Kevin O'Brien

Image courtesy of Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images It shouldn't work this way, but there always tends to be a "winner" and a "loser" in a trade between two teams. The ideal should be a "win-win" for both sides. However, in reality, there's always a team that seems to get a little more value in a trade, whether in the short term or the long term. When the Royals traded away reliever Angel Zerpa to the Brewers for outfielder Isaac Collins and reliever Nick Mears, it seemed to make sense for both the Brewers and Royals. The Royals not only got some bullpen depth, but also an outfielder who could get on base and play decent defense. As for the Brewers, they got a lefty reliever with some high-leverage setup man upside. Jack Stern of Brewers Fanatic seemed more optimistic about the Brewers' return in the deal, even though they gave up two MLB players to Kansas City. Here's what he said about Zerpa in his piece. Unfortunately, the Brewers received some difficult news today regarding Zerpa. It was announced that he would be receiving Tommy John surgery. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== Not only will surgery end Zerpa's 2026 season, but it will also cause him to start the 2027 season late. That's not exactly what the Brewers envisioned when they acquired the Venezuelan pitcher from Kansas City. On the flip side, Mears and Collins both contributed to the Royals' 5-3 win over the Guardians, Kansas City's fifth straight. Mears pitched an inning in relief and struck out one while allowing no hits and no walks on eight pitches. As for Collins, he went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and hit his third home run of the season. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== While we know Zerpa is out for the rest of the year, what have the Royals gotten in Mears and Collins so far this season? Furthermore, what could Royals fans expect from them for the remainder of the year, and perhaps in 2027? Let's break down those questions and why the Royals have come out well in this trade. Collins Heating Up After A Slow Start Things weren't initially looking good for Collins at the plate, prompting many Royals fans to ask whether Milwaukee knew a serious decline was on the horizon for the former Creighton product. After his April 21st game against the Orioles, Collins was hitting .183 with a .513 OPS. The latter was his lowest OPS of the season. Over the past 15 days, Collins has been hitting .288 with a .397 OBP and .462 slugging in 52 at-bats. Over that time frame, he has 15 hits, two home runs, eight RBI, nine walks to 17 strikeouts, and two stolen bases. Over the past seven days, his numbers have been even better. In his last 22 at-bats, he is hitting .364 with a .444 OBP and .636 slugging. He also has four walks to five strikeouts over the past seven days, showing that he's locked onto opposing pitchers better than ever. For the season, Collins is hitting .255 with a .366 OBP and .760 OPS in 94 at-bats. He has also seen a strong upward trend in xwOBA, as shown below via Savant. When looking at his Statcast percentiles, the 28-year-old outfielder has been questionable in a few categories, especially when it comes to whiff and Z-Contact%. That said, he's been excellent in O-Swing% and BB%, and has been showing promising trends in bat speed, pull air%, and max EV. Those trends can all be seen via his TJ Stats Statcast summary. While the 90th EV and Max EV rank in the 63rd and 69th percentiles, respectively, his barrel rate ranks in the 43rd percentile, and his hard-hit rate ranks in the 38th percentile. Furthermore, Collins' .301 xwOBA ranks in the 38th percentile, and his TJBat+ of 89 ranks in the 47th percentile. Thus, Collins has been good, but he's probably not much more than a good bottom-of-the-order hitter. Thankfully, the Royals have been utilizing him just as that. 97 of his 111 plate appearances have come in the 7th or 8th spot in the batting order. Mears Getting By With Solid Stuff (And Batted-Ball Luck) Mears has been an interesting bullpen arm for manager Matt Quatraro this season. On one end, the former Brewers reliever is posting a 2.13 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 14 appearances and 12.2 IP. However, he has a .182 BABIP, and his K% and K-BB% have been lackluster, evidenced by rates of 20% and 6.0%, respectively. Thus, it's no surprise that Mears' 3.18 FIP is much higher than his ERA, and his Stacast percentiles haven't been too great either, per TJ Stats. When looking at this Statcast profile, it's easy for Royals fans to get discouraged and think that major regression is on the way for Mears. And honestly, some regression is probably to be expected. That said, there are two categories that should make Royals fans hopeful: GB% and TJ Stuff+. Mears is generating a GB% of 48.4%, which ranks in the 71st percentile. That ability is key for a reliever like him to get out of jams when the whiffs and strikeouts aren't happening. Based on his 27th percentile whiff rate and 31st percentile K rate, he will need to keep that GB% high to remain effective as a reliever, especially in medium to high leverage opportunities. Even though the whiff, K%, and CSW% (25th percentile) aren't impressive, there's reason to believe that they could get better, especially considering his TJ Stuff+, which ranks in the 74th percentile with a 105 mark. When looking at his overall TJ Stuff+ summary this year, even though the chase and whiff haven't been great, all his pitches have sported great TJ Stuff+ marks so far with the Royals. Mears' four-seamer, slider, and changeup have been borderline elite in terms of TJ Stuff+. They all sport marks of 106 or higher, which is solid, especially for a reliever. That said, he's struggled to throw those pitches in the zone. The four-seamer has a zone rate of 44.3%, his slider has a 38.6% zone rate, and his changeup has a 20.7% zone rate. If Mears is able to improve the control on those three pitches and find the strike zone more, it's likely that his chase and whiff will improve as a result. Here's an example of Mears pumping the four-seamer on the edge of the strike zone to generate a swing-and-miss from the White Sox's Colson Montgomery back on April 12th. It's obvious in the video clip below that the four-seamer has good enough shape and velocity to be successful. TDY1Tk9fWGw0TUFRPT1fQndjRVhGMVFBZ1lBREZVR1VnQUhWd0lIQUZsVVd3TUFCbEFDQmd0UkFsRlRCd0VD.mp4 Let's hope that Mears is starting to gain some much-needed control over those three pitches going forward. If he does, he could be in line to get some more setup innings in the near future. Looking at Zerpa and Overall Thoughts From the Deal Even before the injury, Zerpa's first season in Milwaukee wasn't looking good. In 12.2 IP, he had a 6.39 ERA and 1.74 WHIP. His K% was just 14.5%, and his K-BB% was 3.6%. In terms of his Statcast percentiles, he did a good job of flooding the strike zone and generating groundballs, which is what he did well in Kansas City, too. Unfortunately, that was just two of the few areas where he succeeded with the Brewers pre-injury. The positive aspect of Zerpa for the Brewers is that he isn't arbitration-eligible until next year, and his price tag should be low thanks to injury. He also won't be a free agent until 2029, so the Brewers still have some time to see what Zerpa could turn into post-Tommy John surgery. Still, it isn't exactly the start the Brewers were hoping for with the talented lefty reliever. Conversely, the Royals are probably happy that they didn't just trade Zerpa at the peak of his value, but have received two players who have made an immediate impact on this Royals roster. Granted, not every Royals trade has turned out like this under GM JJ Picollo. While Brady Singer has struggled this year (5.57 ERA and 5.74 FIP in 32.1 IP), the Royals have gotten one sub-par full season from Jonathan India (-0.3 fWAR in 2025) and another season cut short by injury (only 58 PA this season before getting surgery on his shoulder). The Royals may have preferred the innings Singer would have given them instead of the lackluster production from India, even if Singer may never be more than a No. 3 or 4 starter at the MLB level. Still, it's nice to see a trade like the one for Collins and Mears working out. It's also nice to see a former Royal NOT demonstrate their best self after they left Kansas City. Seeing players like Ryan O'Hearn, Brent Rooker, Gabe Speier, and Brad Keller find success with other teams is bittersweet, especially since their talent never felt fully realized with the Royals (I'm not ready to put MJ Melendez in that category). Maybe Zerpa will add to that list by bouncing back from injury in 2027 or 2028. For now, Royals fans can enjoy the production the club received from Collins in the outfield and Mears in the bullpen. View full article

Luinder Avila only had a one-start sample, and he likely will remain in the bullpen for the remainder of the year. However, the other numbers from the Royals' starting pitchers from March 26th to April 18th are intriguing for a variety of reasons. While Wacha has been the worst Royals starting pitcher since April 19th, he was the best Royals starting pitcher from Opening Day to April 18th. In 27 IP, he had a 1.00 ERA, 7.7 K/9, 2.7 BB/9, and 3.41 FIP. He experienced some positive batted-ball luck, with a .172 BABIP and 99% LOB%. Those weren't going to be sustainable marks, but it showed that Wacha was at least efficient and crafty enough to eat innings and minimize the runs. Ragans' line is a little more interesting. The ERA was better at 3.78, but his K/9 (8.6) and FIP (5.37) were worse, and his BB/9 (5.4) wasn't much better either. That said, he had a better groundball rate at 46.3%, and his ability to keep the ball on the ground seemed to minimize the LOB% (79.8) and HR/9 (1.6). It would be nice to see if Ragans can get back to those groundball-generating ways, even if it means that his K/9 takes a bit of a hit in the process. Lastly, Cameron's line was pretty similar to his post-April 19th numbers. His ERA was mediocre at 5.40, and his FIP was worse at 5.60. He struggled to strand runners (68.2%), and he had a much harder time generating groundballs as well (25.8%). The positive? He struck out a decent amount (7.7 K/9) and didn't walk a lot either (2.7 BB/9). That said, those K/9 and BB/9 numbers were pretty similar to the ones he produced after April 19th as well. That shows what we're seeing from Cameron may be who he is: a plus-five ERA starting pitcher. Can This Rotation Improve? (Limiting the Walks Will Be Key) The good thing is that Lugo and Bubic have been solid, not just since April 19th but also before then. While neither guy is a frontline ace, they can take the ball and keep the Royals in the ballgame consistently. That's all you can ask from a No. 2-3 caliber starting pitcher. The main question marks are Wacha, Ragans, and Cameron, who arguably were the three best Royals pitchers coming into the 2025 season. On a positive note, it seems like Wacha took a step in the right direction on Monday, as he went seven innings and produced a winning effort. While he gave up a two-run homer to David Fry, he limited the Guardians to just four hits and one walk. While he didn't generate a ton of chase, Wacha did a great job generating chase and limiting hard contact, as illustrated in his TJ Stuff+ summary. With Wacha bouncing back, the honus will now fall on Ragans to do the same, especially in this crucial homestand against the Guardians and Tigers. Cameron was initially slated to get the first shot on Tuesday against Gavin Williams (tough). The St. Joseph, Missouri product has some good stuff on his secondary pitches, but his four-seamer is lackluster. He has an overall TJ Stuff+ of 97, but his four-seamer has a TJ Stuff+ of 92. That has had an effect on his results, both in terms of the four-seamer and overall, as illustrated below in his TJ Stats season summary. However, after Monday's 6-2 win over Cleveland, the Royals announced that Cameron was dealing with lower back tightness and that Stephen Kolek, who is pitching in Omaha on a rehab assignment, will replace him in the rotation. No word yet on whether Cameron will go on the IL or replace someone else on the active roster. Kolek's TJ Stuff+ profile is similar to Cameron's, but Kolek has done a much better job of generating chase and minimizing xwOBACON in Triple-A Omaha this season. If Kolek does well in Cameron's absence, it's possible that the former Padres righty could replace Cameron in the rotation (or at least piggyback with Cameron). Lastly, Ragans will go on Wednesday against fellow Joey Cantillo. Despite Ragans' overall struggles this year, he's been much better at home than on the road. In 12 IP at Kauffman Stadium, Ragans has a 0.75 ERA, 14.25 K/9, 19.00 K/BB ratio, and 1.31 FIP. On the road? In 20.1 IP, he has a 7.97 ERA, 9.74 K/9, 1.10 K/BB, and 9.69 FIP. Thus, the lefty will at least get one start at home this week, where he has seemed to be more comfortable on the mound. With Ragans, it's not a question of stuff, as his TJ Stuff+ marks remain solid despite inconsistent results. That said, despite strong TJ Stuff+ marks, the chase, whiff, and xwOBACON have not been as stellar, as illustrated below. If Ragans can find the zone a bit more (44.2% zone rate), especially with his slider (19.2% zone rate), then I think Ragans can induce hitters to chase more. More chases could lead not just to more whiffs, but also to a lower xwOBACON. If those three trends happen, then it's possible that Ragans will get back to that 2024 form, which he has shown at home this year, sooner rather than later. Overall, the Royals need better performances from Wacha, Ragans, Cameron, and Kolek, especially during this homestand (Wacha is expected to pitch twice; whether Kolek goes twice this week depends on how Tuesday's outing goes). That said, the Royals' rotation overall needs to improve its control, as they have simply walked too many batters over the past two weeks. Since April 19th, the Royals' pitching staff ranks 27th in BB/9 (4.56), tied with Atlanta and ahead of only Houston (5.03) and Arizona (5.33). Wacha and Ragans have been the main culprits. However, Cameron (and now, Kolek), Lugo, and Bubic can certainly do their part to flood the strike zone more consistently as well. All the pitchers in the Royals' rotation have had outings and stretches where they have allowed too many free passes, and it's often bitten them in the butt. The Royals have struggled with BB/9 at home, ranking 27th at Kauffman Stadium compared to 23rd on the road. Could the Kansas City starting pitchers begin to reverse that trend this week? They allowed only one walk among Wacha, Matt Strahm, and Alex Lange on Monday against Cleveland. Thus, the Kansas City pitching staff, starters especially, have gotten off to an encouraging start in this homestand. View full article

Thanks, Rolando! Yeah, it's a bummer about India. While he wasn't hitting for average, the power and walk rates were much better. I think he was on a positive upswing, but the injury unfortunately cut his season short. It'll be interesting to see where he lands next year. Massey is a frustrating one. To be fair, he's been much better at home than on the road, so I'm willing to give him more of a shot with the fact that he hits better at the K. That said, his approach has always been suspect. Swings too much, doesn't walk enough, and the power just isn't consistent. The good thing is that he hasn't let it affect his defense, and I'm hoping he can be an infield version of Kyle Isbel. That said, if the hitting doesn't come around soon, the Royals may be re-acquiring Adam Frazier sooner rather than later.

On Monday afternoon, before the start of the Royals' seven-game homestand against Cleveland and Detroit, the Royals announced on social media that relief pitcher Carlos Estevez will begin a rehab assignment in Triple-A Omaha. Estevez has made only one MLB-level appearance this season, on the road against Atlanta on March 28th. In 0.1 IP, he allowed six runs on four hits and two walks while not registering a single strikeout. He also gave up a home run and currently has a 162.00 ERA, 18.00 WHIP, and 60.10 FIP. During the Braves game, the 33-year-old reliever was hit in the foot by a comebacker and, as a result, was placed on the 15-Day IL due to a left foot contusion. There was a lot of buzz surrounding Estevez this spring, as his four-seam velocity sat under 90 MPH for most of Spring Training. While he's been traditionally a slow starter when it comes to ramping up for the start of the season, the subpar velocity captured the eye of concerned Royals fans. While his velocity was slightly better against Atlanta than what he showed in the spring, it was still down compared to his historical velocity trends. Not much has been shared about Estevez since going on the IL, though it was reported that he got sick, which bumped his rehab assignment back. In bullpen sessions back in Arizona, Royals GM JJ Picollo, in an interview with the Cody and Gold radio show on 96.5 FM on April 29th, said the velocity looked much better and was more in line with what the Royals saw a season ago, during his first season in Kansas City. Estevez is in the last year of a two-year deal he signed with the Royals last offseason. In 67 appearances last year, he posted a 2.45 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, and saved 42 games, which led all of baseball. It was the first time a Royals closer had led the league in saves since Dan Quisenberry back in 1985. Currently, Lucas Erceg has been receiving a majority of the save opportunities with Estevez on the IL. In 15 appearances, the 30-year-old righty has a 3.77 ERA and 1.40 WHIP and has nine saves with two blown saves this season. A setup man in 2025, Erceg saved 14 games with the Royals and Athletics in 2024. 11 of those saves came with Kansas City after being acquired at the Trade Deadline. View full rumor

Image courtesy of Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images Week in a Nutshell After going 4-2 at home in the previous week against the Baltimore Orioles and Los Angeles Angels, the Royals produced the same record this week on the road against the Sacramento Athletics and Seattle Mariners. Like the Royals' previous homestand, Kansas City lost two of three in their first series against the Athletics, but finished strong by sweeping the Mariners at T-Mobile Park in Seattle over the weekend. With the winning road trip, the Royals improved their road record to 6-12 and overall record to 15-19. That puts them 2.5 games behind the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians and only 1.5 games out of an AL Wild Card spot. Record this Week: 4-2 Run Differential for the Week: +2 Record for the Year: 15-19 Run Differential for the Year: -17 Standing: 4th in the AL Central Game 29: KC 4, ATH 1 Kris Bubic struggled with control, walking four batters and going only five innings against the Athletics. However, he struck out six batters and allowed only one run on four hits. Salvador Perez got the scoring going early with a solo blast, and Bobby Witt Jr. had a clutch three-run home run in the top of the 10th that propelled the Royals to the win. Game 30: ATH 5, KC 2 The Royals started early by scoring a run in the top of the first on a fielder's choice by Salvador Perez. However, Michael Wacha wasn't quite as sharp. He allowed four runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out five. Witt was the only Royals player with multiple hits (two). Game 31: ATH 6, KC 3 Kansas City dropped the rubber game, with a four-run second inning putting the game out of reach. Noah Cameron allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits and two walks while striking out five in 5.2 IP. Maikel Garcia hit his third home run of the year, while Elias Diaz hit his first. Despite the Royals having 10 hits, they left 12 runners on base and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Game 32: KC 7, SEA 6 The Royals parlayed a four-run first inning to help them win an offensive battle, even though Cole Ragans and Bryan Woo pitched for Kansas City and Seattle, respectively. Perez, Vinnie Pasquantino, and Jac Caglianone went yard, and Lane Thomas had a clutch pinch-hit single that gave them the lead for good in the top of the 8th. Lucas Erceg locked down his eighth save of the year. Game 33: KC 3, SEA 2 Emerson Hancock was elite, as he struck out 14 batters in 7 IP, and allowed only one run on six hits. However, Seth Lugo put up a solid performance himself, going six innings, allowing two runs, seven hits, and two walks while striking out six. Caglianone came up clutch at the top of the ninth, getting an RBI triple off Mariners closer Andres Munoz to send the game into extra innings. Garcia hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Michael Massey, and Erceg closed the door to earn the save for a second-straight game. Game 34: KC 4, SEA 1 Bubic looked much sharper in Seattle than he did in Sacramento. He went seven innings and allowed just one run on four hits and two walks while striking out seven. Most of the Royals' offense came in the fourth, as they scored three runs on Mariners starter Luis Castillo in a variety of ways, including a walk and a fielder's choice. Isaac Collins had a double in the 6th inning that scored Caglianone from second and gave them a three-run lead. John Schreiber and Daniel Lynch IV locked down the eighth and ninth, with Lynch getting his first save of the year. News and Notes The Royals received tough news at the beginning of the week, as the team announced that Jonathan India received labral repair surgery, effectively ending his 2026 season. If that wasn't enough, they also received some discouraging news regarding right-handed pitchers Ryan Bergert and Ben Kudrna, who both began the year in Omaha. Both received surgeries, and while nothing official has been said, it seems likely that both pitchers will miss the remainder of the 2026 season. On a positive note, on April 28th, the Royals promoted right-handed pitcher Luinder Avila from Omaha to Kansas City and optioned Eli Morgan back to Triple-A. Avila was previously working as a starter this year, not just starting in Omaha, but also filling in for Michael Wacha for a spot start. However, it seems like the Royals will be utilizing Avila in the bullpen full-time for the time being. The Venezuelan-born righty in two outings this week went three innings and struck out three batters and issued no walks while allowing one run on two hits. Highlights The Royals got some nice weeks from Garcia and Perez, who have struggled on the road in previous road trips. In 28 at-bats, Garcia hit .296 with a .903 OPS, and his eight hits led all Royals hitters on the road trip. As for Salvy, he hit .292 with an .846 OPS. Both hit home runs, and they combined for seven RBI this week. Another strong performer was Vinnie, even though he accumulated just 17 at-bats this road trip. He sat out a couple of games in the Athletics series as he nursed a sore back. However, when he got back in the linuep, he was a force in the Royals' batting order in the No. 3 spot. Vinne had six hits and posted a .977 OPS. He also had a clutch home run of Bryan Woo, his fourth of the year, that helped extend the Royals' lead in game one of their series on Friday night against the Mariners. Pasquantino's overall numbers aren't great, as he is hitting .188 with a .633 OPS so far this season. However, it seemed like he was more locked in against the Mariners, and his two-hit game on Sunday should help build some momentum for him in the upcoming homestand at Kauffman Stadium. Even though he only had four hits in 18 plate appearances and posted a .689 OPS, Caglianone had a couple of clutch hits in the Mariners series. That included a home run off Woo on Friday, and a game-tying triple off Munoz, who was one of the game's best closers a season ago. Some other key hitters for the Royals this week were Starling Marte, who had a three-hit game in the series finale against the Athletics, and Isaac Collins, who finally got his first hits on the road this season. Collins also had a key double that extended the Royals' lead in their 4-1 win on Sunday. On the pitching end, Erceg bounced back to have a tremendous week on the mound, re-establishing himself as the Royals' closer with Carlos Estevez out. Erceg appeared three times and collected three saves in three innings pitched, with two coming against the Mariners and one against the Athletics, his former team. He allowed no runs, just one hit, and one walk while striking out four this week. The strikeouts were encouraging, especially considering his chase and whiff rate issues back in April. In addition to his excellent performance in the late innings this week, the 30-year-old reliever also had quite the viral moment in the Royals' postgame interview with Joel Goldberg. Erceg wasn't the lone Royals reliever to have a solid week. In three innings of work, Matt Strahm allowed no runs on two hits and two walks while striking out four. Nick Mears allowed no runs in two appearances and 1.2 IP while striking out two and allowing no hits and just one walk. John Schreiber looked closer to his 2024 and 2025 form, allowing just one run on two hits and two walks in 3.1 IP. Lastly, Lynch blew a two-run lead in game one, but he closed the Mariners out in the series finale, going 1.1 IP and striking out three. As a result, he earned his first save of the year and had his own viral postgame interview moment. The Royals' bullpen ranks 27th in ERA, 25th in WHIP, and 26th in BB/9 and HR/9. Hopefully, this strong performance this week, especially in the Mariners series, can carry over to this upcoming homestand. Lowlights Carter Jensen received some good news this week, as he was named Royals Offensive Player of the Month (Lugo was named Pitcher of the Month). Unfortunately, the week was not a stellar one for the Royals' rookie catcher. In 18 at-bats, Jensen hit .056 with a .246 OPS. He had only one hit, and his nine strikeouts led all Royals hitters this week. As a result, he's hitting .230 with a .752 OPS, a far cry from where he was at the end of the Royals homestand in the previous week. That said, while he didn't get a hit, Jensen did draw a crucial walk against Castillo on Sunday that brought home a key run. Another hitter who struggled was Michael Massey, who will be a key player going forward for India, out for the remainder of the season. In 18 at-bats, Massey hit .056 with a .156 OPS. He had just one hit and one walk while striking out seven times. Like many Royals hitters, the 28-year-old has struggled on the road this season. In 32 at-bats away from Kauffman Stadium, he is hitting .094 with a .268 OPS. At home? Massey is hitting .300 with an .846 OPS in 30 at-bats. He also has 12 strikeouts on the road compared to just six at home. Safe to say, Massey is looking forward to returning to Kauffman Stadium on Monday. On the pitching end, Ragans, Wacha, and Cameron had rough performances this week. All three starters allowed four earned runs and pitched fewer than six innings in their respective outings. Ragans and Wacha at least have a track record that should earn them some patience, but Cameron is a tougher situation for the Royals' coaching staff. In six starts and 31.2 IP, Cameron has a 5.40 ERA and 1.61 WHIP. He has been particularly hit hard this year, and it's unlikely that he will improve upon that trend in the near future, especially with a four-seamer that profiles as subpar, according to TJ Stuff+. The Royals don't have a ton of options right now in Omaha, especially with Bergert and Kudrna going under the knife. However, a possible option that the Royals could piggyback with Cameron is Stephen Kolek, who's been on rehab in Omaha. Like Cameron, Kolek doesn't have a great four-seamer. It has a 93 TJ Stuff+ and generates a 13.6% whiff rate, both lackluster marks. However, the former Padres pitcher generates a decent amount of chase and minimizes hard contact, making him a possible long-relief option that could relieve Cameron after the lefty gets through the lineup a couple of times. Another option who could piggyback or replace Cameron is Bailey Falter, who's been looking good in a rehab stint in Omaha. In 9.2 IP with the Storm Chasers, he has a 3.72 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 2.63 FIP, and 30% K%. He also has displayed some promising TJ Stuff+ metrics as well as solid chase and whiff rates. Falter's rehab stint is coming to an end soon, so it'll be interesting to see how the Royals will utilize Falter on the pitching staff when he returns from the IL. Looking Ahead The Royals have a full week ahead. They have four games against the Cleveland Guardians this week and a weekend series against the Detroit Tigers. The Royals do not have a single off day this week. The Tigers and Guardians are both tied at the top of the AL Central division with identical 18-17 records. The Tigers are technically the better team, based on run differential and xW-L. Detroit has a +18 run differential with a 19-16 xW-L. On the flip side, Cleveland has a -3 run differential and 17-18 xW-L. While the Tigers edge the Guardians in run differential, Cleveland has been the better road team this year. The Guardians have a 9-10 record on the road, compared to the Tigers' 6-14. Thus, the Royals could have a tougher series at the start of the week, especially considering how well the Guardians have played away from Progressive Field this season. Wacha and Cameron will make multiple starts this week, with both also predicted to pitch in the first two games against Cleveland on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. Considering their rough recent road trip performances, solid starts from these two pitchers, especially against the Guardians, will be key to the Royals' chances to win their homestand against their division rivals. View full article

The Quad Cities River Bandits and Columbia Fireflies posted wins on Saturday, with Asbel Gonzalez and Derlin Figueroa each launching two home runs in a 12-3 Quad Cities romp. Emmanuel Reyes worked five innings of two-run ball for the win. Columbia's five-run first carried Kendry Chourio's four-strikeout start to victory. Omaha fell 14-8 despite Luca Tresh's 4-for-5 day, and Northwest Arkansas dropped a 7-6 heartbreaker as Hunter Owen took the loss. Royals Transactions No Roster Moves Storm Chasers Drop Slugfest To Bats Despite Tresh's Four-Hit Effort Omaha fell 14-8 to Louisville on Saturday, undone by a Bats lineup that pulled away with a six-run seventh inning. Cleanup hitter Luca Tresh paced the Storm Chasers offense, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, two runs, and two RBIs. Abraham Toro added two hits, including a two-run homer, while Kameron Misner went 2-for-4 with a double, a triple, and an RBI. The Storm Chasers tied the game in the third inning, when Misner tripled home Tyler Tolbert, Tresh doubled in Misner, and Toro followed with a two-run shot to right field that knotted things 4-4. Louisville broke the game open in the seventh, scoring six runs on three hits, three walks, and a string of small mistakes that turned a tight game into a comfortable lead. Starter Aaron Sanchez took the longest turn for Omaha, allowing four runs on six hits over three innings, walking two and striking out three. Anthony Gose struggled with command in his outing, walking five over two-thirds of an inning, and Chazz Martinez allowed six runs on three hits in his lone inning of work. Helcris Olivárez and Steven Cruz combined for two scoreless innings out of the bullpen. The Storm Chasers stranded ten runners on base. Player AB R H RBI BB K Tyler Tolbert 5 1 2 0 0 2 Drew Waters 5 1 1 1 0 2 Kameron Misner 4 2 2 1 0 2 Luca Tresh 5 2 4 2 0 0 Abraham Toro 5 1 2 2 0 1 Gavin Cross 2 1 0 0 2 2 Luke Maile 3 0 0 0 0 2 Elih Marrero 2 0 1 1 0 0 Dustin Dickerson 4 0 0 0 1 1 Colton Becker 4 0 0 0 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Aaron Sanchez 3 6 4 4 2 3 1 Shane Panzini (L) 2 1 2 2 2 2 0 Anthony Gose 2/3 0 2 2 5 1 0 Chazz Martinez 1 3 6 6 3 1 0 Jose Cuas 1/3 2 0 0 0 0 0 Helcris Olivárez 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 Steven Cruz 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Naturals' Late Rally Falls One Run Short In Loss Northwest Arkansas dropped a 7-6 decision to Springfield on Saturday despite a three-run rally in the bottom of the eighth inning that brought the Naturals within one. Leadoff hitter Carson Roccaforte went 2-for-5 with a triple, an RBI, and a stolen base, while Jack Pineda added two hits, including a solo home run and an RBI triple. The Naturals scored their first three runs in the second inning, when Pineda homered, Canyon Brown singled, and Roccaforte cashed in another run with a single. After Springfield went ahead in the third with a four-run inning, Northwest Arkansas mounted its final push in the eighth. Brett Squires reached on an error, Daniel Vazquez walked, and Spencer Nivens reached on another error that allowed two runs to come home. Pineda then tripled to bring in Nivens and trim the deficit to one, but the rally ended with a groundout. Owen took the loss for Northwest Arkansas, allowing four runs on six hits in three innings with three strikeouts. Zachary Cawyer threw two scoreless frames out of the bullpen, and Brandon Johnson finished with a scoreless inning and a third. The Naturals committed one error and struck out ten times. Player AB R H RBI BB K Carson Roccaforte 5 1 2 1 0 2 Rudy Martin Jr. 5 0 1 0 0 1 Sam Kulasingam 4 0 0 0 0 2 Brett Squires 3 1 0 0 1 1 Daniel Vazquez 3 1 0 0 1 1 Spencer Nivens 4 1 1 0 0 0 Jack Pineda 4 1 2 2 0 1 Canyon Brown 4 1 1 0 0 0 Omar Hernandez 0 0 0 0 0 0 Justin Johnson 3 0 0 0 1 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Hunter Owen (L) 3 6 4 4 0 3 1 Andrew Morones 2/3 1 1 0 2 1 0 Augusto Mendieta 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 Dennis Colleran Jr. 1 2 1 1 0 2 1 Zachary Cawyer 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 Chase Jessee 2/3 1 1 1 3 1 0 Brandon Johnson 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 Gonzalez And Figueroa Each Slug Two Homers In River Bandits Rout Quad Cities pounded Wisconsin 12-3 on Saturday behind a pair of two-homer nights from Gonzalez and Figueroa. Gonzalez finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored, while Figueroa went 2-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs. Tyriq Kemp added two hits, two RBIs, and two stolen bases. Cleanup hitter Luke Pelzer went 2-for-5 with a triple and two runs, and Angel Acosta also collected two hits and an RBI. The River Bandits broke a 1-2 deficit open with a three-run fourth, when Pelzer tripled, Jose Cerice doubled him in, an error allowed Cerice to score, and Acosta singled in Kemp. Quad Cities tacked on three more in the fifth, with Gonzalez leading off with his second homer of the year and Figueroa following with a two-run shot. Gonzalez added a second homer in the eighth, capping a five-RBI night between the two power bats. Starter Emmanuel Reyes earned the win with five innings of two-run ball, allowing four hits, walking one, and striking out five. Kamden Edge tossed an inning and a third of scoreless relief with three strikeouts. The River Bandits stranded seven runners. Player AB R H RBI BB K Nolan Sailors 4 0 1 0 2 0 Asbel Gonzalez 5 2 2 3 0 3 Blake Mitchell 3 1 1 0 1 1 Luke Pelzer 5 2 2 0 0 0 Jose Cerice 4 2 1 1 0 1 Derlin Figueroa 5 3 2 3 0 1 Tyriq Kemp 5 1 2 2 0 0 Erick Torres 5 0 1 1 0 1 Angel Acosta 4 1 2 1 1 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Emmanuel Reyes (W) 5 4 2 2 1 5 1 Jacob Widener 2/3 0 0 0 1 1 0 Kamden Edge 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 3 0 Cory Ronan 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 Yimi Presinal 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 Five-Run First Sends Fireflies Past Pelicans Columbia jumped on Myrtle Beach for five runs in the first inning and never trailed in a 7-3 win on Saturday. The Fireflies opened the game with a Henry Ramos single, a Yandel Ricardo hit-by-pitch, and a Josh Hammond walk to load the bases. Cleanup hitter Brooks Bryan walked in the first run, Sean Gamble walked in the second, Hyungchan Um walked in the third, and Roni Cabrera capped the inning with a two-run single. Bryan finished 1-for-3 with two walks, two RBIs, two stolen bases, and a run scored. Hammond went 1-for-3 with a double, two walks, and two runs. Connor Rasmussen added two hits and an RBI, while Cabrera also drove in two. Starter Kendry Chourio worked three and two-thirds innings for Columbia, allowing one run on three hits with no walks and four strikeouts, the lone blemish a solo home run. Jordan Woods earned the win, allowing two runs on three hits over three innings with five walks and eight strikeouts. Andy Basora picked up a hold with an inning and a third of scoreless relief and two strikeouts, and Max Martin finished the night with a clean ninth. The Fireflies stole seven bases and stranded ten runners. Player AB R H RBI BB K Henry Ramos 5 1 1 0 0 0 Yandel Ricardo 4 1 0 0 0 0 Josh Hammond 3 2 1 0 2 0 Brooks Bryan 3 1 1 2 2 0 Sean Gamble 3 1 0 0 2 1 Hyungchan Um 3 1 1 1 2 2 JC Vanek 5 0 1 0 0 3 Roni Cabrera 4 0 1 2 0 2 Connor Rasmussen 4 0 2 1 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Kendry Chourio 3 2/3 3 1 1 0 4 1 Jordan Woods (W) 3 3 2 2 5 8 0 Andy Basora (H) 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 Max Martin 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Carter Jensen: DNP Blake Mitchell: 1-for-3, BB, R, K David Shields: DNP Kendry Chourio: 3 2/3 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR Ben Kudrna: DNP Sean Gamble: 0-for-3, 2 BB, R, K Josh Hammond: 1-for-3, 2B, 2 BB, 2 R Ramon Ramirez: DNP Drew Beam: DNP Asbel Gonzalez: 2-for-5, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 3 K Yandel Ricardo: 0-for-4, R, SB Felix Arronde: DNP Luinder Avila: DNP Daniel Vázquez: 0-for-3, BB, R, K Steven Zobac: DNP Carson Roccaforte: 2-for-5, 3B, RBI, R, SB, 2 K Blake Wolters: DNP Michael Lombardi: DNP Warren Calcaño: DNP Frank Mozzicato: DN View full article

Henry Williams turned in a quality start with two earned runs over six innings, fanning five, as Northwest Arkansas rallied past Springfield 7-5. Tommy Molsky added two scoreless innings to nail the save. Omaha cruised 8-4 behind Abraham Toro's two-run homer during a four-run fifth, and Beck Way picked up the win. Quad Cities fell 2-1 despite Austin Charles' ninth-inning solo homer. Columbia edged Myrtle Beach 4-3, with Yandel Ricardo collecting two hits. Royals Transactions No Roster Moves Storm Chasers Storm Back To Beat Bats 8-4 Omaha rallied from an early hole to beat Louisville 8-4. The Storm Chasers got on the board in the bottom of the first when Luca Tresh singled home Kameron Misner, but the Bats kept inching ahead and led 3-1 entering the fifth. The fifth inning broke the game open. John Rave doubled to right, and Tyler Tolbert followed with a single. Misner brought home Rave on a sacrifice fly, Tresh singled to score Tolbert, and Abraham Toro launched a two-run home run, his fourth of the year, to put Omaha ahead 5-3. The Storm Chasers tacked on three more in the eighth. Gavin Cross singled, Dustin Dickerson doubled to plate Elih Marrero and Cross, and Rave singled in Dickerson. Rave finished 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Toro went 2-for-3 with a homer, a walk, two RBI, and a run. Tresh added a 2-for-3 day with two RBI, a walk, and a run, and Tolbert collected two hits with two stolen bases. Beck Way provided the relief that won the game, working 2 2/3 innings with five strikeouts, two hits, no walks, and one run on a solo home run. Eli Morgan tossed two scoreless frames with three strikeouts, and Eric Cerantola finished with a clean ninth. Player AB R H RBI BB K John Rave 5 1 3 1 0 1 Tyler Tolbert 5 1 2 0 0 2 Kameron Misner 3 1 1 1 0 0 Luca Tresh 3 1 2 2 1 1 Abraham Toro 3 1 2 2 1 0 Josh Rojas 4 0 0 0 0 1 Elih Marrero 4 1 1 0 0 2 Gavin Cross 4 1 1 0 0 1 Dustin Dickerson 4 1 1 2 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Ben Sears 2 1/3 4 2 2 2 0 1 Beck Way (W) 2 2/3 2 1 1 0 5 1 Bailey Falter 1 2 1 1 1 0 0 Eli Morgan 2 2 0 0 0 3 0 Eric Cerantola 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Naturals Rally Past Cardinals 7-5 With Late Heroics Northwest Arkansas weathered two Springfield rallies to win 7-5. Rudy Martin Jr. opened the scoring with an RBI double in the third, and Carson Roccaforte's RBI single in the fifth pushed the lead to 2-1. Springfield grabbed a 3-2 edge in the top of the sixth, but the Naturals answered with three in the bottom half. Martin Jr. singled, Sam Kulasingam doubled him in, Daniel Vazquez singled home Kulasingam, and Spencer Nivens singled to plate Vazquez for a 5-3 lead. The Cardinals tied it back up in the seventh on a string of free passes, only for Northwest Arkansas to push two more across in their half. Justin Johnson walked, Roccaforte singled, Martin Jr. dropped a sacrifice bunt to bring in Johnson, Kulasingam walked, and Brett Squires lined a single to score Roccaforte for the eventual final score. Roccaforte and Daniel Vazquez each finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, with Vazquez adding a double and a stolen base. Martin Jr. went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Henry Williams turned in a quality start, working six innings while allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Christian Chamberlain entered the seventh, did not record an out, and was charged with two runs on two walks. Caden Monke escaped the inning to earn the win, and Tommy Molsky locked things down with two scoreless innings, two walks, and two strikeouts for the save. Player AB R H RBI BB K Carson Roccaforte 4 1 2 1 0 1 Rudy Martin Jr. 3 1 2 2 0 0 Sam Kulasingam 3 1 1 1 1 1 Brett Squires 4 0 1 1 0 1 Daniel Vazquez 4 1 2 1 0 0 Jorge Alfaro 4 0 0 0 0 4 Spencer Nivens 3 0 1 1 1 0 Omar Hernandez 3 1 0 0 1 3 Justin Johnson 2 2 0 0 2 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Henry Williams 6 6 3 2 0 5 1 Christian Chamberlain 0 0 2 2 2 0 0 Caden Monke (W) 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 Tommy Molsky (S) 2 0 0 0 2 2 0 River Bandits Drop 2-1 Pitchers' Duel In Wisconsin Quad Cities was held in check by the Timber Rattlers in a 2-1 loss. Josh Hansell delivered five strong innings for the River Bandits, allowing one run on three hits with no walks and four strikeouts, with the lone run coming on a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth. Tanner Jones followed with three innings of work, surrendering one run on two hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Wisconsin tacked on its second run on a single in the bottom of the seventh. The lone Quad Cities offense came in the top of the ninth. Luke Pelzer popped out to start the inning, then Austin Charles ripped a solo home run to left field, his third of the year, to cut the deficit to 2-1. The next two River Bandits struck out to end the game. Charles finished 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, an RBI, and a run scored. Tyriq Kemp went 2-for-3 with a double, and Derlin Figueroa added a 1-for-4 day with a double. The River Bandits stranded six runners on the bases. Blake Mitchell drew a walk in his only time on base, going 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Ramon Ramirez also worked a walk while striking out twice. Player AB R H RBI BB K Nolan Sailors 4 0 0 0 0 1 Blake Mitchell 3 0 0 0 1 1 Ramon Ramirez 3 0 0 0 1 2 Luke Pelzer 4 0 0 0 0 0 Austin Charles 4 1 2 1 0 1 Derlin Figueroa 4 0 1 0 0 1 Erick Torres 4 0 0 0 0 2 Tyriq Kemp 3 0 2 0 0 0 Trevor Werner 3 0 1 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Josh Hansell (L) 5 3 1 1 0 4 1 Tanner Jones 3 2 1 1 2 3 0 Fireflies Edge Pelicans 4-3 With Late Comeback Columbia overcame an early deficit to beat Myrtle Beach 4-3 on the road. The Pelicans jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first, and the Fireflies battled back in the fifth. With one out, Daniel Lopez reached on an error, Josi Novas walked, and Yandel Ricardo singled to load the bases. Josh Hammond walked to force in Lopez, and Brooks Bryan singled to score Novas to tie the game 2-2. Columbia took the lead in the seventh after Novas reached on another error, advanced on Ricardo's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Hammond's groundout. Myrtle Beach answered to make it 3-3, then the Fireflies went back ahead in the eighth on Lopez's RBI groundout that scored pinch-runner Roni Cabrera. Ricardo led the Fireflies with a 2-for-4 day at the plate with a double. Lopez added a 1-for-4 effort with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Josi Novas reached three times and scored twice. Shane Van Dam labored through 4 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits with five walks and one strikeout. Jose Gutierrez took over and tossed 4 1/3 strong innings, scattering two hits and one earned run while issuing one walk and striking out three to earn the win. Player AB R H RBI BB K Yandel Ricardo 4 0 2 0 0 0 Josh Hammond 4 0 0 2 1 1 Brooks Bryan 5 0 1 1 0 1 Hyungchan Um 4 0 1 0 0 2 Roni Cabrera 0 1 0 0 0 0 Sean Gamble 3 0 0 0 1 1 Stone Russell 4 0 1 0 0 1 JC Vanek 2 0 1 0 2 1 Daniel Lopez 4 1 1 1 0 1 Josi Novas 3 2 1 0 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Shane Van Dam 4 2/3 3 2 2 5 1 0 Jose Gutierrez (W) 4 1/3 2 1 1 1 3 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Carter Jensen: DNP Blake Mitchell: 0-for-3, BB, K David Shields: DNP Kendry Chourio: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Sean Gamble: 0-for-3, BB, K Josh Hammond: 0-for-4, 2 RBI, BB, K Ramon Ramirez: 0-for-3, BB, 2 K Drew Beam: DNP Asbel Gonzalez: DNP Yandel Ricardo: 2-for-4, 2B Felix Arronde: DNP Luinder Avila: DNP Daniel Vazquez: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI, SB Steven Zobac: DNP Carson Roccaforte: 2-for-4, RBI, K Blake Wolters: DNP Michael Lombardi: DNP Warren Calcaño: DNP Frank Mozzicato: DNP View full article

Image courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Going into May, the results have been promising but ultimately mixed for the four Kansas City Royals Minor League affiliates. The High-A Quad Cities River Bandits (13-8) and Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals (13-11) have winning records, while the Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers (13-16) and Low-A Columbia Fireflies (11-13) have losing ones. Still, there have been positives in the Royals' farm system this year so far, especially when it comes to position player prospects. The Royals have had many hitters show nice growth or improvement so far in the 2026 Minor League season. Some have been well-known prospects, including those in our Top-20. Some have been more under-the-radar and could make their case to be Top-20 Royals prospects soon. Thus, in this post, I am going to highlight the top hitter for the month of April from each Royals Minor League affiliate, as well as mention an honorable mention who just missed the cut. Hopefully, this strong start could be a sign of good things to come for these prospects this season. Triple-A Omaha: Kameron Misner, OF The former Rays and Mizzou outfielder was excellent in Omaha and demonstrated that he could be a candidate for a call-up at some point this season. In 23 games and 79 at-bats this April, Misner slashed .278/.389/.570 with six home runs, 17 runs scored, 22 RBI, and a .959 OPS. He has a 23.9% K% and 16.2% BB%, thus showing his patient approach. Furthermore, his Statcast metrics from Triple-A have been solid for the most part, especially in the barrel, LA Sweet-Spot%, and Pull Air% categories. Here's a look at his TJ Stats Statcast summary so far. Misner still chases quite a bit, as evidenced by his 34th percentile O-Swing%. However, with a 76th-percentile BB%, 78th-percentile Pull Air%, 84th-percentile Barrel%, and 97th-percentile LA Sweet-Spot%, he shows he has the power and walk profile to at least be a semi-regular outfielder at the Major League level. His profile feels similar to that of MJ Melendez, who has found new life with the New York Mets. In 35 plate appearances with the Mets, Melendez is hitting .323 with a .995 OPS. That includes two home runs and six RBI. Like Misner, his O-Swing% is high, and his K% isn't good. That said, Melendez's hard-hit profile is strong, and it's possible to see Misner evolve into that. If Misner can develop into that kind of hitter, the Royals will be quite happy and could utilize him on the active roster, not just this season, but perhaps beyond as well. Honorable Mention: John Rave, OF (.244 average, .847 OPS, five home runs, eight stolen bases, 17 runs scored, and 14 RBI). Double-A Northwest Arkansas: Brett Squires, 1B/3B Squires was the Naturals' top hitter in April. Not only did he hit .326 with a 1.008 OPS in 89 at-bats, but he also hit five home runs, scored 14 runs, and collected 25 RBI, which leads the team. Squires is an interesting prospect in the Royals system who doesn't have a high ceiling or eye-popping tools, especially on defense and baserunning. However, he showed some intriguing exit velocity numbers this spring in Cactus League play. He is off to a great start and frequently pulls the ball in the air, which is a recipe for success. Now, Squires certainly has his flaws. His 23.3% K% ranks in the 36th percentile, and his 35.3% whiff rate ranks in the ninth percentile, according to TJ Stats. He also was pretty mediocre in his first exposure to Double-A pitching in 2025, hitting .248 with a .738 OPS and just 10 home runs in 496 plate appearances. Squires has half that number of home runs this year in 389 fewer plate appearances. If this pace continues, he could make a push for a spot in Omaha mid-season with the chance to make the 40-man roster this offseason. Honorable Mention: Sam Kulasingam, UTL (.309 average, .901 OPS, 1 HR, 19 R, 11 RBI, and 7 SB). High-A Quad Cities: Austin Charles, 3B/SS After regressing a bit in his first exposure to High-A ball, Charles has been on fire to begin the 2026 season. Charles leads the River Bandits in at-bats with 72, and he leads in batting average, .361, and total base hits (26). He has two home runs, which matches his 2025 total with Quad Cities in 144 fewer plate appearances. He's also lowered his strikeout rate by 10% (15.9% this year) and improved his walk rate by two percent (10.2%). The 22-year-old third baseman/shortstop has looked a lot more polished in 2026 after struggling in his first exposure to High-A competition a season ago. When looking at Charles' Statcast profile via TJ Stats, there's a lot to like. He ranks in the upper percentiles in many categories, including wOBA (91st percentile) and K% (97th percentile). The Royals drafted Charles in the 20th round of the 2022 MLB Draft. When he was selected, he was seen as a raw, but athletic prospect who needed some development, but had the tools to become an intriguing player at the Major League level. It seems the Royals' development and patience with Charles have paid off so far this season. Honorable Mention: Tyriq Kemp, 2B/SS (.308 average, 1.048 OPS, 4 HR, 13 R, 10 RBI, 5 SB). Low-A Columbia: Josh Hammond, SS/3B After a slow start, the 19-year-old shortstop/third baseman and 2025 28th overall pick has been an absolute stud for the young Fireflies. In 83 at-bats in April, Hammond hit .313 with a .396 OBP, .514 SLG, and .914 OPS. He had two home runs, 10 RBI, and four stolen bases, making him a power-speed bat that can impact the top of the lineup. Hammond is the kind of power-speed bat who could be a franchise-changing player if everything clicks right. The only negative with Hammond's profile is that he has struck out a lot this season. He had 23 Ks in 23 games, good for a strikeout rate of 23.8%. On a positive note, he's at least drawing walks, as illustrated by his 12.9% BB%. As a result, he's sporting a wOBA+ of 109 and a TJ Bat+ of 132, according to TJ Stats (and as seen below). Hammond may have been drafted behind Sean Gamble in last year's draft, but Hammond has definitely outperformed his fellow draft classmate. Despite leading the Fireflies in at-bats, Gamble is hitting .118 with a .407 OPS. Honorable Mention: Brooks Bryan, C (.299 average, .897 OPS, 3 HR, 6 R, 20 RBI, 4 SB). View full article

Northwest Arkansas earned Kansas City's lone win Thursday. Sam Kulasingam delivered a triple, a double, and three RBI for the Naturals, including a go-ahead two-run double in the eighth inning. Justin Lamkin struck out eight over five and two-thirds innings without walking a batter for Quad Cities in a 10-inning loss. Mitch Spence allowed seven earned runs in Omaha's defeat, and Michael Lombardi fanned six over 4 1/3 frames as Columbia fell on a walk-off. Royals Transactions No Roster Moves Storm Chasers' Late Push Comes Up Short Against Louisville The Omaha Storm Chasers fell 9-5 to the Louisville Bats at home on Thursday, dropping the contest despite a two-run rally in the bottom of the ninth. Mitch Spence struggled on the mound. The right-hander gave up three runs in the first inning, surrendered another in the third, and was pulled in the fourth after allowing three more. Spence took the loss after giving up seven earned runs over 3 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out two. The bullpen behind him fared better, as Ethan Bosacker, Andrew Pérez, and Jose Cuas combined to hold Louisville to two runs over 5 2/3 innings. Cleanup hitter Drew Waters led the offense, going 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, and a solo home run in the ninth, his fourth of the year. Luca Tresh had a multi-hit night with two doubles, two RBI, and a run scored. Leadoff man John Rave went 2-for-5 and connected on his sixth home run of the year, a solo shot in the sixth. Abraham Toro added an RBI double in the ninth. Omaha's last gasp came in the ninth. Waters opened the frame with his solo blast to right, Tresh followed with a double, and Toro's double down the line scored Tresh to cut the deficit to four. Two strikeouts, a walk, and a third strikeout ended things, and the Storm Chasers stranded two runners as the rally fell short. Omaha left five runners on base for the night. Player AB R H RBI BB K John Rave 5 1 2 1 0 1 Kevin Newman 4 0 0 0 0 3 Kameron Misner 3 1 0 0 1 2 Drew Waters 4 2 2 1 0 1 Luca Tresh 4 1 2 2 0 0 Abraham Toro 4 0 1 1 0 1 Josh Rojas 4 0 0 0 0 2 Gavin Cross 4 0 1 0 0 2 Dustin Dickerson 2 0 0 0 2 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Mitch Spence (L, 1-2) 3 1/3 8 7 7 3 2 0 Ethan Bosacker 2 2/3 2 0 0 0 1 0 Andrew Pérez 2 3 2 1 2 5 0 Jose Cuas 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Naturals Rally Past Cardinals Behind Kulasingam And Roccaforte The Northwest Arkansas Naturals rallied past the Springfield Cardinals 7-5 on Thursday, retaking the lead in the bottom of the eighth after Springfield had knotted the game an inning earlier. Hunter Patteson started for the Naturals and worked four innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits with two walks, four strikeouts, and a home run allowed. Oscar Rayo bridged the next 3 1/3 frames, and Augusto Mendieta closed it out with the win after blowing a save in the eighth, finishing 1 2/3 innings with one hit and one walk allowed. Sam Kulasingam was the offensive star, going 2-for-5 with a triple, a double, three RBI, and a run scored. Daniel Vazquez stayed hot with a 3-for-3 night, two RBI, and a walk. Leadoff hitter Carson Roccaforte went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run, two stolen bases, a walk, and a run scored. The Naturals broke through with three runs in the fifth. Rudy Martin Jr. singled, Kulasingam tripled him in, and Vazquez followed with a two-run single that brought home Kulasingam and Brett Squires. Roccaforte then launched his sixth home run of the year in the sixth, a two-run shot that scored Canyon Brown and pushed the lead to 5-2. Springfield tied things at five with three in the eighth, but the response was immediate. Colton Becker walked, Martin worked another walk, and Kulasingam ripped a two-run double down the line to score both runners, giving the Naturals back the lead they would not relinquish. Player AB R H RBI BB K Carson Roccaforte 3 1 1 2 1 0 Rudy Martin Jr. 4 2 1 0 1 2 Sam Kulasingam 5 1 2 3 0 1 Brett Squires 4 1 0 0 1 3 Daniel Vazquez 3 0 3 2 1 0 Jorge Alfaro 3 0 1 0 0 2 Connor Scott 4 0 0 0 0 2 Colton Becker 2 1 0 0 2 1 Canyon Brown 4 1 1 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Hunter Patteson 4 2 2 2 2 4 1 Oscar Rayo 3 1/3 4 3 3 0 3 0 Augusto Mendieta (W, 1-0; BS, 1) 1 2/3 1 0 0 1 1 0 Walk-Off Stings River Bandits In 10 Innings Despite Lamkin Gem The Quad Cities River Bandits dropped a 6-5 decision to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 10 innings on Thursday, watching a two-run lead in the top of the 10th evaporate on a walk-off home run. Justin Lamkin turned in the standout pitching performance for Quad Cities. The left-hander struck out eight without issuing a walk over 5 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits, with the only damage coming on a solo home run in the third. Hunter Alberini followed with 1/3 of an inning, walking three and allowing one unearned run. Nick Conte added two strikeouts across two innings of relief work without allowing a run. L.P. Langevin took the loss after allowing two earned runs on two hits over 1 1/3 innings, including the walk-off blast. Cleanup hitter Ramon Ramirez led the offense, going 3-for-4 with a walk and three RBI. Blake Mitchell finished 2-for-3 with two walks, a run scored, two RBI, and his sixth home run of the year. Leadoff man Nolan Sailors added two hits and two runs. Quad Cities scored two in the third on Mitchell's RBI single and a Ramirez RBI single aided by an error, then took a 3-1 lead on Mitchell's solo home run in the fifth. After Wisconsin clawed back to tie it at three, the River Bandits responded in the 10th. With zombie runner Sailors on second, Asbel Gonzalez was hit by a pitch, Mitchell moved both runners up with a groundout, and Ramirez delivered a two-run single to give Quad Cities a 5-3 lead. The lead did not hold in the bottom half. Quad Cities left nine runners on base. Player AB R H RBI BB K Nolan Sailors 4 2 2 0 1 2 Asbel Gonzalez 3 1 0 0 0 2 Blake Mitchell 3 1 2 2 2 0 Ramon Ramirez 4 0 3 3 1 1 Austin Charles 5 0 0 0 0 3 Derlin Figueroa 4 0 1 0 1 1 Jose Cerice 5 0 1 0 0 2 Tyriq Kemp 4 0 0 0 0 1 Erick Torres 4 1 1 0 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Justin Lamkin 5 2/3 4 2 2 0 8 1 Hunter Alberini (H, 1) 1/3 0 1 0 3 1 0 Nick Conte (BS, 1) 2 1 0 0 1 2 0 L.P. Langevin (L, 1-1) 1 1/3 2 3 2 0 3 1 Fireflies' Seventh-Inning Surge Wasted In Walk-Off Loss The Columbia Fireflies lost an 8-7 walk-off heartbreaker to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans on Thursday, blowing a one-run lead in the bottom of the seventh and falling on a walk-off single in the ninth. Starter Darwin Rodriguez worked four innings, striking out six and walking one. He allowed four runs on four hits, all of them unearned, thanks to defensive miscues. Michael Lombardi took the loss, going 4 1/3 innings with six hits, four earned runs, three walks, six strikeouts, and a home run allowed. Leadoff hitter Henry Ramos went 2-for-5 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Josh Hammond finished 1-for-4 with two RBI, two runs, a walk, and a stolen base. Jhosmmel Zue chipped in two hits and two runs, and Connor Rasmussen had two hits and a run. The decisive sequence came in the top of the seventh, with Columbia trailing 6-3. Roni Cabrera reached on a throwing error to lead off, Zue singled him home with the help of another miscue, Rasmussen singled Zue home thanks to a third throwing error, Ramos singled in Rasmussen, and cleanup hitter Stone Russell laced an RBI single past third to score Hammond. Four runs scored in the frame on five singles and three Pelicans errors, putting the Fireflies up 7-6. Myrtle Beach answered with a triple in the bottom half to tie the game, then loaded the bases in the ninth on a walk and an intentional walk before ending it on a single off Lombardi. Columbia stranded seven runners overall. Player AB R H RBI BB K Henry Ramos 5 1 2 1 0 2 Josh Hammond 4 2 1 2 1 0 Brooks Bryan 5 0 1 1 0 1 Stone Russell 5 0 1 1 0 1 Sean Gamble 5 0 0 0 0 1 JC Vanek 3 0 0 0 1 1 Roni Cabrera 4 1 1 0 0 0 Jhosmmel Zue 4 2 2 0 0 2 Connor Rasmussen 3 1 2 0 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Darwin Rodriguez 4 4 4 0 1 6 0 Michael Lombardi (L, 1-1) 4 1/3 6 4 4 3 6 1 Top-20 Prospect Performance Carter Jensen: DNP Blake Mitchell: 2-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB David Shields: DNP Kendry Chourio: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Sean Gamble: 0-for-5, K Josh Hammond: 1-for-4, 2 RBI, BB, SB Ramon Ramirez: 3-for-4, 3 RBI, BB, K Drew Beam: DNP Asbel Gonzalez: 0-for-3, 2 K Yandel Ricardo: DNP Felix Arronde: DNP Luinder Avila: DNP Daniel Vazquez: 3-for-3, 2 RBI, BB Steven Zobac: DNP Carson Roccaforte: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, BB, 2 SB Blake Wolters: DNP Michael Lombardi: 4 1/3 IP, 6 H, 4 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, HR (L) Warren Calcaño: DNP Frank Mozzicato: DNP View full article

David Shields and Drew Beam led a strong day on the mound for the Royals' affiliates. Shields struck out six over five scoreless innings as the Quad Cities River Bandits completed a doubleheader sweep of Wisconsin, and Beam tossed a quality start in Northwest Arkansas's 4-2 win over Springfield. Ramon Ramirez homered in game one and added two RBI in game two. The Omaha Storm Chasers walked off Louisville, and the Columbia Fireflies lost. Royals Transactions: No Roster Moves Storm Chasers Walk Off Bats With Two-Out Ninth-Inning Rally The Omaha Storm Chasers rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth to walk off the Louisville Bats, 8-7. Trailing 7-5 entering the final frame after Louisville plated three unearned runs in the top half, Omaha mounted a two-out rally. With two outs, Tyler Tolbert singled, and Kameron Misner followed with a game-tying RBI single. Cleanup hitter Drew Waters then delivered the walk-off RBI single to bring home the winning run. Leadoff hitter John Rave got Omaha on the board first with a two-run home run in the fifth inning. Waters reached base three times, finishing 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a walk. Luca Tresh provided the biggest blow before the ninth, launching a three-run homer in the eighth to put Omaha in front 6-4. Misner finished 1-for-4 with a walk, an RBI, and a stolen base, while Tolbert went 2-for-5 with a stolen base of his own. Abraham Toro added a triple, and Luke Maile drove in a run. Ryan Ramsey started and worked five innings, allowing two runs on four hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Shane Panzini gave up a two-run homer in his only inning of work. Anthony Gose and Chazz Martinez each tossed a scoreless frame. Steven Cruz earned the win despite blowing the save when his throwing error opened the door for three unearned runs in the ninth. Omaha left six runners on base. Player AB R H RBI BB K John Rave, RF 5 1 1 2 0 1 Tyler Tolbert, SS 5 1 2 0 0 1 Kameron Misner, CF 4 2 1 1 1 0 Drew Waters, LF 4 1 2 1 1 1 Luca Tresh, DH 4 1 1 3 0 1 Abraham Toro, 1B 3 1 1 0 1 0 Luke Maile, C 3 1 0 1 1 1 Josh Rojas, 2B 3 0 0 0 1 1 Kevin Newman, 3B 4 0 1 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Ryan Ramsey 5 4 2 2 4 2 0 Shane Panzini 1 2 2 2 0 0 1 Anthony Gose 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Chazz Martinez 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Steven Cruz 1 3 3 0 0 2 0 Naturals Hold Off Cardinals Behind Beam's Quality Start The Northwest Arkansas Naturals defeated the Springfield Cardinals 4-2 behind a quality start from Drew Beam and timely two-out hitting. Beam tossed six innings of one-run ball, allowing just two hits with two walks and a strikeout to earn his first win of the season. The Naturals broke through in the fourth inning. Brett Squires singled, Spencer Nivens followed with a double, and Canyon Brown's RBI groundout drove in the first run. Justin Johnson then delivered an RBI double to make it 2-0. Springfield got one back with an RBI single in the fifth, but Northwest Arkansas answered in the seventh with a two-out rally. Justin Johnson drew a leadoff walk, and after two strikeouts, Sam Kulasingam and Squires drew walks to load the bases. Nivens then ripped a two-run single to break the game open at 4-1. Nivens led the offense, going 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI, a stolen base, and a run scored. Justin Johnson finished 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. Colton Becker reached base twice with a double and a walk, and Squires reached three times with a hit and two walks. Leadoff hitter Carson Roccaforte added a walk and a stolen base. Beam earned the win with his quality start. Dennis Colleran Jr. struck out two in a hitless seventh for the hold. Zachary Cawyer surrendered a run on two hits in the eighth, and Brandon Johnson struck out three to earn the save in a two-walk ninth. The Naturals stranded eight runners on base. Player AB R H RBI BB K Carson Roccaforte, CF 2 0 0 0 1 2 Rudy Martin Jr., RF 4 0 0 0 0 2 Sam Kulasingam, 2B 2 1 0 0 2 0 Brett Squires, 1B 3 1 1 0 1 2 Spencer Nivens, LF 4 1 2 2 0 2 Canyon Brown, C 4 0 0 1 0 2 Connor Scott, DH 4 0 0 0 0 1 Colton Becker, SS 2 0 1 0 2 1 Justin Johnson, 3B 3 1 1 1 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Drew Beam 6 2 1 1 2 1 0 Dennis Colleran Jr. 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Zachary Cawyer 1 2 1 1 0 2 0 Brandon Johnson 1 0 0 0 2 3 0 River Bandits Pound Out 11 Runs With Four-Homer Second Inning In Game One The Quad Cities River Bandits exploded for 10 runs across the first two innings on their way to an 11-5 victory in game one of the doubleheader, hammering four home runs in a six-run second inning alone. After a four-run first capped by Derlin Figueroa's three-RBI double, Quad Cities turned the second into a homer derby. Tyriq Kemp led off with a solo shot. Cleanup hitter Ramon Ramirez followed with a three-run blast, scoring Nolan Sailors and Blake Mitchell. Austin Charles added a solo home run, and Figueroa capped it with a solo homer of his own. Figueroa finished 2-for-3 with a double, a home run, four RBI, and a walk. Charles went 2-for-3 with a triple, a home run, two RBI, three runs scored, and a walk. Cleanup hitter Ramirez added a 1-for-3 line with the three-run shot, two runs scored, and a walk. Kemp went 1-for-3 with the homer and a walk. Leadoff hitter Sailors added a double in a 1-for-5 line. Mitchell drew three walks and scored twice. Asbel Gonzalez walked twice, scored a run, and stole a base. Mason Miller started but exited after 3 2/3 innings, allowing one run on a hit with five walks and three strikeouts. Cory Ronan recorded one out and earned the win. Aiden Jimenez closed it with three innings, surrendering four runs on seven hits, including two home runs, with two strikeouts to record his first save. The Quad Cities left five runners on base. Player AB R H RBI BB K Nolan Sailors, RF 5 1 1 0 0 1 Asbel Gonzalez, CF 2 1 0 0 2 0 Blake Mitchell, C 1 2 0 0 3 1 Ramon Ramirez, DH 3 2 1 3 1 0 Luke Pelzer, LF 4 0 0 0 0 1 Austin Charles, SS 3 3 2 2 1 1 Derlin Figueroa, 3B 3 1 2 4 1 0 Jose Cerice, 1B 4 0 1 0 0 2 Tyriq Kemp, 2B 3 1 1 1 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Mason Miller 3 2/3 1 1 1 5 3 0 Cory Ronan 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 Aiden Jimenez 3 7 4 4 0 2 2 Shields, Bullpen Combine For Two-Hit Shutout In Game Two David Shields was dominant on the mound as the Quad Cities River Bandits cruised to an 8-0 victory in game two of the doubleheader, completing a sweep of the Timber Rattlers. Shields fired five scoreless innings, scattering two hits with six strikeouts and two walks to earn his second win. Quad Cities scored in three different innings. Trevor Werner singled to start the third, Asbel Gonzalez and Blake Mitchell drew back-to-back walks, and Ramon Ramirez singled home Werner. Cleanup hitter Jose Cerice followed with a sacrifice fly to drive in Gonzalez, and Luke Pelzer added an RBI single to score Mitchell. In the fifth, Cerice ripped a two-run single to plate Mitchell and Ramirez. The Bandits added three more in the sixth, when bases-loaded walks plated three runs after Charles, Werner, and Diego Guzman set the table. Cleanup hitter Cerice led the offense, going 1-for-2 with three RBI and a walk. Ramirez finished 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, two runs scored, and a walk. Pelzer added two hits and an RBI. Austin Charles went 2-for-4. Mitchell reached base three times with a hit, two walks, two runs, and an RBI. Werner went 1-for-3 with two runs scored. Gonzalez walked twice and scored. Behind Shields, Kamden Edge worked a hitless inning with a strikeout, and Yimi Presinal closed it with a walk-aided scoreless ninth. The trio combined for a two-hit shutout. The Bandits left seven runners on base. Player AB R H RBI BB K Asbel Gonzalez, CF 2 1 0 0 2 2 Blake Mitchell, DH 2 2 1 1 2 0 Ramon Ramirez, C 3 1 2 2 1 0 Jose Cerice, 3B 2 0 1 3 1 0 Luke Pelzer, LF 4 0 2 1 0 1 Austin Charles, SS 4 1 2 0 0 0 Erick Torres, RF 4 0 0 0 0 2 Trevor Werner, 1B 3 2 1 0 0 0 Diego Guzman, 2B 3 1 0 0 1 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR David Shields 5 2 0 0 2 6 0 Kamden Edge 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Yimi Presinal 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Fireflies Fall To Pelicans After Four-Run Second Inning The Columbia Fireflies dropped a 4-2 decision to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, unable to recover from a four-run second inning that put them in an early hole. Columbia struck first at the top of the second. Yandel Ricardo doubled, Roni Cabrera walked, and Jhosmmel Zue's groundout drove in Ricardo for the early lead. The Pelicans answered with four runs in the bottom half. Hiro Wyatt was pulled mid-inning with the bases loaded after issuing a hit-by-pitch that forced in a run. All four runs were charged to him as earned. The Fireflies didn't get back on the board until the eighth, when leadoff hitter Henry Ramos reached and cleanup hitter Hyungchan Um lifted a sacrifice fly to plate him. Columbia couldn't muster anything in the ninth. Ricardo led the offense, finishing 1-for-3 with a double, a run scored, and a walk. Josh Hammond added a hit in a 1-for-3 line with a walk. Zue went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Ramos walked, scored, and reached once. Cabrera drew a walk and stole a base. Wyatt took the loss after 1 2/3 innings, allowing four earned runs on two hits with two walks. Henson Leal stabilized things with 3 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits with a strikeout. Brandon Herbold and Max Martin combined for three additional hitless and scoreless innings, striking out four batters between them. Columbia left seven runners on base. Player AB R H RBI BB K Henry Ramos, LF 3 1 0 0 1 0 Sean Gamble, CF 3 0 0 0 1 2 Josh Hammond, 3B 3 1 0 1 2 Hyungchan Um, C 3 0 0 1 0 1 Yandel Ricardo, SS 3 1 1 0 1 0 Stone Russell, 2B 3 0 0 0 1 1 Roni Cabrera, RF 3 0 0 0 1 3 Jhosmmel Zue, 1B 4 0 1 1 0 1 Ivan Sosa, DH 4 0 0 0 0 3 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Hiro Wyatt 1 2/3 2 4 4 2 0 0 Henson Leal 3 1/3 2 0 0 0 1 0 Brandon Herbold 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 Max Martin 2 2 0 0 0 2 0 Top-20 Royals Prospect Performances Carter Jensen — DNP Blake Mitchell — Game 1: 0-for-1, 2 R, 3 BB, 1 K | Game 2: 1-for-2, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 BB David Shields — 5 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 6 K, 2 BB, W Kendry Chourio — DNP Ben Kudrna — DNP Sean Gamble — 0-for-3, 1 BB, 2 K Josh Hammond — 1-for-3, 1 BB, 2 K Ramon Ramirez — Game 1: 1-for-3, 2 R, HR, 3 RBI, 1 BB | Game 2: 2-for-3, 1 R, 2B, 2 RBI, 1 BB Drew Beam — 6 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 K, 2 BB, W (Quality Start) Asbel Gonzalez — Game 1: 0-for-2, 1 R, 2 BB, SB | Game 2: 0-for-2, 1 R, 2 BB, 2 K Yandel Ricardo — 1-for-3, 1 R, 2B, 1 BB Felix Arronde — DNP Luinder Avila — DNP Daniel Vazquez — DNP Steven Zobac — DNP Carson Roccaforte — 0-for-2, 1 BB, 2 K, SB Blake Wolters — DNP Michael Lombardi — DNP Warren Calcaño — DNP Frank Mozzicato — DNP View full article

So much for the "he's the next O'Hearn" comparison.

On Wednesday evening, the Royals announced via social media that pitchers Ryan Bergert and Ben Kudrna underwent successful surgeries on their arms. Bergert and Kudrna are both on the 40-man roster, though neither made the Opening Day roster. The former Padre, acquired with Stephen Kolek for Freddy Fermin at last summer's Trade Deadline, is the more accomplished of the pair. Berger pitched 76.1 IP with the Padres and Royals a season ago. In that 19-appearance sample (15 starts), he posted 3.66 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 22.6% K%, and 11.8% K-BB%. He walked fewer batters with the Royals (9.8% BB%) than the Padres (12.1% BB%), but his ERA with the Royals (4.43) was much higher than his one with the Padres (2.78). Still, Bergert showcased a solid profile and a strong ability to flood the strike zone, especially with the Royals, as illustrated in his TJ Stats summary from 2025. Bergert's chase%, whiff%, and xwOBACON left a bit to be desired, as they all rated slightly below average. However, he was showing some progress in Spring Training and Triple-A Omaha (23.8% K% and 2.79 ERA in 9.1 IP) before going down with an injury. As for Kudrna, the 2021 second-round pick was added to the 40-man roster this past offseason, and hopes were high that the local Kansas prep product would be a dark horse to make his MLB debut this season. Kudrna posted a 4.21 ERA and 1.29 WHIP in 94 IP with the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals. However, he had a 24% K%, 15.7% K-BB%, and 3.17 FIP. Omaha was a much tougher challenge for Kudrna. In four outings, three starts, and 11.1 IP, he posted a 14.29 ERA, 2.74 WHIP, 9.54 FIP, and -11.1% K-BB%. His one outing with the Storm Chasers this year wasn't much better, as he posted a 9.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, and 7.10 FIP. Kudrna posted a solid whiff rate in Omaha as well as limited hard contact, but his TJ Stuff+, zone rate, and chase rate metrics were all mediocre, as illustrated in his TJ Stats season summary below. The typical recovery timetable for surgeries such as Kudrna's is 3-6 months. Thus, it's possible that Kudrna could return in Late August or September if his body responds well to the recovery process. That said, at 23 years old, it's likely that the Royals will take it slow with Kudrna, which probably rules out any return to Omaha this season. Both players will likely be placed on the 60-Day IL, opening two roster spots for potential pitchers in the near future. View full rumor

Image courtesy of Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images After he was placed on the 10-Day IL on April 20th due to a left shoulder subluxation, the Royals announced today on social media that Jonathan India underwent labral repair surgery and would be out for the season as a result. This likely ends a tumultuous tenure for the former Cincinnati Red, who came over last offseason from Cincinnati with outfielder Joey Wiemer in exchange for pitcher Brady Singer. In 136 games and 567 plate appearances last season, he hit .233 with an 89 wRC+ and a -0.3 fWAR. He got off to another slow start this year, though he did walk more (13.8% BB% this year to 9.5% last year) and hit for more power (.146 ISO this year to .113 ISO last year). However, in 58 plate appearances, he hit .167 with a 79 wRC+ and -0.1 fWAR. India entered his last year of arbitration this offseason, and the Royals opted to bring him back on a one-year, $8 million deal, hoping that he would bounce back with a clearer role, especially defensively (i.e., no moving around positions). Unfortunately, India didn't get much of a chance to show he was capable of returning to his Cincinnati form, as his season ended after just 17 games this season. The 29-year-old will be a free agent this offseason, and it's unlikely that Kansas City will offer him a contract. The loss of India likely means that Michael Massey and Nick Loftin will get most of the innings at second base this year. Shelley Stonebrook talked about Massey making the most of his opportunity in a post today on Royals Keep, and after India's surgery, it's likely Massey becomes the regular second baseman in Kansas City for the remainder of the season. Massey has an 87 wRC+ in 47 plate appearances, and Loftin has a 127 wRC+ in 30 plate appearances. That said, Massey is hitting .292 with 122 wRC+ in his last 26 plate appearances, and Loftin is hitting .333 with a 136 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers. The left-handed Massey and right-handed Loftin can platoon together at the keystone position, while also carrying versatility to play left field when needed. If Massey or Loftin gets hurt (both guys have a checkered injury history), the Royals could opt to replace India's spot on the roster with Josh Rojas, who's currently in Triple-A Omaha. Rojas has cooled off after a slow start, hitting .244 with an 84 wRC+ in 85 plate appearances with the Storm Chasers. While he doesn't hit the ball hard, Rojas has shown excellent plate discipline in Omaha, as illustrated by his TJ Stats Statcast summary in Triple-A. If the Royals opt not to bring up Rojas, they can utilize India's roster spot for a free-agent or trade acquisition without having to designate anyone for assignment, due to the ability to add him to the 60-Day IL. It's likely that the Royals will wait to add India to the 60-day IL in order to ensure they have the right candidate to replace him on the 40-man roster. View full article