HR Roll Call: Brewer Hicklen, (4), Cal Jones (6), Jose Caraballo (4), Nick Pratto (4)

BPKC Hitter of the Day: Nick Pratto 4-6 3R, 2-2b, HR, 3 RBI, BB, CS (4)

BPKC Pitcher of the Day: Sal Biasi 5 IP 4 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 6 K 0-6 GO-FO 72p/48k

Omaha Storm Chasers 4 Nashville Sounds 3

A three run third inning that featured five singles gave Omaha an early 3-1 lead. That lead stood up until the seventh inning when the Sounds got a pair of runs off reliever Seth Maness thanks to a pair of walks he inherited from Mark Peterson. From that point, the game stayed tied into extra innings as Maness worked four innings, taking the game into the 11th inning. Prior to him leaving, the Chasers had given him the lead when Hunter Dozier blooped a single over the second baseman’s head with two outs to score Ramon Torres.

Lefty Sam Selman would shut the door in the bottom half of the inning on just 11 pitches, striking out the side to secure the save.

Boxscore Link

Sam Selman 1 IP 0 H 0 R 0 BB 3 K 11p/9k
Ramon Torres 0-4 R, RBI, SB (15)
Frank Schwindel 1-5 RBI
Hunter Dozier 1-5 RBI

Tulsa Drillers 16 NW Arkansas Naturals 0

The Drillers followed their name and drilled the Naturals in this one. Starter Corey Ray took the brunt of it, allowing seven runs in just one and one-third innings, giving up seven hits and two walks in that time. Things didn’t get much better for the relief staff as three different pitchers allowed nine more runs on 13 hits as Tulsa compiled 20 hits during the game. The Naturals offense didn’t do much on their end either collecting just three hits while getting just one runner into scoring position the entire night.

Boxscore Link

Same Duenez 0-4
Ryan O’Hearn 1-1 2 BB

Game 1
Down East Wood Ducks 2 Wilmington Blue Rocks 0

Starters Jared Ruxer and Rangers Wes Benjamin matched each other zero for zero until Down East got to Ruxer for a pair of runs in the sixth inning to take a lead and pick up an eventual win. The Rocks had runners in scoring position in the fourth and sixth innings but failed to score in both innings to take the loss.

Boxscore Link

Game 2
Down East Wood Ducks 4 Wilmington Blue Rocks 2

In the second game, the Rocks got on the board with an RBI single by Chris DeVito in the first inning and an RBI double by Colton Frabasilio in the second. Unfortunately, their bats would go silent from there and a four run Wood Ducks fourth inning would do them in. Starter Cristian Castillo took the loss to fall to 7-12 on the season as the lefty continues to struggle in the season’s second half.

Boxscore Link

Chris DeVito 1-5 RBI, BB
Wander Franco 1-5 2b, BB
Jared Ruxer 5.2 IP 4 H 2 R 2 ER 2 BB 2 K 6-6 GO-FO 93p/62k

Game 1
Augusta GreenJackets 4 Lexington Legends 0

The Legends went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position and Augusta didn’t fare much better going 0 for 4, but the Giants affiliate hit for power to take down the Legends in game one. Starter Gerson Garabito gave up three solo home runs and the GreenJackets scored another run with help from a Lexington error in the shutout win.

Boxscore Link

Game 2
Augusta GreenJackets 5 Lexington Legends 3

The second game was similar to the first with the Legends going 0 for with runners in scoring position and the GreenJackets connecting on a pair of long balls to gain the victory. All three runs for Lexington came via outs while Augusta hit a pair of home runs off reliever Collin Snyder to gain control of the game in the middle innings.

Boxscore Link

Michael Gigliotti 2-5 2b
Emmanuel Rivera 0-6
Khalil Lee 1-6 2b
Gerson Garabito 6 IP 5 H 4 R 3 ER 2 BB 6 K 95p/57k 6-5 GO-FO

Pic via Post Register Idaho Falls

Idaho Falls Chukars 6 Grand Junction Rockies 4

Hard throwing Janser Lara gave Idaho Falls a quality start, tossing six innings while allowing five hits and three runs. The Dominican righty struck out seven hitters in those six innings while walking just one hitter. The Chukars offense backed Lara with six runs, scoring two runs in each of the second, third and fourth innings. Included in that outburst was a home run from ’17 draftee Brewer Hicklen that traveled a reported 455 feet.

Reliever Andrew Beckwith tossed the final three innings while allowing just one run to earn the save.

Boxscore Link

Janser Lara 6 IP 5 H 3 R 3 ER 1 BB 7 K 1-5 GO-FO
Brewer Hicklen 1-5 HR
Matt Morales 2-4 R, BB, 4 SB

Burlington Royals 5 Bristol Pirates 2

The Royals 11th round pick, Sal Biasi, tossed matched Bristol’s starter with five shutout innings before Cal Jones unloaded on his sixth home run of the season to break the scoreless tie. An RBI triple in that same inning by Sebastian Rivero tacked on another run and the Royals scored a pair of insurance runs in the ninth after the Pirates had trimmed the lead to one in the seventh.

Boxscore Link

Oliver Nunez 2-5 R, RBI
Cal Jones 1-4 HR, 2 RBI
Jeison Guzman 2-3 R, BB
Sal Biasi 5 IP 4 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 6 K 0-6 GO-FO 72p/48k

Game 1
AZL Royals 8 AZL Giants 2

Starter Randy Acevedo gave the Arizona squad a complete game, and the bats gave him a win in game one of the doubleheader. Shortstop Cristian Perez, first baseman Nick Pratto, and outfielder Jose Caraballo each had two hits and multiple RBIs with Caraballo connecting on a three run home run as part of a five run fifth inning.

Boxscore Link

Game 2
AZL Giants 5 AZL Royals 2

After the Royals took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Nick Pratto’s solo home run, pitchers Stephen Greenlees and Bryan Johnson would give that lead away, allowing five runs over the first four innings. Those five runs proved to be enough as the Royals would score just one move after a Pratto double.

Boxscore Link

Nick Pratto 4-6 3R, 2-2b, HR, 3 RBI, BB, CS (4)
Cristian Perez 2-4 R, 2b, 2 RBI
Randy Acevedo 7 IP 7 H 2 R 2 ER 0 BB 2 K 10-7 GO-FO

Thursday Probables
Omaha – Jake Kalish 2-8 3.14 ERA
NW Arkansas – Foster Griffin 14-7 3.40 ERA
Wilmington – Colin Rodgers 2-6 4.68 ERA
Burlington – Andres Sotillet 3-3 6.02 ERA
Idaho Falls – TBD
AZL Royals – TBD

HR Roll Call Paulo Orlando (2), Mauricio Ramos (10), Khalil Lee (15), Manny Olloque (6), Seuly Matias (6), Parker Morin (2)

BPKC Hitter of the Day Khalil Lee 4-5 3R, HR, 2-2b, 5 RBI

BPKC Pitcher of the Day Sal Biasi 5 IP 0 H 0 R 0 Bb 7 K 7-1 Go-FO

Omaha Storm Chasers 10 Oklahoma City Dodgers 1

The Chasers offense assured the team of a fourth win in five games versus the Dodgers Triple-A squad. All nine members of the lineup had at least one hit as the Chasers pounded out 17 on the night including six members with multiple hits. The hits combined with three walks led to 10 runs while the offense three pitchers limited the Dodgers to just one run on seven hits.

Outfielder Paulo Orlando got the scoring started in the first with a three run home run to bring in Ramon Torres and Raul Mondesi. The Chasers would add three more multiple run innings with Mondesi and Orlando capping the scoring on a Frank Schwindel single in the eighth.

Boxscore Link

Raul Mondesi 3-5 2R, 2b, 3b
Paulo Orlando 2-4 3R, 2b, HR, 3 RBI
Ramon Torres 2-5 R
Jorge Soler 1-5 R, 2b, RBI
Hunter Dozier 2-3 R, 2b, 2BB
Kevin Lenik 3 IP 0 H 0 R 0 BB 2 K

NW Arkansas Naturals 4 Frisco RoughRiders 0

The Naturals got a first inning grand slam from Mauricio Ramos and some assistance Frisco and their inability to cash in on opportunities. First inning singles from Humberto Arteaga, Samir Duenez, and Ryan O’Hearn came in front of the Ramos blast. From there starter Foster Griffin struggled with his control with five walks in five and two-third innings but kept Frisco off the board with just four hits allowed.

Reliever Tim Hill worked the final three and one-third innings scoreless with just a hit and walk allowed while striking out three. Combined the two pitchers limited Frisco to 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position while the Naturals added just three hits after the first inning.

Boxscore Link

Samir Duenez 1-4 R
Ryan O’Hearn 1-4 R
Nicky Lopez 1-4
Foster Griffin 5.2 IP 4 H 0 R 0 ER 5 BB 3 K 7-2 GO-FO 90p/49k

Lexington Legends 14 Asheville Tourists 3

After back to back nine run games the Legends offense took up another notch, scoring fourteen runs on 22 hits. Outfielder Khalil Lee and Meibrys Viloria paced the offense with Lee driving in five and Viloria knocking in four while both collecting four hits along the way.

The Legends pitching staff kept the Rockies Low-A squad off the board until the eighth inning as starter Ofreidy Gomez worked seven shutout innings before turning the game over to the bullpen.

Boxscore Link

Khalil Lee 4-5 3R, HR, 2-2b, 5 RBI
Meibrys Viloria 4-5 2R, 2b, 4 RBI
Michael Gigliotti 3-6 R, 2b, RBI
Vance Vizcaino 3-3 4R, 3BB
Ofreidy Gomez 7 IP 7 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 3 K 75p/52k 11-3 GO-FO

Burlington Royals 3 Princeton Rays 1

The Royals kept the Rays off the bases which led to a quick victory on Friday. Starter JC Cloney gave up a run on three hits in his three innings before turning things over to a shutdown bullpen. The run Cloney gave up was countered by a two-run single from Oliver Nunez in the second and a solo home run by Seuly Matias in the third inning.

After Cloney left Sal Biasi came in and was perfect four five innings, striking out seven while the only base runner that Burlington gave up while Biasi was in was via a Jeison Guzman error. Closer Tyler Zuber gave up a single in the ninth but struck out the final two hitters he faced to close the game in just 2 hours and 3 minutes.

Boxscore Link

Seuly Matias 1-5 HR
Jeison Guzman 1-3 BB
Sal Biasi 5 IP 0 H 0 R 0 Bb 7 K 7-1 Go-FO

AZL Padres2 6 AZL Royals 4

The Royals defense let a 4-3 lead slip away and lead to a defeat. A three-run home run by Parker Morin in the sixth inning gave the Royals that one run lead but a throwing error by Cristian Perez in the seventh gave the Padres2 the lead back. Then in the ninth, another throwing error, this one by Tyler James, plated another Padres2 run to give them a two run lead and eventual win.

Boxscore Link

MJ Melendez 0-1 R, 3 BB
Nick Pratto 2-4 R
Marlin Willis 4 IP 6 H 3 R 3 ER 0 BB 3 K 5-3 GO-FO

DSL Royals 2 DSL A’s 1

Starter Adriam Castillo continued his solid run of pitching, limiting the A’s to five hits in five shutout innings. The right-handed starter lowered his ERA to 0.85 ERA on the season while keeping his WHIP at just 0.71 for the season.

A bases loaded walk to Kember Nacero in the fifth and a rbi double by Brayant Aponte in the sixth provided the Royals all the offense that they would need.

Boxscore Link

Adriam Castillo 5 IP 5 H 0 R 0 ER 1 BB 4 K 6-2 GO-FO
Kember Nacero 0-3 RBI, BB

HR Roll Call: Jorge Soler (15), Cheslor Cuthbert (2), Jonathan McCray (6), Dennicher Carrasco (6), Sebastian Rivero (3), Cal Jones (1)

BPKC Hitter of the Day: Jorge Soler 2-4 2 HR 3 RBI

How strong is Soler Power? Enough to untie a game. pic.twitter.com/Gx52xDIF7d

— Omaha Storm Chasers (@OMAStormChasers) July 21, 2017

BPKC Pitcher of the Day: Angel Zerpa 6 IP 5 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 10 K 1-4 GO-FO

Omaha Storm Chasers 6 Colorado Springs Sky Sox 4

A pair of players some figured would contribute on the big league roster led the way for Omaha Thursday night. Infielder Cheslor Cuthbert had two hits including his first home run for the Chasers this season. That home run went well with Jorge Soler’s two home runs including a bomb to center in the ninth that broke a 4-4 tie. Reliever Eric Stout was just that, working a perfect ninth with a pair of strikeouts.

Boxscore Link

Jorge Soler 2-4 2 HR, 3 RBI
Cheslor Cuthbert 2-3 2R, HR, BB
Cam Gallagher 2-4 RBI
Ryan O’Hearn 2-4 R, 2b
Miguel Almonte 2.1 IP 2 H 0 R 0 ER 2 BB 1 K
Eric Stout 1 IP 0 H 0 R 0 BB 2 K 12p/7k

Tulsa Drillers 2 NW Arkansas Naturals 1

The Naturals couldn’t get much done on offense with three hitters in the lineup collecting hits but the rest coming up empty. Starter Glenn Sparkman tossed five shutout innings, but Jake Kalish couldn’t match that effort, giving up a pair of two out hits to allow both Tulsa runs.

Boxscore Link

Samir Duenez 2-4 RBI
Donnie Dewees 0-4
Nicky Lopez 0-4

Frederick Keys 8 Wilmington Blue Rocks 2

The Rocks pitchers were tuned up for eight total runs while the offense couldn’t keep pace on their end, going 2 for 7 with runners in scoring position to push just two runs across. Second baseman Jon McCray, getting some play after a push from Idaho Falls, hit his second home run in as many games, but it wasn’t enough for the Rocks.

Boxscore Link

Chris DeVito 1-4 RBI
Brandon Downes 2-4 R, 2b
Chase Vallot 0-4 4K

Columbia Fireflies 4 Lexington Legends 0

The league’s top pitching squad continued to dominate the South Atlantic League’s top offense as Columbia shutout Lexington and limited them to just three singles on the night. Lefty Andre Davis took the tough luck loss despite giving up just one run in his five innings.

Boxscore Link

Andre Davis 5 IP 6 H 1 R 1 ER 0 BB 5 K 6-3 GO-FO 93p/59k
Emmanuel Rivera 0-3 BB
Marten Gasparini 2-3

Helena Brewers 7 Idaho Falls Chukars 4

The Chukars relief pitcher Christopher Marte couldn’t keep the Helena Brewers bats silent, losing a 4-1 lead with six runs allowed from the sixth through eighth innings. Starter Janser Lara is still working his way back to full strength and was limited in his pitch count, which ended his day at three and one-third innings when his control wavered with three walks allowed.

Boxscore Link

Janser Lara 3.1 IP 2 H 1 R 1 ER 3 Bb 3 K 4-1 GO-FO 59p/35k
Amalani Fukofuka 1-3 R, BB, SB (18)

Burlington Royals 8 Johnson City Cardinals 1

Starter Sal Biasi limited the opponent to just two hits to earn his first Appy League win. The Royals 11th round pick has allowed just 12 hits in 21.2 innings since being drafted, but will need to miss more bats as he climbs the chain.

The Royals offense backed the starter with plenty of pop from the bats as the Royals knocked three home runs including a grand slam from centerfielder Cal Jones. The offense scored eight runs despite going 3 for 14 with runners in scoring position.

Boxscore Link

Seuly Matias 2-5 2b
Sebastian Rivero 2-4 HR
Cal Jones 1-4 HR, 4 RBI
Dennicher Carrasco 1-4 HR

DSL Royals 4 DSL Astros 2

The Royals got a pair of early runs and an outstanding start from Angel Zerpa before hanging on with their All-Star reliever on the mound. The 17-year-old Zerpa was dominant, striking out 10 in six innings while working around five hits. The Royals tacked on a couple runs in the eighth thanks to doubles by Warling Vicente and Edickson Soto to push their lead to 4-0 which came in handy as Kelvin Gonzalez struggled with his control, walking three and allowing two runs before earning the save.

Boxscore Link

Angel Zerpa 6 IP 5 H 0 R 0 ER 0 BB 10 K 1-4 GO-FO
Kelvin Gonzalez 3 IP 2 H 2 R 1 ER 3 Bb 1 K
Warling Vicente 1-3 2R, 2b, BB

In this article, we’ll review rounds 11-20 and will look at rounds 21-40 a little later today.

Quick Analysis
Best Pick: Nick Pratto
Favorite Pick: Michael Gigliotti
Most Physical Position Pick: Brewer Hicklen
Biggest Upside: M.J. Melendez
Might Surprise Top 10 Rd: Tyler Zuber
Might Surprise Rd 11-40: Bryar Johnson

Check out previous Royals draft pieces:

Rounds 1-4
Rounds 5-10
Interview with Lonnie Goldberg

11. Sal Biasi RHP 6′ 190 lbs Penn St. 9/30/95 Signed $125k 

In Biasi, the Royals are getting a stocky right-handed college starter who works his fastball in the low 90s while topping out at 95 mph. A durable and dependent starter at pitcher at Penn State, Biasi took the hill for 27 starts the last two years with consistency and an ability to keep the ball low in the zone. This attribute helped him limit the home runs he allowed while striking out more than a hitter per inning the last two seasons.

Biasi has a body similar to that of Jake Junis, so perhaps the Royals believe they can refine his three-pitch mix to help him become a back end starting pitcher. If  he’s unable to make that step, then Biasi’s fastball and curveball combination could play up in the pen.

Analysis – An innings eater body who you hope can refine the changeup to become an impact pitcher.

12. Collin Snider RHP 6’4 200lbs Vanderbilt University 10/10/95 Signed $125k

Inconsistency has been the name of Snider’s game in college during the Vanderbilt season and in summer league seasons. After two solid seasons from the Vanderbilt bullpen, Snider struggled this past season after an up and down summer in the Cape Cod League. Hopes of refining and tightening the slider along with the changeup could help him in the bullpen or even as a starter in the minor leagues.

d1baseball.com – Snider is high-waisted with a very strong lower half and long limbs, and his arm action looked very free and easy on Saturday. He generated good plane on his consistent 91-93 mph fastball and he showed easy life through the zone. He varies his breaking ball from a truer 82-84 mph short, above average two plane slider to a shorter 10-4 curveball at 80-81 mph. Snider also sprinkled in a big league average 85-86 mph changeup, a pitch he retained his arm speed and slot with consistently. He pounded away at the lower part of the zone in this one for most of the summer, throwing all three pitches for strikes.

Analysis – He looks like organizational depth with a lottery ticket as a bullpen piece.

13. Cason Sherrod RHP 6’4 215 lbs Texas A&M 6/25/96

Sherrod is a hard thrower who can run his fastball as high as 98 mph while working mostly in the mid 90s from his physical 6’4 215 lbs frame. The right-handed reliever is hearing impaired which lagged his on field development when he was younger, but it has shown no signs of holding him back in college. The control has wavered this season, walking 24 hitters in just 43 innings this season for the College World Series participant Aggies.

The arm action is long which likely leads to the difficulty in repeating the delivery. To go with his fastball that features armside run, Sherrod tosses a hard breaking curveball in the high 70s to low 80s that can be above average at times.

Analysis - You can’t go wrong adding a hard thrower. Clean up the delivery and the Royals could have a nice bullpen piece here.

14. Isaiah Henry CF 6’3 185 lbs North Shore H.S. Houston, TX 3/22/99

Henry has extreme athleticism with a short stroke but impactful bat speed that could present a solid gap to gap power if he can develop more strength and bat control down the road. Considering the bat speed, the arm strength at 95 mph off the mound, and the running speed, Henry has more than a few tools from which to build on in a development program.

Perfect Game – He is also a 70-grade runner with a long and angular build and plenty of bat speed and leverage in his right-handed swing to drive the ball into the gaps. Henry has also been a football standout at a football oriented high school, so his relative lack of repetitions and experience both as a hitter and on the mound is understandable. 

Analysis - Getting Henry away from Alvin Community College shouldn’t be that difficult, and this type of athlete isn’t falling off trees. Big time upside here in the 14th Round by the Royals.

15. Robert Garcia LHP 6’3 220 lbs UC Davis 6/14/96

Garica is a lefty who throws his fastball in the 88-92 mph range and as high as 94 mph from the left side. In addition to the fastball, he mixes in a low-80s slider and a changeup that also registers in the low 80s.

After a strong season in ’16, Garcia’s numbers backed up despite a decent Cape Cod season the summer prior.

Analysis – A good frame that needs a secondary pitch to come forward.

16. Chris Hudgins C 6’1 190 lbs Cal State Fullerton 3/2/96

Teams always need quality catching depth, and that’s what Hudgins offers as a decent catch and throw backstop. The catcher features some decent power but hasn’t been able to get to it much in his career at Cal State.

Analysis – He’s an organizational catcher.

17. Julio Gonzalez SS 5’10 185 lbs Florida Gulf Coast 6/14/95 Signed $125k

After a couple seasons at Seminole State JUCO, Gonzalez got the bump to FGCU. Coach Tollet knew he was getting a solid defender at shortstop from the alma mater of Manny Machado’s high school, but likely got more than he bargained for at the plate.

A patient hitter with as many walks as strikeouts, Gonzalez shows off a gap to gap approach at the top of the order that allowed him to put up a nearly identical line in his first year of Division I ball despite the jump in competition.

Analysis – Adding a solid middle of the infield defender with a patient plate approach is a smart move for any organization.

18. Marlin Willis LHP 6’4 195 lbs McEachern HS Powder Springs, GA 6/5/98

A high school left-hander with a commitment to Georgia State, Willis features a tantalizing frame for a future starter and relatively clean mechanics. He features a fastball that currently works in the high 80s while topping out at 91 mph, and the lefty also works a curveball that needs refinement. The length of delivery, ability to repeat his mechanics and athleticism gives a team something to dream on here.

Analysis – If they’re able to sign him, then this is a nice developmental piece to add.

19. Korry Howell SS 6’2 175 lbs Kirkwood Community College 9/1/98

A 6.5 runner in the 60, Howell showed off his great speed at the JUCO ranks this season, setting a Kirkwood record with 43 stolen bases. Not just a speedster, Howell paced his team with a .394 average while also ranking second in home runs on the club with six this season out of the leadoff spot.

Perfect Game – Howell is a very athletic shortstop at present; though some feel that his likely future home is center field. He’s a plus runner with the instincts to be a base-stealing threat at the next level; along with some raw bat speed and projectable power potential. 

Analysis – Strong all-around tools to provide an impact in the middle of the diamond. Solid get with projection in this round.

20. Bryar Johnson RHP 6’3 200 lbs Carolina Forest HS Myrtle Beach, SC 8/17/99 Signed $125

This right-handed pitcher with a physical body features a fastball that he currently pumps into the high 80s to just into the low 90s while topping out at 91 mph at present from a high 3/4 delivery. Alongside the fastball, Johnson features a tight breaking curveball that he tosses in the high 70s. The righty is able to manipulate the breaking ball and turn it into a slurve offering featuring tight movement or making it a larger curve version with 12-6 movement.

It sounds like adding him to the organization is a real possibility, which could be a plus considering the age as he’s not yet 18. His ability to manipulate spin and short quick movement with arm speed makes him intriguing.

Analysis – Despite the round, I believe this is an upside play with a real chance to develop considering the acumen for spin next to the quick arm. If he gets a tick up in velocity the Royals could really have something here.