Lexington Legends Update-The Good And Bad-May 11th, 2013

MAY 11^th, 2013-Just over 30 games into the 2013 campaign, the Legends appear to have shown their greatest strengths where this year's roster is concerned. We've seen enough to know where we stand out: pitching and speed. Here are some of those strengths (and weaknesses), and whence they lie.

Now don't get me wrong. There's plenty of power potential in the lineup, with C Cam Gallagher, CF Bubba Starling, 1B-RF Fred Ford and (surprisingly) SS Raul Mondesi flashing extra-base pop. Starling, specifically, is beginning to come around, and will likely prove many early detractors wrong about his ability to handle SAL pitchers. Mondesi has been speculated about, here and there, as far as a young prospect who will develop some power as he grows into his 6'1” frame. At a lithe 165 pounds, there's still plenty of room for growth, even for a player with his range and at his position.

Problem is, there have been early injuries to key run producers: Gallagher was hit by a pitch in Asheville, and is now on the DL with a broken hand. Mark Threlkeld was hit in the very first game in his very first at-bat and remains on the DL with a fractured arm. Starling left the team for a few days earlier in the year for an undisclosed reason (nothing serious, as I understand it) which may have affected his hitting.

Also at the heart of the Legends' issues: it doesn't seem that anyone on this team will be winning a batting title, anytime soon. Gallagher leads the team with a .268 average, and he's on the DL. What this team can do, however, is flash the leather. Mondesi, Humberto Arteaga and Yowill Espinal are all quite adept glove men up the middle. Espinal and Arteaga can cover the hot corner if needed, and so can Nick Cuckovich (corner infielder-outfielder), but so far Mike Antonio has had the bulk of the time. Antonio's eight miscues at third, along with Mondesi's eight, are somewhat misleading. Mondesi covers enough ground to snag grounders on the right side of 2B, and has done so several times already. 

This ability is, at once, his greatest strength as well as his greatest weakness. Sometimes, you have to know when to let a play go, or at least to allow another fielder a chance to get to it. Antonio is a much better fielder than the numbers would suggest, as well. He's got enough arm to make the throw to first from foul territory; he's done so on at least two occasions, one of which beat the runner. We're not talking 'cannon', necessarily, but he's got plenty of arm for third nevertheless.

At first base, Ford has acquitted himself very well; to talk to him, you'd think he doesn't necessarily feel he's done a good job at first. Ford is not the kind of guy who will rest on his laurels. Moreover, he has enough power potential to be a full-timer either at first or in right (his originally intended position), and would likely field either position just as well.

In left, Terrance Gore runs like a deer. His glove, along with Starling's, are to the outfield what Mondesi's is to the infield, only somewhat more steady. Gore has 18 steals in his 32 games, and seems to have an ideal combination of raw speed, first-step quickness and aggression. As I've stated several times before, I would be surprised if he didn't end the year with 70+ steals, even with a mid-season promotion.

In center, Starling has a rifle of an arm and tons of range. There are times in which he seems to let his frustration (either with previous at-bats or a fielding miscue) boil to the surface. This has not been a frequent occurrence, but it is something he will have to address as he progresses. Still, at least you know he cares about his performance. It's just that he has to be careful not to let it get to him if he's not doing well.

Over in right field, Ethan Chapman (easily one of my all-time favorite minor-leaguers, already) is underrated still, both as a hitter and in the field. He recently showcased his ability to gun down a runner at the plate from deep in right; indeed, nearly at the wall. Chapman let loose a throw that cracked the leather of the catcher's glove on a dead line, making said throw essentially flat-footed. Chapman has also swiped 14 bags this year, second only to Gore. I may be looking in the wrong places for news, but it seems to me that Chapman is still being somewhat overlooked as far as this year's assessments of minor-league prospects are concerned.

Lexington's pitching has been exceedingly strong, so far. Five of our six starters have ERAs at 3.52 or lower, with RHP Aroni Nina the exception. Nina, in terms of progress, is somewhat worrisome in that he's spent the last five years in rookie ball. He is now 23 and has had some rocky showings as a starter. However, while he's allowed a .286 BA when the bases are empty, that number drops to

.250 with runners on, leading one to believe he may be better served as a reliever.

At any rate, RHPs Brian Brickhouse, Christian Binford and Miguel Almonte, along with lefties Daniel Stumpf and Colin Rodgers, have made short work of opposing batsmen this season. Brickhouse (1-3, 2.41 ERA in 33 2/3 IP) struck out 9 in 6 2/3 innings, allowing only 2 hits and shutting out the Lakewood Blue Claws in the process on his way to a Legends win. While he's had a strong year, statistically, there are signs that he's actually picking up steam. Binford (2-2, 3.21 in 33 2/3 innings) has allowed 2 runs or less in 5 of his 6 starts, giving fits to left-handed batters (.212 BAA, 1 extra-base hit in 55 PA) and being generally steady and sure. Almonte (1-4, 3.48 in 31 innings) has made five of his six starts on the road, holding batters to a .243 average in 112 plate appearances. He cut down 16 batters in his last two combined starts (12 2/3 innings), and while he has had a few rough starts there is potential here. It's possible that he could end up a solid #3 starter at the higher levels, but he has work to do before that happens.

Stumpf (3-0, 1.03 ERA in 26 1/3 IP) has only allowed opponents to score in two of his five starts. He's actually been nearly unhittable with runners on base (.105 BA in 43 PA), striking out 14 of the batters he's faced in those situations. While I expected Brickhouse (or Scott Alexander) to become the ace of this rotation, Stumpf has an iron grip on that title.

Rodgers (2-1, 2.84 ERA in 25 1/3 innings) has had some early inconsistency, but he's also shown flashes of brilliance: in his home start vs. the Greenville Drive on April 19^th he went 7 shutout innings, striking out six and walking only one for his first win of the year. He, also, has been tougher in away games than at The Bank (.271 BAA at home; .139 in away games). A .349 BABIP in his home appearances is a sign of defensive lapses behind him, and is likely to drop sharply in the coming weeks.

Out of the 'pen, RHPs Alec Mills, Mark Peterson, Cory Hall, Ali Williams and Daniel Hernandez, along with LHPs Clayton Schulz and Scott Alexander, comprise one of the best relief corps in The Sally. Hernandez, Alexander, Hall and Mills all have ERAs under 2.00, and five different relievers have recorded at least one save. Mills leads the team with five, while Peterson has four, Schulz and Hernandez have two each and Alexander has one. It seems that any one of them could be facing down your team in the ninth.

Williams has had two outings that could be considered 'very bad', but for the most part he appears to be (at times) a dominant power pitcher who mows down batters at will. One wonders what will be the result when he becomes a bit more consistent; as it stands now, he could be a 7^th or 8^th inning pitcher/set-up type in the making. He has bee roughed up by RHH and with runners on the bags, but this could be remedied with time and experience.

In Hernandez's 7 appearances for Lexington this year, he's given up runs in only one of them. At first glance, I wanted to say that he's been the most consistent of all the Legends relievers; that would not be the case. Schulz and Alexander have had similarly overpowering years, so far. The most recent addition to the team, RHP Chas Byrne, is the grandson of former Yankees/Browns/White Sox/Senators LHP Tommy Byrne, and joins the Legends after missing all of the 2012 season.

So, to summarize:

Strengths

-Strong pitching (starters and relievers)

-Speed on the bases and in the OF

-Tight D in the middle infield

Weaknesses

-Power has been lacking

-No batter hitting even .270

-Lack of a dominant cleanup hitter to hit behind table-setters at top of lineup

With the way the Savannah Sand Gnats have rolled to first place, the Legends have a lot of work to do if they want to catch them. There's not much of a chance that we can match them, hitting-wise, but our pitching and defense (along with some smart, fundamental hitting) could inch us ever closer to the division lead. At this stage in the game, it's all about 'baby steps'. There's a lot of baseball yet to play.

Lexington Legends Update: May 3rd, 2013

MAY 3rd, 2013-As the first month of the season comes to a close, there have been some interesting developments in Lexington. Some players have dug themselves out of early slumps, some have caught fire, and some are off to a slow start. I suppose one could say that about every team in the league, but I'm not concerned with every team; I'm about our Legends.

(All stats up to date as of April 30th)

In the infield:

Cam Gallagher, C

16 games, 56 AB, 15 H, 6 2B, 5 RBI, 3 K, .268 BA, .300 OBP, .675 OPS, 1 error

Gallagher has been splitting time behind the plate with Jin-Ho Shin, whose overall numbers nearly mirror Gallagher's. The powerfully-built receiver has at least average-plus power potential, and already makes such frequent contact that opposing pitchers have managed to send him back on strikes only three times, thus far. He could stand to draw a few more walks, here and there (2 total on the season), but when you're putting the ball in play nearly every time you go to the plate it doesn't matter a whole lot how many walks you take. Cam has a solid arm and handles his pitchers well; I've mentioned his 'quiet leadership' several times now, and he's shown himself to be exactly that type. I had expected a bit more in the power department, but we're only a month into 2013 so let's wait and see how things develop. Cam is currently on the 7-day DL after suffering a broken hand in Asheville, the result of a misplaced fastball.

Jin-Ho Shin, C

17 games, 55 AB, 14 H, 4 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 12 BB, 16 K, .255 BA, .388 OBP, .770 OPS

Shin's playing time has increased of late, due to Gallagher's injury. The Royals organization's first-ever Korean-born player has acquitted himself well thus far, with 4 doubles and 7 runs scored in 55 at-bats. Trivia bit for you: Shin hit the very first homer at Whitaker Bank Ballpark for the newly-assigned Royals affiliate. It was quite a shot, too; well over the LF bleachers. Shin is not quite as mobile behind the plate as Gallagher, and his lateral movement is just a tick below his as well, but he's been blocking balls in the dirt pretty well and does a solid job of watching and controlling the running game. With time and experience, he should at least become a valuable backup.

Fred Ford, 1B

25 games, 4 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 17 BB, 35 K, .179 BA, .323 OBP

Ford has struggled mightily at the plate (.179 BA in 25 games, 35 strikeouts), but he's held down the first bag well and shown promise with the bat despite the numbers. When he does make contact, it's usually hard contact. As with all players of great height (Ford is 6'5”), Ford has a lot of strike zone to protect. Taller players sometimes take more time to become consistent hitters, since they have more of a zone to exploit. Ford is also in his first year of full-season ball, and between these two factors he may just take a bit longer to come around. Still one to watch; there's great power potential here.

Humberto Arteaga, 2B

23 games, 0 HR, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 17 K, .138 BA, .156 OBP

OK, the offensive numbers are horrible. But like I said before in previous posts, Arteaga is quite the glove man. He's going to see a lot of innings in the field because of his smooth actions, soft hands and plus arm (at 2^nd base), and his pairing with Mondesi at short has to be one of the best in the whole Sally League (if not THE best). I do believe there will be some production here at the plate, but he's not going to be known for his bat. It doesn't matter much when you're that good with the leather.

Raul Mondesi, SS

24 games, 9 runs, 24 hits, 5 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 11 BB, 26 K, 3 SB, .261 BA, .333 OBP, .746 OPS

If you don't know about this kid yet, then you're not paying attention. The more I see him in the field, the more I wish ESPN would send a camera crew to the Bluegrass. Now there are a lot of talented guys here, and there have been quite a few flashy plays in the field, but Mondesi has certainly stood out both for his age (17) and his stunning range.

As I mentioned before, he's going to have to learn to harness that range to keep from drifting into second base territory or shallow right-center (both of which he has done several times). The thing is, he makes even those plays; that doesn't mean he should, though. He'll come around. What's surprising to me is the fact that he's leading the team in RBI. I expected him to develop some pop (at least a modest amount), but not to become a run producer as the youngest player on his team.

Michael Antonio, 3B

23 games, 84 AB, 17 hits, 3 2B, 8 RBI, 3 BB, 18 K, .202 BA, .236 OBP

One of the lesser-known prospects in the Royals system, Antonio has had some struggles of his own at the plate. Ranked the 16^th best prospect in KC's system going into 2012, Antonio has shown some power in 2010 and 2011 (AZL Royals and Burlington, respectively), but in 123 games at Kane County last year he hit only .213. It was still relatively productive season for him, with 23 doubles and 64 RBI, while his strikeout total was appreciably low (79). This indicates that Antonio makes frequent contact but has yet to develop consistently solid contact. His learning curve may be steeper than one would expect from a player with his previous assessment, but he'll come around. One very promising stat (though a small sample size): he's batted .333 with runners in scoring position (21 at-bats).

In the outfield:

Terrance Gore, LF

25 games, 84 AB, 21 H, 4 2B, 1 3B, 9 RBI, 14 SB, .250 BA, .330 OBP

I'm very high on this kid. You may have noticed that from some of my previous posts. I mean, what's not to like here? Compact and powerfully built, Gore displays the kind of speed we should consider ourselves lucky to have in Lexington. Indeed, ANY team would love to have this sort of base stealer in their lineup. If I seem sort of over-the-top in my praise, I invite you to watch him closely over the course of a few games. Then tell me what you think.

Gore covers tons of ground in left, and would likely be in center if Bubba Starling were not already there. He is, essentially, death to flyballs. I've watched him make several shoestring catches, spear short liners on a dive, and nearly eat brick while running down flies in foul territory. On that subject: what may not be fully appreciated about Gore's game is that he's a very physical player. He puts his body through a lot of battering in order to play the sort of style he has adopted as his own, and that sort of play can catch up with you (unless you're Pete Rose). So far, Gore has shown no signs of slowing down, and while he already has 14 steals in 25 games that pace could actually increase in the coming months. If he remains in Lexington for a full season, he has every chance to steal 100 bags. I absolutely stand by that assessment. Watch him sometime, and see if you agree.

Bubba Starling, CF

24 games, 87 AB, 13 R, 17 H, 4 2B, 4 HR, 12 RBI, 7 BB, 33 K, .195 BA, .263 OBP, .642 OPS

Before you judge the overall numbers, it's important to note that a couple of weeks ago Bubba was hovering near .100 on his batting average. He's hit .263 in his last ten games, with 3 homers, 2 doubles and 10 RBI. He has averaged a strikeout per game in that span, but has also walked 5 times and scored 8 runs. It's also important to remember that many players have to cope with problems that are far away from the eyes and ears of most fans, and that has to be taken into account. This kid is, without a doubt, the whole package. That will become quite evident once things heat up for him. And they're starting to do just that. There are already a lot of KC fans out there who are saying that he's a bust as a prospect. It should go without saying that this is an asinine conclusion. One thing is for certain: Starling is on the rise. When he finally gets all cylinders firing, tell your pitching staff to watch the heck out.

Ethan Chapman, RF

25 games, 75 AB, 9 R, 21 H, 3 2B, 5 RBI, 13 SB,

.280 BA, .345 OBP, .665 OPS, 0 errors

Exciting: that pretty much sums up his playing style. Chapman didn't come into 2013 as the 'big name prospect' on Lexington's roster, but it's looking like a lot of scouts and fantasy baseball pundits may have missed the mark. He plays a controlled-aggressive sort of ball, and makes it work to the utmost. Chapman doesn't so much steal a base as take it by force; he's got very good base running instincts and knows when to advance or steal a bag, so he's not type of thief that Gore has shown himself to be. It's the combination of instinct, speed and first-step quickness that makes Chappy so efficient, and that's the sort of base stealer that remains successful at higher levels. He gets great reads and knows when to run on the pitcher. He'll have to adjust his game a bit when he faces stronger-armed catchers at AA and beyond, but I see no reason why he won't be able to do so.

And a couple of players I've not seen much, but am intrigued about nevertheless: 

Adrian Morales, IF

He's only collected 11 at-bats thus far, but I for one am very interested in seeing more of this young man. There is a way he carries himself that seems to say “stand on the plate and I'll put you under it”. I can't help but respect players like Morales because they don't ever back down, they play like they're ready to run through a brick wall to score, and they accept whatever role the team needs to be filled. Powerfully built and with just enough of a nasty streak, Morales could be a secret weapon even as a part-time player; his versatility allows him to play first, second or third, and he has enough power potential to find a role at least as a team's secondary run producer (batting 6^th or 7^th in a stacked lineup). He's aggressive enough and sufficiently adept as a base runner to steal in double-digits, though maybe no more than a dozen or so. The primary negative I see here is that he may not have quite enough arm for third. To me, he profiles as a second baseman with above-average power and potential to become a strong presence in any clubhouse.

Nicholas Cuckovich, 1B-3B

Thus far filling in as a third baseman, Cuckovich hasn't had a lot of exposure. In 50 at-bats he's hitting .176 and hasn't drawn a walk, striking out 15 times. He's not really had a chance to get his rhythm yet, and so I'd rather reserve judgment on his future until he has a fair opportunity to display his skill. After all, this is a player who led the Arizona League in steals in 2011 (24 in 37 games) and batted .302 with an outstanding .418 OBP. In 2012 he barely missed a step, batting .280 for Idaho Falls with a .376 OBP, though his steals dropped considerably. This was probably due more to his place in the lineup, as he was a significant run producer (44 runs scored, 43 RBI in 66 games). I'd like to see more of him; I think he's going to surprise some folks who haven't yet seen him play. 

Lexington Legends Update: April 20th, 2013

APR 20^th, 2013-Heard late evening yesterday that 1B Mark Threlkeld is getting his cast removed this weekend, and is due to return to the team early next week.

Threlkeld's cast is coming off significantly earlier than expected, and he will need a little time to test the waters where his forearm and wrist is concerned, but isn't expected to have significant issues once he hits the field.

Antonio showing a characteristic
(but controlled) aggressive swing

This may push current 1B Fred Ford back to RF, but would lead to quite a few less at-bats for Ethan Chapman, who is batting only .216 in 51 at-bats but also is second on the team with 9 SB. Playing Chapman off the bench might help him recover his batting average but could hurt the team in terms of on-base speed and runs. Plus, Chapman seems to cause a few headaches when he's on; he's an aggressive and smart base-runner who makes the most of his scoring opportunities.

In further updates:

3B Michael Antonio is tied for the team lead in BA but has drawn only one walk and scored just 2 runs. Expect this to turn around significantly, though he will also need to keep the Ks to a minimum.

SS Raul Mondesi is showing some pop, or at least enough to drive in 12 runs and lead the team in that category. Mondesi is also flashing enough glove to upholster a living room set, but he'll need to learn when not to attempt the play as well.

Gore about to burn up a baseline

LF Terrance Gore is...well, Terrance Gore. He's scored 12 runs, stolen 11 bases (including back-to-back swipes of 2^nd and 3^rd on more than one occasion), and covering approximately half our zip code in the field. He is tied with Antonio for the team lead in BA, and I expect that average to climb slowly in the next couple of weeks. I tend to gush over players like this; I won't apologize for it. If you haven't seen him play, why the heck not?

Chapman in right field

OF Ethan Chapman has been filling in at RF while Threlkeld has been out and Ford has been covering first (and covering it well). While Threlkeld's return will likely put Chapman on the bench, I wouldn't want to see his AB become limited; as mentioned, he's a valuable asset in the lineup. He's all-out in the field, runs the bases like a fugitive, hustles constantly...why wouldn't you want that?

Gallagher talks it over with Brickhouse

C Cameron Gallagher is on the pace I expected from him, while handling the staff as well as you'd like to see from a top catching prospect in your system. Of course, while Salvador Perez is in KC, whoever comes up behind him will likely be staying behind him. Barring another Perez injury, Gallagher may ultimately be trade bait or split time between catcher, first and DH. The latter would be preferable.

3B Adrian Morales may not be an offensive standout in this lineup, but he's someone I'd like to see more often. He appears to be a no-nonsense, blue-collar type, and we need more of those guys in baseball. In the coming weeks he's going to have to scrap for at-bats with IFs Nicholas Cuckovich and Yowill Espinal. Morales can cover second or third, which will help his cause, but Espinal could as well, and Espinal may have the better arm at third.

Arteaga at the plate

2B Humberto Arteaga is floundering at the plate, with 8 hits in 58 at-bats. Add to this no extra-base hits and 2 walks against 13 K and you've got an offensive offense. However, as stated previously, his glove is enough to get him in the lineup, and will continue to be. He will likely be the odd man out in late-inning pinch-hitter situations, with Morales subbing in for him.

As for pitchers (along with a few fun facts):

RHP Daniel Stumpf

LHP Daniel Stumpf has yet to allow an earned run in 10 innings (2 starts), striking out 9 and walking two. Batters are hitting .167 against him, thus far.

LHP Scott Alexander has basically been lights out in relief; in 4 games (13 innings) he's allowed a paltry 3 hits, while striking out a batter per inning and walking five. Opposing batters have one lone unearned run to show for their efforts. Bit o' Trivia: his brother, Stuart, pitched in the Marlins organization from 2004-2009.

LHP Colin Rodgers (yet another lefty) spun a stunner of a game yesterday. Rodgers went 7 shutout innings against Greenville, allowing only 2 hits, striking out 6 and walking one. In two of his three starts for Lexington this year, he's pitched near-scoreless ball (April 7^th @ Augusta-5 IP, 3 H, 2 unearned runs; April 19^th, as mentioned above). For those of you who weren't aware, Rodgers was drafted in the 3^rd round last year out of high school. Definitely one to watch, this year.

RHP Cory Hall (Canadian, and thus a player I follow closely) has allowed 2 ER in 10 relief innings, so far. Hall played for Canada in the 2006 World Junior Baseball Championships, earning a bronze medal in the process. Not too shabby.

Righty Daniel Hernandez warms up to go in

RHP Daniel Hernandez is sporting a tidy 1.86 ERA in 9 2/3 relief innings, showing power pitcher potential. On April 10^th at home vs Asheville, he went 2 2/3 innings, allowing 2 runs and walking three but sending five back to the bench on strikes. He K'd 3 in 2 shutout innings, last night. A 12^th round draftee in 2010 out of Miami-Dade, he may prove to be a later-round steal (though he would be the last person to say that, being the modest and unassuming type).

Have to say it: he's a Brick.....HOOOOUUUSE!

RHP Bryan Brickhouse has been a solid starting presence, though the victim of defensive miscues on two of his three starts. In eight runs allowed thus far, only 5 were earned. One thing that catches my eye is his marked ground-ball tendencies (2.44 ground-outs for every one fly/airout). Brick struck out 7 in 4 innings @ Augusta on the 5^th, and has kept his team in the game in all three of his starts, so far. He's a third round pick from 2011 out of high school, and was ranked KC's 17^th best prospect going into 2012 by MLB.com.

RHP Christian “Toolman” Binford (Home Improvement?...Anyone?...) is also averaging a K per inning, and has done well spacing out opponents' hits (whatever that means; Like pitchers choose when to allow them and when to not?). The 6'6” righty gets lots of leverage off the mound and can put a fastball in on hitters before they realize it. A 30^th round pick in 2011 out of high school, he threw a no-hitter in his very first HS start as a freshman in 2008.

That's it, for now. More photos to come, soon. Also, be sure to tune in to Kings of Kauffman for lots more Royals major and minor league updates, covered by better writers than me. Of course, they've been kind enough to take me in this year, so many of my updates will be on their site. 

Lexington Legends Update; April 15th, 2013

APR 15th, 2013-As we're just around a week and a half into the season, I thought I'd weigh in with some of my (humble) observations on our latest incarnation of the Legends:


Fred Ford, 1B


I don't know how many folks knew it, but Freddie can swing the lumber. He's a tall, rangy guy, so there's a bit more of a strike zone to cover for him. However, he makes consistent, hard contact, and will definitely he a reliable and steady power source for this team as the year progresses.

In a short conversation with Fred, he mentioned that while he played first base in college, he was drafted as an outfielder. Considering the ease with which he has handled first, it doesn't seem that he'll struggle defensively. Add to his experience the fact that he handles grounders with ease and can move well laterally, and you have a first sacker with significant potential. He has gotten himself tied up on short hops on a couple of occasions, but I wouldn't expect this to be anymore than a rare occurrence.

Humberto Arteaga, 2B

Bumped to second when Raul Mondesi advanced to A ball, Arteaga has more than enough range to cover the keystone. As I stated before, he could easily handle short at this and higher levels, though he doesn't quite have Mondesi's outrageous range (then again, who does?). His glove is far steadier than Mondesi's at this stage, and overall is probably the more reliable gloveman as of right now. At the plate, we haven't seen a lot from him yet, but his true value lies in his glove; whatever he does offensively (at this level) is just gravy. However, as he moves up the chain he will have to show some sort of offense if he's ever to be more than a late-inning defensive replacement and occasional starter. I see him developing into enough of a hitter that he can start at second and not cost his team anything significant in the runs department. Indeed, if he develops into a slap hitter and can draw the odd walk, he would be a great bottom-of-the-order place setter (maybe 8th?).

Raul Mondesi, SS

Not sure I could say anymore than I've already said about this kid. As long as he can rein it in a bit and cut those errors down, he'll probably make the majors based on glovework alone. He's definitely that good.

As for the bat: to look at him, you wouldn't expect much pop out of his bat. Indeed, he'll not be much in the way of power, anytime soon. Don't be too surprised, though, if he fills out a bit and becomes a reliable doubles-hitting batter in the two slot, when he makes it to the top.

Glove-wise, he has a tendency to chase any grounder between Arteaga and the third-base seats. Because of this, you're going to see a lot of errors made on balls he probably shouldn't have chased. He's got more than enough arm to play at short, and consequently he sometimes appears to be 'flipping' the ball to first. He'll be able to get by this way, for now, but when he starts facing faster and better runners he's going to have to plant and throw far more often than he does right now. He's only 17; this will all come with time.

Mike Antonio, 3B

Antonio covers third well and has adequate range to either side. He can also go back on popups quickly. The problem that I've seen with him is that he sometimes seems to have trouble making the throw to first, especially early in the game. I don't know if this is an uncommon thing for him, or if he genuinely does have difficulty making the throw, but I'm taking a 'wait and see' attitude about if. After all, we just started the season.

At the plate, he's an aggressive swinger with less arm extension than most hitters I'm used to seeing. He looks, at first glance, like an 'all-or-nothing' type swinger, but he makes consistent, hard contact, and runs hard on the bases. He looks to be a pull hitter at this stage, so I'd like to see if he can go opposite field with any sort of regularity. Until then, I still like what I've seen from him. He's been one of the few steady hitters in this lineup, thus far.

Cam Gallagher, C

Terrific glove, very good arm. This past week he threw out a Greenville steal attempt at second without bothering to stand up first, so that sort of got my attention. He controls the game well, communicates well with his pitchers, and does it all in a quiet, 'lead by example' sort of way.

At the plate, he makes frequent contact. He's shown a fair amount of pop with four doubles in 9 games, but has yet to hit a homer. He's very still and well-balanced at bat, and there's very little (if any) movement before the swing. He's been in the clean-up slot so far, and though he has only 2 RBI to show for it it's certainly not because of his performance.

Terrance Gore, LF

Wow. Just, wow. Easily one of the fastest players in professional baseball (yeah, I said that), Gore covers more real estate than an army of groundskeepers. He's a slap hitter at the plate, which is what he should be, and makes the utmost use of his plus-plus speed at every opportunity. He's a threat to steal whenever he gets on base, will easily take the extra base on a passed ball or long single, and is likely to score from second on most singles. Massively built for his 5'7" frame, he told me that "speed sort of runs in my family". It's easy to believe; on speed alone, he's a major-leaguer. Of course, we all know it takes more than one tool to make it to The Show.

At the plate, he shows good bat speed and doesn't ever try to do too much with the pitch he's given. If it takes the infielder more than one hop to get to the ball, his throw is probably going to be late. He's already bunted for 2 or 3 base hits, and with a little bunting practice could probably do it 30-40 times a year, with little difficulty. I've noticed tha
t the opposing third baseman always plays in on Gore early in the count; it's only in a two-strike count that he moves back to the dirt of the infield. For those of you who saw last year's Legends, I can tell you that he is definitely faster than Deshields. And we all know what HE did, last year.

Two more things about Gore and his stint with the Legends: if he stays here all year, he'll swipe 100 bags. No doubt. Secondly, I don't expect him to be here in June. Either way, and even with half a season in AA NW Arkansas, I still expect him to swipe 70+ bags with little effort.

Bubba Starling, CF

If anyone on this roster has struggled with the transition to Class A, it's this kid.

As a defender, he's got all the tools you'd hope to have in a player at any position. He's got a great arm, covers a lot of ground in center, and catches everything he can reach. He has made a couple of errors in the field this year, but there's a little more to it than just a number on a page.

After the trade of Wil Myers, Jake Odorizzi and Mike Montgomery, Starling essentially became the de facto top hitting prospect in the Royals organization. That's a lot of pressure to put on a kid. Through about two weeks of ball, he has struggled mightily at the plate; in 36 at-bats, he's struck out 15 times. On a number of occasions he's let his frustration get the best of him, dropping more f-bombs than he has base hits, and at least twice he's done this less than 10 feet from children sitting in the first few rows (sorry, Bubba, but it's true). My understanding is that he's since been counselled on this matter, and I really don't think it's going to be a problem in the future. He has shown his frustration both after at-bats and in the field between pitches, noticeably. Given the expectations placed on him, I can see how he (or anyone else) could let it get to him. One other thing which I believe: those moments should not define who he is, in the eyes of fans and team personnel. This is not who he is, in my humble opinion.

Ethan Chapman, RF

Here's another kid who's done his thing with little fanfare. Chapman is hitting only .176 in 34 at-bats, but I think there's more to see here.

First off, he hustles from the moment he steps onto the field. He has been on base only 8 times (six hits, two walks) but he's picked up four steals in the process. Always an aggressive baserunner, Chapman's instincts help to turn a single or a walk into a potential RBI for the batter behind him. He just looks like he seriously wants to beat the other team; some players wear that attitude on their sleeve, and he's certainly one of them.

In right, he runs down every ball he's expected to reach and a few that he should be out of range. He strikes me as a baseball rat, the kind of guy who plays his heart out every game, and when the game's over he's looking forward to the next one. That's my kind of player.

Adrian Morales, UT

Admittedly, I've only seen him play twice now, and that was at second base. But aside from the fact that Morales looks like he could make a name for himself in the octagon just as easily as he could on the diamond, this kid is not messing around when he hits the field. I saw him lay a hit on Greenville's catcher a few days ago that would have put most guys on the trainer's table. Fortunately, no one was hurt (badly), but even after being thrown out and driving through the Drive's catcher, he shot him a long glare on the way back to the Legends dugout. You can see just a little bit of a chip on that shoulder, and I have to say: I like it. If/when he gets his chance on the field, it will be interesting to see how much he affects the team's play, attitude-wise. Players like this can give your lineup a bit of a swagger they might otherwise lack, something that wouldn't exactly hurt our play.



That's all, for now. Our Legends roll back into town Thursday to face the Drive again, sort of a rematch from last week's series. I'm looking forward to more from what should be one of the most impressive teams in the South Atlantic League, this year.

What To Expect When You're Expecting...A New Affiliation

MARCH 2nd, 2013-With Spring Training just now getting underway, there are certain players who already know where they're heading when the season starts.

However, in Class A ball, it's a little harder to predict.

Kansas City carries three Rookie-level clubs (Burlington, Idaho Falls, plus an AZL team) and a total of eight minor-league teams. Burlington of the Appalachian League is, essentially, the substitute for the fact that KC doesn't have a Short-Season Class A team.

The easiest way to look at predicting Lexington's 2013 roster is to take a look at Burlington's 2012 roster, with consideration given to the age of players, the highest level they've reached thus far, and their 2012 stats. With that all in mind, here's a few players we can expect to see here in Lexington, along with the highest level they reached last year and their 2012 stats:

Adalberto Mondesi, SS, Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie, Pioneer League)

Born: 7/27/1995 in Los Angeles, CA

Bats: Both Throws: Right

Ht: 6'1” Wt: 165

Drafted: UFA

2012:

50 games, 232 PA, 35 runs, 60 hits, 7 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 30 RBI, 11-13 SB .290 BA, .346 OBP

The son of Raul Mondesi, former Dodgers slugger, had little difficulty adjusting to his first year in pro ball. Keep in mind that he put up those stats as a 16-year-old kid in his first year of pro ball. The only glaring issue was that he struck out far too much, but what more can you ask of a kid that age? All things considered, he had a pretty great year. He will probably start off 2013 in rookie-league ball again, but he has little to prove there. He's just a little young for A ball; that may be the only real problem holding him back. Expect him to head to Burlington to start off the year.

Bryan Brickhouse, RHP, Kane County Cougars (Class A, Midwest League)

Born: 6/6/1992 in The Woodlands, TX

Bats: Right Throws: Right

Ht: 6' Wt: 195

Drafted: KC Royals, 3^rd round, 2011 MLB Draft

2012:

3-3, 6.62 ERA, 11 games, 11 GS, 53 IP, 55 H, 39 runs allowed, 4 HRA, 26 BB, 41 K, 7 WP

While he had a rough year overall, it was his first year in pro ball and he spent nearly all of it in A ball. He registered his share of strikeouts, but walked a batter every other inning. Add to that seven WP and 4 hit batters, and you've got enough to work on for awhile. He's 21 on Opening Day, so he could start off in Rookie ball, but I don't expect that to be a long-term assignment. He's still age-appropriate for rookie-league ball, and assuming he advances to Class A ball this year he'll still be on-track age-wise.

Bubba Starling, OF, Burlington Royals (Rookie, Appalachian League)

Born: 8/3/1992 in Gardner, KS

Bats: Right Throws: Right

Ht: 6'4” Wt: 180

Drafted: KC Royals, 1^st round, 2011 MLB Draft

2012:

53 games, 232 PA, 35 R, 55 H, 8 2B, 10 HR, 33 RBI, 10-11 SB, .275 BA, .371 OBP, .485 SLG

For the moderately-involved baseball fan, Starling needs no introduction. This kid is now the top prospect in the Royals system, now that Wil Myers is with TB. With size, strength and easy projectability, Starling has power and speed which have already manifested themselves. While he did strike out 70 times last year, it was his first year of pro ball and he did manage to draw 28 walks, ending with an excellent .371 OBP and .856 OPS. This is the kind of batter who projects to hit cleanup and could be a perennial 100-RBI man in The Show, with 25+ homers and 15-20 steals. Of course, there's a lot of baseball to be played before he gets there.

Ethan Chapman, CF, Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie, Pioneer League)

Born: 1/5/1990 in Upland, CA

Bats: Left Throws: Right

Ht: 6' Wt: 180

Drafted: KC Royals, 30^th round, 2012 MLB Draft

2012:

67 games, 318 PA, 58 R, 88 H, 9 2B, 9 3B, 1 HR, 29 RBI, 25-32 SB, 32 BB, 43 SO, .313 BA, .383 OBP, .803 OPS, 12 OF assists in 141 total chances (67 G)

Here's a kid you may not know about. I have to admit; I didn't know a thing about him. Judging by his first season, we may be hearing a lot more about him. Yes, he was 22 in 2012, and yeah, that's older than much of his competition, but don't write off the numbers because of that. Should rack up a lot of extra-base hits from gap power and plus speed, and already shows a very good eye at the plate, so he's looking like a protypical table-setter; batting in the 2-slot sounds like a good fit for him. Expect him to start the 2013 season in Lexington.

John Lamb, RHP, Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie, Pioneer League)

Born: 7/10/1990 in La Palma, CA

Bats: Left Throws: Left

Ht: 6'4” Wt: 200

Drafted: KC Royals, 5^th round, 2008 MLB Draft

2012:

6 games, 6 starts, 6.92 ERA, 13 IP, 15 HA, 10 ER, 2 HRA, 4 BB, 14 K, 1 WP

Despite injury concerns and Tommy John surgery in 2012, Lamb is still considered one of KC's top prospects and is now pitching in Spring Training with no restrictions. Ranked as the 18^th best prospect as recently as 2011, the greatest challenge now facing him is remaining healthy. When he finally hits his stride, he's really going to be something to watch. He seems to be a level-headed kid with strong ties to his family and friends, and could end up being quite popular in KC. I expect to see him here in Lexington for some tune-up work before he goes back to Class AA; he had reached NW Arkansas as soon as 2010, posting a 3.09 ERA there in 2011 in 8 starts.

Nicholas Cuckovich, 3B-LF, Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie, Pioneer League)

Born: 10/8/1991 in Riverside, CA

Bats: Right Throws: Right

Ht: 6'2” Wt: 200

Drafted: KC Royals, 17^th round, 2011 MLB Draft

2012:

66 games, 288 PA, 44 R, 69 H, 12 2B, 8 3B, 3 HR, 43 RBI, 9-11 SB, 33 BB, 68 SO, .280 BA, .376 OBP, .807 OPS

He had a strong showing in Idaho Falls, demonstrating gap power and avg-plus speed. It doesn't hurt that his OBP was 96 points higher than his BA, indicative of a sound eye and good patience at the plate. In 43 games at third base last year he made 15 errors, which is certainly not good. It's especially bad because third seems to be where he's going to be playing in the near future, so there's going to have to be some work done, there. With his speed, he could end up becoming a left fielder with plus range if KC needs a Plan B. Could develop average power, but lower limits of his hitting ceiling ought to be the kind of hitter who would bat #2 or at least #7 with relative ease. He should start the year at Lexington, given his age and the fact that he has nothing left to prove in rookie ball. 

That's all for now. More to come as I dig a little deeper for info on the new kids on our block.