2011 KC Royals - Pre-season

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Young talent has Yost, Royals looking forward

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KC pitchers, catchers set for first workout

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Odd thing about the Royals' official reporting date for pitchers and catchers: There weren't many pitchers and catchers around the training complex on Monday.

Instead, the premises were dominated by the infielders and outfielders -- guys like Kila Ka'aihue, Chris Getz, Lorenzo Cain and Jarrod Dyson -- taking their hacks in batting practice under sunny skies on a perfect Arizona morning.

Heck, there were a dozen or more players swinging bats on George Brett Field, and their reporting date isn't until Friday. However, the pitchers and catchers, knowing that their first official workout will be on Tuesday, decided to take the day off.

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Royals' position players get head start - Catching prospect on rise for Royals - Royals sign Dominican right-hander

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Royals manager Ned Yost counted the noses of his pitchers and catchers on Tuesday and declared: "Everybody that's supposed to be here is here -- and a lot more."

He got that right. Even though the 15 infielders and nine outfielders aren't scheduled for their first workout until Saturday, most of them seemed to be in action on Tuesday.

Dressed informally in T-shirts and shorts, there were 12 infielders taking ground balls being struck by four coaches -- Brian Poldberg, Mike Jirschele, Glenn Hubbard and Frank White virtually simultaneously on the same field. Not to worry, each hit fungoes to one of the four infield positions.

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Count Royals manager Ned Yost, an old catcher, as very impressed with 20-year-old catcher Salvador Perez.

The book on Perez, the Royals' top catching prospect after Wil Myers was switched to the outfield, was that he's probably two years away from the Major Leagues.

Maybe.

"I think he's real close to being ready to catch in the big leagues right now," Yost said.

OK, that's not a very likely development immediately, even though Yost on Tuesday declared the catching spot "wide open" in the absence of veteran Jason Kendall, who is recovering from shoulder surgery.

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Royals have signed right-handed pitcher Darwin Castillo, 18, out of the Dominican Prospect League and he's reported to the Surprise complex.

Rene Francisco, the Royals' specialist in international operations, said that the 6-foot-5 Castillo was born in New York but spent the last two years in the Dominican Republic, where he was a DPL all-star.

"He's not a hard-throwing guy but more of a pitcher who throws strikes," Francisco said.

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Race for rotation is on as Royals open camp

The Royals have the youngest Spring Training roster of all 30 Major League clubs at an average to 25.7 years for the 65 players who will be in Surprise. Next youngest is Cleveland at 26.2 years. It goes all the way up to Philadelphia at 28.8; the big league average is 26.8.

That statistic doesn't surprise left-handed pitcher John Lamb, the youngest player in camp, born July 10, 1990.

"Not with our young group," he said. "That's not a surprise at all. We've got myself and [catcher] Salvador [Perez] are both 20 so that obviously helps out."

Being young doesn't necessarily mean there's a lack of talent.

"I've been coming to Spring Training for 42 years," said Royals senior advisor Art Stewart, "and this is the best bunch of arms I've ever seen."

Pitching coach Bob McClure certainly sees a fuzzy-cheeked group with a lot of old-fashioned stuff.

"We've really gotten younger with better stuff," McClure said. "The only thing we're missing is experience."

A priority for Yost is sorting out the five-man starting rotation for which there are six often-acknowledged candidates -- Luke Hochevar, Kyle Davies, Jeff Francis, Vin Mazzaro, Bruce Chen and Sean O'Sullivan. But the manager widens the field.

"I can probably come up with 10 names," Yost said.

And he did, adding Danny Duffy, Everett Teaford, Aaron Crow and Nate Adcock "because he's a Rule 5 guy." In other words, the Royals have to keep Adcock on the regular-season roster or offer him back to Pittsburgh.

Yet Yost didn't want to limit his options to those 10 pitchers.

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A priority for Yost is sorting out the five-man starting rotation for which there are six often-acknowledged candidates -- Luke Hochevar, Kyle Davies, Jeff Francis, Vin Mazzaro, Bruce Chen and Sean O'Sullivan. But the manager widens the field.

"I can probably come up with 10 names," Yost said.

And he did, adding Danny Duffy, Everett Teaford, Aaron Crow and Nate Adcock "because he's a Rule 5 guy." In other words, the Royals have to keep Adcock on the regular-season roster or offer him back to Pittsburgh.

Yet Yost didn't want to limit his options to those 10 pitchers.

I hate to say it, but if we finish with a team ERA under 5 I'll be very surprised. This is one of the sorriest staffs I've ever seen on paper.

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Teaford ready to make his mark with Royals

Now Teaford, from Alpharetta, Ga., and Georgia Southern University ("the Harvard of Southeast Georgia," in his words), is a contender for the Royals' pitching staff. Maybe as a starter, maybe as a reliever -- the big thing is that he's finally arrived.

Last summer, Teaford had a 14-3 record and a 3.36 ERA for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Then he was among six Royals farmhands, including hitting prodigies Mike Moustakas and Eric Hosmer, that played for Team USA in the Pan American Qualifying Tournament in Puerto Rico.

"I never considered myself really in that group of Hosmer, Moustakas -- that next wave," Teaford said. "But it made us feel like this could be fun in Kansas City. We're all really good friends, and hopefully we can turn things around."

Teaford says he has a pretty standard pitching repertoire -- fastball, curveball, changeup and a little cutter -- but his fastball gained considerable velocity last year and was up to 94 or 95 mph at times.

Yost went to Puerto Rico last fall for the Pan Am competition and saw some flashes of Tom Glavine finesse in Teaford, including his ability to move the ball around and work the corners.

"I like his stuff, but the thing that impressed me most was his competitiveness on the mound," Yost said. "They'd knock the ball off the wall and he'd grab it and say, 'OK, you're next. Let's go.' He just kept coming after the hitters. He worked with a good tempo, had a great look on his face. He was competing out there with confidence, and I was real impressed with that."

Francis prospering at Royals camp - Power-hitting Robinson competing at first base

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Left-hander Jeff Francis, who came back with Colorado last year after missing 2009 because of shoulder surgery, is prospering in his first Kansas City camp.

"I was impressed with him from the minute he got here," manager Ned Yost said. "He's throwing the ball very well, commanding his pitches very well, keeping the ball down. It looks like he has a real effective changeup. We haven't been able to see him in action in terms of him being a teammate of ours, but we've seen it on the other side. We know he's a great competitor."

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- There are three Robinsons in Royals camp -- Robinson Tejeda, Clint Robinson and Derrick Robinson -- but only one is a Triple Crown winner. That's Clint, a big first baseman who topped the Texas League in the three essential categories with 29 home runs, 98 RBIs and a .335 average for Northwest Arkansas.

"It was kind of surprising," Robinson said. "We had Mike Moustakas with us for about 70 games, and his numbers would have been way past anything any of us would've done. So for me to just kind of keep pace and take up the slack when he left, that helped us get to the playoffs."

"You get to hit behind two or three of the best prospects in baseball, and it's fun to watch," he said. "Even though these guys are three or four years younger than I am, I'm still learning as a player and developing my game. And to watch them succeed and to pick from their brains what they're doing, it definitely helps you out as a hitter. You're watching Hosmer and Moustakas tear these guys apart and you start to pick up on things. Look what he did -- maybe that'll work."

Robinson is competing at first with a strong cast of Billy Butler, Kila Ka'aihue and Hosmer.

"You've got two proven big leaguers and one of the top five prospects in baseball," he said. "It can't do anything but help me, whether I go to Omaha or go to the big leagues. At least I get to be out here and share the experience with them, learn and keep progressing, then go into the season and try to have the kind of year I had last year."

Robinson, 26, has banged 74 homers in his four Minor League seasons with 285 RBIs and a .307 average.

"He's a kid that's got some real interesting qualities about his game," manager Ned Yost said. "He can really hit and he can hit with power. We're a little log-jammed, and we'll just have to find him a position where we can utilize that offensive production at the big league level."

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Montgomery rising fast in Royals' system

Baseball, though, is a game at which Montgomery excels, particularly when it comes to throwing one over the plate. When MLB.com ranked the top left-handed pitching prospects this year, only Cincinnati Reds phenom Aroldis Chapman ranked ahead of Montgomery.

"I heard that but, honestly, it's pretty much one of those things you don't want to get wrapped up in as a player," he said. "It's good for everybody else. I mean, I think it's a pretty cool honor to be ranked right behind Chapman."

He put this perspective on the ranking: "It's one of those things that doesn't really matter until you're in the big leagues and have success."

That's precisely what the Royals are banking on for Montgomery. He's one of their prime starting prospects, and though he's a long shot to make the rotation out of Spring Training, his arrival probably isn't far away.

How does he rate his chances in this camp?

"No clue," he said. "I have absolutely no idea. If I go out there and pitch well, the rest is going to take care of itself. That's a motto you've got to live by at this point."

Montgomery has been an impressive guy so far.

"He's mid-90s, strong downhill action on his fastball, good breaking ball, good changeup," manager Ned Yost said.

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Royals 2011 Class Best Of The Top 100 Era?

What we found is the 2011 Royals are the highest-ranked team of the Top 100 era, and it's not particularly close. The gap between the Royals and the third-place organization on our list is 102 points, which is more than the points awarded for having the No. 1 prospect on the list.

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Royals 2011 Class Best Of The Top 100 Era?

What we found is the 2011 Royals are the highest-ranked team of the Top 100 era, and it's not particularly close. The gap between the Royals and the third-place organization on our list is 102 points, which is more than the points awarded for having the No. 1 prospect on the list.

And this is why Royals fans have reason to be excited about the future. I'm told if they went to 150 we'd have 3 or 4 more on the list.

Blazing fastball has Jeffress on Royals' radar

"When I saw him before, he had very raw stuff, coming at you with a 101, 102 mph fastball," Yost said. "Decent breaking ball, command was an issue for him, like it is for all young pitchers. But he's definitely refined his command to the point where he throws a lot more strikes with that really good stuff. He's impressive so far."

What about this "exploding" stuff?

"It jumps on you. There's a difference," Yost said. "There are guys that throw hard, but you can see it the whole way. When it comes out of his hand, it just like gets there and goes 'shhhhhhhhhhmp!' You think you see it, but you don't see it."

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Dyson shines in intrasquad game - Impressive Hosmer likely looking at Triple-A - Royals' arms impress Yost

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Outfielder Jarrod Dyson escaped injury and every throw that was tried against him in the Royals' intrasquad game.

Dyson had a big afternoon on Thursday, going 3-for-4 and scoring three times for the victorious Blues. He doubled, singled twice -- once on a bunt -- and was credited with two stolen bases.

Picked off first base in the seventh inning, Dyson bolted for second base and was struck in the left elbow by first baseman Clint Robinson's throw.

Hosmer did nothing to hurt his cause on Thursday, when he hit a two-run homer in an intrasquad game. Jeff Francoeur and Kila Ka'aihue also pounded two-run homers in the game that was stopped after 7 1/2 innings at George Brett Field.

Hosmer belted his shot over the center-field wall against left-hander Chris Dwyer's fastball.

"The first pitch was a curveball, a good pitch, and he came back with a fastball outside. He made a good pitch, but I got it up in the thin air and it kept going for me," Hosmer said.

Earlier, in his only other at-bat, Hosmer cranked a sacrifice fly that went deep into center.

"Hos just missed the first one. He could've had two of 'em," Yost said.

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Fifteen of the 33 pitchers in Royals camp got game action on Thursday, each pitching an inning or the equivalent in the intrasquad affair.

Manager Ned Yost said he was especially impressed with Vin Mazzaro, Louis Coleman, Mike Montgomery and Jeremy Jeffress. All except Montgomery pitched a perfect inning, and he got three quick outs after allowing a leadoff double.

Montgomery got two strikeouts and then got help from left fielder Brett Carroll's diving catch of Jeff Bianchi's liner. That was the defensive play of the game.

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Newcomers expected to lift Royals' defense

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Moustakas, Hosmer put on power display - Mazzaro makes good first impression

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Royals third-base prospect Mike Moustakas and first-base prospect Eric Hosmer each hit home runs in Kansas City's 12-11 loss to the Rangers on Monday afternoon at Surprise Stadium.

Kansas City's record is 1-1 after two Cactus League games.

"Defensive-wise, I thought we were all right. I thought we swung the bats well," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "It was great to see Mous and Hos break out with a homer and give the fans a little bit of a taste of what they've been hearing about. All in all, I was pleased."

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Vin Mazzaro's Spring Training debut with the Royals started with a strike and ended in a flash.

He still made quite an impression.

The right-hander threw 25 pitches, 16 for strikes, in two scoreless innings against the Rangers in a 12-11 loss on Monday at Surprise Stadium. Mazzaro, who allowed two hits in the brief outing, faced seven batters.

Royals plan for Butler to steal more in 2011

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Royals are unveiling a new weapon in Spring Training: Billy Butler, base-stealer.

Butler, who has only one stolen base in his big league career, swiped second base in the first inning of the Royals' 4-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday. He was on base after drilling a two-run single.

"Billy got one in the intrasquad game the other day, too," manager Ned Yost said. "You can pick your spots in those situations, and we're looking to do that whenever we can."

With Kendall out, KC explores catching options

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The odd thing about the Royals' catching situation is that there's been more camp talk about Salvador Perez -- who almost certainly won't be on the team -- instead of the guys contending for the job.

The thing is, wise and wizened Jason Kendall -- with his 15 years of experience -- is expected to be out of commission when the first pitch is hurled across the plate on March 31. He's had surgery to piece back together his right shoulder and, for all his determined talk, Kendall is likely to miss Opening Day.

So, as the Royals began Cactus League play on Sunday against Texas, Brayan Pena was behind the plate -- and he's the leading candidate to sub for Kendall. But Lucas May and Manny Pina are in the hunt, too.

Kendall will turn 37 in June, and the Royals are looking for a future catcher who'll fit with their incoming mass of hot young players -- especially the pitchers -- and Perez is the current front-runner, especially since Wil Myers was moved to the outfield.

Just 20, Perez is likely to start the season with Double-A Northwest Arkansas because he's never played above Class A. His hitting might need some work, but his catching skills are advanced for his age.

"I think he's real close to being ready to catch in the big leagues right now," Yost said early in camp, while he quickly added it wouldn't be right away.

Yost considers defense the top priority for a catcher, and Perez's attributes include his throwing ability. For Class A Wilmington last year, he gunned down 37 of 88 wannabe base pirates, a rousing 42-percent clip.

"As good a thrower as I've ever seen -- as I've ever seen -- behind the plate," Yost said emphatically. "I've always thought that a 1.8 [seconds] throw to second base was a myth, right? Because I've never seen one. This kid is constantly in the 1.8s."

Yost working on establishing Royals' identity

"The identity I want to establish is that of a professional team, a hard-working team, a hard-playing team that at the end of the day, you know you have been in a ballgame and it was a hard-fought game, win or lose, and they played the game right and they respected the game," Yost said.

"That's important to me -- all of that stuff. We've got the kids that do that."

Last season, the Royals finished fifth in the American League Central with a 67-95 record and ranked last in AL defense with 121 errors. The club was also last in AL pitching with a 4.97 ERA. Kansas City hitters ranked second with a .274 batting average.

This spring, there is a pitchers' meeting every morning at 9 a.m. MT, and it's followed by three intense team workouts that start at 10 a.m. sharp. Yost respects the value of discipline and direction in baseball, and wants his players to do the same. He hopes the approach pays off in the future.

"The game is about three hours of intense focus, and I always believed that you practice the way that you play," Yost said.

"So when we step on this field -- the clubhouse has tremendous chemistry and that's the place you cut up -- but when you step on this field your mind should be focused and your intensity level should be ramped up."

So far, Yost's approach has been well received by the veterans in the clubhouse, but it could prove to be especially beneficial to the young talent in the organization.

[RoyalShock]

Random thoughts so far:

I like what I'm seeing from Cain and Hosmer. If Cabrera weren't swinging the bat so well I'd pencil in Cain, but I still expect him to start in Omaha.

Moustakas has been meh, but it's spring, and early at that.

Ka'aihue and Aviles are doing well. Have to like that.

Gordon is weird. Hitting .125 with a .481 OBP. He's either walking (9+2 HBP in 27 PAs) or striking out (6). One of his two hits was a broken-bat single. It could be he's not swinging at pitches that used to get him and that explains the walks. Getting used to his new swing may explain the strikeouts.

Maier is Mr. March. Nothing to see here.

Butler and Franceur are pretty much what we expected.

Escobar putting the ball in play (.417 AVG) with a couple of walks (.500 OBP). Defense loooking good.

B. Pena no hits or walks in 9 ABs. Great numbers, if only he were a pitcher. Even Cody Clark has one hit and RBI in his 4 ABs.

Pitching is a little worrisome. Not a surprise, but perhaps a dissapointment. And small sample size is a problem with evaluations at this point.

Davies, Chen and O'Sullivan have OK numbers.

Hochevar has 1 K in 5 innings.

Francis and Mazarro has been hit hard.

The young, "future" guys have been mixed. Duffy, Dwyer, Teaford and Keating have been awful. Montgomery was so-so (3 BBs in 3 innings). Crow has a good K rate. Lamb struck out the side in his one inning. Will Smith has three hitless innings. Not sure what to think about Collins yet. Jeffress may impress enough to stay with the big club.

It's still very early in the spring, of course, but there are some nice signs from our position players and troubling ones from the pitching staff. I always thought pitching was ahead of hitting at this point, but it looks reversed in Surprise for KC so far.


I'm going to make a wildly early trade prediction. At some point late this season or during next year's offseason, either Butler or Kila will be traded along with Jarrod Dyson for a stud young corner OF'er or starting pitcher when Hosmer is ready. Dyson is blocked by Cain and it will do very little good to keep him around when you also have Derrick Robinson in Omaha.

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isnt about that time to cut our losses with Gordon, if he hasnt gotten it now, I dont think he ever will.

[RoyalShock]

isnt about that time to cut our losses with Gordon, if he hasnt gotten it now, I dont think he ever will.

He and Seitzer made significant changes in his swing over the offseason, which he is still working on. He's going to need consistent ABs to see if those changes will yield fruit.

He's not blocking anyone so there is no harm in giving him one last shot.

Alex always drew his fair share of walks, but 9 in 27 PAs is a lot. If he's improved his pitch selection that can only help him.