Daily Clips
April 6, 2018
LOCAL
What does Royals' road map look like?
Beat reporter Jeffrey Flanagan answers questions from fans
April 5, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Zimmer clears; Royals hope to re-sign him
April 5, 2018By Oliver Macklin/MLB.com
How Royals star Mike Moustakas helped a rookie find out he made the opening day roster
April 5, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
MINORS
Sky Sox Sweep Twinbill 3-1, 4-0
Dziedzic tosses 5 shutout frames, Dozier homers in game 1 defeat
April 6, 2018By Omaha Storm Chasers
Naturals walk away winners in season opener
OF Elier Hernandez delivered a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth in the 5-4 win
April 6, 2018By Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Newcomer’s big night leads Legends to opening day victory
April 6, 2018By Josh Sullivan/Lexington Herald-Leader
Salvador Perez inducted into Naturals Hall of Fame
The former 2011 Natural and 2015 World Series MVP was honored during a pre-game ceremony at Arvest Ballpark
April 5, 2018By Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Tillo back in familiar place for first full pro season
April 5, 2018By Jeff Budlong/Sioux City Journal
NATIONAL
Looking back and ahead for Mike Moustakas
April 5, 2018By Jon Heyman/Fanrag Sports
Crew sending Knebel to DL with hamstring injury
Brewers closer set for MRI after collapsing on mound in 9th
April 5, 2018By Adam McCalvy/MLB.com
MLB TRANSACTIONS
April 6, 2018 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
What does Royals' road map look like?
Beat reporter Jeffrey Flanagan answers questions from fans
April 5, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
When is the Royals' rebuild going to start? I don't consider it a rebuild now, given Kansas City has one of the oldest rosters in MLB.
-- @KCDave85
That is a fair point. But the Royals believed it would be unfair to certain prospects, such as Hunter Dozier, to push them to the big leagues. The rebuild/development stage will take place, for the most part, in the Minors this season with players such as Dozier, Adalberto Mondesi, Frank Schwindel, Ryan O'Hearn and Foster Griffin getting valuable playing time at Triple-A Omaha. Meanwhile, there will be some development at the big league level with players such as Tim Hill, Brad Keller, Cheslor Cuthbert, Jorge Soler and eventually Jorge Bonifacio.
How much trouble is the pitching staff in this year?
-- @simonsaysjoe
It's hard to make many judgments after just four games. Ian Kennedy and Jakob Junis have turned in superb starts. Kelvin Herrera looks like the pre-2017 Herrera. Hill and Keller could be the real deal. Justin Grimm quickly has entered manager Ned Yost's circle of trust. I would expect Danny Duffy to bounce back from a poor Opening Day start. The staff might be better than you think.
Who are the first three guys you expect to be called up from Triple-A?
-- @AlexJMaggard
Left-hander Richard Lovelady seems like a safe bet. He could give the Royals a strong lefty duo with Hill for years to come. Once Mondesi (shoulder) gets healthy, he could see some time -- general manager Dayton Moore has said they want Mondesi to put in a full healthy season at Triple-A, but his talent could bubble him up to the bigs this season. If Schwindel continues to tear up the Pacific Coast League like he did last year (and he really impressed Yost this spring) the Royals may have to find room for him on the 40-man roster and call him up.
Does the Cody Asche trade [to the Yankees] mean Dozier will play more third base?
-- @richstarnes
Yost said during Spring Training that Dozier would split time between first base, third base and the outfield. The trade of Asche, the acquisition of outfielder Abraham Almonte, and the presence of Schwindel and O'Hearn (both first basemen) probably pushes Dozier more toward third base.
Is Nate Karns a future closer?
-- @royalrupert
I posed that question to Yost last week, and while the Royals have indicated Karns will pitch in the bullpen once he comes off the disabled list, they haven't ruled out the possibility he will return to the rotation one day. But Karns has the electric stuff to be a late-inning guy.
Flanny, Junis looked like a beast [Wednesday]. If the Royals are sellers at the non-waiver Trade Deadline, would they consider trading him?
-- @JoshMil71912496
Moore said at the Winter Meetings in December that virtually anyone was tradeable, including Danny Duffy, as the Royals try to restock their farm system. Seemingly that would include Junis. But even though the previous pitching coach had some reservations about Junis' ceiling, the Royals are becoming big believers that Junis could emerge as an upper-rotation guy for years to come. Duffy and Junis could be staples of a future rotation when the Royals compete again for the postseason.
Zimmer clears; Royals hope to re-sign him
April 5, 2018By Oliver Macklin/MLB.com
Right-hander Kyle Zimmer -- the Royals' No. 1 selection (fifth overall) in 2012 -- has cleared release waivers and is now a free agent, according to MLB.com's Jeffery Flanagan. Flanagan reports the Royals are hoping to re-sign him.
Zimmer was designated for assignment last Thursday right before Kansas City's season opener and placed on unconditional release waivers on Tuesday.
The former top prospect has struggled with injuries since beginning his career in the Minor Leagues in 2012. He is 12-19 with a 3.54 ERA and 310 strikeouts in 259 innings in the Minors.
How Royals star Mike Moustakas helped a rookie find out he made the opening day roster
April 5, 2018By Maria Torres/KC Star
Sweat dripped down reliever Tim Hill’s face, under the collar of his Royals jersey and onto his neck.
Hill, 28, had just pitched a perfect ninth inning on a late March afternoon in Scottsdale, Ariz. The side-slinging left-hander the Royals chose to protect from December’s Rule 5 draft retired three Diamondbacks minor-leaguers with the help of ground balls and a five-pitch strikeout. He preserved a tie in the Royals’ penultimate game of the spring.
The appearance, Hill's final audition for a spot on the Royals' 25-man roster, couldn’t have gone more smoothly.
Yet as Hill descended the steps into the visiting dugout, he could not stop the perspiration from collecting at collarbones.
“I think I’m being optioned down,” he had told his girlfriend moments earlier.
Why else would manager Ned Yost, just days from finalizing his opening day roster, beckon Hill to his office in a tone so serious it brooked no room for argument? Surely not to offer Hill, who had never pitched above Class AA Northwest Arkansas, a job in the Royals' bullpen.
"Certain buddies would be in my ear. 'Dude, you might make the team,'" Hill said. "I was like, 'Nah, I don’t wanna hear it.'
"You can’t really expect anything."
So he didn't as he sat with Yost and dissected his spring. Through seven Cactus League outings, Hill threw scoreless innings in six. He scattered four hits. He allowed two earned runs and issued a pair of walks. Not too shabby for the first big-league camp of his professional career.
But Hill's anxiety crested when Yost abruptly called star third baseman Mike Moustakas in from the hallway to join their chat.
"Do you think he can get big-league hitters out?" Hill remembers Yost asking the All-Star third baseman.
"I said, 'Absolutely, yes,'" Moustakas recalled, standing in the middle of the visiting clubhouse at Comerica Park this week.
For a brief moment, Hill was stunned.
Nearly two weeks and countless re-tellings later, Hill still finds that part of the story to be the most surreal. He wanted to ask Yost to repeat himself, to tell him a second time, "You're going to the big leagues."
Hill never asked. He just propelled himself into Moustakas' side for a hug. Then he turned to shake Yost's hand and pulled the 62-year-old in for a half-embrace, too.
"I was hoping for (sometime) this year; 'I wanna get called up,'" Hill said. "'That would be cool.'"
Instead, he arrived at Kauffman Stadium last Monday night, hours after the Royals' exhibition game against the Class AAA Omaha Storm Chasers was canceled. He walked the tunnels of the stadium and ventured onto the field for the first time. In an Instagram video by teammate Eric Skoglund that has since been deleted, Hill could be seen turning in circles on the Kauffman dirt as he gazed up at the LED lights and ribbon boards.
He'd made it.
As Hill narrated the Yost scene in front of his locker in Detroit this week, some bullpen mates closed in. Many had already heard the story more than once, but they were amused to hear Hill go over it again.
One week into the major-league season, the tale hasn't stopped feeling magical yet.
"When you work your entire life to get to this point and you’re actually told you’ve made the major-league team, it’s a pretty special feeling," Moustakas said. "To be able to share that with him, it was awesome."
MINORS
Sky Sox Sweep Twinbill 3-1, 4-0
Dziedzic tosses 5 shutout frames, Dozier homers in game 1 defeat
April 6, 2018By Omaha Storm Chasers
Omaha starter Jonathan Dziedzic fired five shutout frames, while third baseman Hunter Dozier collected two hits, including a homer, however Colorado Springs center fielder Keon Broxton tallied four hits in a 3-1 game one win, while Sky Sox pitchers combined for a two-hit shutout in a 4-0 nightcap victory to complete a doubleheader sweep on Thursday evening at Werner Park.
Dziedzic (5.0 IP, 5 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K) tossed five scoreless innings in the opener and Dozier (2-3, HR, RBI) recorded both Omaha hits, including their first longball of 2018 in the third inning to push Omaha ahead 1-0.
The Sky Sox brought home two runs in the sixth to take the lead. Broxton then crushed his first big fly of the year in the seventh to cap the scoring at 3-1. Colorado Springs starter Junior Guerra (5.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K) earned the win and Taylor Williams (1.0 IP) notched his first save, while Omaha righty Kevin McCarthy (1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 K) suffered the defeat.
The Sky Sox struck quickly in game two of the double header, plating two in the first inning starting with LF Kyle Wren's RBI single. Colorado Springs would tack on single tallies in both the third and sixth innings to bring the game to the eventual final score 4-0.
Oaks (4.1 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) suffered his first loss of the season, while Sky Sox starter Freddy Peralta (5 IP, 1 H, 6 K) earned the victory. Colorado Springs relievers J.J. Hoover (0.2 IP, H), Michael Brady (0.1 IP) and Jorge Lopez (1.0 IP, BB) combined for the final two frames to complete the shutout.
The Chasers continue their season-opening five-game homestand against the Sky Sox on Saturday afternoon, with first pitch at Werner Park set for 2:05 p.m. CT.
Naturals walk away winners in season opener
OF Elier Hernandez delivered a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth in the 5-4 win
April 6, 2018By Northwest Arkansas Naturals
With the game tied at 4-4 and extra innings looming, Northwest Arkansas turned to outfielder Elier Hernandez with the bases loaded and two outs. Hernandez delivered by serving a game-winning RBI single into right field to send the Arvest Ballpark crowd into a frenzy as the Naturals (1-0) walked away as winners in the series opener against the Corpus Christi Hooks (0-1) on Thursday night. The Opening Night victory was the first for the Naturals since the 2014 season.
The Naturals were down to their final two outs before Nicky Lopez and Erick Mejia worked back-to-back walks against RHP Riley Ferrell . A strikeout and another walk loaded the bases to set the stage for the heroics from Hernandez. The power-hitting outfielder was hitless coming into the at bat but quickly reversed his fortune as he came through with the deciding hit.
Northwest Arkansas stormed out of the gate as LHP Foster Griffin worked a scoreless first before the offense contributed some support by way of some two-out offense. Alfredo Escalera singled up the middle then Samir Duenez connected on a 0-1 pitch and drilled it over the wall in right to give the Naturals the early 2-0 lead. Duenez, whom led the Naturals in homers and RBIs last year, picked up right where he left off in 2017 by going 2-for-4 on the night with the two-run home run and a double.
Corpus Christi would respond with a run of their own in the third on a RBI double by Major League rehabber Yuli Gurriel . Then the Hooks would take the lead in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Jamie Ritchie and a RBI double by Nick Tanielu for the 3-2 advantage. The visitors would tack on their final tally in the sixth on a run-scoring single by Gurriel, whom went 2-for-4.
The Naturals rallied late with two runs in the eighth before getting the winning run in the ninth. Donnie Dewees came up with a big two-out RBI triple while Corey Toups delivered a clutch single to plate Dewees to set the stage for the ninth inning magic.
Griffin got the Opening Night start for Northwest Arkansas and gave up one run on four hits through 3.0 innings pitched. The combination of LHP Jake Kalish , RHP Pedro Fernandez and RHP Yunior Marte kept the Naturals within striking distance during the middle portion of the game before RHP Franco Terrero (1-0) worked a clean ninth inning to record his first Naturals win.
Northwest Arkansas will continue their opening 6-game homestand with Game 2 of this 3-game set against the Corpus Christi Hooks (Double-A Houston Astros) tomorrow night - Friday, April 6 - with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Friday night's game is presented by Farm Rich and is the first Fireworks Friday of the season. The Naturals will send RHP Zach Lovvorn to the hill while the Hooks will counter with RHP Brock Dykxhoorn.
Newcomer’s big night leads Legends to opening day victory
April 6, 2018By Josh Sullivan/Lexington Herald-Leader
During Tuesday’s Media Day, Lexington Legends center fielder Michael Gigliotti singled out Seuly Matias as a newcomer that fans should keep an eye on. On opening day, Matias showed why.
The 19-year-old from the Dominican Republic had a debut to remember, blasting a pair of home runs to lead the Legends to a 3-2 win over the Charleston (S.C.) RiverDogs at Whitaker Bank Ballpark on Thursday.
Gigliotti said he was pretty sure Matias could “hit the ball 900 feet against the wind.” Neither of his bombs was quite that astonishing, but both were no-doubters.
Batting in the cleanup spot, Matias gave the Legends a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning with a solo shot that cleared the left field bleachers. In the bottom of the seventh with two outs and the game tied 2-2, Matias belted the game-winning homer to straightaway center field.
“It wasn’t surprising to see him hit two. In batting practice he kills balls and it looks like he’s just flicking his wrist,” said Tyler Zuber. “I was kind of mad at him that he didn’t hit them even farther. But it was awesome to see him come back into the dugout with a big smile on his face.”
Matias, listed as the No. 3 prospect in the Kansas City Royals’ farm system, also showed off his defensive chops. Charleston’s Dom Thompson-Williams led off the top of the second inning with a hard liner that bounced off the right field wall. Matias snagged the ball off the bounce barehanded and rifled it to second base as Thompson-Williams rounded first. Thompson-Williams retreated, settling for a single.
The only blemish on Matias’ fantastic night came in the top of the eighth when he misplayed a fly ball and wound up slipping and falling as he tried to recover.
“I think some of the guys in the dugout might have been giving him a hard time after that,” Zuber said with a laugh.
No. 1 gets No. 1
Matias wasn’t the only brand new Legend who had a memorable debut.
Nick Pratto is one of five 19-year-olds on the roster. He’s listed by Baseball America as the Royals’ No. 1 prospect. On Thursday, the former Little League World Series hero got his first hit with his new club.
Pratto led off the bottom of the fifth with a double into the left field gap. He also drew a walk. Pratto said it felt good to come up with his first hit.
“It was a relief,” he said. “It’s a long season and I knew it was gonna come at some point, but it was nice to get that hit out of the way.”