Encore! 2013 Legends Likely to Return to Lexington

FEB 11^th, 2014-While there can be a number of reasons for a player to repeat a level in the minors, often those reasons have to do with age and inexperience. Those two go hand-in-hand, when you're working up from the lower rungs. Last year, Lexington's average age for position players was 20.8, which is awfully young even for the South Atlantic League. Indeed, only the Hickory Crawdads and Lakewood BlueClaws could boast a younger group, even though the average difference was no more than half a year.

In Class A, which is the first full-season level in the minors, you usually see players who haven't been in the game longer than a couple of years. Two exceptions to that are non-drafted free agent signings who entered pro ball at 16 or 17, or players who may have stepped back as part of a rehab assignment. SS Raul (Adalberto) Mondesi was only 17 when he spent last year in Lexington and performed well beyond his years. With a .261 BA, 13 doubles, 7 triples and 7 homers to go with 47 RBI and 24 steals, Mondesi was actually one of the core run producers in the lineup. He had the sort of struggles at the plate you'd expect from a teenager in Class A (118 strikeouts), but he rarely looked out-of-place in the field. Yes, he did make 30 errors at short in 108 games, but many of those were on balls that most infielders would never have reached in the first place. One could argue that Mondesi could jump two levels on his glove alone. It hardly matters; he could make a career in the Majors without even swinging a bat, as far as I'm concerned. He's got as much range and plays as fluid and natural at short as I've ever seen. So to recap: great glove, great range, great arm, speedster, switch-hitter. There's a lot to like, and we'll be liking it from the stands when he comes back for a return engagement.

Catcher Chad Johnson made it to Lexington for only 4 games last year, playing 38 in rookie-level Burlington. The view on him so far is “strong arm, good glove, possible average or above-average pop at catcher”, and I can't argue with that (mainly because, hey, 4 games at Lexington). He did throw out 30% of would-be base-thieves in the Appy League, which isn't bad, but hasn't yet demonstrated any semblance of power at the plate. If he can start to turn some of those groundballs into line-shots, you'll probably see good doubles power from him. He's going to need more time here at The Bank in order to make that happen, so expect him to return.

IF Humberto Arteaga spent a difficult 61 games in Lexington (.188 BA, 13 RBI, 0 SB in 61 games) before going back down to rookie-level Idaho Falls and turning into an RBI machine. He was only nineteen, himself, so a bit young for Class A. Once he hit the Pioneer League (literally), he lit up for 15 doubles, an unreal 58 RBI and 56 runs scored to go with his .280 BA in his 69 games there. Arteaga is 6'1”. 160, so there's a lot of projectability there, and he could add some pop as he fills out. As it stands now, he's got the versatility to play second and short, though second base is probably the best fit. He also has a great deal of range for either position, and a middle infield with Mondesi and Arteaga makes it a tough go for anyone putting the ball on the ground. He should return for 2014.

Ah, Bubba Starling...the name seems to encourage lively debate amongst prospect enthusiasts. The physical tools are most certainly there; there's no arguing against that. Whether he can develop them to their fullest is up for discussion. Starling's got a great arm, covers all sorts of ground in center with little effort, and runs the bases far better than you'd expect for someone who's 6'4”. Not a lot of tall basestealers around. He struggled for much of the season offensively, though a good portion of that can be written off to vision problems which (I believe) were corrected. He did bat .322 in August, a dramatic improvement over the high of .250 he had in June. Couple this with an overall .298 with 2 outs and runners in scoring position and you can see a small part of why he was a 1st-round pick. There were moments when he let his youth and inexperience shine through in less-than-positive ways (ahem), but that could be a result of having so much pressure on him as a 5th-overall pick mixed with having to develop while playing against more-experienced players. Being a two-sport star does have its disadvantages, after all. Starling has the tools and size to become a middle-of-the-order run producer who could swipe 20-25 bags a year. The way I see it, most of that hinges on his mental approach and maturity; he can be what he wills himself to be. Coaching aside, the bulk of his future production lies with this factor. If Kansas City wants to handle his development the right way, he should come back to Class A for at least the first part of the season.

Cam Gallagher, who had 66 games in Lexington between injury issues, is another well-regarded talent in the Royals system. Gallagher calls a good game, commits few miscues and has a better arm than his 29% caught-stealing rate would suggest. I expect that he could develop enough power to move to 1^st, if needed, especially if he splits his time between there and behind the plate. He's 6'3”, so a move might be best for him (and his legs) in the long run. It's awfully soon to tell just how well he'll turn out, but he's a legit prospect and has yet to show us what he can do. Returning to Lexington would be the best thing for Cam; he needs to establish that he can make it through a full year of ball.

OF-1B Fred Ford has pop (definitely) and filled in at first base as well as RF, though he did make 8 errors at first (47 games) and 6 in right (74 games). Keep in mind He'd be at least average defensively at either position, but I like his arm in RF. The downside of being 6'5” is that your strike zone is the size of a Buick, and Ford's 166 Ks in 126 games is testament to that. He'll have to shorten his swing if he's going to cut those Ks down to a manageable number, and he did show that he's working on that in the games I saw him in. Still, if he can make more frequent contact he could produce 20 homers by accident. That .193 average is troubling, but he did draw 52 walks as well. Even with the talent he has and his relative youth (22 on April 10^th), he's at a crossroads. He has to come back.

-3B Hunter Dozier was last year's 1^st round pick for the Royals. 24 doubles in 54 games for Idaho Falls, along with a .303 BA, .403 OBP, 7 HR and 43 RBI. He played 15 games with the Legends, notching 6 more doubles and 9 RBI with his .327 BA (55 AB). At 6'4”, 220, he'll either end up starring at third or at first. But he'll star somewhere.

Pitchers up, next. Also, more of the players who could be paying us a visit for the 1^st time in 2014. 

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.

Legends Drop Season Opener to GreenJackets, 4-0

Lexington Held To 4 Hits, Batters Combine for 15 Ks

APR 5th, 2013-A less-than-auspicious beginning, to be sure. But one game certainly does not a season make. 

Playing in their season opener after Thursday's game was rained out, the Legends were shut down by Augusta starting RHP Martin Agosta and fared even worse against the combined relief efforts of RHPs Derek Law and Tyler Mizenko, with the trio combining to hold Lexington to 4 hits, striking out 15 and walking not a single batter in the contest. Agosta, the 2nd round pick of the San Francisco Giants in 2012, was making his Class A debut for the GreenJackets in tonight's game. 

The Augusta starter went 5 innings and allowed 4 hits, striking out 9 and walking none in shutting out Lexington batters, who would not get a hit the rest of the night after Agosta left the game. RHP Bryan Brickhouse, a 3rd round pick of the Royals in 2011, started the game for Kansas City's newest affiliate, lasting 4 innings and allowing 2 runs on 5 hits, walking one and striking out seven. Neither of the runs allowed by Brickhouse were earned, however, due in part to a throwing error by SS Raul Mondesi and a fielding error by CF Bubba Starling. 

Starling was 1-4 on the night but went down on strikes the other 3 at-bats. Mondesi also registered a hit but struck out twice, himself. The top three batters in the Legends lineup (SS Mondesi, 2B Humberto Arteaga, CF Starling) combined for 3 of Lexington's 4 hits on the night (3-12) and 7 of their 15 K. 

LF Terrance Gore had the other hit for Lexington (a double off of Agosta) and subsequently stole third but would remain stranded there. Gore's double would be the only extra-base hit for either team. 

RHP Ali Williams relieved Brickhouse, going three frames and allowing 2 runs (one earned) on three hits, walking one and sending one down on Ks. Righty Mark Peterson took the last inning and held Augusta hitless, striking out two. Brickhouse and Williams also combined to induce 7 groundouts against only 2 in the air. 

Legends 1B Mark Threlkeld was hit by a pitch in the early going, subsequently leaving the game and giving way to Nicholas Cuckovich. More details to come on Threlkeld's status. 

Lexington plays two against the GreenJackets tomorrow starting at 5 PM. Game Two is the makeup game from 4/4. Starters TBD. 

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. 

What To Expect When You're Expecting...Part Deux

MARCH 12^th, 2013-There's one thing for Legends fans to keep in mind as Opening Day creeps ever closer. In terms of judging the sort of talent we can expect to see here in Class A, it's the most important detail to consider.

Over the past 7 years, few teams have had a deeper or more talented minor league system than the KC Royals. The latest pool of players is certainly no exception; they only serve to reinforce this growing reputation.

As I mentioned in the last post, the Legends faithful can safely anticipate seeing a talented lineup from top to bottom hitting the field at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, this year and the next. In addition to the aforementioned players, there are still more who will either join them immediately or follow close behind. In this post, I take a quick look at more position players we can expect to see at The Bank:

Hitters

Humberto Arteaga, SS, Burlington Royals (Rookie, Appalachian League)

Born: 1/23/1994 in Caracas, Venezuela

Bats: Right Throws: Right

Ht: 6'1” Wt: 160

Drafted: Signed as Free Agent

2012:

58 games, 262 PA, 40 runs, 64 hits, 13 doubles, 2 HR, 29 RBI, 7 SB, .274 BA, .694 OPS

Arteaga more than held his own in the Appy League last year as an 18 year old, batting .274 against talent slightly older than he. He's rail-thin but highly projectable, and his wiry strentgh and above-average speed allowed him to score 40 runs and even steal a few bags. He couldn't buy a walk, but that's likely due more to youthful impatience than poor pitch selection. He plays within himself and doesn't try to do more with the ball than he's able, and he will probably steal a few more bases as he learns to be a better baserunner. The glove was greatly improved from 2011; where he had made 15 errors at short in 47 games, he cut that number by 6 in 11 more games in a slightly more advanced rookie-level league.

Kenny Diekroger, 2B-SS, Burlington Royals (Rookie, Appalachian League)

Born: 11/5/1990 in Woodside, California

Bats: Right Throws: Right

Ht: 6'2” Wt: 190

Drafted: 4^th round, 2012 MLB Draft, from Stanford University

2012:

52 games, 222 PA, 21 runs, 42 hits, 6 doubles, 8 HR, 33 RBI, 5 SB, 18 BB, 60 SO, .208 BA, .641 OPS

Previously drafted in the 2^nd round by Tampa Bay out of Menlo HS in Atherton, CA, Diekroger struggled mightily in his first year of pro ball. His BA actually climbed from .222 in 36 June AB, as he hit .253 in July. The wheels fell off in August, however, as he hit an anemic .152 for the month. He did bat .258 with RISP, and strangely his average was far higher in road games (.266 on the road vs. .171 at home). He led Stanford in BA as a freshman with a .356 mark and tied for the team lead in RBI with 41, becoming the first freshman to do so. In that season he was named PAC 10 Freshman of the Year and made First Team All-PAC 10, as well. The promise is there, certainly. He appears to have little projectability remaining, physically. He plays a steady second base, and can switch over to the other side of the bag at short, if needed. Will likely stay at second but could move to third in the future. At this early stage, he could prove to be a valuable role-player for Lexington. If he can cut down significantly on the strikeouts he will probably pay bigger dividends in the power department, but this may take some time. David Coleman over at The Crawfish Boxes did a good article on Diekroger which will tell you a lot more about him.

Fred Ford, RF, Burlington Royals (Rookie, Appalachian League)

Born: 4/10/1992 in St. Peters, Missouri

Bats: Right Throws: Right

Ht: 6'5” Wt: 200

Drafted: KC Royals, 7^th Round, 2012 MLB Draft from Jefferson College (Hillsboro, MO)

2012:

62 games, 254 PA, 38 runs, 53 hits, 11 doubles, 13 HR, 35 RBI, 5 SB, 36 BB, 83 SO, .248 BA, .362 OBP, .853 OPS

This is one big dude. The thought with hitters who are as big as Ford is that there's too big a strike zone for them to cover without always racking up a lot of strikeouts, and that may ultimately be the case with Ford. The reason I would argue against that is that, along with the strikeouts (in August he went down on Ks in nearly HALF his ABs), he has shown a great deal of patience and drawn more than enough walks to make you think he can force the pitchers to throw him strikes. With 13 homers and 35 RBI in 62 games, you can see what often happens when they do pitch to him. He is noticeably more athletic, fast and agile than one might first think for a player his size. I'm not so worried about the BA, but Class A pitchers are a bit tougher than Rookie League hurlers, so he may need to adjust on the fly. He may even end up starting the year back in Burlington to work out the kinks, hanging back in extended spring training until the Appy League starts, but I think he'd be better off coming to Lexington to start the year. He's plenty young enough to step back to the Appy, if necessary, and not lose any time development-wise. Either way, Ford draws high marks for his athleticism, strong work ethic and coachability, and by most accounts Kansas City is fortunate to have grabbed him up before he went to another team. Watch this kid.

Cameron Gallagher, C, Burlington Royals (Rookie, Appalachian League)

Born: 12/6/1992 in Lancaster, PA

Bats: Right Throws: Right

Ht: 6'3” Wt: 210

Drafted: KC Royals, 2^nd Round, 2011 MLB Draft from Manheim Township HS (Lancaster, PA)

2012:

36 games, 139 PA, 13 runs, 35 hits, 10 doubles, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 10 BB, 16 SO, .276 BA, .331 OBP, .756 OPS

Defense:

212 total chances, 191 PO, 19 assists, 2 errors, 26% caught stealing rate

Here's another intriguing player to add to the mix. The son of former pro pitcher Glenn Gallagher and brother to current Dodgers prospect Austin Gallagher, Cameron has spent time at all three of KC's rookie-level teams and there seems to be little reason to send him back to Burlington this year. The one exception could be his trouble throwing out baserunners. This will improve with time, and he should also develop at least average power for his position. He actually has a good arm; it's more a matter of getting accustomed to the pro game. I wouldn't expect that he'll struggle too mightily with that.

Terrance Gore, OF, Burlington Royals (Rookie, Appalachian League)

Born: 6/8/1991 in Macon, GA

Bats: Right Throws: Right

Ht: 5'7” Wt: 165

Drafted: KC Royals, 20^th Round, 2011 MLB Draft from Gulf Coast Comm. College (Panama City, FL)

2012:

61 games, 276 PA, 50 runs, 58 hits, 4 doubles, 2 triples, 13 RBI, 36 SB, 36 BB, 52 SO, .256 BA, .379 OBP

Speed is Gore's game, most definitely. Problem is, it doesn't yet seem that there's a whole lot more to his offense than that. Four doubles and 0 homers as a 21 year-old hitter in the Appy League is cause for concern, especially as he advances to face stronger pitching. At his size, his role is as a slap-hitting leadoff type, but if he struggles against better pitching he could likely find himself batting at the bottom of the order, limiting his chances to steal. He already draws a lot of walks and makes the very most of his run-scoring opportunities, and should continue to do so as he climbs the ladder. I'm thinking that, at worst, Gore could be a great bench hitter and late-inning pinch-runner. If he can manage to add a little weight to his 5'7” frame, he could end up being a doubles machine with 25-30 SB annually. That's a good player to have on any team.

Alex Hudak, OF, Burlington Royals (Rookie, Appalachian League)

Born: 4/7/1990 in Mansfield, OH

Bats: Left Throws: Right

Ht: 5'11” Wt: 210

Drafted:

2012:

33 games, 123 PA, 13 runs, 30 hits, 13 doubles, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 1 SB, 11 BB, 39 SO, .275 BA, .350 OBP, .722 OPS

I barely know anything about this kid, and I already like him. An excellent student (summa cum laude at Mount Dora HS, 3.3 GPA at FAU as a public communications major), a locker room jokester (quote machine for such movies as Step Brothers and a huge Family Guy fan), and an accomplished amateur player (2^nd Team All-Conference), Hudak is a solid physical specimen with a lightning-quick bat and a hustler's approach on the field. Last season was a fair indication of his potential, as he racked up 13 doubles and reached base at a .350 clip. If he doesn't start the year at Lexington, I can't imagine any reason why he'd be away for long. He strikes me as the kind of player who will do whatever is asked him to put his team in the win column, though his burgeoning power and bat speed will likely put him in a lot of RISP situations. I don't see him being asked to bunt an awful lot, is what I'm saying here.

Mark Threlkeld, 1B, Burlington Royals (Rookie, Appalachian League)

Born: 5/2/1990 in Riverside, CA

Bats: Right Throws: Right

Ht: 6'3” Wt: 205

Drafted: KC Royals, 25^th Round, 2011 MLB Draft from Louisiana Tech University (Ruston, LA)

2012:

62 games, 240 PA, 37 runs, 62 hits, 18 doubles, 10 HR, 40 RBI, 15 BB, 40 SO, .283 BA, .333 OBP, .863 OPS

Threlkeld hit .335 with 14 homers and 62 RBI (team-best) as a sophomore in 2010 and made First-Team All-Western Athletic Conference as a result. He made 2^nd-team the next year, leading La. Tech with 71 hits and 45 runs. He graduated from HS as class valedictorian and 1^st-Team All-State, as yet another excellent student-athlete targeted by KC's astute scouting department. Threlkeld projects to have avg-plus power at the higher levels, and while he has already demonstrated solid power numbers he has also managed to keep the strikeouts to a reasonable level. His defense at first base is already strong, and should continue to remain so. The Royals may have found a diamond in the rough in Threlkeld, considering he was a 25^th round pick.