Millard South Grad Among 3 Royals Signees

The Kansas City Royals announced Thursday they have signed a trio of Major League veterans to minor league contracts, including Omaha Millard South High School graduate and University of Nebraska-Lincoln alum Brian Duensing. Joining the southpaw were right-hander Ross Ohlendorf and infielder Clint Barmes.

Duensing had previously played his entire professional career in the Minnesota Twins organization after being selected by the Twins in the third round of the 2005 MLB Draft out of Nebraska, where he was roommates with currently Royals and former Storm Chasers outfielder Alex Gordon. Over his seven-year Major League career in Minnesota, the lefty combined for a 41-37 record and 4.13 ERA (298 ER/649.1 IP), adding 428 strikeouts.

 

 

The 32-year-old was a two-way player for the Patriots at Millard South, and earning Second-Team All-Nebraska honors in his Junior and Senior campaigns. Duensing posted a 9-1 record and 0.74 ERA with 67 punchouts on the mound during his Senior season, while also recording a .522 average, which was the best batting average in the state.

Ohlendorf, meanwhile, has played for five different Major League clubs over his eight years in the Big Leagues, totaling a 25-34 mark and 4.84 ERA (280 ER/521.0 IP) with 376 strikeouts. The righty has pitched in games for the New York Yankees (2007-08), Pittsburgh Pirates (2008-11), San Diego Padres (2012), Washington Nationals (2013) and Texas Rangers (2015), and was originally selected by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the fourth round of the 2004 MLB Draft out of Princeton.

 

 

The right-hander split time during the 2015 season between the Rangers and Triple-A Round Rock in the Pacific Coast League, tallying a 3-1 record and 3.72 ERA (8 ER/19.1 IP) in 21 appearances with Texas. Over 27 outings with Round Rock, the 33-year-old compiled a 4-5 clip and 4.17 ERA (17 ER/36.2 IP) with 44 strikeouts. Ohlendorf faced the Storm Chasers in five games last season, combining for a 1-1 record and 3.60 ERA (2 ER/5.0 IP).

Barmes is a 13-year Major League veteran, having played for the Colorado Rockies (2003-10), Houston Astros (2011), Pittsburgh Pirates (2012-14) and San Diego Padres (2015). In 1,186 career contests at the Big League level, the 36-year-old has combined for a .245 average (932-3805), adding 434 runs scored, 208 doubles, 17 triples, 89 homers and 415 RBI.

 

 

The infielder spent the 2015 campaign in San Diego, tallying a .232 mark (48-207) along with 24 runs, 14 doubles, one triple, three homers and 16 RBI. Barmes also sports Pacific Coast League experience, having played for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox (2003-04, 07-08) and the then-Oklahoma City RedHawks (2011), now the Oklahoma City Dodgers.