Kansas City » Braulio Nunez

Diamonds in the Rough 8-4-17

Clint Scoles — Sat, 05 Aug 2017 11:00:48 +0000

HR Roll Call Raul Mondesi (12), Cheslor Cuthbert (5), Michael Gigliotti (3)

BPKC Hitter of the Day Cheslor Cuthbert 2-4 HR, 2b

BPKC Pitcher of the Day Christian Binford 6 IP 7 H 1 R 1 ER 2 BB 6 K 88p/59k 5-5 GO-FO

Mondesi makes a slick backhand play

Omaha Storm Chasers 4 Sacramento River Cats 1

The Chasers got a pair of home runs to break up an otherwise outstanding performance by Casey Kelly. The former 1st round pick of the Red Sox struck out eight of the first nine hitters he faced before Billy Burns laid down a bunt for the first hit of the game. Perhaps thrown off by the bunt attempt Kelly left a pitch where Raul Mondesi could get to it and the shortstop took it 376 feet to right-center to put Omaha up 2-0. The Chasers would load the bases with one out the next inning and push a run across with a force out rbi by Cam Gallagher to push their lead back to two runs. The score stood at 3-1 into the fifth when Cheslor Cuthbert connected on his third home run in as many days.

The Chasers bullpen backed up Christian Binford after his six innings one run start with Sam Selman walking just one in his one and one-third innings before Kyle Zimmer slammed the door in his 1.2 innings.

Boxscore Link

Raul Mondesi 1-3 HR, 2 RBI
Cheslor Cuthbert 2-4 HR, 2b
Frank Schwindel 2-4 2 K
Kyle Zimmer 1.2 IP 0 h 0 R 0 BB 2 K 19p/14k 1-0 GO-FO

Springfield Cardinals 2 NW Arkansas Naturals 0

The Naturals were limited to just three hits in a shutout in Springfield. That lack of offense made a loser out of Jake Kalish despite the lefty allowing just two runs in five innings. A two out run scoring single in the second and back to back doubles to start the third accounted for the games only two runs.

Boxscore Link

Paulo Orlando 2-2 2BB
Nicky Lopez 1-3
Richard Lovelady 1 IP 0 H 0 R 1 K

Frederick Keys 5 Wilmington Blue Rocks 0

Despite facing a lineup predominately full of right-handed hitters Wilmington starter Scott Blewett didn’t fare that well. The Keys connected for nine hits in just five innings off Blewett including a solo home run from Yermin Mercedes in the fifth inning that pushed their lead to 3-0. The Rocks offense were unable to match that output going 1 for 6 with runners in scoring position to fail to plate a run on the night.

Boxscore Link

Brandon Downes 1-3 BB, CS (3)
Scott Blewett 5 IP 9 H 3 R 3 ER 1 BB 3 K 8-2 GO-FO 96p/60k

Elizabethton Twins 10 Burlington Royals 5

The Burlington bullpen got tagged in a loss versus the Twins rookie squad. Starter Carlos Hernandez gave up three runs in four and one-third innings, leaving with his squad with a 3-2 deficit. The bullpen couldn’t hold the fort down though as reliever Felix Familia gave up six runs in one and two-thirds thanks in part to a pair of errors by the Royals shortstop.

Centerfielder Michael Gigliotti hit his third home run of the year in the ninth inning.

Boxscore Link

Michael Gigliotti 1-5 HR, 3 RBI, E (1)
Seuly Matias 0-4
Jeison Guzman 1-3 R, 2 E (11) hitting .358 in his last 10 games

Idaho Falls Chukars 8 Great Falls Voyagers 5

The Chukars pen limited Great Falls to one run over the final four innings to maintain the team’s lead and eventually give them the win. Reliever Josh Mitchell worked the final two innings scoreless to earn the save while working around three hits and a walk.

The offense was moving as in running wild with seven stolen bases, four by Amalani Fukofuka as the team plated seven runs in the first four innings. The speedy outfielder scored used those stolen bases to score four times after reaching base with three singles and a walk.

Boxscore Link

Josh Mitchell 2 IP 3 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 2 K 26p/17k 2-1 GO-FO
Amalani Fukofuka 3-4 4R, BB, 4 SB (26)

DSL Astros 5 DSL Royals 2

The Royals turned to 17-year-old Braulio Nunez to make his first DSL start on Friday. The lefty the Royals gave $125k to in 2016 worked two and two-third innings, walking three while giving up a pair of hits in taking the loss. While he took the loss he did strikeout four hitters for a season high in his sixth appearance.

The Royals were limited to just four hits and two runs with both runs coming in the sixth inning but couldn’t close the gap any closer than 4-2.

Boxscore Link

Braulio Nunez 2.2 IP 2 H 2 R 2 ER 3 BB 4 K 3-1 GO-FO
Kember Nacero 1-3 RBI

Saturday Probables
Omaha LHP Eric Skoglund 4-5 4.72 ERA
NW Arkansas Corey Ray 6-9 4.93 ERA
Wilmington Jace Vines 9-6 3.69 ERA
Lexington Travis Eckert 4-7 5.33 ERA
Burlington LHP J.C. Cloney 3-1 3.55 ERA
Idaho Falls TBD
Surprise TBD

Diamonds in the Rough 7-8-17

Clint Scoles — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 11:00:15 +0000

Royals affiliates were 3-5 on Saturday.

The news on Ashe Russell stepping away from the game came out via the KC Star on Friday from Rustin Dodd. On Saturday Russell’s agent made a brief statement via Ken Rosenthal to reiterate that it wasn’t a retirement and just a stepping away to clear his head. In my opinion, if Ashe believes this is the best move for him then it probably is as he’s not going to get back to the prospect that made him a first-round prospect without full commitment.

HR Roll Call Ryan O’Hearn (14), Raul Mondesi (11), Alfredo Escalera (4), Reed Rohlman (1), Nick Hutchins (1), Nick Pratto (1), Randor Vargas (1)

BPKC Hitter of the Day Michael Gigliotti 3-5 2R, 2b, BB, 3 SB

BPKC Pitcher of the Day Pedro Fernandez 4 IP 0 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 5 K 6-2 GO-FO 49p/35k

Omaha Storm Chasers 5 Iowa Cubs 1

The Royals shortstop prospect Raul Mondesi had played 135 games between Triple-A and the bigs, hitting 12 home runs in that time but all 12 had come with no one on. Those days are behind him apparently as Mondesi hit a grand slam for the second night in a row, this one off former Royals prospect Aaron Brooks. First base prospect Ryan O’Hearn hit his 14th home run of the year to tack on an insurance run in the ninth.

Boxscore Link

Raul Mondesi 1-4 HR, 4 RBI
Ryan O’Hearn 1-4 HR, 2K
Eric Skoglund 4.2 IP 2 H 1 R 1 ER 5 BB 5 K 6-2 GO-FO 98p/52k
Brian Flynn 3 IP 2 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 2 K 2-2 GO-FO 41p/28k

NW Arkansas Naturals 5 San Antonio Missions 3

Naturals reliever Pedro Fernandez was outstanding in this one when forced to relieve Goudeau early. Working four perfect innings with five strikeouts while blistering the zone with 35 strikes on 49 pitches Fernandez lowered his ERA to 2.70 on the season. The righty came into today with a career-high 53% groundball rate on top of his 23% K-rate and should be considered a possibility for a role in the Royals bullpen within a year or so. Outfielder Alfredo Escalera’s three-run home run off former Royals pitching prospect Aroni Nina was the key hit in this one.

Boxscore Link

Alfredo Escalera 1-3 HR, 3 RBI, BB
Anderson Miller 2-4 R
Samir Duenez 0-5
Andrew Edwards 3 IP 1 H 1 R 1 ER 1 BB 2 K 43/25k 6-0 GO-FO

Potomac Nationals 4 Wilmington Blue Rocks 1

The two sluggers at Wilmington do things in a much different way which makes their path an interesting one to compare going forward. The Royals minor league leader in home runs, Chris DeVito came into the High-A game with a sub 7% walk rate and sub 19% K-rate with around a 20% line drive rate with Wilmington. This is a different approach to what Chase Vallot employs, the catching prospect at High-A has hit at just 15.9% linedrive rate with a 59.1% flyball rate. That extreme flyball rate leads the Carolina league and has led to 11 home runs when mixed with his 14% HR/FB record. Unfortunately, Vallot’s extreme 36% K-rate has led to his overall numbers suffering so far this season but at two years DeVito’s junior one can still continue to dream on Vallot.

That age combined with the premium defensive position makes Vallot a higher profile prospect obviously but his inability to make contact at a decent rate shakes things up.

Boxscore Link

Vallot 0-3 2K
DeVito 0-3
D.J. Burt 1-4 2b, RBI

Greenville Drive 6 Lexington Legends 0

Just turned 19-year-old Khalil Lee entered the night in a tie for 3rd in home runs in the South Atlantic League while also tied for first in walks accumulated. The major focus of his game in the second half should be working on contact (32% K-rate) and becoming a better baserunner. The Legends started the day in 1st or 2nd in most offensive categories in the league but the Drive held them to just three hits.

Boxscore Link

Khalil Lee 0-1 K, HBP, 2BB, CS (15)
Emmanuel Rivera 0-4
Gabe Cancel 0-4 E (13)
Meibrys Viloria 2-3 1-3 CS/Attempts

Orem Owlz 12 Idaho Falls Chukars 1

The Angels rookie squad has beaten Idaho Falls by four or more runs in four of their five games this season after this lopsided affair.

Boxscore Link

Burlington Royals 7 Danville Braves 3

Reliever Tyler Zuber is getting plenty of strikeouts (40%) but needs to attack the bottom of the zone better than he did on Saturday. Still, you want domination out of a reliever and he’s showing he can get over on younger hitters.

Boxscore Link

Michael Gigliotti 3-5 2R, 2b, 3 SB
Tyler Zuber 2 IP 2 H 1 R 1 ER 2 BB 4 K 47p/29k 2-0 GO-FO
Cal Jones 2-6 2R, 2b, RBI, 2K
Jeison Guzman 1-6 3K

AZL Padres 6 AZL Royals 3

Royals 1st round pick Nick Pratto hit his first professional home run to tie the game in the eighth after connecting on a sacrifice fly earlier in the game. Stud 18-year-old Dominican prospect Esteury Ruiz walked, stole a pair of bases and scored in the first inning.

Boxscore Link

Nick Pratto
Esteury Ruiz 0-2 R, BB, 2 SB (4)
Nolan Watson 3 IP 1 H 0 R 1 K

DSL Marlins 8 DSL Royals 7

A pair of 17-year-olds worked in this one with lefty Braulio Nunez making his third DSL appearance, working two scoreless innings. Another 17 years old, Victor Medina gave up three runs (1 ER) to start this one. The Marlins walked the game off with a one-out walk followed by a pair of singles off Royals reliever Kelvin De Los Santos.

Boxscore Link

Reynin Reynoso 2-5 R, RBI
Braulio Nunez 2 IP 3 H 0 R 0 BB 0 K
Rafael Romero 1-3 R, BB