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MLB

Burlington Royals Announce 2014 Roster

By Matt Krause
June 12, 2014

Five of the top eight 2014 Kansas City Royals draft choices are headed to Burlington to begin their professional career. LHP Foster Griffin (First round-28th overall pick), C Chase Vallot (Competitive Balance Round- 40), INF D.J. Burt (4th-123), RHP Corey Ray (5th-153) and OF Logan Moon (6th-183) were all among the high draft choices assigned to Kansas City's Appalachian League affiliate. Italian SS Marten Gasparini, who is ranked as the no. 20 prospect in the Royals' system and the no. 4 international prospect by MLB.com, is also headed to Alamance County.

This group is just a handful of the 38 Royals prospects assigned to Burlington to begin the 2014 season. In total, Burlington will carry 20 pitchers, four catchers, eight infielders and six outfielders.

Pitchers

Thirteen right-handers and seven southpaws appear on the Burlington roster. 2013 third round selection RHP Carter Hope will join Griffin and Ray as high picks toeing the rubber for the Royals this summer. He struck out 11 in 13 and 1/3 innings with the Arizona League Royals in 2013. That group is followed by a trio of pitchers selected in the top half of the 2014 draft: 14th round pick Ian Tompkins, a left-hander from Western Kentucky University, 17th round pick LHP Brennan Henry, and 21st round selection RHP Evan Beal, from the University of South Carolina.

Other 2014 draftees joining the Burlington pitching staff are RHP Eric Sandness (23rd round), RHPTodd Eaton (34th round), and LHP Cole Way (38th round). From the 2013 draft, RHP Chase Darhower (14th round), RHP Andrew Brockett (22nd round) and LHP Christian Flecha (27thround) have been assigned to Burlington.

RHP Andres Machado, who pitched in 12 games with Burlington in 2013, will return for the 2014 campaign. He will be joined by fellow returnee RHP Niklas Stephenson, who also made 12 appearances a year ago.

Dominican pitchers who signed with Kansas City as free agents and have been assigned to Burlington for the first time include LHP Enmanuel Camacho, LHP Estarlin Cordero, LHP Carlos Herrera, RHP Yunior Marte, RHP Jairo Munoz and RHP Julio Pinto.

Catchers

Vallot, a high school prospect from Louisiana, highlights the Burlington backstops for 2014. He will be joined by Xavier Fernandez, an 11th round pick in the 2013 draft from Puerto Rico. Additionally, Luis Lara and Meibry Viloria are foreign catchers who will join Burlington in 2014.

Infielders

The infield is highlighted by Gasparini, who signed a $1.3 million free agent deal with the Royals in July of 2013. Only 17 years old, Gasparini has been called "Europe's best prospect ever" by Baseball America. Burt will also be an integral part of the Burlington infield, making the short trip from his home of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina to be a part of the Royals. Although he was drafted as a shortstop, Burt can also play second base or the outfield.

2014 16th round pick Manny Olloque, a high school third baseman from Torrance, California, will join the young Burlington infield. Also from the 2014 draft, 1B Josh Banuelos (28th round, Fresno Pacific University) has been assigned to Burlington.

Switch-hitting 1B Brandon Dulin, the 12th round pick of the Royals in 2013, is Burlington-bound as well.

The infield will be rounded out by international free agent signings. 2B Angelo Castellanos, a native of the Dominican Republic, has spent the past two seasons with the Dominican Summer League Royals. 3B Ryan Dale hails from Australia, and signed with Kansas City in July 2012. He played the 2013 season with the Arizona League Royals. SS Jose Martinez signed with Kansas City from Venezuela in August 2012.

Outfielders

Along with Moon, 2013 fifth round pick Amalani Fukofaka leads the notable players in the outfield. Fukofaka spent the 2013 season with the Arizona League Royals.

Riley King, a 24th round pick in 2013, will be assigned to Burlington after playing with Fukofaka in Arizona last season.

Alex Newman returns to Burlington in 2014, having appeared in 51 games with the Royals last season.

Rounding out the outfield is Venezuelan Cristian Cano and Puerto Rican Ariel Estades. Estades was a 17th round pick of the Royals in 2012, and spent the past two years with the Arizona League Royals and the Dominican Summer League Royals.

Coaching Staff

Tommy Shields returns to Burlington for a third consecutive season to manage the Royals. He will be assisted by first-year Hitting Coach Nelson Liriano, the Manager in Burlington from 2009-2011.Carlos Martinez will serve as Pitching Coach for a third straight season. Scott Thorman will enter his first season as the Bench Coach for the Royals.

The 2014 Burlington Royals will arrive in North Carolina on Sunday and will play an exhibition game against the Kernersville Bulldogs on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at Burlington Athletic Stadium. The 2014 season officially begins Thursday, June 19, with a road game at the Pulaski Mariners at 7:00 p.m.