New Royals Join Teammates for Event

KANSAS CITY, MO - The Kansas City Royals have announced that infielder/outfielder Willie Bloomquist, outfielder Coco Crisp, pitcher Kyle Farnsworth and first baseman Mike Jacobs will attend the 2009 Royals FanFest presented by Sprint and Teva Neuroscience. Royals FanFest will be held Saturday, Jan. 17 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 18 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Overland Park Convention Center. Bloomquist, Crisp, Farnsworth and Jacobs, all of whom were acquired during this offseason, will join Manager Trey Hillman and other current and former Royals throughout the event for player autograph and photo sessions, as well as a variety of baseball panels that will take place on the Sprint Main Stage.

Bloomquist, 31, had spent his entire professional career (2002-08) in the Seattle Mariners organization, posting a .263 career average in 540 games while appearing at every position except pitcher and catcher. The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Bloomquist has stolen 71 bases in 87 attempts over his career, an 82-percent success rate, and has posted double-digit steals in four of the past five seasons despite limited playing time.

Crisp, 29, has spent the past three seasons with Boston, helping the Red Sox to the 2007 World Series title and the 2008 American League Championship Series. The switch-hitter batted .283 (102-for-361) with 18 doubles, three triples, seven home runs, 41 RBI, 55 runs scored and 20 stolen bases in 118 games for Boston last year. The 6-foot, 180-pounder is a career .280 hitter in seven seasons with the Indians (2002-05) and Red Sox (2006-08).

Farnsworth, 32, is a 10-year veteran of the Majors, compiling a 30-48 record and a 4.47 ERA in 612 career appearances (26 starts) for the Cubs (1999-2004), Tigers (2005, 2008), Braves (2005) and Yankees (2006-08). Since the 2003 season, Farnsworth has posted 441 strikeouts, the seventh-most in the Majors among relievers. The 6-foot-4, 235-pound right-hander split the 2008 season between the Yankees and Tigers, posting a 2-3 mark with a 4.48 ERA in 61 appearances.

Jacobs, 28, hit .247 (118-for-477) with a career-high 32 home runs and 93 RBI in 141 games for the Marlins in 2008. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Jacobs is a .262 career hitter with 80 home runs and 247 RBI for the New York Mets (2005) and Marlins (2006-08).

These new Royals will join a number of their teammates at FanFest, including 2008 Royals Player of the Year Mike Aviles, 2008 Royals Pitcher of the Year Joakim Soria and pitcher Zack Greinke, winner of the 2008 Joe Burke Special Achievement Award. Others scheduled to appear include catcher John Buck, third baseman Alex Gordon and outfielders David DeJesus and Mark Teahen. Please visit royals.com/fanfest for a complete listing.

New for the 2009 FanFest, the Royals are offering two-day passes at a 25-percent savings from the one-day advance ticket prices. Two-day passes are $18 for adults and $9 for children ages 6-17, while advance single-day tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for kids ages 6-17. Fans ages five and under will be admitted free. Tickets will also be available at the Overland Park Convention Center on the days of the FanFest event. Ticket prices at the door are $14 for adults and $7 for kids ages 6-17.

The two-day fan extravaganza, which has expanded to include more than 25,000 square feet of additional space, will feature interactive games for both children and adults, a preview of the 2009 season, updates on the Kauffman Stadium renovation project, auction events featuring unique Royals memorabilia and much more. Ticket proceeds will benefit Royals Charities.