Burlington Royals Alumni Update: Opening Day 2014
As the 2014 professional baseball season opens, Burlington Royals alumni are well-represented on the rosters of several teams throughout the Kansas City organization. Here is a quick look at Royals alumni progressing through the professional ranks:
Kansas City Royals (MLB)
A pair of former Burlington Royals donned the uniform of the Major League Royals on Opening Day 2014. Salvador Perez, a member of the Burlington Royals in 2008, is Kansas City's starting catcher and a 2013 American League All-Star. Perez hit .292 with 13 home runs and 79 RBI in 2013, and earned a Gold Glove for his strong defensive presence behind the dish for the Royals. Kelvin Herrera, who also honed his skills in Alamance County in 2008, has become a mainstay in Kansas City's bullpen. Herrera posted a 3.86 ERA over 59 games and 58.1 innings pitched in 2013.
Omaha Storm Chasers (Triple-A, Pacific Coast League)
Four former Burlington players appear on the roster of Kansas City's top farm club, the AAA Omaha Storm Chasers. Pitcher Sugar Ray Marimon, a 2008 Burlington Royal, made his Omaha debut on April 11. Fellow pitchers Buddy Baumann and John Lamb, 2009 members of the Burlington Royals, also appear on Omaha's roster for the second year in a row. Baumann returns to Omaha after posting a 2.76 ERA in 30 games in 2013. Just two years removed from Tommy John Surgery, Lamb pitched a majority of the 2013 season at High-A Wilmington, but made three appearances for Omaha as well. He posted a combined 5.80 ERA in 22 games over the two levels. Rounding out the Omaha contingent is outfielder Brian Fletcher, a 2010 Burlington Royal. Fletcher split the 2013 season between Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas, hitting .292 with 17 HR and 51 RBI.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Double-A, Texas League)
Former Burlington Royals are well represented on the Northwest Arkansas roster, with 11 Naturals having played in Burlington. Seven of those 11 are position players.
The 2011 Burlington Royals lead the way with five alumni playing in Northwest Arkansas- outfielders Lane Adams and Jorge Bonifacio, pitchers Angel Baez and Andy Ferguson and infielder Justin Trapp. Adams returns to Northwest Arkansas after 44 games with the Naturals in 2013. He hit a combined .265 with 12 home runs at Northwest Arkansas and Wilmington. Bonifacio, like Adams, joined Northwest Arkansas mid-year in 2013 and hit .301 in 25 games with the Naturals. Bonifacio is ranked as the no. 4 prospect in the Royals' system per Baseball America, with Adams checking in at no. 18 and Baez at no. 27.
Baez appears in AA for the first time in 2014 after playing at Wilmington in 2013, and Ferguson will spend his second full season at Northwest Arkansas. Trapp hit .257 at Wilmington in 2013, earning himself the promotion to AA.
Three members of the 2009 Burlington Royals are donning the Naturals' uniform in 2014- infielder Yowill Espinal and pitchers Greg Billo and Malcom Culver. Culver made one appearance for Northwest Arkansas in 2013 after posting a 2.79 ERA at Wilmington. Billo jumps to AA after spending 2013 with Low-A Lexington and the Arizona League Royals.
Also in Northwest Arkansas is 2007 Burlington Royal catcher Juan Graterol, 2008 infielder Angel Franco, and the most recent alumnus, 2012 infielder Mark Threlkeld. A .249 average with five home runs in 2013 earned Threlkeld the promotion.
Wilmington Blue Rocks (High-A, Carolina League)
The High-A Blue Rocks are ripe with former Burlington talent. 11 players from the 2012 Burlington team that advanced to the Appalachian League championship will open the 2014 season in Wilmington. Five position players- infielder Kenny Diekroeger, catchers Cameron Gallagher and Beau Maggi and outfielders Terrance Gore and Bubba Starling- will play High-A ball in Delaware this year. They will be joined by six pitchers from the 2012 team- Miguel Almonte, Christian Binford, Yender Camaro, Mark Peterson, Daniel Stumpf and John Walter.
Almonte, Starling, Binford, Gallagher and Gore all appear on the Royals' top prospects list. Almonte posted a 3.10 ERA with 132 strikeouts in 25 starts at Lexington a year ago, while Starling (no. 8) hit .241 with 13 home runs and 63 RBI in 2013 at Lexington. Binford (no. 10) carried a 2.67 ERA in 23 starts at Lexington in 2013. Gallagher (no. 23) hit .212 with 18 RBI in 66 games with the Legends, while Gore (no. 30) used his speed to steal 68 bases in 128 games at Lexington.
2013 Burlington outfielder Tyler Chism returns to Wilmington after he finished last season with the Blue Rocks. Between Burlington and Wilmington, Chism hit .274 6 home runs and 30 RBI.
Lexington Legends (Low-A, South Atlantic League)
Nine members of the 2013 Burlington Royals will open the 2014 season at Lexington. Four position players- infielders Mauricio Ramos and Ramon Torres, outfielder Alfredo Escalera and catcher Chad Johnson- will wear the Lexington uniform this year. Five former Burlington pitchers will accompany them to Kentucky- Andrew Edwards, Kevin McCarthy, Matt Tenuta, Luis Santos and Cesar Ogando.
Southpaw Tenuta carried a 3-5 record with a 3.58 ERA in his second pro season, which included 10 starts in Burlington. Escalera hit .277 in Burlington with 14 doubles and 13 RBI. Johnson earned a promotion to Lexington midseason last year, and hit .429 in limited action with the Legends.
A number of 2012 Royals will also appear with the Legends. Infielders Ramon Torres and Humberto Arteaga and outfielder Fred Ford will join a group of four pitchers- Austin Fairchild, Jake Junis, Colin Rodgers and Jose Rodriguez.
Other Organizations
Five Burlington alumni appear on Major League rosters with other teams. Pitchers Roberto Hernandez, a member of the 2002 Burlington Indians, will start the year with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Pitcher Edward Mujica (Burlington Indians '03) is on the roster of the Boston Red Sox after spending 2013 with the St. Louis Cardinals. Outfielder David Lough, a member of the 2007 inaugural Burlington Royals, is on the Opening Day roster of the Baltimore Orioles.
A pair of Tampa Bay Rays- pitcher Chris Archer and outfielder Wil Myers- played in Burlington during their minor league careers. Archer, a 2006 Burlington Indian, recently signed a 6-year, $25.5 million deal with the Rays. Myers, who played with the B-Royals in 2009, was named the 2013 American League Rookie of the Year for a season in which he hit .293 with 13 HR and 53 RBI in only 88 games.
The 2014 edition of the Burlington Royals open the home schedule Wednesday, June 25 against the Elizabethton Twins.