Daily Clips
March 12, 2017
LOCAL
Moss cracks 3-run HR; Vargas strong in start
March 11, 2017 By Owen Perkins/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218892158/indians-francisco-mejia-hits-grand-slam/
Salvy suffers knee injury, out of Classic
MRI reveals inflammation, no structural damage for All-Star catcher
March 11, 2017 By Jesse Sanchez/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218962780/salvador-perez-injured-in-venezuelas-victory/
Vargas getting stronger with each outing
March 11, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218970600/royals-jason-vargas-continues-to-improve/
Royals keeping outfielder Bonifacio in focus
March 11, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218981230/royals-of-jorge-bonifacio-making-strong-case/
Mondesi shut down after collision at first base
Royals cautious after second baseman shows signs of concussion
March 11, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218900062/royals-raul-mondesi-shut-down-after-collision/
Brandon Moss hits first home run of spring in Royals’ 7-6 loss to Indians
March 11, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article137989808.html
Salvador Perez injured after Drew Butera collides with him at the World Baseball Classic
March 11, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article138003693.html
Royals prospect Luke Farrell’s outlook changed after twice having tumor removed
March 11, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article137962343.html
Royals’ Raul Mondesi will get rest after collision in Friday’s game
March 11, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article137934793.html
NATIONAL
Salvador Perez (knee) out of WBC; MRI shows no structural damage
March 11, 2017 AP (via ESPN.com)
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18886647/salvador-perez-kansas-city-royals-injures-left-knee-venezuela-win-italy-world-baseball-classic
Eric Hosmer's seen real sacrifice, so he'll never complain about baseball
March 11, 2017 By Tim Kurkjian/ESPN.com
http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/18795876/eric-hosmer-seen-real-sacrifice-never-complain-baseball
All-Star Salvador Perez injured in collision with Royals teammate at WBC
March 11, 2017 By Zack Pierce/FOXSports.com
http://www.foxsports.com/mlb/story/salvador-perez-injured-collision-knee-drew-butera-venezuela-world-baseball-classic-031117
Sal Perez avoids serious injury at WBC after run-in with his Royals backup
The Royals/Venezuela catcher took a shot to the knee and it didn't look good
March 11, 2017 By Matt Snyder/CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/sal-perez-may-have-suffered-serious-injury-at-wbc-after-run-in-with-his-royals-backup/
Venezuela's Salvador Perez injures knee in collision, out of World Baseball Classic
March 11, 2017 AP (via USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2017/03/11/venezela-salvador-perez-francisco-rodriguez-injured-same-play-world-baseball-classic/99074886/
MLB TRANSACTIONS
March 12, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions
LOCAL
Moss cracks 3-run HR; Vargas strong in start
March 11, 2017 By Owen Perkins/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218892158/indians-francisco-mejia-hits-grand-slam/
What started as a rare Cactus League pitchers' duel ended in a slugfest on Saturday as the Indians and Royals traded long balls in a 10-run seventh inning. Cleveland prospect Francisco Mejia broke it open with a seventh-inning grand slam to lead the Indians to a 7-6 victory.
Oddly, the only run in the first six innings came with a bases-loaded walk to Kansas City's Whit Merrifield. Both teams opened up the offensive floodgates in the seventh, with the Royals sparking the onslaught with a three-run homer from designated hitter Brandon Moss.
Cleveland starter Danny Salazar was strong for four innings, striking out six while allowing two hits and a walk. In his previous three starts, Salazar pitched a total of 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on four hits and eight walks while striking out eight. Command was high on his priority list as he toed the rubber against the Royals.
Royals left-hander Jason Vargas, likely the No. 3 or No. 4 starter, worked through three scoreless innings. He gave up two hits, walked three and struck out three. He threw 54 pitches, 30 for strikes.
"I thought Vargy really pitched well," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "And it was nice to see Brandon Moss get that first homer. And a nice little rally in the ninth."
Both teams unleashed their pent-up offense in the seventh, with Moss's three-run shot off reliever Bryan Shaw giving the Royals a 4-0 lead.
"I thought Vargy really pitched well," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "And it was nice to see Brandon Moss get that first homer. And a nice little rally in the ninth."
Both teams unleashed their pent-up offense in the seventh, with Moss's three-run shot off reliever Bryan Shaw giving the Royals a 4-0 lead.
The Tribe jumped right back into it, with Abraham Almonte sparking a rally with a leadoff single to short. He scored on a Tyler Naquin double and a throwing error from right fielder Hunter Dozier. Richie Shaffer launched his second spring dinger to make it a 4-3 game. Bobby Parnell walked three men to load the bases with two outs, and Chris Withrow entered the situation for the game's key at bat, yielding a towering fly to right that just cleared the fence for Mejia's first round-tripper of the spring.
"It was a good at-bat," Indians manager Terry Francona said of Mejia's slam. "Nobody's going to remember that in October, but it was fun to watch. He fouled off a few pitches, one was over his head, one was at his shoes. He broke a bat. He put together a pretty good at-bat. It was fun to watch us put up a crooked number like that -- I don't care who's in the game."
Salvy suffers knee injury, out of Classic
MRI reveals inflammation, no structural damage for All-Star catcher
March 11, 2017 By Jesse Sanchez/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218962780/salvador-perez-injured-in-venezuelas-victory/
Venezuela felt the thrill of victory for the first time in Pool D play on Saturday, but this win hurt, too.
Catcher Salvador Perez made a game-saving putout at the plate in the ninth inning against Italy on Saturday, sending the World Baseball Classic contest into extra innings. Venezuela went on to win, 11-10, but both Perez and reliever Francisco Rodriguez were injured on the play.
According to a Major League Baseball official on site, Perez sustained a left knee injury and has been referred for further diagnostic testing. According to a tweet by Team Venezuela late Saturday night, an MRI revealed no structural damage. But the inflammation will force the catcher to miss the rest of the tournament.
Venezuela manager Omar Vizquel said Rodriguez has a pulled groin and Perez is headed for X-rays. The pitcher said it was a cramp.
This much is certain: It was one of the strangest plays of the tournament.
With two outs and runners at first and second, Gavin Cecchini tied the game with a line-drive single to center, scoring pinch-runner Drew Maggi. Perez was in position to tag out Italy's Drew Butera at home, but he appeared to injure his leg in the collision with his Royals backup backstop. Perez needed to be helped into the clubhouse.
"Well, first of all, Francisco was in the wrong spot," Vizquel said. "He's supposed to be behind the catcher backing him up. We didn't really have a cutoff man there, and the ball just happened to fall into his hands. He bobbled it a little bit. He threw home with everything he can push himself to do it and put a good throw on the catcher that I think Salvador wasn't even expecting. That's why he got caught a little bit of surprise and his feet were crossed over, and I think that's why he got that injury."
It's unclear how Rodriguez was injured; he made a relay toss to Perez, then collapsed to the ground after the throw.
"I went to back to Salvador, and I went back to Francisco, and then back to Salvador," Vizquel said. "It was the weirdest thing. Two guys down at the same time. One guy said he's OK, the other one said, 'I can't walk.' There were a lot of emotions going on that play. The most important thing is that hopefully Francisco is going to be OK, and Salvador also is going to be OK."
Earlier in the ninth inning, Perez connected on a two-run homer to break a tie and put Venezuela up, 10-8. Venezuela reclaimed the lead in the 10th on Martin Prado's RBI double, and then the club hung on for the win, its first in this year's Classic.
"I feel really bad," Butera said. "I thought the ball was going to be in the gap and I was just trying to score. When I saw that I was going to be out by a lot, I just stopped. It was unfortunate that I hit him where I did. Obviously, I wasn't trying to hit him. I hope he is OK."
Royals general manager Dayton Moore confirmed that the team has been in contact with Perez.
"He was in a lot of pain at first," Moore said, "but he said he's feeling much better. But we won't know anything definitively until [Sunday] after the X-rays and imaging is done and examined. We just don't know right now."
The exams and evaluations will be done in Mexico.
The World Baseball Classic runs through March 22. In the U.S., games air live exclusively in English on MLB Network and on an authenticated basis via MLBNetwork.com/watch, while ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN provide the exclusive Spanish-language coverage. MLB.TV Premium subscribers in the U.S. have access to watch every tournament game live on any of the streaming service's 400-plus supported devices. The tournament is being distributed internationally across all forms of television, internet, mobile and radio in territories excluding the U.S., Puerto Rico and Japan. Get tickets for games at Marlins Park, Tokyo Dome, Estadio Charros de Jalisco in Mexico, Petco Park, as well as the Championship Round at Dodger Stadium, while complete coverage -- including schedules, video, stats and gear -- is available at WorldBaseballClassic.com.
Vargas getting stronger with each outing
March 11, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218970600/royals-jason-vargas-continues-to-improve/
With each spring outing, Royals left-hander Jason Vargas continues to build arm strength along with confidence in his arm's bounce-back ability.
Vargas, who missed almost all of last season because of Tommy John surgery in 2015, made his third spring start Saturday and tossed three shutout innings in a 7-6 loss to the Indians.
Vargas reports his arm has bounced back well so far in game outings and bullpens this spring.
"Everything has been normal," Vargas said. "The body has been responding really well. Happy with that."
Saturday was another test as Vargas threw 54 pitches, 30 for strikes. He gave up two hits, walked three and struck out three.
Vargas was disappointed, though, in the walks.
"It would have been nice to work on some 'not 0-2 walks,'" Vargas said. "I missed some pitches, and was unable to put some guys away. I'd like to eliminate that if I could."
Vargas finished strong, facing the minimum in the third inning while striking out one.
"I was definitely a lot sharper and crisper getting the ball through the strike zone that inning," he said. "I was able to work through not getting pitches that may have been strikes or may not have been. It's nice to go out with that third inning instead of struggling."
Royals keeping outfielder Bonifacio in focus
March 11, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218981230/royals-of-jorge-bonifacio-making-strong-case/
As one scans through the Royals' outfield depth chart, you have to search pretty far down the list to get to Jorge Bonifacio.
Beyond starters Alex Gordon, Lorenzo Cain and Jorge Soler, that depth chart includes Paulo Orlando, Brandon Moss, Peter O'Brien, Billy Burns and Terrance Gore.
At some point after that you get to Bonifacio, the Royals' No. 12 prospect according to MLB Pipeline. But that hardly means Bonifacio, who started Saturday in a 7-6 loss to the Indians, is being overlooked.
"He's not a forgotten guy," manager Ned Yost said. "We look at him very comfortably. If we have an injury or something, we know he is there. If we have to bring him up, we know he'll be fine, and we'll be fine.
"I feel like he's ready to play in the big leagues. He just needs the opportunity."
Bonifacio, 23, really caught Yost's eyes during last year's Spring Training. Yost loves the skill set.
"He's to the point now that in all phases of his game he could compete up here," Yost said. "He gives you a good at-bat, he's got power to all fields. He's a big guy but very athletic. He can move. He makes all the plays."
Indeed, in the eyes of the organization, Bonifacio is an ascending player.
Bonifacio hit .277 at Triple-A Omaha in 2016 with an .812 OPS. He hit 19 home runs with 86 RBIs.
And Bonifacio hasn't slowed down one bit this camp. He's hitting .450 with three doubles, a home run and five RBIs.
"I think it's going good," Bonifacio said. "I think I'm learning the more I'm around these guys."
The Royals signed Bonifacio out of the Dominican Republic when he was just 16. They've watched him grow, watched his body fill out. He is now 6 foot 1, 195 pounds.
"He's big," Yost said, "but like I said, he can move around. It's not like a ball is hit to Boni and you say 'Oh, no.' He can make all the plays. He's got a strong arm. And he gives you a good at-bat."
But it's a waiting game for Bonifacio. The Royals' corner outfielders -- Gordon and Soler -- are here long-term, and he understands that.
"I just have to wait for my opportunity," Bonifacio said. "And I have to be ready when it comes, so I have to keep getting better."
Mondesi shut down after collision at first base
Royals cautious after second baseman shows signs of concussion
March 11, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/218900062/royals-raul-mondesi-shut-down-after-collision/
Royals infielder Raul Mondesi was shut down Saturday to recover from a collision at first base during an 11-7 loss against the A's on Friday night.
Mondesi showed symptoms of a mild concussion after the collision, so the Royals are being precautious with regards to his activity. He likely will be re-evaluated Sunday.
Royals manager Ned Yost seemed hopeful that Mondesi would be available to practice again in a day or two.
"I just saw him this morning, and he said he feels much better," Yost said. "We'll see how he feels tomorrow, and if he is asymptomatic, he can practice."
Mondesi, who is in a battle for the starting second base job, collided with Jaff Decker of the A's while covering first base in the seventh inning. Mondesi was down on the ground for several minutes before walking off the field with trainers.
Mondesi, 21, is hitting .450 this spring with a double and a home run.
Brandon Moss hits first home run of spring in Royals’ 7-6 loss to Indians
March 11, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article137989808.html