Royals' Guiel eyeing 2006 roster spot

MINNEAPOLIS -- It might get a bit crowded next spring in Surprise, Ariz., but Aaron Guiel hopes to be in the outfield picture when camp ends.

That wasn't the case last March, when he was shipped to Triple-A Omaha. Then it was something of a surprise, considering Guiel's fine season for Omaha, that he wasn't recalled earlier.

However, with David DeJesus injured, Guiel has used his late-season callup to his advantage. He started his 18th game as DeJesus' replacement in center field on Wednesday night against the Minnesota Twins.

In 28 games since being promoted on Aug. 25, Guiel is hitting .295. He's been hot after a sluggish start and batted .364 (24-for-66) in a 20-game span.

"He's played really well," manager Buddy Bell said. "He'll come into Spring Training with a real good opportunity. A lot of it depends on what we do in the winter, but there's not a whole lot about his game that I don't like."

When the Royals didn't summon him from Omaha by mid-summer, Guiel considered some alternatives, including playing in Japan.

"Mostly, it was an option open to me if I didn't get called up. A month and a half ago, I didn't think I'd be here," Guiel said.

Despite an out in his contract, he elected to stay with the Royals and finished with 30 home runs and 95 RBIs for Omaha.

He has a Minor League option left and, after a long career in the Minors, is still short of salary arbitration status. Barring a trade, he almost certainly will be in the Royals' camp.

Going somewhere else isn't a priority.

"A lot of those thoughts are thrown aside when you come here and play for Buddy," Guiel said.