Eric Stout Added to Royals' 40 Man Roster

The Kansas City Royals announced on Monday afternoon the addition of three players to the club's 40 man roster, including 2017 Omaha Storm Chasers left-hander Eric Stout . Fellow left-handed pitcher Tim Hill , in addition to catcher Meibrys Viloria , were also added to the team's reserve roster. The deadline to place players on the 40 man roster to protect them from next month's Rule 5 Draft was Monday evening.

Stout enjoyed a strong year in his debut season at the Triple-A level with Omaha, accumulating a 5-2 record and 2.99 ERA (23 ER/69.1 IP), leading the club with 45 appearances. The southpaw accrued a 1.25 WHIP and .227 batting average against, the latter ranking third among Pacific Coast League relievers in 2017, along with five saves in seven opportunities. After allowing each of his first three inherited runners to score over his first 12 outings with the Storm Chasers, Stout did not allow each of his final 21 inherited runners to come plateward over the last 33 appearances.
Through five minor league seasons, the lefty has compiled a 16-9 record and 3.40 ERA (81 ER/214.1 IP) with 177 strikeouts while accumulating a 1.24 WHIP and .246 batting average against. The lefty was selected by the Royals in the 13th round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of Butler University in Indiana.
Hill spent the majority of the 2017 campaign with Double-A Northwest Arkansas, tallying a 1-2 record and 4.17 ERA (32 ER/69.0 IP) with four saves over 36 outings with the Naturals. He was a 32nd round selection by Kansas City in the 2014 MLB Draft. Viloria played all of 2017 with Low-A Lexington, recording a .259 average (94-363) with 42 runs, 25 doubles, eight homers and 52 RBI in addition to a .313 on-base percentage.
As a result of the Royals' roster moves, 25 of the 38 players on Kansas City's 40-man roster have worn on an Omaha Storm Chasers uniform at some point in their careers.