through the first five innings without a hit allowed. The lefty wandered around the zone some, plunking three hitters and walking one in that time but his seven strikeouts allowed him to navigate any problems as he got through six with just two hits allowed. Wilmington’s offense matched his effort with a three-run second, getting a pair on a fielding error and another on a Khalil Lee rbi single. Two innings later Lee was driven in by Gabe Cancel on a rbi single to expand the lead to 4-0. Outfielder Kort Peterson would put up a couple of highlights late in the game, hitting a two-run home run in the sixth and stomping out a Salem rally in the eighth by tossing out Carlos Tovar from right field as he tried to advance to third base on a hit. After dropping the first six games these two played Wilmington has now won two in a row and will search for a series win in Sunday’s effort.

Khalil Lee 1-3 R, RBI, 2BB
Meibrys Viloria 2-3 R, BB
D.J. Burt 3-5 R, 2b, 2 SB (12)

NW Arkansas Naturals 6 Midland RockHounds 1

The Naturals countered Midland’s 19 hit effort from Friday night with outstanding pitching and big nights from a couple hitters in the middle of their lineup on Saturday. Starter Zach Lovvorn worked seven innings of one-run ball (0 ER) by turning to the worm burner as the righty helped create 13 groundouts while on the hill. Those groundouts limited Midland to just five hits and a pair of walks while he tossed in five strikeouts as a complement to his night. It was Elier Hernandez and Anderson Miller who helped back Lovvorn as the two corner outfielders combined for seven hits and three rbi. The 4 for 4 effort helped raise Miller’s average to .257 after a cold start to his season. For Hernandez, it was his third three-hit effort in his last four games played while the two doubles give him five extra-base hits in that time period. Reliever Franco Terrero worked the final two innings to push his scoreless streak to 8.1 innings.

Donnie Dewees 2-4 R
Anderson Miller 4-4 2b, 2 RBI
Zach Lovvorn 7 IP 3 H 1 R 0 ER 2 BB 5 K 13-1 GO-FO 97p/64k

Omaha Storm Chasers 2 Round Rock Express 1

Just like the other three minor league teams, the Chasers received outstanding starting pitching with Jonathan Dziedzic working six scoreless innings of two-hit ball. Only one of the two singles against the lefty advanced to second and neither got further than that as he worked an efficient 67 pitches, hitting the zone with 47 strikes while earning nine groundouts in an impressive performance. The Chasers offense didn’t provide a lot of backing but just enough with a first inning groundout from Frank Schwindel that scored Billy Burns after a leadoff double and a sixth inning solo home run by Adalberto Mondesi. Reliever Wily Peralta worked the final three innings to earn the save, yielding one run in the process.

Adalberto Mondesi 1-3 HR, SAC
Ryan O’Hearn 1-3
Billy Burns 1-2 R, 2b, BB, CS

Saturday Boxscores

Sunday Probables

HR Roll Call Brandon Downes (11), DJ Burt (4), Ismaldo Rodriguez (1)

BP KC Hitter of the Day – D.J. Burt 4-4 HR, 5 RBI

BP KC Pitcher of the Day – Andres Sotillet 5 IP 3 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 2 K 9-1 GO-FO

Colorado Springs Sky Sox 4 Omaha Storm Chasers 1

The Chasers struggles at home continued with a 2 for 11 performance with runners in scoring position that lead to a 4-1 defeat. Despite 10 hits and a pair of walks it wasn’t enough as Colorado Springs plated a pair or runs in the seventh to break a 1-1 tie before a ninth inning home run proved as another insurance run. The loss was credited to Brooks Pounders after giving up both of the seventh inning runs. The last six home games have featured just six runs by the home team who will likely be quite enthused to head out on the road for eight games.

Boxscore Link

Reymond Fuentes 2-4
Tony Cruz 1-3 R, Bb
Whit Merrifield 2-4

Corpus Christi Hooks 5 NW Arkansas Naturals 4

The Naturals missed a few scoring opportunities in their Wednesday loss. Starter Ashton Goudeau gave up four runs in just two innings to drop his record to 4-12 at Double-A while the offense had 12 hits, but went 2 for 7 with runners in scoring position. Trailer 5-2 into the sixth inning NW Arkansas would pull within a run and get the tying run on in the last four innings, but fall short in each inning in the loss.

Boxscore Link

Alfredo Escalera 3-5 R, 2b
Ryan O’Hearn 2-4 R, 2b
Jack Lopez 2-4 2b

Frederick Keys 6 Wilmington Blue Rocks 5

Outfielder Brandon Downes staked the Rocks to a 4-1 early lead only to watch the pitching staff salt it away. The former Virginia centerfielder connected on his 11th home run of the season in the 2nd inning to tie the game up at 1-1. Just one inning later it was Downes connecting on a bases loaded double that cleared the bags and expanded the lead to 4-1. In the sixth inning Downes would connect on a ground-rule double and come around on Elier Hernandez single to push the lead to 5-2. Starter Matt Tenuta would give up a pair of runs in the seventh to cut the lead to 5-4 when Kyle Kubat couldn’t clean up the two singles he allowed. In the eighth it was Kubat who created his own mess and gave up two more runs to put the Rocks behind 6-5. The first two hitters for Wilmington would reach in their half of the eighth, but a double steal try would gun down Brian Bien and the Keys would work around Downes with a base open before stranding the bases loaded. That would be the last rally for Wilmington as they would fail to win their third game in a row over Frederick.

Boxscore Link

Brandon Downes 3-3 2R, 2-2b, HR, 4 RBI, BB
Elier Hernandez 1-3 RBI
Brian Bien 2-4 R, CS (3)

Asheville Tourists 8 Lexington Legends 6

The Legends made a comeback from 6-2 down only to watch the game slip away in the ninth. Second baseman, DJ Burt, lead that comeback with a grand slam in the seventh inning as part of a 4 for 4 day that included an earlier RBI in the day. Tied at 6-6 reliever Mark McCoy gave up a pair of runs in the ninth that the offense couldn’t counter in the loss.

Boxscore Link

Emilio Ogando 5.1 IP 7 H 5 R 4 ER 1 BB 6 K 4-3 GO-FO 82p/61k
Ben Johnson 1-3 2R, BB, SB (7)
Colton Frabasilio 1-4 R

Billings Mustangs 6 Idaho Falls Chukars 1

The Chukars offensive struggles continued in Billings on Wednesday evening. An 0-13 performance with runners in scoring position lead to just one run while starter Jace Vines dropped his fourth decision of the season. The Texas A&M product gave up five runs (4 ER) on eight hits and a pair of walks while not being able to strikeout one hitter on the night. Catcher Meibrys Viloria went hitless for the the second night in a row for the first time this season.

Boxscore Link

Yeison Melo 2-4 2b
Luke Willis 3-4 R
Richard Lovelady 1 IP 1 H 0 R 1 BB 1 K

Princeton Rays 3 Burlington Royals 1

The Royals lost one late when a two out error in the eighth inning opened the door for the Rays. That error by second baseman Gabriel Cancel brought Oscar Rojas to the plate and he quickly doubled in two runs to push Princeton ahead 3-1. The Royals brought the tying hitter to the plate in both the eighth and ninth inning, but were unable to getting anything done in dropping the game to the second place Rays.

Boxscore Link

Kort Peterson 1-3 2b, RBI
Nicky Lopez 1-4 R
Travis Eckert 5 IP 3 H 1 ER 1 BB 4 K 5-4 GO-FO

DSL Rays1 14 DSL Royals 5

The Royals lost the game the restart of a suspended game they were trailing by a large margin at the time of the suspension

Boxscore Link

Esteury Ruiz 2-3 2b, RBI
Freddy Fermina 1-3 2b
Angel Medina 2-2 BB

DSL Royals 7 DSL Rays1 0

The Royals dominated the second game that was shortened due to rain. Starter Andres Sotillet tossed five scoreless innings while Esteury Ruiz went 2 for 2 with a a triple and two runs driven in. Between his last two game Ruiz has seven hits in his last seven at bats.

Boxscore Link

Esteury Ruiz 2-2 R 3b, 2 RBI
Angel Medina 3-3 R
Ismaldo Rodriguez 1-3 HR

BP KC Hitter of the Day – Meibrys Viloria 2-3 2R, 2b, 3b, 3 RBI, 2 BB

BP KC Pitcher of the Day – Andres Machado 5 IP 4 H 1 Er 1 BB 6 K 6-2 GO-FO 61p/42k

Vance Wilson Mgr

Frisco RoughRiders 15 NW Arkansas Naturals 9 

The Naturals were out slugged in the rubber game of their series with Frisco Monday. The two sides combined to bash six home runs and score a combined 24 runs in the slugfest. Starter Ashton Goudeau took the worst of it, giving up four hits, two walks and eight runs in just one-third of an inning as Frisco disposed of the righty with the help of a Alberto Triunfel first inning grand slam. The Naturals crawled back into the game with the help of a Corey Toups three run home run getting within 10-7 after the top of the sixth inning. The would get no closer though once reliever Matt Alvarez struggled in his inning, walking three while giving up three hits and four runs as he struggled with just 11 of his 29 pitches hitting the zone. The win for Frisco secured their first series win since early June while pushing the Naturals a half of a game behind Tulsa into second place.

Boxscore Link

Frank Schwindel 1-5 HR, 2 RBI
Mauricio Ramos 2-3 R, 2b, BB
Corey Toups 1-5 2R, HR, 3 RBI

Jamie Quirk left

Myrtle Beach Pelicans 5 Wilmington Blue Rocks 1

The Rocks starting pitcher struggled mightily with the zone while the offense struggled to get things going. A solo home run from Samir Duenez got the Rocks on the board in the first inning but that lead was short lived as their bats would fall silent the rest of the night. Pitcher Josh Staumont as most know struggles to control the strikezone but he took that to new heights on Monday. The righty threw just 39 strikes among the 93 pitches that he tossed in his 3.2 innings, walking nine in the process and falling to 2-10 with the four runs he would allow. Three of those runs came via a Rashad Crawford home run in the fourth inning and proved to be the difference maker as Wilmington could collect just four meaningless singles following Samir’s first inning solo home run.

Boxscore Link

Samir Duenez 1-3 HR, BB
Austin Bailey 1-3
Brennan Henry 3.1 IP 2 H 1 R 0 ER 0 BB 3 K 4-2 GO-FO 49p/32k

Idaho Falls Chukars 10 Orem Owlz 4

The Chukars received solid starting pitching on Monday in the finale versus Orem before a run explosion in the ninth played the difference between the two clubs. Starter Andre Machado continued his run a solid starts, expanding to three in a row in which he gave his club two earned runs or less. The 23 year old righthander worked five innings of one run ball while spreading out four hits and striking out six before leaving with the lead. That lead was given up by Nicholas Andros via a three run seventh that featured a two run home run to deep deep left. That deficit wouldn’t last long for the Chukars as their uber talented catcher, Meibrys Viloria tripled in a run in the top of the eighth and scored on a sac fly to tie the game at four. Tied into the ninth Idaho Falls would erupt for six runs featuring a Luke Willis one out home run, a two run double by Viloria and a steal of home from Angelo Castellano. The win split the four game series for Idaho Falls who will return home for a seven game home stand.

Boxscore Link

Ricky Aracena 3-5 R, 2b, RBI
Tanner Stanley 3-5 R, 2-2b
Yeison Melo 3-5 2R, RBI

Scott Thorman

Burlington Royals 8 Pulaski Yankees 5

The Royals pounded their way to a win and a sweep of the Yankees. The Royals collected six walks, 11 hits and the opponent committed three errors enroute to scoring eight runs and building a late lead that they would hang onto. A single by Yordany Salva in the fourth gave the Royals a 4-3 lead that they wouldn’t relinquish the rest of the game. Starter Garrett Davila had his shortest outing yet, lasting just four innings while walking three hitters in the first and allowing three runs on four hits with a run in the first and two more in the third. A two run home run from Chris Devito in the seventh and a two run double by Boo Vazquez in the eighth expanded the Royals lead to 8-3. The Yankees would hit a two run home run to trim the lead to three in the bottom of the ninth and then load the bases versus Jesse Camp when he was inserted to save things but the former Auburn reliever closed it out by striking out the side.

Boxscore Link

Boo Vazquez 2-4 2b, 2 RBI
Yordany Salva 2-2 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Garrett Davila 4 IP 4 H 3 ER 3 BB 5 K 5-2 GO-FO

Darryl Kennedy

AZL Brewers 6 AZL Royals 5

The Arizona Royals starter Jorge Rodriguez couldn’t continue his run of dominant starts, walking a pair and giving up three hits and three runs in just two innings. The Royals would comeback from behind and tie the game in the seventh but that wouldn’t last long as reliever Rex Hill would give up a pair of runs in the eighth to give the Brewers the lead right back. The Royals would get a run in the ninth and get an opportunity to tie it by putting a runner in scoring position with one down but a pair of strikeouts would end the rally.

Boxscore Link

Jeison Guzman 1-5 2b, RBI
Khalil Lee 1-4
Chase Vallot 1-3 2b

DSL Royals 10 DSL Marlins 0

The DSL Royals were effective with runners in scoring position with the bat while extremely stingy while in the field. A 5 for 10 day with the bats with runners in scoring position including a two double and three rbi afternoon from Esteury Ruiz paced the offense. All while Andres Sotillet and two other pitchers helped hold the Marlins hitless in nine opportunities with runners in scoring position with Sotillet earning nine groundouts for his second win.

Boxscore Link

Esteury Ruiz 3-5 R, 2-2b, 3 RBI
Raymond Lopez 2-4 R, BB
Andres Stoillet 6 IP 6 H 0 R 0 BB 4 K 9-3 GO-FO