Royals Farm Report: April 21st
Class-A Burlington (Midwest League) endured a rough start to their year which has continued into the second week of the season. The Bees' record entering play Wednesday stands at 3-10, and they're in the midst of a losing streak that was extended to five games Tuesday night with a 4-3 defeat. Also, earlier in the week the Bees faced off against rehabbing Chicago Cubs' starter Ted Lilly, making the start for the Peoria Chiefs. Lilly pitched well, cruising through seven innings, and Burlington endured a hard luck 2-1 loss.
The Bees' struggles on offense have cost pitchers wins. Lefty John Lamb, the organization's seventh-best prospect according to Baseball America, has an 0-2 record but his ERA of 0.71 ranks as the fifth best in the Midwest League. Still, the Bees' lineup has amassed a .207 average thus far, and while they've scored 52 runs as a club (four per game) that has not been enough offense to offset a pitching staff with a collective 4.91 ERA. Kelvin Herrera, the Royals' 18th ranked prospect, has been the other standout of the rotation. He has made three starts so far this season, and has a 1-0 record with a 2.57 ERA. In his last start Herrera went five innings, gave up one earned run, and struck out six. Royals No. 14 prospect Tyler Sample made his third start of the season last night against Clinton. Sample went five and two thirds, gave up three runs, two of which were earned, and struck out three. So far this season Sample is (0-0) with three no decisions and a 4.40 ERA.
Other prospects are struggling though, particularly catcher Wil Myers, who is the Royals third best prospect. Myers is hitting .191 so far with a home run and five RBI's. Matt Mitchell, the 28th ranked prospect, suffered his second loss of the season last week leavening him with a 0-2 record and a ERA over six. Mitchell struggled in his last outing which lasted four innings, as he gave up four earned runs on seven hits. Athletic outfielder Hilton Richardson, the Royals 30th best prospect, is hitting .231 through 12 games and is amongst the league leaders with seven steals. Carlos Testa has been one of the blocks of stability on offense, batting at a .290 clip with a homer and six RBI. The team's RBI leader is non-drafted free agenty utilityman Gerard Hall, who has driven in 11. The bullpen has gotten 16 strikeouts over 11 2/3 innings from southpaw Brendan Lafferty, who ranks second on the team in K's.
Class-A Advanced Wilmington (Carolina League) has been trying to rebound after a rough start to their season as they have a 5-7 record through 12 games. Like Burlington, the Blue Rocks have had a rough start offensively, batting .223 as a club and scoring the second-fewest runs in the Carolina League thus far.
Also, like the Bees, Wilmington has not gone without standout performances. Top prospect Mike Montgomery (1-0) has been dominant in his three starts this season. The latest start for Montgomery came Monday when he pitched six innings, allowed just one earned run, and struck out eight. That performance comes off of his stellar outing on April 13th. That night Montgomery was perfect through six, pitched a total of seven innings, gave up one earned run, and did not walk anyone to go along with 13 strikeouts. Montgomery was named the Carolina League Pitcher of the Week (April 8th -18th). He is not only the Carolina League leader in strikeouts with 27, but that number also leads all of minor league baseball. Montgomery's 0.50 ERA ranks him second in the Carolina League as well.
While Montgomery has been terrific on the mound, Eric Hosmer, the Royals No. 5 prospect, has been just as good at the plate. Hosmer, has batted .415 with eight runs driven in and a homer. He's even got two stolen bases and two triples, apparently putting his struggles of last year firmly in the rearview mirror. Salvador Perez, who is rated as the Royals 20th best prospect and, at 19 years old, is one of the youngest backstops in the league, has had a strong start to his season. Perez is hitting .379 in nine games with three RBI.
Tim Melville, the Royals' sixth ranked prospect, took the mound last night, and struggled as the Blue Rocks were shutout by Kinston. Melville lasted three and two thirds, and gave up four earned runs on five hits. 25th ranked prospect Patrick Keating has been terrific in his last two appearances. After a one inning performance where he was perfect, Keating was outstanding in the game last night. He threw 3 1/3 shutout innings, gave up two hits, and fanned six batters. Buddy Baumann has continued a great start to his season, going three innings in his last appearance. He did not allow a run while striking out six. His 15 strikeouts are second on the team behind Montgomery.
The Naturals are headed back home after splitting a six game road trip. The Naturals lead the Texas League in batting average hitting .267 as a team, and their record stands at 7-5, trailing Springfield in the standings by one game.
While they might not have the name recognition that top prospects like Aaron Crow or Montgomery have, some of the Naturals pitching staff have been outstanding so far. Everett Teaford (3-0) has been a bright spot on the mound for the Naturals with his three wins, tied for the most in the Texas League. Teaford made his first 2010 start this past Sunday, going 5 2/3 innings, yielding one earned run, and striking out five in the victory. Blaine Hardy has been solid in all four of his appearances out of the bullpen. Hardy, who has yet to allow a run, pitched the final inning of Tuesday night's game against the Hooks. He did not allow a hit and struck out two batters. Federico Castaneda has been an anchor in the Naturals bullpen. Castaneda was named the Texas League Pitcher of the Week (April 8th -18th) as he converted both of his save opportunities. In three trips to the mound this season Castaneda has yet to allow a run, has struck out eight while walking just one, and has given up just four hits in nine and two thirds innings of work.
First round pick from 2009 and Royals No. 2 prospect Crow has pitched well in his first three starts, all no decisions. In his last outing Crow went six and two thirds, truck out three, and gave up four earned runs. Louis Coleman, who is the Royals 12th best prospect has pitched in three games, and even got the start in the finale with Corpus Christi. Coleman pitched the first 2 2/3 innings, and gave up one earned run in a no decision. Second baseman Johnny Giavotella, the Royals 16th best prospect, had a hot bat in the series vs. the Hooks and is now hitting .310 through 12 games with five RBI. Derrick Robinson, the Royals 22nd best prospect, is off to a fine start this season. In five games Robinson is hitting .319 with two RBI's and a Texas League leading three triples. His triple in the 10th inning of Monday's game versus Corpus Christi brought home the go ahead run. Robinson has also stolen five bases, and has shown his impressive speed on the base paths. Edgar Osuna, 27th on the Royals prospect list, has made two starts this season. Osuna, who is 1-1, has given up seven runs, but none of the have been earned. He makes his third start of the season when the Naturals kick off a home stand Thursday.
Manny Pina has put together a terrific start to his season for the Naturals. Pina, who is hitting .378 through Tuesday's game, has four doubles, a home run, and five RBI's. He also has recorded multi hit games in six of the 12 contests this season and finds himself ranked amongst the top five in the league in batting average.
Omaha Royals Report
After losing four of its first five games, Triple-A Omaha (Pacific Coast League) now has a 5-8 record. Former Naturals second baseman Marc Maddox is coming off an 0-for-5 performance in a loss to Round Rock, and now has a .255 average after a hot start. Maddox's seven RBI's rank third on the team. David Lough, who had a tremendous Spring Training, is hitting .255 with six RBI. Former Naturals' slugger Kila Ka'aihue has continued his scorching start to the season, as he leads the team with four home runs. Ka'aihue who is hitting with a .297 average, leads the team with 12 RBI's, and has drawn 13 walks so far. His homer total ties him for second in the PCL.
While some of the other former Naturals struggled to start the season, some are starting to rebound. Cody Clark, who is hitting .143 so far, hit a big two RBI double last night. Jordan Parraz was going strong with a double in two straight games, but is in the midst of a 0-8 stretch. Jeff Howell, who started the season with the Naturals before being called up, has performed well. In two games with Omaha, Howell has hit safely in both, including a two hit performance back on the 18th. Anthony Lerew has made three appearances this season and entered the O-Royals' rotation on Sunday. Lerew (1-1) went five shutout innings in that start, and he also struck out four en route to the victory. Another former Natural, relief pitcher Blake Wood, has thrown in five games. Wood, who is the Royals 24th best prospect, has converted both of his save opportunities.
Former Naturals in the Big Leagues
Dusty Hughes, a former Natural now in Kansas City, has been having a rough season so far in the Royals bullpen. Hughes (0-1) has made six appearances, and has an ERA of 9.64. In his last outing Hughes went just a third of an inning, and gave up two runs, one of which was earned, in the Royals' weekend series against the Twins. The Royals' designated Roman Colon, another former Natural, for assignment within the past week. Colon made a lot of appearances last season out of the Royals' pen, even setting up for closer Joakim Soria for a time, but had struggled early on in 2010. Lastly, Jeff Fulchino, who pitched two games on the Naturals' first road trip but never appeared at Arvest Ballpark, continues to be a bullpen stalwart for the Houston Astros.
Outside the K.C. Royals organization
Pitcher Dan Cortes, who is with the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx (Seattle Mariners' Double-A affiliate) has made three starts this season. In his last start Cotes gave up four earned runs on six hits in his first loss of the season. Former Naturals shortstop Angel Sanchez is with the Boston Red Sox organization, and is playing with Triple-A Pawtucket. Sanchez is hitting .382 so far with three RBI's. Cody Strait, who spent part of the 2009 season with the Naturals, is now with Double-A Montgomery as part of the Tampa Bay organization. So far this season Strait is hitting .244 to go along with three doubles. Pitcher Matt Peterson, who pitched in 11 games with the Naturals in 2008, is a part of the Florida Marlins playing at Double-A Jacksonville. So far this season Peterson has amassed a 2-0 record in five appearances. In 6 1/3 innings of work Peterson has yet to give up an earned run and has struck out five batters. Cory Aldridge who is playing with Salt Lake, the Angels Triple-A affiliate, is hitting .341 in 10 games. Aldridge led the team with 12 RBI's and his four home runs tie for the team lead.
Corey Smith has struggled in nine games with the Dodgers Double-A affiliate, the Chattanooga Lookouts. Smith is 3-for-19 with four RBI and no homers. Utility infielder Josh Johnson, released by the Royals' organization this spring, has landed with the Washington Nationals' organization and was assigned recently to the Harrisburg Senators, their Double-A affiliate in the Eastern League. So far in three games Johnson is 1-for-6 with two walks.
The Northwest Arkansas Naturals are the Double-A Texas League affiliate of the Kansas City Royals and play at state of the art Arvest Ballpark, located in Springdale. You can purchase season tickets and group outings with the Naturals by calling (479) 927-4900.