Royals Minor League Report (6/23): Royals Affiliates Ride Late Power and Stingy Arms to Three Wins

Felix Arronde fanned eight over five scoreless innings as Northwest Arkansas rallied late to beat Springfield 6-3, with Carson Roccaforte driving in three. Darwin Rodriguez tossed seven scoreless innings, and Jhosmmel Zue belted a grand slam in Columbia’s 4-3 win. Bailey Falter won in Omaha’s 3-2 victory behind homers from Abraham Toro and Drew Waters. Quad Cities fell 6-2 despite Angel Acosta’s two-run shot.

Royals Transactions

• Kansas City Royals placed 3B Maikel Garcia on the 10-day injured list. Left hand muscle strain.
• Kansas City Royals recalled 3B Josh Rojas from Omaha Storm Chasers.

Toro And Waters Go Deep As Storm Chasers Edge Columbus

Omaha rode two home runs and a strong start to a 3-2 win over the Columbus Clippers.

Falter set the tone, allowing one run on six hits over five innings while striking out five and walking none. Anthony Gose followed with two scoreless innings, striking out three, and Genesis Cabrera struck out two in a scoreless frame. Eric Cerantola allowed a run in the ninth but closed it out for the save.

Toro got the scoring started with a solo home run in the second inning.

The Storm Chasers added two more in the fourth, when Waters launched a solo shot and Luke Maile singled home Brandon Drury. That proved to be enough, as Omaha held on through the final innings.

Toro, Waters, Drury, Brett Squires, and Maile each collected a hit. The Storm Chasers left six runners on base and went 1-for-3 with runners in scoring position. Omaha is now 34-41 this season. 

Arronde Dominates And Roccaforte Drives In Three In Naturals Comeback

Northwest Arkansas scored five runs over the seventh and eighth innings to pull away from the Springfield Cardinals in a 6-3 win.

Arronde, our 14th-ranked prospect at Royals Keep, was outstanding, striking out eight over five scoreless innings while allowing three hits and no walks.

Caden Monke struck out three over 1 2/3 scoreless innings, and Zachary Cawyer struck out two in a scoreless ninth. Tommy Molsky surrendered three runs in the home half of the ninth.

The Naturals took an early lead in the first when Roccaforte scored on a Spencer Nivens groundout. The game stayed close until the seventh, when Roccaforte doubled home two runs. Northwest Arkansas broke it open in the eighth, plating three runs, two of them on bases-loaded walks to Alberto Rodriguez and Roccaforte.

Roccaforte finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Rudy Martin Jr. scored twice and stole two bases. The Naturals left nine runners on base and went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position. The Naturals improved to 30-38. 

Acosta Homers But River Bandits Fall To South Bend

Quad Cities dropped a 6-2 decision to the South Bend Cubs despite an early lead from a home run.

Tanner Jones took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits over five innings with five strikeouts, two walks, and a home run. Aiden Jimenez followed with a scoreless inning, but Yimi Presinal gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning. L.P. Langevin struck out three over 1 1/3 scoreless innings to close.

The River Bandits got their offense going in the fifth inning, when Angel Acosta hit a two-run home run that scored Connor Rasmussen.

That accounted for both Quad Cities runs. The lineup managed five hits, with Nolan Sailors, Blake Mitchell, Ramon Ramirez, Tyriq Kemp, and Acosta each recording one.

The River Bandits drew six walks but left eight runners on base, unable to add to their total after the fifth. They also went just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Quad Cities fell to 30-36 after the loss to South Bend. 

Zue Grand Slam And Rodriguez Gem Lift Fireflies Past Kannapolis

Columbia rode one big inning and a dominant start to a 4-3 win over the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers.

Rodriguez was excellent, throwing seven scoreless innings while allowing five hits and one walk and striking out six.

Dash Albus pitched a scoreless inning for the save. Henson Leal allowed three runs in the eighth, but the lead held.

All four Fireflies runs came in the second inning. With the bases loaded, Jhosmmel Zue hit a grand slam to right field, scoring Yandel Ricardo, Hyungchan Um, and Roni Cabrera ahead of him. That outburst gave Rodriguez all the support he needed.

Sean Gamble, Stone Russell, JC Vanek, Roni Cabrera, Zue, and Josi Novas each collected a hit, and Gamble added a stolen base. Columbia left just three runners on base and went 2-for-3 with runners in scoring position. The win improved the Fireflies' overall record to 35-35. 

Top-20 Prospect Performance

1. Kendry Chourio: DNP
2. David Shields: DNP
3. Josh Hammond: 0-for-4
4. Blake Mitchell: 1-for-3, BB, K
5. Sean Gamble: 1-for-4, SB, K
6. Ramon Ramirez: 1-for-1, 2 BB
7. Drew Beam: DNP
8. Carson Roccaforte: 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, BB
9. Asbel Gonzalez: 0-for-4, 2 K
10. Yandel Ricardo: 0-for-3, BB
11. Michael Lombardi: DNP
12. Ben Kudrna: DNP
13. Justin Lamkin: DNP
14. Felix Arronde: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K
15. Blake Wolters: DNP
16. Steven Zobac: DNP
17. Austin Charles: DNP
18. Daniel Vázquez: 1-for-5, 3 K
19. Kamden Edge: DNP
20. Warren Calcano: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K

Interested in learning more about the Kansas City Royals' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!