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. 

First New Legends Announced

Mills, Binford, Schulz, to Join Mondesi, Arteaga, Starling, Gallagher In Lexington

MAR 28^th, 2013-The roster for Kansas City's newest affiliate is starting to take form.

RHPs Alec Mills and Christian Binford, along with LHP Clayton Schulz, are officially on the roster for Class A Lexington to start the 2013 season.

They will likely be joined by SS Adalberto Mondesi and 2B Humberto Arteaga, and top KC prospect and outfielder Bubba Starling is confirmed to be bringing his considerable glove and bat to The Bank, as well as C prospect Cameron Gallagher. 

All of these players, with the exception of Schulz, I've mentioned in my previous “What To Expect” posts as possibilities to join the Legends, and there are more to come. 

A little info on Schulz, and a little more on Mills:

Alec Mills, RHP, Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie, Pioneer League)

Born: November 30^th, 1991 in Clarksville, TN

Bats: Right Throws: Right

Ht: 6'4” Wt: 185

Drafted: by the KC Royals, 22^nd round, 2012 MLB Draft from UT-Martin (Martin, TN)

2012:

1-4, 4.62 ERA, 17 games, 7 starts, 4 games finished, 3 saves, 50 2/3 IP, 58 hits allowed, 26 ER, 17 BB, 50 K, 9 WP

Here's some earlier info on Mills from a previous post. 

While with UT Martin in 2012 Mills led the team in innings pitched (89) and strikeouts (74). He already throws an excellent changeup, a slider with late break and a fastball which sits in the low-90's. Mills was also strong in the academic department; he carried a 3.18 GPA as a Health and Human Performance exercise science major. What his coaches (and scouts) also noticed about Mills while on the mound is that he always kept a cool demeanor, never seemed shaken regardless of the circumstances. He also had a reputation for being ready to help new teammates and demonstrated strong leadership skills in the clubhouse. Given his reputation, it would be interesting to see if he also steps into that role while with the Legends.

Clayton Schulz, LHP, Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie, Pioneer League)

Born: June 7, 1990 in West Palm Beach, FL

Bats: Left Throws: Left

Ht: 6'2” Wt: 180

Drafted: by the KC Royals as a non-drafted free agent; August 8^th, 2011, from the University of North Florida

2012:

5-7, 6.07 ERA, 14 games, 13 starts, 69 2/3 IP, 89 hits allowed, 47 ER, 30 BB, 61 K, 17 WP

In his second year of rookie ball, Schulz had quite a few rough patches. His control has been a significant issue, as he walked 30 and uncorked 17 wild pitches in his 69-plus innings, but he averaged nearly a strikeout per inning as well. Schulz is quite the surfer, and in 2010 he was attacked and bitten by a shark. The bite required an astounding 400 stitches to close. He recovered from the attack to post a 3.34 ERA in 35 innings in 2011. A groundball pitcher, he will be playing his first games in Class A, this year.