Royals Farm Report: May 22, 2013
Royals Farm Report
May 22, 2013
'ACE' VENTURA
Naturals Righthander Dominating Double-A
Class AA-NW Arkansas Naturals RHP Yordano Ventura is ranked third in Texas League strikeouts, second in ERA, and first in MiLB.com feature stories over the last week. The Dominican-fireballer drew ink after winning Texas League Pitcher of the Week during the week of May 6 - 12. Ventura is fourth among Double-A pitchers with 56 strikeouts and is 3-1 with a 1.79 ERA in eight starts.
Heading into tonight's start against Corpus Christi (AA-Houston) where he is scheduled to make his ninth start of the year and 14th with the Naturals. Since April 30, the right-hander is 2-1 with a 0.69 ERA. He has struck out nine or more batters in three of his last four starts and allowed three hits or less in all four. Ventura retired 13 straight batters and struck out nine in his last start on Thursday, but two first inning runs were his only blemish in a 2-0 Naturals loss. Ventura entered 2013 as the No. 3 prospect in the Royals system and No. 55 in baseball according to MLB.com.
AFFILIATES AT A GLANCE
AFFLIATE W L GB
AAA-Ohama 22 20 --
AA- NW Arkansas 14 28 9½
HiA - Wilmington 20 23 4
A - Lexington 23 21 3
A - Idaho Falls Starts June 20th
A - Burlington Starts June 20th
HEADLINES
LEX THOSE ARMS: Class A-Lexington Pitchers have combined for a 2.63 ERA to lead the South Atlantic League this season. The Royals newest affiliate are winners of seven of their last nine, after dropping five straight games in which they were defeated by two runs or less. Starters Daniel Stumpf (LHP, 3-1 1.49 ERA), Bryan Brickhouse (2-3, 2.47 ERA), Miguel Almonte (2-4, 2.91 ERA) and Colin Rodgers (LHP, 3-1, 2.25 ERA) have led a staff that is also tied for the league lead in shutouts (6) and fewest runs allowed.
GONE STREAKING: Class AAA-Omaha Second Baseman Irving Falu is over half-way to matching then-teammate David Lough's 16-game hitting streak from earlier this season. The 2010 Natural has hit safely in nine straight games going 12-for-37 (.324) in that span…
HOLD ON, I'M COMING: Outfielder Jorge Bonifacio is on track to return to baseball in an estimated seven weeks. The 19-year-old Outfielder was batting .325 through his first 34 games this season for Class A-Advanced Wilmington, ranking third among the Carolina League's hitters. Bonifacio broke his Hamate bone and hasn't played since May 12th .The injury is not considered serious. Jorge is the younger brother of Toronto Blue Jay Emilio Bonifacio.
ALUMNI: Jeff Bianchi(2009, 2011) is 6-for-13 in three starts at second base for the Milwaukee Brewers since last week. Saturday in St. Louis, Bianchi plated the winnings runs with a tenth-inning single against the division-rival Cardinals…Jake Odorizzi (2012-13) made his Tampa Bay Rays debut in Toronto on Monday. The right hander settled down after allowing two runs in the first inning and one in the second. In five innings, he gave up three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out six and took a no-decision in the 7-5 loss.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League Affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and proud host of the 77th Annual Texas League All Star Game. The Naturals play at state-of-the-art Arvest Ballpark in Springdale, AR. For more information including statistics, ticket options, and more, please visit NWANaturals.com, and follow us on Twitter @NWANaturals and Facebook.com/Naturals.