Royals Minor League Report (7/23): Cross Crushes a Ninth-Inning Slam as Royals Farm Splits Four

The Royals affiliates went two and two on Thursday. Gavin Cross hit a go-ahead grand slam in the ninth to lift Omaha to a 12-to-9 win, and Columbia held on for a 2-to-1 victory behind Jose Gutierrez. Northwest Arkansas and Quad Cities each lost in extra innings, the Naturals falling 5-to-4 and the River Bandits dropping a 3-to-2 walk-off despite fourteen strikeouts on the mound.

Royals Transactions

No transactions were reported for the Kansas City Royals organization on July 23, 2026.

Omaha Storm Chasers 12, Salt Lake 9: Cross Slam Caps a Comeback

Omaha trailed 9 to 8 heading into the ninth inning and needed one swing to change the game. Gavin Cross provided it, driving a grand slam to right-center field that scored Peyton Wilson, Luca Tresh, and Alejo Lopez for a 12-to-9 lead. Cross finished 2 for 5 with a walk, a stolen base, and five runs batted in.

The offense built the win across several innings. Omaha erased an early two-run hole with four runs in the third, capped by Brett Squires' two-run homer. Squires went 2 for 5 with two runs batted in.

Kyle Isbel doubled twice, drove in two, and finished 3 for 4 from the leadoff spot. Tresh reached base four times on two hits and two walks, and he scored three times while adding a two-run single in the fifth. John Rave and Drew Waters each collected two hits, and the Storm Chasers piled up sixteen hits and seven walks as a team.

The bullpen closed the door after Mason Black allowed six earned runs over four innings. Aaron Bummer struck out four across 1 1/3 scoreless innings, Jose Cuas followed with 1 1/3 hitless innings and two strikeouts to earn the win, and Anthony Gose recorded the final two outs in the ninth for his first save. Omaha pitchers combined for eleven strikeouts on the night.

The Storm Chasers left nine runners on base and went 6-for-17 with runners in scoring position. Omaha improved their record to 46-52 with the win. 

Northwest Arkansas Naturals Fall 5 to 4 in Ten Innings

Northwest Arkansas rallied in front of the home crowd but could not hold a late lead, falling 5 to 4 in ten innings. The Naturals climbed back from a 3-to-1 deficit with a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh, when Sam Kulasingam laced a two-run double to score Canyon Brown and Carson Roccaforte for a 4-to-3 edge.

Kulasingam led the offense, going 2 for 4 with a double, a walk, and two runs batted in. Brown reached base three times on a double, a walk, and a run scored, and he drove in a run with a fifth-inning double.

Daniel Vazquez added a run-scoring single in the sixth, and Luke Pelzer collected two hits. Roccaforte doubled and scored as part of a 1-for-5 night atop the order. The Naturals managed eight hits but struck out fifteen times and left runners on base in extras.

Hunter Owen turned in a steady start, allowing three earned runs over 5 1/3 innings with three strikeouts. Anthony Simonelli and Frank Mozzicato bridged the middle innings, with Mozzicato striking out two in a scoreless frame for a hold. The bullpen could not protect the lead in the late innings. The tying run scored in the ninth, and the go-ahead run came home in the tenth after the zombie runner was placed at second base, saddling Augusto Mendieta with the loss and a blown save.

The Naturals went 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 runners. Northwest Arkansas is now 40-51 this season. 

Quad Cities River Bandits Drop a 3-to-2 Walk-Off Despite 14 Strikeouts

Quad Cities pitching was dominant, but the River Bandits could not push enough runs across and lost 3 to 2 on a walk-off in the tenth inning. The staff struck out fourteen batters and scattered just four hits over the night.

Blake Wolters set the tone with five innings of one-run ball, striking out seven on only 57 pitches while allowing a lone solo homer.

Aiden Jimenez and Kamden Edge followed with two scoreless innings apiece, and Edge punched out five in his outing. Chris Brito carried the offense, going 3 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. He gave the River Bandits a fourth-inning lead with a solo home run, his second of the year, and put them back in front in the tenth with a run-scoring single that plated Blake Mitchell, who had started the inning as the zombie runner.

Erick Torres reached base three times on two hits and a walk, Asbel Gonzalez added two hits and a stolen base, and Jose Cerice chipped in two hits. The River Bandits collected ten hits and stole three bases, yet stranded runners throughout and struck out eleven times. The tenth turned against them when Yimi Presinal allowed two runs, taking the loss and a blown save as the winning run scored to end it.

The River Bandits struggled to cash in runs despite collecting 10 hits as a team. They went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 total runners. The loss dropped Quad Cities' record to 45-44. 

Columbia Fireflies Hold On for a 2 to 1 Win

Columbia needed only one inning of offense and made it stand, beating Kannapolis 2 to 1. The Fireflies pushed both of their runs across in the bottom of the first, then leaned on their pitching the rest of the way.

Yandel Ricardo sparked the lineup, going 2 for 3 with a stolen base from the two-hole. Hyungchan Um also finished 2 for 3 and delivered a run-scoring single in the first to give Columbia the lead.

Jhosmmel Zue drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly, and Sean Gamble added a hit and a run scored.

Henry Ramos drew a walk and scored the tying run, while Angel Ramirez and Ivan Sosa each singled. The Fireflies totaled seven hits and left only six runners on base.

Gutierrez earned the win with a strong start, allowing one earned run over 5 2/3 innings with three strikeouts. Hunter Alberini recorded a hold with 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and two strikeouts, and Jhon Reyes closed it out with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts for his fourth save. Columbia pitchers combined for eight strikeouts and did not allow a home run, keeping Kannapolis to a single run and locking down the one-run win.

The Fireflies went 2-for-4 with runners in scoring position and stranded two runners in the win. Columbia improved their record to 48-45. 

Top-20 Prospect Performance

• 1. Kendry Chourio, Quad Cities River Bandits: DNP
• 2. David Shields, Quad Cities River Bandits: DNP
• 3. Josh Hammond, Columbia Fireflies: DNP
• 4. Blake Mitchell, Quad Cities River Bandits: 0 for 5, 1 run, 3 strikeouts
• 5. Sean Gamble, Columbia Fireflies: 1 for 3, 1 run, 1 strikeout
• 6. Ramon Ramirez: DNP
• 7. Zion Rose: DNP
• 8. Asbel Gonzalez, Quad Cities River Bandits: 2 for 5, 1 stolen base, 2 strikeouts
• 9. Carson Roccaforte, Northwest Arkansas Naturals: 1 for 5, 1 run, 1 double, 3 strikeouts
• 10. Taylor Rabe: DNP
• 11. Yandel Ricardo, Columbia Fireflies: 2 for 3, 1 stolen base
• 12. Justin Lamkin: DNP
• 13. Drew Beam, Northwest Arkansas Naturals: DNP
• 14. Michael Lombardi, Columbia Fireflies: DNP
• 15. Jack Slightom: DNP
• 16. Felix Arronde, Northwest Arkansas Naturals: DNP
• 17. Angeibel Gomez, DSL Royals Ventura: 1 for 4
• 18. Ben Kudrna: DNP
• 19. Steven Zobac, Northwest Arkansas Naturals: DNP
• 20. Blake Wolters, Quad Cities River Bandits: 5 IP, 1 hit, 1 run, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 7 strikeouts, 1 home run allowed

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