Royals Minor League Daily Tap Mon April 11

Good day for the Royals as the major league team finished off a series win over the Tigers and the affiliates won 4 of the 5 games that they played in.

Daily Tap Hitter of the Day Ryan Stovall Kane County 3-4 HR 4 RBI

Daily Tap Pitcher of the Day Blake Johnson NW Arkansas 4 IP 1 H 5 So 0 BB

Cougars Recap
Alex Llanos capped a terrific series versus the Timber Rattlers getting the offense going with a two run homer in the third that woke up the offense which tagged on seven more runs on the day. Llanos finished the four game set strong with multiple hit games in the final three games. It wasn't an offense only show as Keaton Hayenga got his 2011 season off to a good start going 5 innings allowing only 3 hits, 2 runs (1 ER) and no walks against 4 strikeouts. This was a good sign for a pitcher that really struggled last year.

Alex Llanos (series) 6-17 2-2b, 1-3b, 1-HR 1 BB

Blue Rocks Recap
The Rocks resumed their rain suspended game on Sunday tied at five. They had Kelvin Herrera a former starter converted closer toe the hill and he delivered two solid innings striking out 4 while giving up just 1 hit and one walk. Herrera has a solid fastball to go with a potential above average curve and change up out of his 5'10 frame. Those two innings allowed the Rocks to mount an offensive charge in the 11th when Rey Navarro reached on a error and was driven in on a John Whittleman double, Whittleman would score on a Tim Ferguson double. That extra run came in handy when Kevin Chapman allowed a run in the bottom of the inning but hung on for the Rocks victory.

In the full game of the day the Rocks squandered a great pitching performance by Jake Odorizzi (4 IP 4 H 1 ER 6 K 1 BB) when they allowed a 2 run 8th inning to lose the lead and the game. Rey Navarro once again paced the offense with 2 hits in 3 at bats driving in a run while also scoring one. The young 2b/SS who the Royals picked up in the Carlos Rosa deal finished the series 7 for 12 with a double, triple and Home Run.
Nick Francis 4th OF assist of the season

Naturals Recap
The Naturals for the second day in a row won in walk off fashion when Wil Myers drove in Nick Van Stratten with a single in the 14th inning. Myers and Salvador Perez who had gotten off to slow starts enjoyed good days offensively as they had 5 of the 11 Naturals hits. The pitching was outstanding on the day as Rollins, Blake Johnson and Patrick Keating all pitched at least 3 innings each while combining for 12 strikeouts against only 2 walks and 5 hits while allowing only 2 runs (1 ER). Brandon Sisk worked a scoreless hitless 14th to get earn the victory for the Naturals.
Salvador Perez 2-5 2b, HR, Wil Myers 3-6 2b, BB

Chasers Recap
Despite a poor performance by Vin Mazzaro (2.1 IP 2H 7 BB 5 ER 3 K) the Storm Chasers offense and bullpen were able to overcome the Isotopes in the final game of their four day set. 8 of the 9 hitters in the lineup reached base via hit while the bottom third (Pina,Blanco,Orlando) of the order did the heavy lifting driving in 5 of the runs while scoring five also. The bullpen slowed down the Isotopes offense limiting them to 1 run and 4 hits over the final 6.2 innings to gain a split in the series.
Mike Moustakas 2-5 HR

Quad City River Bandits (Cardinals) Kevin Siegrist
at
Kane County Cougars Crawford Simmons

Simmons one of the Burlington(NC) three from last year makes his first start of the year. Simmons is a control lefty who throws in the high 80s topping out at 90-91 with feel for a change up and 12-6 curve. Simmons has solid command (2.2 BB/9 '10) and is a couple velocity ticks away from becoming a prospect worth watching for Royals fans.

Siegrist is a 41st rd draft pick who enjoyed some success early in his career making it to the High A level in his first two years where he enjoyed moderate success despite a 1.416 WHIP when he returned last year he was knocked around for over a hit per inning. Siegrist according to reports has decent movement on his mid 80s fastball while also featuring a cutter and forkball.

Wilmington Blue Rocks Noel Arguelles
at
Kinston Indians Giovanni Soto

This is a day that has long been in the works for the Royals and their staff. Arguelles signed a $7 million dollar major league deal with the Royals which was quite a coup as not many favored the Royals in the chase for his services. Unfortunately he sustained some arm problems and was forced to sit out last season. Arguelles is a physical specimen who throws in the low 90s from a 3/4 arm slot and has earned some comparison to Francisco Liriano.

Soto is a young lefty that the Indians received in the Jhonny Peralta trade with Detroit. He's young for the level (19) and performed well at High A last year when he was called up 2.61 ERA 83 IP 76 K 25 BB 1.21 WHIP. His stuff is less than impressive with a high 80s fastball, slurvy curve and less than impressive change up but he's survived thus far on pitchability.

Corpus Christi Hooks Kyle Greenwalt
at
NW Arkansas Naturals Edgar Osuna

Osuna could have a ceiling for AA as he had a solid season at that level last season but was knocked around when promoted to AAA Omaha. Osuna has a plus change up but he combines with a below average fastball which hitters can sit on at upper levels. Osuna will likely be the odd man out if a pitcher pushes their way to the AA level.

Greenwalt had a solid stint in the Arizona Fall league not allowing a HR in 15 innings which is no small accomplishment considering the light air in Arizona. He didn't have that type of success in the Cal league last season but scouts like his mix of pitches which includes plus change up and slider to go with an average fastball (89-91 touches 93).

Omaha Storm Chasers Everett Teaford
at
Round Rock Express (Rangers)Derek Hankins

Teaford had a breakout season last year at AA striking out 113 in 99 innings while allowing a 1.214 WHIP. Teaford was given an opportunity to make the big league squad in spring training but was knocked around in Arizona to the tune of 11 ER in 4.1 iP while surrendering 14 hits. Teaford also got knocked around in his one AAA start last season in Albuquerque allowing 7 runs over 4.2 innings. He'll need to show he can get upper level hitters out this season to be given another big league shot.

Hankins was picked up by the Rangers from the Pirates organization. He's roster filler at this point in his career as a 2004 MLB draftee that has yet to break the major leagues. He features a fastball, curve and change up none of which are plus.

Royals make a couple moves

Bob Dutton tweeted that the Royals assigned Noel Arguelles to Wilmington while reassigning Brandon Sisk to minor league camp. While I like Sisk he is a symbol of how this team is becoming more talented. When GMDM first arrived in 2007 a guy like Brandon Sisk would have almost certainly made it to the end of big league camp challenging Jimmy Gobble or even last year Dusty Hughes but with the depth of the talented arms in the bullpen he'll spend the season in Omaha. Tim Collins, Danny Duffy and perhaps Bruce Chen(if he loses out in the rotation) look to be the leaders in the clubhouse for those lefty spots. I like Sisk but I see him as more of a LOOGY type and with the depth of Lefty arms in the system some of which will almost certainly land in the pen if for only short periods of time it's going to become very difficult for him to make it with the Royals. Hopefully for his sake he'll get an opportunity for another team at some point and earn the Royals something in return.

As for Noel Arguelles it appears he will be starting the season in Wilmington where he'll join Jake Odorizzi, Tim Melville, Justin Marks (acquired in the DDJ trade) and probably either Eric Cantrell or perhaps Tyler Sample.

Draft talk
George Springer is off to a very slow start to the college season. He was projected as a Top 5 pick by most everyone but the way it looks currently he is going to have to get on a real hot streak to realize those dreams. Current line .172/.306/.345 1 HR

Next Up: Spring Training Mar 13-18

Kane County Pitchers

Nick Scott was tossing out some great tweets today from the GMDM business meeting. I'll let him comment on the majority of what he heard but I thought I'd like to tie one of the messages to what I talked about before.

"Arguelles will probably start in Kane County this year."

That's interesting stuff to me because it adds to an already interesting staff of young starters.

The Repeaters
Kelvin Herrera-3rd try to see if he can stay healthy.
Matt Mitchell-2nd year after TJ surgery.
Keaton Hayenga- Brutal '10 season 47 BB v. 43 Ks and 11.1 H/9

The New guys
Crawford Simmons- My pick as a "Breakout Performer in 2011"
Willian Avinazar- 8.4 K/9 1.083 WHIP in Appy League last year.
Leonel Santiago- 7.3 K/9 1.111 WHIP in Appy League in 2010.
The 3 arms from last seasons Burlington(NC) Royals playoff team. None of which has huge upside according to scouts but performed at decent levels.

Dynamos
Noel Arguelles-Cuban signee w/big arm and physical body. ML Contract
Jason Adam- A 6'4 200+ lbs who was reported to be touching mid 90s during instructs.
Robinson Yambati- BP #11 Ranked Royals prospect
Yordano Ventura- Reports said he was touching 98-99 mph in AZL last year.

That's an impressive list of arms which will help make Kane County one of the fun teams to pay attention to all year long.

Redoing the Royals Prospect List 11-20+

#11 Noel Arguelles - Still on the bench hopefully we'll see the 7 million dollar man later this season.

#12 Kila Ka'aihue - Moved him back up because of all the GMDM and Yost quotes. I think he might actually be apart of this organization next year.

#13 Salvador Perez - A coming out party of sorts for the young catcher. Only 20 and holding his own with the bat around a .800 OPS and throwing out 41% of runners against.

#14 Jordan Parraz - Parraz was off to a horrible start in Omaha but seems to have corrected things and is having a great May.

#15 Derrick Robinson - Probably a bit too early for DRob after just a 3 month turn around but his solid defense, speed and on base pct have him leaping into prospect status again. That combined with the lack of prospects around these final spots.

#16 Johnny Giavotella - Good OBP skills but a lack of defense and pop.

#17 Tyler Sample - Struggling with control still but stays low in the zone and has good tilt on his pitches.

#18 Keeton Hayenga - Made his first Burlington appearance the other day out of the pen hopefully he'll be moved to the rotation and can take advantage of the enormous potential in his arm.

#19 Cheslor Cuthbert - Probably starts in Arizona league in late June.

#20 Edgar Osuna - Osuna's change up has him looking very impressive against AA opponents but he's going to have to develop a couple other offspeed options to be anything more than a LOOGY in the majors.

Honorable Mentions

Blaine Hardy/Brandon Sisk/Buddy Baumann/Patrick Keating- All four of these bullpen arms are having outstanding seasons at their levels. Keating and Baumann are striking out more than 1 per inning while Sisk and Hardy have 4 saves each and sub 2 ERAs. Still the road for relievers to the majors is a bumpy one and don't expect many to get thru it.

Off the list

Kelvin Herrera - Was off to a very solid start to the season until his last 3 starts and arm troubles popped up again. Watching Kelvin's body language while charting pitches at the Bees game I went to reminded me of the movie "Sugar". I can't imagine how foreign it must be to be in a country that you can't communicate well in while you experience arm problems while trying to latch onto your golden ticket. Hopefully things turn around for this hard thrower but it doesn't look good.

Carlos Rosa - Traded