BPKC Hitter of the Day: Jeison Guzman 3-6 2R, HR, 3 RBI, 2 SB

BPKC Pitcher of the Day: Julio Pinto 1 IP 0 H 0 R 0 BB 3 K 14p/11k 

Columbia Fireflies 6 Lexington Legends 3

For the second day in a row Legends pitchers struggled to keep the ball in the yard against the Mets Low-A squad. Starter Holden Capps gave up two runs in four innings, giving up a solo home run in the third inning. Reliever Sal Biasi replaced Capps, trailing 2-1 after four innings, but struggled in his two innings with five hits allowed including a pair of home runs putting Lexington in a 6-1 hole. In the seventh inning, shortstop Cristian Perez drove in a pair of runs with a single to cut the deficit in half but they could get no closer in the loss. The Legends have dropped the first five games of the second half.

MJ Melendez: 3-5 2b, 3b
Nick Pratto: 3-5 R, 2b
Seuly Matias: 0-3 R, BB, HBP

Wilmington Blue Rocks 6 Lynchburg Hillcats 5

The Rocks didn’t collect many hits on Monday but they made the most of what they had. With just six singles, three of those accounted for four runs with two hits accounting for three runs in the second inning prior to a wild pitch that scored the fourth run in the frame. Starter Dan Tillo struggled with his control, walking four in five innings while allowing two runs (1 ER) against five strikeouts. Right-hander Arnaldo Hernandez gave up three runs in the sixth that left the game even at 5-5. Tied into the eighth inning, Nick Heath created his own offense, walking, then stealing second and third base. During the steal of third, a ball got away from the Lynchburg pitcher which allowed Heath to race home with the eventual winning run.

Dan Tillo: 5 IP 4 H 2 R 1 ER 4 BB 5 K 6-3 GO-FO 93p/55k
Khalil Lee: 0-4 3K
Gabe Cancel: 1-4 3K

Oklahoma City Dodgers 7 Omaha Storm Chasers 1

Starter Scott Barlow gave up six runs in three innings on seven hits to dig a hole that was too large for Omaha to get out of. The Chasers were limited to just five hits while the defense was uncharacteristically poor with three errors. The only run for Omaha came in the first inning on a wild pitch which allowed Donnie Dewees to score. The loss dropped the Chasers record to 12-10 for the month.

Donnie Dewees: 0-3 R, BB, SB (9)
Jorge Bonifacio: 1-3 BB
Frank Schwindel: 1-4

Orem Owlz 2 Idaho Falls Chukars 1

The Chukars lost the rubber game of their series with Orem in a rare Pioneer League low scoring game. Orem’s third baseman Tim Millard provided both runs, doubling in local product Nonie Williams with a first-inning double off second-round pick Jonathan Bowlan. That was the only run off Bowlan in his four innings as he was able to work around the other three hits he allowed. A Brady Cox single drove in the tying run in the second inning but Millard answered in the sixth inning with a solo home run off Marcelo Martinez. The Chukars got the tying run in scoring position with one out in three of the final four innings but failed to tie the game in the loss.

Kyle Isbel: 1-4 SB, K
Jonathan Bowlan: 4 IP 5 H 1 R 1 ER 0 BB 2 K 5-2 GO-FO 63p/44k
Marcelo Martinez: 4 IP 3 H 1 R 1 ER 2 BB 7 K 0-4 GO-FO 50p/34k

Burlington Royals 11 Danville Braves 10

The Royals surrendered a 6-1 lead to fall behind 10-6 before a five run seventh inning gave them their first win. Shortstop Jeison Guzman drove in a pair in the inning before stealing second and scoring on Jose Marquez’s two-run single. The final run came on a throwing error before Emmanuel Estevez locked down the final two innings to secure the win.

Angel Medina: 1-5 R, 3b, 2 RBI
Freddy Fermin: 2-5 2b, 2 RBI
Charlie Neuweiler: 5 IP 9 H 5 R 5 ER 1 BB 8 K 2 HR 2-2 GO-FO 91p/59k

Monday Boxscores

Tuesday Probables
Omaha – TBD
Wilmington – Jace Vines 2-8 5.94 ERA 1.75 WHIP
Lexington – Andres Sotillet 5-4 3.80 ERA 1.38 WHIP
Idaho Falls – Jon Heasley 0-0 0.00 ERA 1.33 WHIP
Burlington – Elvis Luciano 0-1 7.36 ERA

HR Roll Call: None

BPKC Hitter of the Day: Ruben Sosa 3-4, 2R, 2b, 3b, RBI, SB (4)

BPKC Pitcher of the Day: Christian Binford 6 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 5 K, 5-4 GO-FO, 103p/72k

Game 1 Tacoma Rainiers 1, Omaha Storm Chasers 0
Game 2 Omaha Storm Chasers 5, Tacoma Rainiers 0

The Chasers split another doubleheader with the Mariners Triple-A affiliate Thursday.

In game one, starter Josh Staumont struggled with his control once again, walking seven in just six innings after walking five his last time out. The righty missed out on a chance to get out of an early jam when second baseman Ramon Torres tossed a potential double play ball in the dirt that first baseman Ryan O’Hearn couldn’t pick. On the very next pitch, Staumont uncorked a wild pitch that brought home the game’s only run to take the loss.

Game two went better for Omaha as Christian Binford pushed his run of quality starts to eight for eight with six innings of scoreless ball. The righty worked around four hits and three walks with five strikeouts and five groundouts.

The offense would back him with five runs to earn the win thanks to a pair of RBI by Bubba Starling and Gavin Cecchini.

Boxscore Game 1
Boxscore Game 2

Raul Mondesi 2-6, CS
Josh Staumont 6 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 7 BB, 8 K, 5-1 GO-FO, 105p/65k
Bubba Starling 4-6, R, 2 RBI

Arkansas Travelers 7, NW Arkansas Naturals 3

The Travs got to Corey Ray for eight singles in three innings, which led to five runs and chased Ray out of his shortest start of the season.

The Naturals went to the pen but Arkansas quickly extended their lead to 7-0 with a solo home run and a passed ball that scored off reliever Jake Kalish.

The Naturals scored a pair of runs in the ninth to finish off the final deficit at four runs. Outfielder Elier Hernandez who was off to a decent start at Double-A had his legs taken out by center fielder Donnie Dewees in a collision in the fourth inning and had to be carted off the field with a leg injury to his left leg.

Boxscore Link

Samir Duenez 1-4, 2b
Carlos Diaz 2-4, RBI
Elier Hernandez 1-2, left with injury

Rome Braves 7, Lexington Legends 6

The Legends built a big lead only to watch their bullpen blow another one.

A two-run second inning and a four-run third, with hits by third baseman Emmanuel Rivera in both innings, gave the Legends lead at 6-0.

Starter Andre Davis left with a 6-3 margin after a Rivera error led to a pair of runs in the sixth. With that lead in the eighth reliever Julio Pinto entered and walked all three hitters he faced before leaving for Matt Wynne. The Braves plated three runs on a one-out single when the Legends chose to get a runner out in a rundown instead of tossing home to try to cut down the tying run.

The Braves would walk things off in the ninth with a one-out double that plated a runner from first.

Boxscore Link

Kort Peterson 3-5 R, 2b, CS
Emmanuel Rivera 2-3 2R, 2b, RBI, BB
Amalani Fukofuka 2-4 R, RBI, 2SB (8)

I don’t know how many people read what I write here, but I’m sure some tend to think I look at the organization with a little too much sunshine. That may be the case at times but it was once told to me that members of the organization and/or family members of players read what we write, so I should err on the side of keeping negatives to a minimum when I can. For the most part, I stick to this but a couple things that occurred in games last night rubbed be the wrong way, so I think I need to address them to you, the reader.

Clearing The Benches

Now I know most people don’t pay much attention to Low-A games and the comings and goings of players there. That said it should be noted that in two of his last three outings Julio Pinto has taken exception to a player hitting a home run off him. The first incident occurred on April 25th when Pinto and Nick Dini took up with a player who made too much out of a home run that Pinto allowed in a game that was already way out of line. That one wasn’t a big deal on Pinto’s part as it happens sometimes and at least he tried to take it up with the player that hit the home run. Still, the benches cleared and it could have lead to a bigger fight than maybe it didn’t need to. Oh well, rules of the game most will say.

Link to benches clearing

Last night’s game was different. The Legends had a lead when Pinto came in and put gas on the game by allowing a game-tying home run and then another home run to give up the lead. After doing this, Pinto plunked the next hitter and was ejected. That’s sour grapes on Pinto’s part and shows he has no business being on the Lexington squad. Two fights started because you can’t execute your job is on you, it’s not on the opposite team or your teammates. It’s on you.

The Royals need to take a stand and send him out or suspend him for a good amount of time. This is a player that hasn’t performed to a suitable level and is now not acting to a suitable level. His teammates and coaches are not babysitters and if he’s going to cause a problem when he can’t do his job then trade him for a bucket of balls, cut him and let him have an opportunity to succeed somewhere else. I’ve written Diamonds in the Rough or a version of since 2011 and have never asked publicly for a demotion of a player but this isn’t working for Pinto and the Royals organization need to show him this is not suitable behavior.

Raul Mondesi’s Development

This one is a problem I have with teaching the game, or his understanding the game.

In the fourth inning of Thursday’s game in which the Chasers were losing 6-3, Raul Mondesi attempted to lay a bunt down from the left side with a man on second base and two outs. That’s unacceptable, pure and simple! Now I couldn’t attend and didn’t ask manager Brian Poldberg if he had asked for the bunt, but I’m going to take a leap and say that he didn’t. If I’m proven wrong then I apologize for what I’m writing.

The facts are the Royals need to have a come to Jesus meeting with Mondesi and tell him the bunting MUST STOP. To bunt with a man in scoring position and two outs is either a sign that he either has too little confidence in himself to get a hit or he just doesn’t understand why that’s a poor strategy. Either way, it shouldn’t be taking place.

The minor leagues are for development and Mondesi needs to be developing his ability to hit, not bunt. Instead, he should be working on pitch recognition while modifying his swing to make better and more consistent contact – whichever you prefer. The bunt, however, should be the last in a long line of things he should be working on and taking it away from him needs to be done. If he can’t understand that, then the Royals need to make him understand it.

If this is a confidence thing, then the Royals need to take some new steps to work with him. There are far too many tools and talent here for them not to be taking extra steps whatever that may be to help him become the best possible player that he can be. Up until this moment, they have taken what some would say is an interesting path to help him develop. It hasn’t worked, and right now he is in a bad place as a player. They need to take some steps to change things up with him.

As someone who watches and listens to as many games involving this organization as likely any non-Royals employee out there, I deeply want the best for it but these changes need to be made to make the players and the organization better as a whole.

Sorry for the ranting. Please leave a comment of your opinion below.

If you’re here for the game info and not my ranting and ravings, now on with the show.

HR Roll Call: Ryan O’Hearn (6), Samir Duenez (5), Chase Vallot (2), Jecksson Flores (1)

BPKC Hitter of the Day: D.J. Burt 4-6, R, 2b, 2 RBI, SB (6)

BPKC Pitcher of the Day: Scott Blewett 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 9-5 GO-FO, 93p/65k

Wilmington Blue Rocks 10, Down East Wood Ducks 0

The Blue Rocks exploded on offense in their first game versus the Down East Wood Ducks, the new affiliate of the Rangers. Six different Wilmington batters had multiple hits in this one, as the team put together a season-high 20 hits.

The Rocks Anderson Miller pushed his on-base streak to 19 games in the first with a triple that scored D.J. Burt and showed early signs of what was to come. The Rocks had three multiple-run innings, including the seventh when they scored four runs.

All the runs helped back up starter Scott Blewett to earn his first win of the year with seven strong shutout innings that featured nine groundouts.

Boxscore Link

Chase Vallot 2-4, HR, 2 BB
Travis Maezes 4-4, 2R, BB
Jecksson Flores 3-5, HR, 2 RBI

Greensboro Grasshoppers 4, Lexington Legends 3

As I wrote above, Julio Pinto gave up a pair of late home runs that allowed Greensboro take a lead and eventual win.

Prior to Pinto’s arrival in the game, Legends starter Gerson Garabito was solid, working around a few extra base hits and limiting the Grasshoppers to just one run in six innings while striking out six. It was the pitcher’s fifth quality start in six, while pushing his ERA to 2.50 with just a 0.83 WHIP.

The offense had built a 3-1 lead with a runs-scoring double by Manny Olloque in the second prior to him scoring on an Amalani Fukofuka single and a sixth inning RBI double by Kort Peterson.

The blowup by Pinto prevented the Legends from securing their first series sweep of the season.

Boxscore Link

Gerson Garabito 6IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K, 3-5 GO-FO, 98p/61k
Angelo Castellano 2-4, R SB (4)
Amalani Fukofuka 1-3, 2 RBI, SB (3)

Springfield Cardinals 9, NW Arkansas Naturals 1

The Naturals dropped the third game of their series in Springfield Thursday night in a pretty non-competitive game.

The Cardinals got after the three NW Arkansas pitchers for nine runs on 15 hits and three walks. The five runs in 3.2 innings dropped starter Matt Tenuta’s ERA to 10.19 in 17.2 innings pitched on the young season.

The only offense came courtesy of Samir Duenez’s fifth home run of the season.

Boxscore Link

Samir Duenez 1-4, HR
Zane Evans 2-3
Jack Lopez 2-2, Sac

Memphis Redbirds 12, Omaha Storm Chasers 9 F/10

The Chasers made an incredible six run comeback in the final two innings of this one, only to drop the game in extra innings.

The Redbirds had built a lead on the back of Omaha starter Eric Skoglund, knocking the lefty around for nine runs (6 ER) on 11 hits in just 4.2 innings.

Trailing 9-7 after a four run eighth, the Chasers pinch hit with Ryan O’Hearn following a one-out Ramon Torres single. The lefty power hitter came through with a two-out home run to right to tie the game in dramatic fashion. The pinch-hit home run was the first in Storm Chasers history, and the first by an Omaha Triple-A affiliate since August of 2005.

Reliever Al Alburquerque was knocked around in the tenth for four hits and three runs to give the Redbirds their eventual winning margin.

Boxscore Link

Corey Toups 2-3, 3R, 3b
Garin Cecchini 2-3, R, 2b, 3 RBI, BB
Ryan O’Hearn 1-1, HR, 2 RBI

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HR Roll Call Angelo Castellano (2)

BP KC Hitter of the Day – Mauricio Ramos 3-4 2R, 2b, 2 RBI

BP KC Pitcher of the Day – Alec Mills 6 IP 3 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 9 K 6-1 GO-FO 80p/55k

Oklahoma City Dodgers 5 Omaha Storm Chasers 4

Two outstanding starts were broke up some rough relief work at Werner Park in front of 5,409 fans on Friday night. Omaha’s Alec Mills and Oklahoma City’s Lisalverto Bonilla each tossed six shutout innings with Mills putting away nine hitters via strikeout to Bonilla’s six. The pair attacked the zone, both hitting the zone with better than 68% strikes while each walked just one. Omaha would enter Kris Medlen in the seventh and things would turn ugly as the rehabber could retire just one hitter after giving up a solo home run after entering and three additional runs. Following Medlen the Chasers would turn to Luke Farrell without much better results as he would have one of his rougher outings on the year, giving up four runs in just 1.2 innings. The Dodgers reliever would allow four runs to Omaha in the eighth and another in the ninth before wrapping it up.

Boxscore Link

Kris Medlen 0.1 IP 4 H 4 R 4 ER 0 BB 1 K
Brandon Downes 2-2 2R, 2b
Christian Colon 2-5 R, 2b, RBI

NW Arkansas Naturals 7 Tulsa Drillers 1

With the playoffs on the line Eric Skoglund spun a solid game and the offense came alive. The Naturals offense showed no fear against the Dodgers Brock Stewart despite his shutout of the Chicago Cubs in his last start. The squad scored a pair of run in the first inning with a walk, a Mauricio Ramos double and a Frank Schwindel to take a 2-0 lead. That was more than enough for Skoglund, putting away eight hitters in six and two-third innings while allowing just a solo home run while on the hill. Lowering his ERA to 3.45 in 27 starts for the Naturals this season. The offense kept the pressure on the entire game, knocking out 13 hits and seven runs as five different hitters collected multi-hit games. Included in that group was Samir Duenez, his two run single in the fifth inning pushed his RBI total to 100 on the season. The first prospect to collect 100 RBI for the Royals since Wil Myers had 109 in 2012.

Boxscore Link

Eric Skoglund 6.2 IP 2 H 1 R 1 ER 2 BB 8 K 102/62k 5-4 GO-FO
Mauricio Ramos 3-4 2R, 2b, 2 RBI
Alfredo Escalera 2-4 2R, BB

Wilmington Blue Rocks 5 Frederick Keys 2

A four run inning combined with solid pitching for a Wilmington win in Frederick on Friday. The four run fourth featured a suddenly hot hitting Robert Pehl two run double with a sac fly and a wild pitch to give Wilmington a 4-1 lead. The first baseman is hitting .389 since the start of August. Starter Foster Griffin tossed five innings of two run ball (1 ER) with six strikeouts against no walks to earn his fifth High-A victory. The bullpen followed Griffin with four innings while allowing just one run as the Blue Rocks finished the 5-3 win.

Boxscore Link

Robert Pehl 2-4 R, 2b, 2 RBI
Mike Hill 2-5 R, 2-2b
Foster Griffin 5 IP 5 H 2 R 1 ER 0 BB 6 k

Lexington Legends 1 Hickory Crawdads 0

Fantastic starting pitching lead to a Lexington win over Hickory in the first game of their series. Starter Julio Pinto combined with Yunior Marte and Gabe Cramer to shutout the Crawdads on just one hit and a pair of walks allowed while the threesome k’d 11. In one of Pinto’s best outings of his career he lasted six innings while giving up just a fifth inning single while putting away seven hitters via strikeout. The games only run came in fifth inning when Ben Johnson’s one out rbi single brought home Brandon Dulin after his leadoff single. The win was just Pinto’s second in 21 appearances this season.

Boxscore Link

Julio Pinto 6 IP 1 H 0 R 0 ER 2 BB 7 K
Yunior Marte 2 IP 0 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 2 K
Ben Johnson 1-3 RBI

Ogden Raptors 3 Idaho Falls Chukars 2

The latest loss for Idaho Falls may have effectively ended their postseason hopes with a loss in Ogden. The starter for Idaho Falls, Arnaldo Hernandez, tied a career high with nine strikeouts over six innings of this one, allowing just two runs on back to back dingers in the second. Just one other hit was allowed while he also walked a pair in his time on the hill. The Chukars tied up a 2-1 game with a wild pitch in the sixth inning, but another home run by Ogden in the eighth ruined their chances at a win. The loss put Idaho Falls in last place, 4.5 games back with seven to play in the season.

Boxscore Link

Joe Dudek 2-3 BB
Angelo Castellano 1-3 HR
Arnaldo Hernandez 6 Ip 3 H 2 R 2 ER 2 BB 9 K 6-2 GO-FO 98p/58k

HR Roll Call Brandon Downes (4), Jose Carabello (1)

BP KC Hitter of the Day Alfredo Escalera 3-4 2b, R, RBI, CS (3)

BP KC Pitcher of the Day Brian Flynn 3.1 IP 0 H 0 R 2 BB 5 K 3-2 GO-FO 62p/36k

New Orleans Zephyrs 3 Omaha Storm Chasers 2

The Royals continue to stretch out lefty Brian Flynn as he’s worked up to 62 pitches which were effective if not efficient Friday. Flynn worked just 3.1 innings while striking out five, walking two and not allowing a hit. Zephyrs starter and former Chaser Paul Clemens was working over the Omaha offense, giving his team seven shutout innings. It was a far different performance for Clemens than his opening day outing versus Omaha in which he gave up six runs in just 1.2 innings. The two teams matched zeroes up until the bottom of the 7th when a three run home run by Destin Hood gave New Orleans a 3-0 lead. The Chasers would draw within a run in the 8th with three singles and a pair of walks but were unable to close the comeback door all the way. Trailing 3-2 Omaha was unable to mount a rally in the 9th inning to drop their fourth consecutive game and their tenth in eleven tries.

Boxscore Link

Hunter Dozier 1-3 BB
Angel Franco 2-4 2b, R
Travis Snider 1-3 2b

Tulsa Drillers 3 NW Arkansas Naturals 1

Starter Ashton Goudeau gave up a pair of solo home runs early while the Naturals offense was held under wraps for most of the night. The righthander gave up those two home runs prior to another tally allowed in the 5th to give the Drillers a 3-0 lead. NW Arkansas had just two hits until the 9th inning when a Mauricio Ramos double followed a Corey Toups single to give them their only run on the night. Outfielder Bubba Starling’s pull only approach this season continues to be his downfall as he’s seen his average dip to a microscopic .193 after another 0 for 4 performance.

Boxscore Link

Ryan O’Hearn 1-4 2b
Mauricio Ramos 2-3 2b, RBI, BB
Ashton Goudeau 6.2 IP 5 H 3 ER 0 BB 5 K 4-8 GO-FO 81p/57k

Wilmington Blue Rocks 5 Salem Red Sox 4

The Rocks offense scored four runs late to comeback and take the lead to take a game over the Sox. Starter Zach Lovvorn was solid again giving the Rocks two run ball over six innings on just four hits and a pair of walks. The former sixth round pick has done a nice job despite the winless record, giving the Rocks five quality starts in his last eight while lowering his ERA to 3.54. The Wilmington offense made sure he wasn’t stuck with a hardluck loss, scoring four runs in the 7th to take the lead. A Brandon Downes two run home run in the 7th capped the scoring in the inning and gave the Rocks their first lead. An Alfredo Escalera insurance run single in the 8th would give Wilmington what they would need to win the game after Salem scored a run in the 9th to close the gap but couldn’t finish the comeback against Derek Gordon.

Boxscore Link

Brandon Downes 1-4 HR 2 RBI 3 K
Wander Franco 1-4 R, RBI
Humberto Arteaga 1-3 R

Hagerstown Nationals 4 Lexington Legends 3

The Legends closer Nik Stephenson got knocked around for four runs in the bottom of the ninth to continue Lexington’s losing ways. A three run third inning combined with decent pitching from Julio Pinto and Daniel Concepcion gave Lexington a 3-0 lead into that ninth inning. The three run inning came via a Roman Collins RBI double and a two run two bagger from Anderson Miller. The Lexington offense would stall out from there but Pinto’s best performance of the year, a four inning scoreless combined with just one walk and four singles allowed before giving way to the pen. After Concepcion worked 3.2 scoreless the Legends closer got in immediate trouble after a leadoff throwing error by DJ Burt. Stephenson would hit the next batter to bring the tying run to the plate. The righthander would give away single, a walk, another single and a walk before a fielders choice, his first out in the inning would score the winning run to extend the Legends losing streak to seven games.

Boxscore Link

Anderson Miller 2-4 2b, 2 RBI
Roman Collins 1-4 R, 2b, RBI
Julio Pinto 4 IP 4 H 0 R 1 BB 4 K 1 HBP 2-4 GO-FO 73p/39p

DSL Phillies 4 DSL Royals 3 F/11

The Dominican Royals dropped their first contest of the season after blowing a late lead. The Phillies DSL squad would tie the game in the eighth after the Royals had reclaimed a 3-2 lead but a run sent the game to extra innings. The Phillies would score in the bottom of the 11th to hand the Royals a 4-3 loss.

Boxscore Link

Sebastian Rivera 2-5 RBI
Jeison Guzman 0-5 2 Errors
Esteury Ruiz 3-5 R

Players whose names are in italics are interesting to watch to see if the anticipated step forward this season.

Lexington Legends

This year’s version of the Royals Single-A affiliate are breaking camp with a number of highly thought after pitching prospects on the mound. The bonus money used to piece this triumvirate together might make it the the most well known group of pitching  prospects to pitch at the Single-A level together since Dayton Moore took over as the GM in fact. Former 2014 1st round pick Foster Griffin and 2015 selection Nolan Watson both join the Legends while 2014 2nd round selection Scott Blewett gets his second crack with Lexington. Along with those three highly paid draftpicks, live armed international signees Yunior Marte and Julio Pinto try to gain on their prospect status.

Name – How they were acquired
Scott Blewett – 2014 2nd Rd Pick $1.8M signing bonus – Big RHP throws in mid 90’s
Foster Griffin – 2014 1st Rd $1.925M – LHP works primarily low 90’s needs to polish
Nolan Watson – 2015 1st Rd $1.8252M – RHP w/ 4 pitch mix
Yunior Marte – 2012 IFA $90k – RHP w/ lively arm that reaches upper 90’s in short burst
Julio Pinto – 2012 IFA $375k – Well build RHP w/ low 90’s FB and stong CB
Franco Terrero – 2014 IFA $10k
Torey Deshazier – 2012 Non-Drafted Free agent
Jacob Bodner – 2015 27th Rd Pick
Emilio Ogando – 2014 12th Rd Pick
Nik Stephenson – 2012 Non-Drafted Free agent
Corey Ray – 2014 5th Rd Pick
Jake Newberry – 2012 37th Rd Pick
Kyle Kubat – 2015 Non-Drafted Free agent

The players in the field are less heralded than those on the mound, but there are some intriguing names to watch. One of those players is 2nd baseman DJ Burt, having reached base safely in his last 54 games with Idaho Falls last summer and carrying an 11 game hitting streak into the new season. His double play partner will be highly-rated shortstop Marten Gasparini, the speed demon Italian signee who will enter his third minor league season.

The speed won’t stop in the middle infield as the Royals have selected four highly athletic outfielders to back up their pitchers in Fukofuka, Cody Jones, Anderson Miller and Ben Johnson. All four of the outfielders have in fact played the majority of their games in centerfield, giving manager Omar Ramirez one of the better defending outfields in the league.

While the athleticism are all over the outfield and middle infield, first baseman Brandon Dulin and catcher Chase Vallot will pack the punch having both finished highly in their league’s home run races in 2015.

DJ Burt 2b/INF – 2014 4th Rd $200k – speedy 2b option w/ good plate approach
Samir Duenez 1b – 2012 IFA $425k – 1b who hasn’t shown the pop needed thus far
Brandon Dulin 1b – 2012 13th Rd
Xavier Fernandez C – 2013 11th Rd $100k
Jecksson Flores INF – 2010 IFA
Amalani Fukofuka OF – 2013 5th Rd $175k – got some run in the ST OF after strong ’15
Marten Gasparini SS – 2013 IFA $1.3M – world class speed that he gets from Mom
Michael Hill 3b/OF – 2014 22nd Rd
Ben Johnson OF – 2015 11th Rd $170k
Cody Jones OF – 2015 6th Rd $50k
Anderson Miller OF – 3rd Rd $581k – smooth swinging OF will be a fan fave after playing HS there
Chase Vallot C – 2014 1.5 Rd $1.35M – HR Title?

Since taking over the Lexington affiliate in 2013 the Royals have yet to finish with a winning record in the South Atlantic league, with 2013’s 68-70 record being by far their best in the three seasons. This team has a chance to break that streak if the offense can match what on paper looks to be a good defense along with a solid group of pitchers.

Wilmington Blue Rocks

While the Single-A affiliate strength lies in the pitching and defense this group should pack a tad a more offensive punch with returnees Elier Hernandez, Ryan O’Hearn, Alfredo Escalera and newly added Wander Franco and Corey Toups. At Single-A last year this group of players put together quite a bit of offense prior to the promotions of Hernandez, O’Hearn and Escalera. That threesome will have to prove that they can handle High A pitching after struggling mightily once they received their promotions to the Carolina league. Don’t be shocked if Toups does well as a player who knows his limitations and takes advantage of the spacious outfield of Frawley field.

Ryan O’Hearn 1b – 2014 8th Rd $125k – Can he add a Carolina HR title while playing at Frawley?
Robert Pehl 1b – 2014 11th Rd
Austin Bailey MIF – 2015 21st Rd – Strong ’15 after going back to switch hitting
Humberto Arteaga SS – 2010 IFA $1.1M
Wander Franco 3b – 2011 IFA $120k – RHB struggle in the big Frawley park, can he play gap ball?
Corey Toups MIF – 2014 15th Rd
Louis Villegas C – 2009 IFA
Chad Johnson C – 2012 5th Rd $340k
Brandon Downes CF – 2014 7th Rd $150k
Roman Collins OF – 2015 5th Rd $275k
Elier Hernandez OF – 2011 IFA $3.05M – needs a bounceback after struggling in Carolina league
Alfredo Escalera OF – 2012 8th Rd $50k – ditto

The pitchers are a less heralded group, but a couple position players in Ashton Goudeau and Zach Lovvorn faired well for the Blue Rocks in ’15 both putting up sub 4 ERA’s. In addition to Goudeau and Lovvorn right-handed prospect Pedro Fernandez returns with bullpen pieces Matt Alvarez and hard throwing Evan Beal. The surprise of the pitching group is definitely Josh Staumont who will bring his 97-100 mph fastball all the way from rookie ball to the Carolina league. Perhaps this is a sign that Staumont has started to get his control issues in order, if that is the case LOOKOUT !

Pedro Fernandez – 2011 IFA $45k – Got lit up by Carolina league, can the breaking ball develop?
Ashton Goudeau – 2012 27th Rd
Matt Alvarez – 2013 Non-Drafted Free agent
Evan Beal – 2014 21st Rd
Josh Staumont – 2015 2nd Rd $964k – 97-100 mph w/ not much effort. Has he found control?
Derek Gordon – 2015 Non-Drafted Free agent, brother of Alex
Brennan Henry – 2014 17th Rd
Tim Hill – 2014 32nd Rd
Mark McCoy – 2015 29th Rd
Colin Rodgers – 2012 3rd Rd $700k
Matt Tenuta – 2012 25th Rd $100k
Ian Tompkins – 2014 14th Rd

This is the 22nd season that the Royals will have their High-A affiliate in Wilmington with only a two year gap in High Desert during the 2005 and 2006 seasons. The last time the Rocks won the Carolina league championship was 1999 when Dee Brown and Chris George were on the club at different times during the season.

Northwest Arkansas Naturals

Three of Baseball Prospectus’ top 10 Royals prospects find their way on the Naturals roster to begin the 2016 season as Bubba Starling, Raul Mondesi and Hunter Dozier all repeat the Double-a level to start the season. All three have some refinement to do at the plate considering each struggled at times in the ’15 season. For Mondesi one would hope a year in age will add a year of patience. Dozier hopes to just make more contact. Starling can build on the confidence he gathered in one of his better all around seasons. They will be joined by utility man and sometime shortstop Ramon Torres and a pair of middle infielders turned outfielders in Carlos Garcia and Orlando Calixte. Interesting that both are being moved to the outfield in hopes of gaining versatility so they can try to achieve roles as utility men down the road. The roster is interesting and may lack pop as it features five different players that were signed as shortstops at one point to start their career.

Cam Gallagher C – 2011 2nd Rd $750k – Will getting out of the Carolina league waken the bat?
Zane Evans C – 2013 4th Rd $400k
Frank Schwindel 1b – 2013 18th Rd
Mauricio Ramos IF – 2010 IFA
Raul Mondesi SS – 2011 IFA $2m – Needs to add some patience to his approach/Age no excuse
Ramon Torres 2b – 2009 IFA
Jack Lopez MIF – 2011 16th Rd $750k
Hunter Dozier 3b – 2013 1st Rd $2.2m – 151 K’s in ’15, needs to get back to what he was
Orlando Calixte OF – 2010 IFA $1m
Carlos Garcia OF – 2008 IFA
Bubba Starling CF – 2011 1st Rd $7.5m – Can he build on ’15 and get to KC in ’16?
Logan Moon OF – 2014 6th Rd $5k

Do the math above and you will see the Royals have nearly $15m invested in position players at this level. I’m sure would like to get a return on investment in a couple or more of those guys.

Not to be outdone by the expensive and highly ranked position players there are a few quality pitching prospects for the Naturals. Lefty Matt Strahm, right-hander Alec Mills and former 3rd round pick Erik Skoglund make up a strong starting core. It’s a much less heralded group that features starting pitchers who need to survive on the corners instead of trying to blow hitters away.

Matt Strahm – 2012 21st Rd $100k – Real deal or Carolina mask for this lefty?
Christian Binford – 2011 30th Rd $575k
Erik Skoglund – 2014 3rd Rd $576k
Alec Mills – 2012 22nd Rd – 4 pitch mix enough to get AA hitters out consistently?
Jake Junis – 2011 29th Rd $675k – Late bloomer who is finally getting it?
Eric Stout – 2014 13th Rd
Sam Selman – 2012 2nd Rd $750k – Specialty lefty in the bigs or AA ceiling?
Benino Pruneda – 2007 31st Rd pick of Atlanta Braves 200k
Mark Peterson – 2012 Non-Drafted Free Agent
Kevin McCarthy – 2013 16th Rd
Andrew Edwards – 2013 19th Rd
Estarlin Cordero – 2012 IFA
Yender Caramo – 2010 IFA

Overall, I would rate Low-A Lexington as the most intriguing group of prospects among these three levels as they feature a talented pitching staff along and solid group of position prospects. Those players have time to grow into their talent while the Naturals and the Royals front office would like to see some returns from a group position prospects that they opened the safe for in Dozier, Starling, Mondesi and a pair of backstops.

Checkback Thursday for the preview to the Omaha Storm Chasers season and the players on their roster.

Give me a follow on Twitter @ClintScoles
Feature Photo – Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports