Posts From The Past: Zack Greinke Scouting Report, 2006

Name: Zack Greinke
Ht: 6'2" Wt: 175
Position: SP
Organization: Kansas City (AL)
Bats: R
Throws: R
Drafted: KC's 1st pick, 2002

Greinke was drafted out of Apopka High in Orlando, Florida, as KC's #1 pick in 2002. Having pitched only limited innings in Rookie and A-ball that year, KC made the unique decision of assigning Greinke to the Puerto Rican League for the winter, the first player coming out of HS ever to appear in the league. Greinke made a strong showing in 25 2/3 innings, posting a 2.45 ERA and more than holding his own against much more seasoned talent.

Zack made a great impression in Class A Carolina League in 2003, making an 11-1, 1.14 ERA showing in 14 starts before a Double-A promotion in July. Perhaps most notable was his 18 walks in 140 IP, an astounding 1.16 per 9 IP!

A very good indicator of future success in the Majors, BB/9 IP is something to which I pay quite a biy of attention. Perhaps for this reason, Greinke has drawn the obvious Greg Maddux comparisons from some, and that may not be as far off target as it may sound.

Greinke has solid command of four pitches, changes speeds very well, is poised well beyond his years, and projects to actually get better than he already is, which will carry him into #1 starter-land in the ML.

Forget about the 5-17, 5.80 ERA in 2005; the experience he gained will be valuable in his learning process. Greinke throws a mid-90's's four-seamer, altering speeds to disrupt a batter's timing in deference to just blowing it by them. He also throws a late-sinking 2-seamer, a hard and late slider, and a slow curve at around 66 mph that baffled most hitters. What stands out about Greinke's mound presence is that he focuses on changing speeds, grips and arm angles, as opposed to the common tendency of most young pitchers to throw it past you. This, in my opinion, is key to a pitcher's longevity: let the changing of speeds and location work for you.

Greinke is also very athletic, fielding his position well. In terms of endurance, his body has yet to fully mature physically, and by the time that happens he could easily be a 220 inning guy each year.
All things considered, Zack Greinke is definitely One to Watch.

2006 Projection: 10-14, 4.50 ERA, 30 starts, 175 IP, 65 BB.

I don't expect Greinke to do much better than this. After all, he DOES play for KC. If the Royals can manage even a slight improvement in run production, Greinke could make it to 12 wins, but don't hold your breath. Look at the month of April, for example. He lost all 5 of his starts, allowing only 10 ER (3.65 ERA) for the month, but with a handful of runs from KC he could have won 2 of those, at least. His first 2 starts (2 1/3 IP, 6 IP) he allowed exactly 0 runs. OK, so 2 1/3 doesn't really count, but April 2005 could be the story of his young life for a while.

The important thing to remember is that, barring injury (of course), Zack Greinke will be a ML starter of the highest order within 3 years.

Division Leaders: AL Central - May 13th, 2015

AL Central

Kansas City Royals – 21-12

League Rankings, Batting – 3^rd in runs scored, 1^st in hits, 2^nd in doubles, 1^st in triples, Tied-4^th in SB, 1^st in fewest SO, 1^st in BA, 1^st in OBP, 2^nd in SLG, 1^st in OPS…oh, and 1^st in HBP (shocker).

Well, where does one begin? This is what we’ve come to expect from the Royals: getting on base, swiping bags, and scoring runs. That’s pretty much as simple as it gets. Numerous suspensions and poorly-handled and/or misdirected anger aside, the 2015 model is humming along at a sustainable pace, and suddenly fans all over the country are taking the Royals seriously as a legitimate contender and possible heir-apparent to the AL crown, once more. There are a lot of hitters on this roster who are firing on all cylinders. For starters, 1B Eric HYPERLINK "http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hosmeer01.shtml"Hosmer (.326, 21 runs scored, 9 doubles, 6 HR, 27 RBI) is killing it, as evidenced further by his .967 OPS. There’s a confidence in Hosmer that isn’t exactly new, but it’s definitely reached a new level. Shortstop AlcidesHYPERLINK "http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/e/escobal02.shtml" Escobar (.307, 7 doubles, 11 RBI) is picking up the pace in recent games, batting .364 over the past 7 days (22 AB), scoring four and driving in three. Third sacker Mike HYPERLINK "http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/moustmi01.shtml"Moustakas (.322, 22 runs scored, 6 doubles, 4 HR, 11 RBI) is continuing to fulfill the promise the Royals saw in him when they made him their 1^st round pick in 2007 (finally, right?), and while his numbers in each of the past three seasons were far from All-Star caliber, he is showing signs that 2015 will be the year that it all comes together. In left, Alex Gordon is, well, Alex Gordon (he is what we thought he was!), batting .295 with nine doubles, four homers and 17 RBI. His .913 OPS is second only to Hosmer’s .967 for the team lead. Centerfielder Lorenzo Cain (.314, 23 runs scored, 7 doubles, 14 RBI, 6 SB) is ripping up turf in the field and digging trenches on the base-paths. Yeah, that’s what speed do. KendrysHYPERLINK "http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/moralke01.shtml" Morales (.299, 26 runs scored, 11 doubles, 4 HR, 25 RBI) is producing runs at a significant pace, which is what was expected of him. Don’t let the paltry homer total concern you; all that matters, especially on this team, is scoring runs. Of course, the Royals have proven that they can manufacture runs the old-fashioned way as well as crush wayward fastballs. And even though they’re near the bottom in homers, they’re at the top in extra-base hits and on-base percentage. On that note, enter Paulo Orlando. The 29 year-old rookie spent a whopping 1,017 games in the minors before making his debut in right field, this year. Overall, he has not disappointed. How many players can you name who hit five triples before they recorded their first double? Strange, right? He’s slowed down a bit, batting-wise, but even if he is pushing 30 he’s still a rookie. It’s a safe bet that he’ll be established as a significant part of their offense by year’s end.

League Rankings, Pitching – 2^nd in ERA, 3^rd in SV, 3^rd in fewest hits allowed, 2^nd in HR allowed, 1^st in ER allowed

OK, those rankings look pretty good, right? Well, they’re not. What I mean is that the rotation is, to be polite, struggling (Jeremy Guthrie, Danny Duffy, Yordano Ventura all have ERAs over 5.00), and while Chris Young has picked up some of the slack (0.78 ERA, 8 games, 2 starts, 23 IP, 19 K), it’s going to take a bit more than the brilliance of Wade Davis (15 appearances, 6 hits allowed, 2 BB, 14 K), Kelvin Hererra (13 appearances, 12 1/3 IP, 14 K) and Yohan Pino (6 appearances, 14 IP, 13 K) to offset that deficiency. Greg Holland is, of course, dominating (8 appearances, 9 IP, 6 K, 6 SV), but that rotation is still a glaring issue. Edinson Volquez is doing his part, to be sure (2-3, 3.19 ERA, 42 1/3 IP, 17 BB, 33 K), but Duffy needs to get it together and Ventura needs to chill the heck out (sorry; can’t measure anger with a stat) if this rotation is going to survive, let alone thrive. The offense is doing all it can do, but the starting pitching makes 1^st place a precarious position for the Boys In Blue.

Kentuckians In The 2013 MLB Draft

A look at the 2013 seasons of Kentuckians, with thoughts on the upcoming year

JAN 18^th, 2014-The Commonwealth of Kentucky has become a greater presence in the MLB Draft, in recent years, and it seems that there will be more and more Kentuckians in the pro ranks as the years go by.

While Kentucky has traditionally been more closely-aligned with high school and college basketball, the game of baseball is making its own case for respectability. More and more facilities are devoting time to teaching the game, leagues are springing up where none had been before, and established leagues are growing at a slow but steady rate.

Is it possible that, years from now, Kentucky may be known and respected for its baseball talent as much as it is revered among basketball fans?

Maybe that's a reach, I know. But at the rate that we're producing talent on the diamonds, I wouldn't completely rule it out.

Today I take a look at Kentuckians who were drafted in 2013, with thoughts going into the 2014 season:

Andrew Edwards, RHP

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht: 6'5” Wt: 260

Born: October 7^th, 1991 in Gilbertsville, KY

School: Western KY University (Bowling Green, KY)

Drafted: Kansas City Royals in the 19^th round, 2013 MLB Draft

2013 Season (Burlington Royals, Rookie Class, Appalachian League; Wilmington Blue Rocks, High-A, Carolina League):

2-1, 1.16 ERA, 18 games, 16 GF, 9 SV, 23 1/3 IP, 13 HA, 3 ER, 13 BB, 17 K

Edwards is an especially interesting player, to me. Drafted by the Royals out of WKU, Edwards is a massively-built righty who had no problems whatsoever adjusting to pro ball. He signed initially with Rend Lake Community College in Ina, Illinois, where he was All-Conference in the Great Rivers Athletic Conference (69 1/3 IP, 4-5, 1.95 ERA career at RLCC), then transferred to WKU as a junior. While only getting in 23 1/3 innings of time on the bump as a closer, he appears to be ready for a full year in the Carolina League in 2014. He'll be 22 until October, so if he has to step back to the Sally it won't cost him much in the way of development time. If he does, we'll get to watch him bear down on unfortunate SAL batters for at least part of the season.

Clinton Hollon, RHP

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht: 6'1” Wt: 195

Born: December 24^th, 1994 in Lexington, KY

School: Woodford County HS (Versailles, KY)

Drafted: Toronto Blue Jays in the 2^nd round, 2013 MLB Draft

2013 Season (GCL Blue Jays, Gulf Coast League; Bluefield Blue Jays, Rookie Class, Appalachian League):

6 games, 1-1, 3.12 ERA, 17 1/3 IP, 8 HA, 6 ER, 6 BB, 15 K

Oh, this kid. There was a lot of chatter about Hollon as the Draft rolled around, with talk that he might go in the 1^st round. As it turns out, the pundits weren't too far off. Hollon ended up with the Jays as the 47^th overall pick. This is a pick that could go very well for Toronto, or very poorly. With a fastball consistently in the 91-94 range, peeking as high as 97 at the Perfect Game Pitcher/Catcher Showcase, and an effective mid-80's cutter/change, Hollon has already shown some serious natural ability. His curve lacks consistency, which is a common issue for young pitchers, but it will come around. One thing which concerns me is his size, along with the fact that he seems to be a 'max-effort'-type of pitcher. Hollon spins off the mound a great deal with his delivery, and seems at times to be over-exerting himself in an attempt to impress the radar gunners. He does have a natural feel for the game that is not so common for pitchers his age, and he stepped into limited action at the rookie level in pro ball with little difficulty. At 6'1” and 195, he may be at the peak of his development, size-wise, which could hinder him as he climbs the ladder. He is definitely on my 'Ones To Watch' list.

Corey Littrell, LHP

Bats: L Throws: L

Ht: 6'3” Wt: 185

Born: March 21^st, 1992 in Louisville, KY

School: Trinity HS (Louisville, KY); University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)

Drafted: Boston Red Sox in the 5^th round, 2013 MLB Draft

2013 Season (Lowell Spinners, Low-A, NY-Penn League):

0-3, 1.74 ERA, 12 games, 10 starts, 31 IP, 28 HA, 6 ER, 10 BB, 30 K

Littrell is a native Kentuckian, went to UK, and was drafted by the Red Sox, so naturally I'm a big fan. He certainly has more to offer, however, than circumstantial details; Littrell acquitted himself very well for the Spinners in 2013, allowing only a .237 BAA for the season. Oddly, lefties hit him rather well in limited AB (.324 vs. LHB in 41 PA), while righties stood little chance (.198 vs. RHB in 90 PA). Littrell already has decent size and a fair amount of projectability, he touches 90 and could end up with an above-average FB (for a lefty). Best of all, he knows how to pitch. That sounds like an odd thing to say, but there are a lot of 'throwers' in the game at all levels. I will be following his career closely.

Hunter Green, LHP

Bats: L Throws: L

Ht: 6'4” Wt: 175

Born: July 12^th, 1995 in Bowling Green, KY

School: Warren East HS (Bowling Green, KY)

Drafted: LA Angels of Anaheim in the 2^nd round, 2013 MLB Draft

2013 Season (AZL Angels, Rookie Class, Arizona League):

4.32 ERA, 8 games, 16 2/3 IP, 16 HA, 14 R (8 ER), 16 BB, 11 K

Hunter Green is the prototypical prospect, in all senses of the word: he has tons of physical projectability, lots of raw talent, and youth on his side. At 17 years old he took on the Arizona League for 16 2/3 innings, and while the numbers were as rough as you might expect for a player his age there is plenty to like about his first season in the pros. Green has some definite mechanical issues which should be ironed out, but he sits in the low-90's with his fastball and already has a solid change and an occasionally-plus 12-6 curve. If the Angels take their time with Green, he could end up paying off big-time. He's another 'One To Watch'. Then again, I've always been a fan of these sorts of long-term developmental prospects.

J.T. Riddle, 3B

Bats: L Throws: R

Ht: 6'3” Wt: 175

Born: October 12^th, 1991 in Frankfort, KY

School: Western Hills HS (Frankfort, KY); University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)

Drafted: Miami Marlins in the 13^th round, 2013 MLB Draft

2013 Season (Batavia Muckdogs, Low-A, NY-Penn League):

59 games, 244 PA, 222 AB, 38 R, 54 H, 10 2B, 2 HR, 18 RBI, 6 SB, 28 SO, .243 BA, .603 OPS

One of my favs in recent years (for reasons which should seem readily apparent), Riddle was a true joy to watch while he manned the keystone for the 'Cats here in Lexington. He was often teamed with SS Matt Reida, and the two of them played the middle of the field together as if they had been doing so for years. As a pitcher with Western Hills HS, Riddle was dealing in the mid to upper-80's as a 16 year-old, but moved to IF with UK. He didn't set the world on fire with the Muckdogs, this year, but he certainly held his own as a 1st-year player. He's not a power-hitter at this point in his career, but his size and frame will allow for a great deal of growth and he could end up as a prototypically-sized third baseman with average power and above-average speed. He has smooth actions in the field and solid arm strength, and shows quick actions and a good transfer on throws. If he doesn't fill out, weight-wise, moving him back to second could be a smarter move for the Marlins. He likely would have a very small learning curve at second, while he'll essentially be learning on the job at the hot corner (where he played in 2013). From my point of view, ideally he adds another 15-20 pounds at most, retains his speed and moves back to 2^nd base. He does have the tools to succeed at third, in the event he is there to stay.

Tanner Norton, C-DH

Bats: L Throws: R

Ht: 6'0” Wt: 190

Born: July 9^th, 1995 in Morning View, KY

School: Bishop Brossart HS (Alexandria, KY)

Drafted: Milwaukee Brewers in the 13^th round, 2013 MLB Draft

2013 Season (AZL Brewers, Rookie Class, Arizona League):

30 games, 119 PA, 110 AB, 4 R, 21 H, 2 2B, 13 RBI, .191 BA

Norton already has ideal size for a catcher, at 6' (Perfect Game has him at 6'1”, and Prep Baseball Report has him at 6'2”) and a lean 200 pounds. His pop times are excellent, often below 1.9, and has a good approach at the plate. With time, Norton is likely to become a solid defensive catcher (at least), but is athletic enough to convert to a corner OF spot. Whether he has the bat for the outfield, however, is unclear. Perfect Game did have him ranked as the 8^th-best player in KY, so that is something to consider. With players this young, it's often a matter of playing a very long waiting game. For that matter, catchers usually take longer than other players to develop. His arm and athleticism make him an intriguing prospect, so it will be interesting to see what he turns out to be.

Trevor Gott, RHP

Bats: R Throws: R

Ht: 6' Wt: 190

Born: August 26^th, 1992 in Lexington, KY

School: University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY)

Drafted: San Diego Padres in the 6^th round, 2013 MLB Draft

2013 Season (Eugene Emeralds, Low-A, Northwest League; Fort Wayne TinCaps, Class A, Midwest League):

2-2, 2.50 ERA, 27 games, 31 2/3 IP, 23 HA, 9 ER, 12 BB, 33 K

Gott jumped into the pro ranks feet-first, and had as strong of a debut as you could possibly expect. Spending a cursory 4 1/3 innings mowing down 8 batters in Eugene, he quickly moved on to the TinCaps in the Midwest League, where he averaged a strikeout per inning. It's not terribly often that a college pitcher can make such an impact on pro scouts exclusively as a closer, but Gott was easily one of the best college closers in the nation in 2013. He left UK holding both the single-season and career marks for saves, and his appearance in the game usually meant 'game over' for opposing hitters. His size and lack of projectability are common knocks on him with the scouts, but Gott was the anchor for a bullpen that made the 'Cats a perfect 40-0 when leading after 7 innings. There's no arguing with results, but the pro ranks are a very different animal. His first year out, however, could be a sign of things to come. Don't forget the name.

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. 

New Year, New Players, New Organization...Same Goals

Skirting Line Between Making Friends and Keeping Distance Not Always Easy


MAR 20th, 2013-Pro ball in Lexington will be back in full swing, very soon.

Before you know it, The Bank will be buzzing once more. Gates will open, ticket offices will be bustling with activity, concession stands will be serving up dogs and beers, and the ushers will take their positions. Fans will start filing in, greeting friends from seasons past and meeting new friends for seasons to come.

Here in Lexington, Kansas City's newest Class A representative in the South Atlantic League, there will be something noticeably absent from the year before:

Our boys.

Now that we're a part of the Royals' organization, the kids we knew from Houston's farm system won't be around anymore. There are new players to meet, new personalities, new lives of which we will be a small part. These players will be dealing with the same pressures on the field and off as the baby 'Stros, and thankfully our Booster Club and host parents will be there to help them along. We have a pretty good system  for that sort of thing, and some of our locals go to great lengths to make sure the guys have whatever they need while they're fighting to make their way beyond The Sally and up the ladder.

In 2012, I was exposed to some new experiences that I hadn't fully considered in my 24 years as a baseball fan. Perhaps the most memorable, sadly, was the most educational: the demotion.

If you speak to a player long enough, and they loosen up and tell you a bit more about themselves beyond batting averages and ERAs, you come to feel a personal connection with that player. Over time, you might even become friends. At that point, you are bound to that player just as you would be to any other friends you may have, and this means you're going to be thrilled when they do well. It also means you're going to be sad when they don't.

And when they get demoted, or even worse, cut, you're going to feel like someone punched you in the gut.

It honestly caught me off-guard. I was there when a few of the guys heard the news. RHP Tanner Bushue hadn't heard it yet, but he knew it was coming. He was coming off a shaky outing the same day the host families and Booster Club had their (monthly?) potluck gathering, when the boosters and hosts got to share a meal with their players. Tanner was sitting adjacent to me. I didn't know him very well, admittedly.

Still, it's a strange feeling to be on the outside looking in when one of these kids gets sent down; you're not a part of what's happening, and yet you are. From my perspective, Tanner had an expression on his face that is hard to describe. In short, he was crushed. There was no mistaking it. Here he was, surrounded by teammates and host families, all happily chatting away, and Tanner was somehow separate and alone from all of it. He just sat silently, staring at the empty space on the table in front of him, completely still. I wanted to say something to him, try to cheer him up, but you can't say anything to a player who's been sent down. Nothing that would help, anyway. All you can do is be there, if they want to talk about it. Some of them actually want to talk about it; others, like Tanner, not so much.

I know I'm not the only one who's ever felt that personal connection with a player; I was part of the Booster Club and a host for several players, last year, and I was on the periphery of their social circles. I interacted with some more than others, and for that experience I consider myself fortunate to have known them. I wasn't exactly best friends with any of them, and rightly so. After all, none of them knew who I was before they came to Lexington, and some players have a sense of apprehension from the moment they become professionals. Also, as it should be.

Thing is, every pro athlete knows that their career could end anytime. A torn labrum, serious knee injury, an unexplained "dead arm", and that's all she wrote. A life-long dream can be ended by the whims of the parent club, without explanation. One day, you're making your way up the ladder; the next, you're sifting through the classified ads. No promotional Day for you at the ballpark, no standing O on the way off the field...in fact, it could be that no one even knows you're gone except for your close friends or family. Not even so much as a "thank you". Just a pink slip and a clubbie waiting to take the athletic tape with your name written on it in Sharpie off the top of what used to be your locker.

There are a LOT of people out there who are looking to take every possible advantage of pro athletes. They see opportunities to gain a player's trust, to work their way into that player's inner circle of trust, and some even become personal representative for the players they seek to exploit. At that stage, the player stands to lose a great deal of money. I have also, unfortunately, seen this happen to a player who IS a friend of mine, and it makes me very mindful of what I say and do regarding the players.

On that subject, many of these guys aren't exactly living out their champagne wishes and caviar dreams, if you know what I mean. For the vast majority of them, the only caviar they ever see might be on a re-run of The Real Housewives of Orange County. These kids are living on far less than minimum wage, struggling to make ends meet while sharing tiny apartments with two or three other guys, even sending a big chunk (if not ALL) of their tiny paychecks back home to help support their families. They truly do make a ton of sacrifices just to have a shot at making The Show, and to have some con man try to screw them out of what little they have is absolutely inexcusable.

OK, I've ranted on that enough. More on that in my next post, courtesy of Arizona Diamondbacks pitching prospect Seth Simmons. Seth has been kind enough to expound on a few pro baller subjects for me, and I'll be posting some of that conversation here at TGOG.

Anyhew, this year we'll be starting the process all over again, with new players, new personalities and a new organization. Different players, but the same goal. Also, the same problems, same struggles, same needs. We need to be ready to help them in any way we can. Thankfully there are some good people here, and I'm grateful that the folks at Lexington are well-prepared to help them.

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

MARCH 17th, 2013-I'm pretty sure "trois" is French for "three". Either way, this isn't a linguistics blog. 

Here's a few more players you may expect to see here in Lexington, taking their hacks and dealing on the mound. This is in no particular order (other than alphabetical), and is a mixed list of hitters and pitchers. I'm not the most organized guy in the world, but bear with me anyway. 


Diego Goris, UT, Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie, Pioneer League); AZL Royals (Rookie, Arizona League)

Born: 12/8/1990 in Santiago, Dominican Republic

Bats: Right Throws: Right

Ht: 6'2” Wt: 165

Drafted: Obtained in trade with Pittsburgh Pirates, 2012

2012 (combined stats):

58 games, 246 PA, 41 runs, 14 doubles, 4 triples, 13 HR, 51 RBI, 4 BB, 32 K, .333 BA, .942 OPS

Goris showed a lot of pop at Rookie-level Idaho Falls, last year, and was near the top in the league in batting average as well. One of the most glaring problems here is that he's GOT to learn to take a walk, now and then. Four walks in 246 PA is not gonna cut it, especially as he advances to higher levels. He shows a lot of versatility in the field, as he's played second, short, first, third and left field in his five seasons in pro ball. Short is probably not his best position (34 errors in 102 career games), but he's put in the most time there. He's highly projectable at 6'2", 165, and will probably gain more power as he fills out. I see him as a super-utility guy with a little pop and the occasional steal, playing most of his games either as a corner IF or in left, if he makes the majors.

Carlos Garcia, 2B-SS, Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie, Pioneer League)

Born: 3/18/1992 in Municipio de Diaz, Venezuela

Bats: Right Throws: Right

Ht: 6' Wt: 176

Drafted: Signed as Free Agent

2012:

59 games, 241 PA, 42 runs, 8 doubles, 2 HR, 20 RBI, 10 SB, .273 BA, .347 OBP

Garcia intrigues me a bit. First off, he stole 10 bases last year, which is OK, but it should be noted that he swiped 50 in 2010 for the Royals' Dominican Summer League team. He's probably not ever going to hit for power, but the speed is obviously there. He's shown steady improvement with the glove, as well; from 5 errors in 23 games in 2010 to 8 errors in 57 games last year. However, he made an alarming 16 miscues in 39 games in 2011, which is concerning, but I'm willing to accept those numbers as an aberration. There's some projectability there, physically, but he'll likely not gain much more weight than 5-10 pounds at the most. If he does get much heavier than that, it's going to hurt his speed, and his speed is his best asset. Also worth noting: in 212 career games, his BB/K ration is just a few percentage points below 1/1. That's darn good, at any level.

Cory Hall, RHP, Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie, Pioneer League)

Born: 5/12/1988 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Bats: Right Throws: Right

Ht: 6'2” Wt: 232

Drafted: Obtained in trade with Pittsburgh Pirates, 2012

2012:

2-1, 2.15 ERA in 21 games (29 1/3 IP), 23 hits allowed, 7 ER, 12 BB, 35 K, 5 SV

Hall worked exclusively as a closer in 2012, cutting his ERA by more than 3 full runs but walking just as many as he did in 2011 while throwing 6 fewer innings. He has struck out a batter per inning since his pro debut in 2011 but also has averaged 3.7 BB/9 IP, so there's definitely room for improvement there. Hall was all-conference with Santa Clara University in 2011, pitching 105 innings and posting a 3.26 ERA. He was also all-conference with Taft Community College in 2008. Hall is solidly-built and there's no projectability left there, but he is likely to continue to develop as a strikeout artist in relief once he irons out his mechanical issues. 

Joe Lopez, RHP, Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie, Pioneer League); AZL Royals (Rookie, Arizona League)

Born: 3/20/1990 in Winkelman, AZ

Bats: Right Throws: Right

Ht: 5'10” Wt: 180

Drafted: Signed as NDFA, 2012

2012 (combined stats):

2-2, 3.66 ERA in 21 games, 8 games finished, 3 SV, 39 1/3 IP, 47 HA, 22 RA, 16 ER, 13 BB, 39 K, 8.9 K/9

Lopez worked as a short reliever out of the 'pen in 2012, recording 10.8 hits/9 IP but mitigating his damage considerably (with a little help from his defense). A smallish pitcher, he is nevertheless solidly built. I don't anticipate his size will limit him at the higher levels. Lopez may be a darkhorse candidate to become a 7th inning specialist as he advances to the upper echelons of the minors. 

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

Born: 11/30/1991 in Clarksville, TN

Bats: Right Throws: Right

Ht: 6'4” Wt: 185

Drafted: KC Royals, 22nd round, 2012 MLB Draft, from U of Tennessee @ Martin

2012:

1-4, 4.62 ERA, 17 games (7 starts, 4 games finished), 3 SV, 50 2/3 IP, 58 HA, 33 RA, 26 ER, 7 HRA, 17 BB, 50 K, 5 HBP, 9 WP, 2.94 SO/BB ratio

Mills is highly projectible at 6'4", 185, but he appeared to have significant mechanical and/or control problems, last year. I say this because, while he only walked 17 batters, he hit 5 more and also uncorked 9 wild pitches in 50 2/3 innings. He may just need a little time to adjust to the pro game, as last year was his first in the pros. He showed great versatility, starting 7 games and closing out 4 more, while working in middle relief in 6 more. While the ERA is much higher than you'd like to see it, he averaged a K per inning and handled being juggled around, role-wise, about as well as anyone could. Also of note: 3.47 ERA in 23 1/3 innings at the home park, 5.60 in 27 1/3 innings in away games. I'll be watching him closely. 

Sam Selman, LHP, Idaho Falls Chukars (Rookie, Pioneer League)

Born: 11/14/1990 in Austin, TX

Bats: Right Throws: Left

Ht: 6'3” Wt: 165

Drafted: KC Royals, 2nd round, 2012 MLB Draft, from Vanderbilt University

2012:

5-4, 2.09 ERA, 13 games (12 starts), 60 1/3 IP, 45 HA, 21 RA, 14 ER, 22 BB, 89 K, 5 WP

The 2012 Pioneer League Pitcher of The Year, Selman's is a name well-known to many Royals fans, for obvious reasons. In his first year of pro ball, he averaged a monstrous 13.3 K/9 IP while maintaining better than a 4:1 BB/K ratio. A hard-throwing lefty with a lot of room left to grow, he could become a dominant short man or closer in the majors. KC has a great deal of success to look forward to from this young man. Selman may skip Low-A altogether, depending on how his Spring turns out. 

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. 

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.