Royals Minor League Report (8/27): Fireflies Cruise While Three Royals Affiliates Fall

[Kevin O'Brien]

 

Ryan McDonagh held Charleston to one hit over four scoreless innings, and Sean Gamble homered as Columbia rolled to an 8-1 win. Hunter Owen struck out 10 in 5 2/3 innings, but Northwest Arkansas was shut out 7-0. Omaha scored five in the sixth and led late before losing 7-6 in the ninth. Jose Cerice's three-run double keyed Quad Cities, which fell 11-5. Jesus Oliveira and Yeri Perez finished off a three-hit night for the Fireflies' staff.

Kansas City Royals Transactions

• Kansas City Royals placed 2B Michael Massey on the 7-day injured list retroactive to August 26, 2026. Concussion.
• Kansas City Royals recalled 3B Josh Rojas from Omaha Storm Chasers.
• Kansas City Royals optioned RHP Mason Black to Omaha Storm Chasers.
• Kansas City Royals selected the contract of LHP Anthony Gose from Omaha Storm Chasers.

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Omaha Erases A Five-Run Deficit, Loses In The Ninth

Omaha wiped out a five-run hole in Des Moines, took the lead, and then lost 7-6 when Iowa scored twice in the ninth.

Henry Williams allowed five runs on nine hits across 4 2/3 innings, walking one and striking out seven. The Cubs put three on the board in the second and two more in the fifth, and Omaha trailed 5-0 through five innings. However, the Storm Chasers were able to keep things close due to some stellar defense.

 

 

The sixth changed the game. Brett Squires and Abraham Toro drew walks, and Peyton Wilson followed with a single to load the bases. Jacob Berry then reached on a fielding error, and Squires, Toro, and Wilson all came around to score. Drew Waters singled to put runners on first and second, and after a strikeout, Elih Marrero doubled to center field to bring home Berry and Waters. Five runs scored in the inning, and the game was tied 5-5.

 

 

Omaha took the lead in the eighth. Brandon Drury walked, Colton Becker came on to run for him, and Carson Roccaforte singled to right field to score Becker.

 

 

Ryan Ramsey, Easton McGee, and Carlos Duran combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen, allowing no hits with two walks and four strikeouts. Nolan Hoffman could not finish it, facing four batters without recording an out and giving up a single, a walk, and a two-run double that ended the game.

Squires had two hits, both doubles, and a walk. Wilson added two hits and a walk. Marrero drove in two. Omaha left eight runners on base and went 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position.

The Storm Chasers are 58-68. 

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Carson Roccaforte, CF	5	0	1	1	0	1
Alejo Lopez, SS	5	0	0	0	0	1
Brett Squires, 1B	4	1	2	0	1	0
Abraham Toro, DH	3	1	0	0	2	0
Peyton Wilson, 2B	4	1	2	0	1	1
Jacob Berry, RF	4	1	0	1	0	0
Drew Waters, LF	3	1	1	0	1	1
Brandon Drury, 3B	3	0	1	0	1	1
Colton Becker, 3B	0	1	0	0	0	0
Elih Marrero, C	4	0	1	2	0	1
Totals	35	6	8	4	6	6

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Henry Williams	4 2/3	9	5	5	1	7	0
Ryan Ramsey	1 1/3	0	0	0	1	1	0
Easton McGee	1	0	0	0	0	1	0
Carlos Duran	1	0	0	0	1	2	0
Nolan Hoffman	0	2	2	2	1	0	0
Totals	8	11	7	7	4	11	0

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Northwest Arkansas Wastes Hunter Owen's 10 Strikeouts In A Shutout Loss

Owen turned in the best start of the night across the system, and Northwest Arkansas lost anyway, falling 7-0 to Frisco at home.

 

 

Owen worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing one run on six hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts. The only run charged to him came in the first, when the RoughRiders opened with a double and brought the runner home on a sacrifice fly. From there, Owen retired batters in bunches and left with the Naturals down 1-0.

 

 

The seventh unraveled for the Naturals.

Caden Monke walked a batter, struck out another, and walked a second before a single scored two runs. A double moved the go-ahead runner to third, and another single scored two more. Frisco was up 5-0. A throwing error by Daniel Vazquez then let a sixth run cross. Monke was charged with five runs, four earned, on three hits and three walks while recording two outs. Tommy Molsky followed with 1 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing no hits with one walk and two strikeouts. Anthony Simonelli allowed a solo home run over his inning of work.

The offense never got started, resulting in another shutout loss.

Northwest Arkansas managed three hits and three walks, and struck out 12 times. Spencer Nivens had both of the team's multiple-hit contributions, going 2-for-3 with a double and a walk. Connor Scott added a single. Daniel Vazquez struck out four times, and Jorge Alfaro struck out three.

The Naturals left five runners on base and did not get a runner past second base. They went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Northwest Arkansas is now 51-70 this season. 

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Luke Pelzer, CF	3	0	0	0	1	1
Spencer Nivens, LF	3	0	2	0	1	0
Daniel Vázquez, SS	4	0	0	0	0	4
Jorge Alfaro, DH	4	0	0	0	0	3
Connor Scott, 1B	4	0	1	0	0	0
Justin Johnson, 3B	3	0	0	0	0	0
Canyon Brown, C	3	0	0	0	0	2
Alberto Rodriguez, RF	3	0	0	0	0	2
Ángel Acosta, 2B	2	0	0	0	1	0
Totals	29	0	3	0	3	12

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Hunter Owen	5 2/3	6	1	1	1	10	0
Caden Monke	2/3	3	5	4	3	1	0
Tommy Molsky	1 2/3	0	0	0	1	2	0
Anthony Simonelli	1	2	1	1	0	0	1
Totals	9	11	7	6	5	13	1

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Cerice's Three-Run Double Not Enough For Quad Cities

Quad Cities got the lead in the fourth inning and never held it again, losing 11-5 to Beloit at home.

 

 

Emmanuel Reyes gave up five runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings, walking three and striking out none. Beloit answered Quad Cities' fourth-inning lead with three runs in the fifth to go ahead 5-3.

The River Bandits built their fourth-inning rally with patience. Blake Mitchell walked, Ramon Ramirez singled to left field, and Derlin Figueroa singled to load the bases. Jose Cerice then doubled to center field to clear them, scoring Mitchell, Ramirez, and Figueroa for a 3-2 lead.

 

 

That was the last time Quad Cities was in front.

The bullpen could not slow Beloit down. Aiden Jimenez allowed three runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings with three strikeouts. Jackson Cleveland gave up three runs on two hits and four walks in 1 2/3 innings, including a home run. Dash Albus struck out the only batter he faced.

Quad Cities added a run in the sixth on Erick Torres' sacrifice fly, which scored Ramirez, and one more in the eighth when Torres singled home Ramirez again. Ramirez scored three of the five runs on the night, finishing with a single and two walks. Figueroa had two hits, including a triple. Austin Charles added two singles. Cerice drove in three. Mitchell and Asbel Gonzalez each drew two walks.

The River Bandits left nine runners on base and went 4-for-13 with runners in scoring position. The loss dropped Quad Cities' record to 65-53. 

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Nolan Sailors, RF	5	0	0	0	0	3
Asbel Gonzalez, CF	3	0	0	0	2	1
Blake Mitchell, DH	3	1	0	0	2	1
Ramon Ramirez, C	3	3	1	0	2	1
Derlin Figueroa, 1B	5	1	2	0	0	1
Jose Cerice, 3B	4	0	1	3	0	2
Austin Charles, SS	4	0	2	0	0	0
Erick Torres, LF	3	0	1	2	0	0
Tyriq Kemp, 2B	4	0	0	0	0	0
Totals	34	5	7	5	6	9

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Emmanuel Reyes	4 2/3	8	5	5	3	0	0
Aiden Jimenez	2 1/3	3	3	3	0	3	0
Jackson Cleveland	1 2/3	2	3	3	4	1	1
Dash Albus	1/3	0	0	0	0	1	0
Totals	9	13	11	11	7	5	1

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Columbia Breaks Out Early And Late In An 8-1 Win

Columbia scored three times before recording a third out in the first inning, added four more in the sixth, and beat Charleston 8-1.

McDonagh set the tone with four scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk with two strikeouts. Jesus Oliveira followed with three innings, giving up one run on one hit with a walk and two strikeouts, and earned the win. Yeri Perez closed it out with two innings, allowing one hit and three walks while striking out four. The staff held the RiverDogs to three hits.

The first inning came together quickly. Josh Hammond singled to center field, and cleanup hitter Sean Gamble homered to right field for a 2-0 lead.

 

 

Tyson Moran and Connor Rasmussen followed with singles, and Ricson Gonzalez singled to center field to score Moran.

The sixth was the bigger inning for Columbia.

Moran tripled to center field, Rasmussen walked, and Ricson Gonzalez walked to load the bases.

 

 

Jhonayker Ugarte singled to left field to score Moran. After a strikeout, leadoff hitter Henry Ramos was hit by a pitch to force in Rasmussen, and Yandel Ricardo walked to force in Gonzalez. Camden Johnson then lifted a sacrifice fly to score Ugarte, and the lead was 7-0.

Columbia tacked on in the seventh when Daniel Lopez singled home Rasmussen. Moran finished with two hits, including the triple, and two runs scored. Ricson Gonzalez had two hits, a walk, and a run batted in. Lopez added two hits.

The Fireflies collected 10 hits and five walks, left eight runners on base, and went 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position. The win improved Columbia's record to 61-61. 

Player	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	K
Henry Ramos, LF	3	0	0	1	1	1
Yandel Ricardo, DH	3	0	0	1	1	1
Gabriel Silva, DH	1	0	0	0	0	0
Josh Hammond, SS	2	1	1	0	1	1
Camden Johnson, 3B	1	0	0	1	0	0
Sean Gamble, CF	5	1	1	2	0	0
Tyson Moran, 1B	4	2	2	0	0	0
Connor Rasmussen, 2B	2	2	1	0	1	0
Ricson Gonzalez, C	3	1	2	1	1	0
Jhonayker Ugarte, SS	4	1	1	1	0	1
Daniel Lopez, RF	4	0	2	1	0	1
Totals	32	8	10	8	5	5

Player	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K	HR
Ryan McDonagh	4	1	0	0	1	2	0
Jesus Oliveira	3	1	1	1	1	2	0
Yeri Perez	2	1	0	0	3	4	0
Totals	9	3	1	1	5	8	0

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Top-20 Prospect Performance

1. Kendry Chourio: DNP
2. David Shields: DNP
3. Josh Hammond: 1-for-2, BB, K
4. Blake Mitchell: 0-for-3, 2 BB, K
5. Sean Gamble: 1-for-5, HR, 2 RBI
6. Ramon Ramirez: 1-for-3, 2 BB, K
7. Zion Rose: DNP
8. Asbel Gonzalez: 0-for-3, 2 BB, K
9. Carson Roccaforte: 1-for-5, RBI, K
10. Taylor Rabe: DNP
11. Yandel Ricardo: 0-for-3, BB, RBI, K
12. Justin Lamkin: DNP
13. Drew Beam: DNP
14. Michael Lombardi: DNP
15. Jack Slightom: DNP
16. Felix Arronde: DNP
17. Angeibel Gomez: DNP
18. Ben Kudrna: DNP
19. Steven Zobac: DNP
20. Blake Wolters: DNP

 

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