Daily Clips
February 23, 2017
LOCAL
KC will hand Staumont ball for Cactus opener
Yost details pitching plan, with emphasis on seeing young arms early
February 22, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/216725148/ned-yost-shares-pitching-plan-for-royals/
Cain sticks with original glove during visit from Wilson
Center fielder keeps game glove protected
February 22, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/216733750/royals-lorenzo-cain-keeps-glove-on-wilson-day/
Zimmer feels healthy, hopes injury concerns are in past
Prospect fully rehabbed from August surgery
February 22, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/216735786/royals-kyle-zimmer-feels-healthy-in-camp/
Breaking down the Royals' Top 30 Prospects
KC's farm headlined by big league-ready Strahm, Dozier
February 22, 2017 By Jim Callis/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/216648838/royals-2017-preseason-top-30-prospects-list/
Ned Yost on Royals’ young pitchers: ‘These guys are pretty good, man’
February 22, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article134388849.html
Alex Gordon, without excuses, is optimistic after his worst big-league season
February 22, 2017 By Sam Mellinger/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/sam-mellinger/article134362289.html
Royals infielder Whit Merrifield won’t fly under the radar this spring
February 22, 2017 By Blair Kerkhoff/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article134335129.html
Top prospect Josh Staumont will start spring-training opener as Royals set pitching schedule
February 22, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article134242199.html
Royals single-game tickets will go on sale Friday
February 22, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/k-zone/article134302744.html
‘My baby’: Royals’ Lorenzo Cain hides his glove from his wife and kids during the offseason
February 22, 2017 By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/for-petes-sake/article134248789.html
MINORS
MLBPipeline Reveals KC's Top 30 Prospects
6 Chasers alums land in top 30 along with possible 2017 players
February 22, 2017 By Andrew Green/Omaha Storm Chasers
http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20170222&content_id=216733574&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t541&sid=t541
Naturals to Expand Netting at Arvest Ballpark
Netting will extend to ends of dugouts in accordance with MLB recommendations
February 22, 2017 Northwest Arkansas Naturals
http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20170222&content_id=216715162&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_t1350&sid=t1350
NATIONAL
Former Cub Jorge Soler showing spark with Royals
February 22, 2017 By Mark Gonzales/Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/ct-jorge-soler-royals-spring-training-20170222-story.html
MLB TRANSACTIONS
February 23, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/transactions
LOCAL
KC will hand Staumont ball for Cactus opener
Yost details pitching plan, with emphasis on seeing young arms early
February 22, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/216725148/ned-yost-shares-pitching-plan-for-royals/
Right-hander Josh Staumont, the Royals' No. 3 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, will get the start for the Cactus League opener against the Rangers on Saturday (2:05 p.m. CT).
Royals manager Ned Yost said the plan all along has been to see the younger players like Staumont in the early going.
"I don't want to burn out my veteran guys this early in camp," Yost said. "Because of the [World Baseballl Classic], we're starting a week early. We've got plenty of time to get everyone ready."
Right-hander Kyle Zimmer, the team's No. 9 prospect, will get the start Sunday against the Rangers.
Staumont will be followed by right-hander Jake Junis, the team's No. 6 prospect. Both Staumont and Junis will throw two innings or 35 pitches.
"It's a huge honor," Staumont said. "It's phenomenal to even be able to play for this team in the first place. It's a chance to get more work in."
Will he get too amped up for the start?
"I'm from Southern California," Staumont said. "We're slow. We take things easy. I don't get too amped up for things."
Staumont has impressed Yost early in camp.
"Everything comes out pretty free and easy," Yost said. "And he still is hitting 97 or 98 [mph]."
Also slated to pitch Saturday are right-handers Yender Caramo, Luke Farrell, and Andrew Edwards, left-handers Eric Stout and Jonathan Sanchez and right-hander Al Alburquerque.
On Sunday, Zimmer will be followed by right-hander Miguel Almonte, left-handers Scott Alexander and Jonathan Dziedzic, and right-handers Malcom Culver, Brandon McCarthy, Brandon League and Bobby Parnell.
On Monday, left-hander Jason Vargas will start against the Mariners in Peoria, Ariz. Vargas will be followed by right-hander Joakim Soria, left-hander Mike Minor and right-hander Chris Withrow.
Left-hander Danny Duffy, likely the Opening Day starter, will pitch Tuesday against the Brewers in Maryvale, Ariz. Left-hander Matt Strahm will follow him.
Right-hander Nathan Karns will start against the Cubs on Wednesday in Surprise, while right-hander Chris Young will start Thursday against the Rockies in Surprise.
Cain sticks with original glove during visit from Wilson
Center fielder keeps game glove protected
February 22, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/216733750/royals-lorenzo-cain-keeps-glove-on-wilson-day/
Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain has a special relationship with his glove.
Cain has used the same glove -- a Wilson A2000 1799 -- for seven years.
But that doesn't stop Cain from testing out two new gloves each year, as he did on Wednesday for Wilson Glove Day at Royals camp.
"I don't know about anyone else's relationship with their gloves," Cain said, "but I can tell you mine is special. Very close. It only comes out in game time. I never practice with it. And it stays hidden during the offseason."
Cain is one of several Royals, including Christian Colon, Ian Kennedy and Brandon Moss, who have contracts with Wilson and were checking out new gloves.
But Cain sticks with his original.
"I fell in love with the [A2000]," Cain said. "You know what they say: Once you fall in love with something ...
"I still got my gamer in [my locker]. Like I said, I never practice with it. I feel like it has at least one more year in it. But that depends on how many catches it gives me this year."
Cain does take special care of his game glove.
"Oh yeah, it's definitely well-kept," Cain said. "I got a little beehive to take care of it at all times.
"And I keep it protected in the offseason. I keep it hidden from everyone. My kids sometimes find it and try to play with it. Or my wife sometimes finds it and hides it somewhere to mess with me. But I take great care of it. You have to."
Zimmer feels healthy, hopes injury concerns are in past
Prospect fully rehabbed from August surgery
February 22, 2017 By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/216735786/royals-kyle-zimmer-feels-healthy-in-camp/
These days, Royals prospect Kyle Zimmer is keeping expectations low.
Zimmer, the Royals' No. 9 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, arrived to Spring Training in 2016 with great optimism. His fastball was hitting 96 mph early in camp.
And then Zimmer suddenly hit a wall. His velocity began fading to the upper 80s. Sharp pain in his shoulder area became a constant.
Eventually, Zimmer was shut down. In fact, he pitched in just three Minor League games last season before some exploratory surgery revealed he could benefit from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, which he then had in early August.
Now, Zimmer, 25, has rehabbed and feels as strong and as pain-free as he can remember.
Zimmer threw his second bullpen session of camp Tuesday, and reported no pain on Wednesday -- just the normal soreness associated with throwing batting practice.
"It feels good," Zimmer said. "A little sore and a little stiffness, but not a lot.
"It's just normal soreness. Nothing like the sharp debilitating pain from last year."
After years of injury issues, Zimmer, the Royals' first-round Draft pick in 2012 (fifth overall), is hoping health concerns are a thing of the past.
In past years, Zimmer has had his elbow cleaned, had tissue in his rotator cuff repaired, and underwent surgery to his latissimus dorsi muscle.
This may be the year Zimmer can reach all of his potential. He is a right-hander who the Royals routinely used to describe as having the best stuff in the system.
"He's looking good this spring," manager Ned Yost said. "He's throwing nice and easy."
Zimmer is simply happy there is no more pain.
"At this point last year, I was starting to struggle, starting to taper off," Zimmer said. "I'm feeling much better now."
While Zimmer has said there are no limitations for him this Spring Training, he doesn't want to get too carried away early.
"Coming off the surgery I was told there'd be ups and downs," Zimmer said. "But it's important to keep the highs and lows a little more consistent. You just want to keep your body in the best shape and go after it."
On Sunday, Zimmer will make his first Cactus League start.
"I just like getting back into the swing of things," he said. "I'm excited to get to the start of games and transfer it all over to the start of games."
Breaking down the Royals' Top 30 Prospects
KC's farm headlined by big league-ready Strahm, Dozier
February 22, 2017 By Jim Callis/MLB.com
http://m.royals.mlb.com/news/article/216648838/royals-2017-preseason-top-30-prospects-list/
Six years ago, the Royals had the best farm system in baseball. The biggest names were Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Wil Myers, all of whom would contribute mightily -- Myers via trade -- to an American League pennant in 2014 and a World Series title in 2015. So too would a deep crop of then lesser-known talents that included Danny Duffy, Jarrod Dyson, Kelvin Herrera, Greg Holland, Salvador Perez and Yordano Ventura.
That championship will resonate forever in Kansas City, but the team slipped to 81-81 last year and the current system lacks the reinforcements that will be needed after a likely free-agent exodus following the 2017 season. The Royals traded their best young arms (Brandon Finnegan, Sean Manaea, Cody Reed) to add Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist for the stretch drive in 2015, and they haven't drafted as well since they began picking lower in the first round and were hamstrung by bonus limitations.
Kansas City's two best prospects, left-hander Matt Strahm and third baseman/outfielder Hunter Dozier, contributed at the end of last season and are ready for expanded roles in 2017. But the organization doesn't have a single player on MLBPipeline.com's Top 100 Prospects list and no obvious middle-of-the-order hitter or frontline starter on the way. The quickest way to infuse some talent into the system might be for the Royals to trade off veterans this summer if they fall out of contention.
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2016 preseason list to the 2017 preseason list.
Jump: Erik Skoglund, LHP (2016: 28 | 2017: 4)
Fall: Ashe Russell, RHP (2016: 3 | 2017: 27)
Bubba Starling, OF (2016: 7 | 2017: NR)
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average.
Hit: Donnie Dewees (55)
Power: Ryan O'Hearn (55)
Run: Donnie Dewees (65)
Arm: Seuly Matias (70)
Defense: Cam Gallagher (60)
Fastball: Josh Staumont (70)
Curveball: Matt Strahm (60)
Slider: Andrew Edwards (55)
Changeup: A.J. Puckett (60)
Control: Eric Skoglund (55)
How they were built
Draft: 20
International: 9
Trade: 1
Breakdown by ETA
2017: 9
2018: 4
2019: 6
2020: 11
Breakdown by position
C: 3
1B: 2
2B: 1
3B: 1
SS: 3
OF: 6
RHP: 10
LHP: 4
Here's a look at the Royals' preseason Top 10 prospects from each of the past seven years. (click link for image)
Ned Yost on Royals’ young pitchers: ‘These guys are pretty good, man’
February 22, 2017 By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
http://www.kansascity.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/article134388849.html
The back fields here form a mammoth cloverleaf, four baseball diamonds that surround the Art Stewart Tower and offer the main hive of activity in the early days of spring training.
On Tuesday morning, that activity was built around a session of live batting practice, so Royals manager Ned Yost hopped on a golf cart and cruised out to the cloverleaf to evaluate a collection of young pitching prospects. On this day, the headliners were Josh Staumont, a flame-throwing 23-year-old, and Kyle Zimmer, a former first-round pick whose career has been beset by injuries.
But something strange happened as Yost jumped from field to field. He watched Zimmer throw a batting-practice session that he described as “free and easy,” a performance that piqued his interest. Then Yost headed to another field and saw something similar.
“This is no bull…” Yost said. “It’s hard to separate anybody right now because everybody looks so damn good. I mean, I bounced from field to field to field, and I’ll go to a field and … damn! I’ll go to the next field and watch three or four pitchers … damn! I go to the next one … damn!
“In years past, you’d go and you’d watch a field and you’d watch three or four pitchers, and you’d say ‘Meh.’ You’d go to one and say ‘OK.’ You’d go to another and say ‘Nah.’ ”
In some ways, this is the kind of eternal optimism that permeates every major-league camp. Yet the observation is notable in this sense: The Royals’ crop of young pitching prospects is hardly the envy of the industry. In the offseason, no Royals pitchers were among baseball’s top 100 prospects. ESPN analyst Keith Law ranked the organization’s farm system 26th.
But as spring training began, Royals general manager Dayton Moore sought to push back against that perception. And Yost says he has been consistently impressed by the collection of young arms in camp.
The list of names begins with Staumont and Zimmer, two pitchers with high upside. But in the hours after watching Tuesday’s workout, Yost said Jake Junis, Yender Caramo and left-hander Eric Stout had caught his eye — in addition to a handful of possible reclamation projects, such as left-hander Jonathan Sanchez.
“From Junis to Stout to Caramo to Staumont, these guys are pretty good, man,” Yost said. “Just name them. There’s not one that I’ve looked at and said, ‘Meh, why is he here?’ ”
Yost cautions that live batting practice offers a limited evaluation. But if the Royals’ manager is being overly bullish on this young crop of pitchers, context remains key. The club thinned out its farm system in 2015, selling off pitchers Brandon Finnegan, Sean Manaea, Cody Reed and John Lamb in trades that netted Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist. All four pitchers had some degree of premium pedigree. But after claiming the franchise’s first World Series championship in three decades, the Royals’ front office has few regrets.
What remains, however, is a curious mix of late-round picks and interesting scouting stories.
Junis, 24, is a former 29th-round pick in 2011 who hails from Rock Falls, Ill., 115 miles west of Chicago. Five years later, he turned in a promising performance in 2016, recording a 3.25 ERA in 21 starts at Class AA Northwest Arkansas.