Blue Rocks Catcher Viloria Called up to the Royals

Wilmington's Backstop a September Call Up as Rosters Expand

Catcher Meibrys Viloria has been called up to the Kansas City Royals as the rosters expand to start the month of September. (Brad Glazier)

September 1, 2018

Wilmington, DE - With the big league rosters expanding to 40 players on Saturday, the Kansas City Royals have announced that Wilmington Blue Rocks' catcher Meibrys Viloria has been called up to join the big league roster. The 21-year-old was the lone player on the Blue Rocks' 2018 roster who

Wilmington, DE - With the big league rosters expanding to 40 players on Saturday, the Kansas City Royals have announced that Wilmington Blue Rocks' catcher Meibrys Viloria has been called up to join the big league roster. The 21-year-old was the lone player on the Blue Rocks' 2018 roster who was also on the 40-man roster for Kansas City.

Viloria signed as a non-drafted free agent by the Royals on July 2, 2013 and entered the season rated the 24^th-best prospect in the Royals' system according to Baseball America. The Cartagena, Colombia native was the Opening Day catcher for the Blue Rocks and hit .260 with six home runs and 44 RBI in 100 games with Wilmington and also posted a .342 on-base percentage. The backstop put together a strong second half of the season and over his last 43 games with Wilmington, hit .321 (52-for-162) with three home runs and 21 RBI. At the time of his call up, Viloria ranked third in the Carolina League in caught stealing percentage and threw out 42% of would-be base stealers.
Viloria joins former Blue Rock Cam Gallagher (2014-15) as one of two active catchers on the Royals' roster as All-Star backstop and 2010 Blue Rock Salvador Perez works back from an injury.