Kevin O'Brien

Jacob Berry's sacrifice fly in the tenth pushed Omaha past St. Paul 3-2, backed by hitless relief from Carlos Duran and Ethan Bosacker. Quad Cities scored three in the ninth to win 6-4 on Nolan Sailors' two-run single, with Kendry Chourio allowing one run to start. Spencer Nivens had three hits in Northwest Arkansas' 13-5 loss, where Dennis Colleran Jr. threw two scoreless innings. Camden Johnson had two hits and drove in a run for Columbia. Kansas City Royals Transactions Kansas City Royals sent LF Drew Waters outright to Omaha Storm Chasers. Jacob Berry Walks Off St. Paul In The Tenth For Omaha The Omaha Storm Chasers beat the St. Paul Saints 3-2 in ten innings, scoring the winning run without a hit in the final frame. Omaha finished with eight hits, six walks, and eleven runners left on base. Peyton Wilson went 1-for-5 with a double, two RBI, and two strikeouts. Jacob Berry went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Abraham Toro drew three walks and scored a run, while Alejo Lopez went 1-for-4 and scored. Omaha broke through in the seventh. Jorge Alfaro was hit by a pitch, Brandon Drury singled to left, and Colton Becker came on to run. Lopez bunted into a force play that retired Alfaro at third, and Gavin Cross struck out. Wilson then doubled to center to score Becker and Lopez for a 2-1 lead. St. Paul tied it in the eighth after a fielding error by Berry put a runner in scoring position. In the tenth, Abraham Toro started as the zombie runner at second. Carson Roccaforte was intentionally walked, Luca Tresh moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt, and Berry lifted a sacrifice fly to center to bring Toro home. John Means started and worked three innings, giving up one run on four hits with no walks and three strikeouts. He was helped by some stellar defense, including this play from Cross, which saved a run. Hunter Patteson followed with 4 1/3 innings, allowing an unearned run on four hits with no walks and four strikeouts. Scott Alexander gave up a hit over 2/3 of an inning without allowing a run. Carlos Duran struck out one in a hitless inning, and Ethan Bosacker did the same to earn the win. The Storm Chasers were able to win despite stranding 11 runners and going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Omaha is now 61-72 this season. Player AB R H RBI BB K Gavin Cross 5 0 1 0 0 1 Peyton Wilson 5 0 1 2 0 2 Abraham Toro 2 1 0 0 3 0 Carson Roccaforte 4 0 0 0 1 2 Luca Tresh 4 0 1 0 0 1 Jacob Berry 4 0 2 1 0 0 Jorge Alfaro 3 0 1 0 0 1 Brandon Drury 2 0 1 0 1 1 Colton Becker 0 1 0 0 1 0 Alejo Lopez 4 1 1 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR John Means 3 4 1 1 0 3 1 Hunter Patteson 4 1/3 4 1 0 0 4 0 Scott Alexander 2/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 Carlos Duran 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Ethan Bosacker 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Nivens Collects Three Hits In Northwest Arkansas Loss The Northwest Arkansas Naturals lost 13-5 to the Arkansas Travelers, falling behind early and never closing the gap. Northwest Arkansas had eight hits, two walks, and six runners left on base. Spencer Nivens went 3-for-4 with two RBI. Connor Scott went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Justin Johnson went 1-for-4 with a home run, his twelfth, and an RBI. Hyungchan Um added a hit, and Daniel Vazquez had one as well. The fifth inning brought the only sustained pressure from Northwest Arkansas. Alberto Rodriguez was hit by a pitch, Angel Acosta walked, and Javier Vaz struck out. Sam Kulasingam walked to load the bases. A balk brought Rodriguez home and moved Acosta to third and Kulasingam to second, and Nivens singled to center to score both. That cut the deficit to 7-3. Northwest Arkansas added a run in the sixth when Scott doubled, Um singled him to third, and Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to center. Grant Gambrell started and lasted 1 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Brandon Johnson went 2 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on three hits with three walks and five strikeouts. Tommy Molsky recorded two outs and was charged with six runs, five earned, on four hits with two walks and one strikeout. Anthony Simonelli allowed two runs over 1 2/3 innings with two strikeouts and no walks. Colleran Jr. closed with two scoreless innings, giving up four hits with no walks and four strikeouts. The Naturals went 2-for-5 and left six runners on base. Northwest Arkansas fell to 54-74. Player AB R H RBI BB K Javier Vaz 5 0 0 0 0 1 Sam Kulasingam 4 1 0 0 1 1 Spencer Nivens 4 0 3 2 0 1 Daniel Vazquez 4 0 1 0 0 0 Justin Johnson 4 1 1 1 0 1 Connor Scott 4 1 2 0 0 0 Hyungchan Um 4 0 1 0 0 1 Alberto Rodriguez 2 1 0 1 0 2 Angel Acosta 3 1 0 0 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Grant Gambrell 1 1/3 2 3 3 2 2 0 Brandon Johnson 2 1/3 3 2 2 3 5 0 Tommy Molsky 2/3 4 6 5 2 1 1 Anthony Simonelli 1 2/3 3 2 2 0 2 1 Dennis Colleran Jr. 2 4 0 0 0 4 0 Sailors Drives In Two In The Ninth As Quad Cities Wins The Quad Cities River Bandits scored three times in the ninth inning to beat the Peoria Chiefs 6-4 and clinch a spot in the Midwest League postseason. Quad Cities collected six hits and two walks and left five runners on base. Zion Rose went 2-for-5 with an RBI. Blake Mitchell went 1-for-3 with a home run, a walk, and an RBI. Nolan Sailors had one hit in five at-bats with two RBI and four strikeouts. Austin Charles went 1-for-4 and scored, and Ben North scored twice while drawing a walk. The eighth put Quad Cities in front. North reached on a fielding error, stole second, and moved to third on a throwing error. Zion Rose then singled to left to bring him home for a 3-2 lead. Unfortunately, Peoria answered with two home runs in the bottom half to lead 4-3. The ninth settled it for the River Bandits. Jose Cerice was hit by a pitch, and Charles singled to right. Tyriq Kemp moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt, and Erick Torres lined out. Ben North walked to load the bases, and Nolan Sailors singled to left to score Cerice and Charles. North then came home on a Rose ground ball for the final margin. No. 1 prospect Chourio started and threw three innings, allowing one run on two hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Rob Hensey gave up one run on one hit over two innings with two strikeouts and no walks. Dash Albus worked 1 2/3 innings without allowing a run, giving up one hit with two strikeouts. Kamden Edge allowed two runs on two hits over 1 1/3 innings with a walk and a strikeout, and earned the win. L.P. Langevin struck out one in a hitless inning for the save. The River Bandits went 3-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded five runners on base. Quad Cities is now 69-56. Player AB R H RBI BB K Nolan Sailors 5 0 1 2 0 4 Zion Rose 5 0 2 1 0 0 Blake Mitchell 3 1 1 1 1 1 Ramon Ramirez 4 0 0 0 0 1 Jose Cerice 2 2 0 0 0 1 Austin Charles 4 1 1 0 0 0 Tyriq Kemp 3 0 0 0 0 0 Erick Torres 4 0 1 1 0 0 Ben North 3 2 0 0 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Kendry Chourio 3 2 1 1 1 3 1 Rob Hensey 2 1 1 1 0 2 0 Dash Albus 1 2/3 1 0 0 0 2 0 Kamden Edge 1 1/3 2 2 2 1 1 2 L.P. Langevin 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Columbia Takes An Early Lead But Falls At Myrtle Beach The Columbia Fireflies scored twice in the first inning and did not score again, losing 7-2 to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans. Columbia managed four hits and five walks and left nine runners on base. Johnson went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Henry Ramos went 1-for-4 with a walk and scored a run. Ricson Gonzalez had a hit and a walk, and Tyson Moran and Jhonayker Ugarte each drew a walk. Leadoff hitter Henry Ramos aside, the top of the order produced little, and Josh Hammond went 0-for-5 with a strikeout. Columbia got everything in the first inning. Henry Ramos walked, and Josh Hammond struck out. Camden Johnson lined a single to center to bring Ramos home. Roni Cabrera struck out, and Daniel Lopez reached on a throwing error that allowed Johnson to score for a 2-0 lead. Myrtle Beach chipped away with single runs in the second and fifth, then broke the game open with five in the seventh. That inning began with a single and a walk around a groundout, an RBI single, and another walk to load the bases. A two-run single followed, extended by a throwing error by Ramos, and a fielder's choice with a throwing error by Moran brought in two more. Despite those issues, the Fireflies did receive some stellar defense from Johnson at shortstop in this game. Coleman Picard started and gave up two runs, one earned, over 5 1/3 innings on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Dalton Hill was charged with five runs, four earned, on three hits in one inning with two walks and one strikeout. Yeri Perez recorded two outs with two strikeouts and two walks, allowing no hits. Brandon Herbold finished with a hitless inning and two strikeouts. The Fireflies struggled with ducks on the pond, going 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position and leaving nine runners on base. Columbia is now 64-65 this season. Player AB R H RBI BB K Henry Ramos 4 1 1 0 1 1 Josh Hammond 5 0 0 0 0 1 Camden Johnson 3 1 2 1 0 0 Roni Cabrera 2 0 0 0 0 1 Daniel Lopez 2 0 0 0 1 0 Connor Rasmussen 4 0 0 0 0 0 Ricson Gonzalez 3 0 1 0 1 1 Tyson Moran 3 0 0 0 1 0 Jhonayker Ugarte 3 0 0 0 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Coleman Picard 5 1/3 5 2 1 1 5 1 Dalton Hill 1 3 5 4 2 1 0 Yeri Perez 2/3 0 0 0 2 2 0 Brandon Herbold 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kendry Chourio: 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, HR David Shields: DNP Josh Hammond: 0-for-5, 1 K Blake Mitchell: 1-for-3, HR, 1 BB, 1 K Sean Gamble: DNP Ramon Ramirez: 0-for-4, 1 K Zion Rose: 2-for-5 Asbel Gonzalez: DNP Carson Roccaforte: 0-for-4, 1 BB, 2 K Taylor Rabe: DNP Yandel Ricardo: DNP Justin Lamkin: DNP Drew Beam: DNP Michael Lombardi: DNP Jack Slightom: DNP Felix Arronde: DNP Angeibel Gomez: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Steven Zobac: DNP Blake Wolters: DNP View full article

Drew Beam struck out nine over eight innings as Northwest Arkansas beat Arkansas 4-1, and Zachary Cawyer added a scoreless inning for the save. Henry Williams matched him with six scoreless innings in Omaha's 7-1 win, backed by home runs from Gavin Cross, Brett Squires, and Carson Roccaforte. David Shields allowed three runs in four innings as Quad Cities fell 5-3 despite Jose Cerice's two-run homer. Connor Rasmussen homered for Columbia, which lost 5-1 at Myrtle Beach. Kansas City Royals Transactions No Roster Moves Three Homers And Four Unearned Runs Carry Omaha Past St. Paul The Omaha Storm Chasers hit three home runs and took advantage of three St. Paul errors in a 7-1 win. Squires opened the scoring with a solo home run, his 25th, in the first. The third inning turned on defense. Luca Tresh singled, Omar Hernandez reached on a fielding error, and Cross hit into a fielder's choice that a throwing error by the shortstop turned into two runs. Roccaforte added a solo home run, his fourth, in the fourth. Omaha built the lead again in the fifth. Hernandez singled, Cross doubled him to third, and Alejo Lopez reached on a fielder's choice on which the shortstop threw the ball away again, scoring Hernandez. Squires drove in Cross with a sacrifice fly. Cross closed the scoring with his 17th home run in the seventh. Cross finished 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, two runs, and one strikeout. Squires went 1-for-3 with two runs batted in. Hernandez was 1-for-3 and scored twice. Roccaforte went 1-for-4 with three strikeouts. Omaha left four runners on base and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Williams, our August Pitcher of the Month for Omaha at Royals Keep, handled the start, working six scoreless innings on four hits and one walk with seven strikeouts for a quality start. Luke Little gave up a solo home run in his inning of work, allowing one hit and one walk with a strikeout. Lucas Erceg allowed a hit and a walk without a run and struck out one. Ben Sears allowed one hit and one walk and did not give up a run. The Storm Chasers are now 60-72. Player AB R H RBI BB K Gavin Cross 4 2 2 1 0 1 Alejo Lopez 4 0 0 0 0 2 Brett Squires 3 1 1 2 0 0 Abraham Toro 3 0 0 0 1 0 Carson Roccaforte 4 1 1 1 0 3 Peyton Wilson 4 0 1 0 0 1 Jacob Berry 4 0 0 0 0 0 Luca Tresh 4 1 1 0 0 0 Omar Hernandez 3 2 1 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Henry Williams 6 4 0 0 1 7 0 Luke Little 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Lucas Erceg 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 Ben Sears 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 Beam's Nine Strikeouts Carry Northwest Arkansas To A 4-1 Win Beam gave the Northwest Arkansas Naturals eight innings and the bullpen only three outs to get in a 4-1 win at Arkansas. The Naturals scored first in the fourth. Sam Kulasingam singled, moved to third on a groundout, and scored on a Daniel Vazquez sacrifice fly. The sixth was the decisive inning. Luke Pelzer singled to open it and stole second. He moved to third on a groundout and scored on a Vazquez double. Justin Johnson followed with a run-scoring single, and Northwest Arkansas led 3-1. The Naturals tacked on in the eighth. Kulasingam doubled, Vazquez reached on a fielding error, and Johnson reached on a throwing error by the third baseman as Kulasingam came home. Pelzer went 2-for-4 with a run scored. Kulasingam was 2-for-4 with a double and two runs. Vazquez went 1-for-3 with a double and two runs batted in. Johnson was 1-for-4 with a run batted in and two strikeouts. Johnson also flashed some leather at the hot corner. Northwest Arkansas struck out 12 times, left five runners on base, and went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Beam allowed three hits and one earned run over eight innings, walked nobody, and struck out nine. The only damage against him was a solo home run, and the outing qualified as a quality start. Cawyer finished it with a scoreless inning, walking one and striking out one for his sixth save. With the win, the Naturals improved to 54-73 this season. Player AB R H RBI BB K Luke Pelzer 4 1 2 0 0 1 Sam Kulasingam 4 2 2 0 0 1 Spencer Nivens 4 0 0 0 0 1 Daniel Vazquez 3 1 1 2 0 0 Justin Johnson 4 0 1 1 0 2 Connor Scott 4 0 0 0 0 1 Canyon Brown 4 0 0 0 0 1 Alberto Rodriguez 3 0 0 0 1 3 Angel Acosta 4 0 0 0 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Drew Beam 8 3 1 1 0 9 1 Zachary Cawyer 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 Cerice's Two-Run Homer Not Enough For Quad Cities At Peoria The Quad Cities River Bandits managed three hits in a 5-3 loss at Peoria. Quad Cities struck first in the fourth. Blake Mitchell was hit by a pitch, and Jose Cerice followed with a two-run home run, his sixth. Peoria answered with three runs in the bottom half on a run-scoring double and a two-run home run, then added two more in the sixth on another two-run home run. The River Bandits got one back in the eighth. Stone Russell walked, Nolan Sailors reached on a fielder's choice and advanced on a fielding error, and Asbel Gonzalez grounded into a force out that moved Russell to third. Russell scored on a wild pitch during a Mitchell walk. Ramon Ramirez then grounded into a double play to end the threat. Cerice went 1-for-4 with the home run and two runs batted in. Austin Charles was 1-for-4 with a double. Tyriq Kemp went 1-for-3 with a walk. Mitchell drew two walks and scored a run. Quad Cities drew five walks, struck out 15 times, went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position, and left six runners on base. Shields, the Royals' No. 2 prospect, took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits over four innings with no walks and five strikeouts, with a home run accounting for two of the runs. Ethan McElvain gave up two runs on two hits in two innings with three strikeouts and a home run allowed. Yimi Presinal allowed a hit and a walk without a run and struck out one. Jackson Cleveland struck out three in a scoreless inning without allowing a baserunner. The River Bandits are now 68-56 and sit in second place in the West Division of the Midwest League. Player AB R H RBI BB K Nolan Sailors 3 0 0 0 1 2 Asbel Gonzalez 4 0 0 0 0 2 Blake Mitchell 1 1 0 0 2 1 Ramon Ramirez 4 0 0 0 0 2 Jose Cerice 4 1 1 2 0 1 Austin Charles 4 0 1 0 0 2 Tyriq Kemp 3 0 1 0 1 1 Erick Torres 3 0 0 0 0 1 Stone Russell 3 1 0 0 1 3 Player IP H R ER BB K HR David Shields 4 3 3 3 0 5 1 Ethan McElvain 2 2 2 2 0 3 1 Yimi Presinal 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 Jackson Cleveland 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 Rasmussen's Home Run Accounts For Columbia's Only Run The Columbia Fireflies had seven hits and one run in a 5-1 loss at Myrtle Beach. The third inning decided it. With two outs and nobody on, a single put a runner aboard, a throwing error by third baseman Ivan Sosa put a second runner on, and a three-run home run followed. None of the three runs were earned. Rasmussen answered in the fourth with a solo home run, his fifth, and that was the extent of the Columbia offense. Myrtle Beach added a run in the fifth on a bases-loaded walk that came home on a wild pitch, and another in the seventh on a bases-loaded hit by pitch. Rasmussen finished 2-for-3 with a walk, a run scored, and a run batted in. Gabriel Silva was 1-for-2 with a double. Henry Ramos, JC Vanek, Sean Gamble, and Sosa each had a hit. The Fireflies struck out 12 times, went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position, and left eight runners on base. Ryan McDonagh took the loss, giving up three unearned runs on two hits over three innings with a walk, two strikeouts, and a home run allowed. Alberto Toribio allowed one run on two hits in three innings, walking two and striking out four. Andy Basora gave up a run on two hits in his inning. Grant Fontenot struck out two in a scoreless inning without allowing a hit or a walk. The Fireflies are back to .500 at 64-64, good for 5th in the South Division of the Carolina League. Player AB R H RBI BB K Henry Ramos 4 0 1 0 0 1 JC Vanek 3 0 1 0 0 0 Roni Cabrera 1 0 0 0 0 1 Camden Johnson 2 0 0 0 1 1 Sean Gamble 4 0 1 0 0 2 Jhosmmel Zue 2 0 0 0 0 1 Gabriel Silva 2 0 1 0 0 0 Connor Rasmussen 3 1 2 1 1 0 Tyson Moran 4 0 0 0 0 2 Ricson Gonzalez 4 0 0 0 0 2 Ivan Sosa 4 0 1 0 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Ryan McDonagh 3 2 3 0 1 2 1 Alberto Toribio 3 2 1 1 2 4 0 Andy Basora 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 Grant Fontenot 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kendry Chourio: DNP David Shields: 4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K Josh Hammond: DNP Blake Mitchell: 0-for-1, 2 BB, K Sean Gamble: 1-for-4, 2 K Ramon Ramirez: 0-for-4, 2 K Zion Rose: DNP Asbel Gonzalez: 0-for-4, 2 K Carson Roccaforte: 1-for-4, HR, RBI, 3 K Taylor Rabe: DNP Yandel Ricardo: DNP Justin Lamkin: DNP Drew Beam: 8 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 9 K Michael Lombardi: DNP Jack Slightom: DNP Felix Arronde: DNP Angeibel Gomez: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Steven Zobac: DNP Blake Wolters: DNP View full article

Image courtesy of USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect After highlighting the top hitters in the Royals farm system in August in my most recent post, I will now focus on the best pitchers in the Royals farm system from last month. This was an intriguing month for arms in the Royals' system, as some under-the-radar ones stepped up and had strong performances on the mound in August. Of the four arms highlighted, two were starters, and two were relievers. None of them are ranked in our Top 20 at Royals Keep. Let's break down the performances of those top Royals Minor League pitchers from August. Triple-A Omaha: Henry Williams, RHP The pitching wasn't great in Omaha in August, but Williams stuck out as the Storm Chasers' best starter. In five starts and 26.2 IP, the former Padres draft pick posted a 3.71 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, 2.61 FIP, and 16.7% K-BB%. While the CSW% wasn't high (29th percentile), he did an excellent job of generating strikeouts (70th percentile), O-Swing% (82nd percentile), and groundballs (92nd percentile GB%). His stuff isn't eye-popping by any means (97 TJ Stuff+), but he did have five of his six pitches with TJ Stuff+ marks between 98 and 100. That was good enough to help him generate a 12.2% SwStr%, which ranked in the 55th percentile. For the year, Williams has a 5.60 ERA and 5.71 WHIP in 117.1 IP between Double-A and Triple-A ball this year. While Williams is not good enough for a promotion to the Major League rotation right now, I do wonder what Williams could look like with a move to the bullpen next year. Limited innings could help him build his stuff profile, making him more effective and a candidate for a promotion at some point next season. The soon-to-be 25-year-old (he turns 25 on September 18th) should be one to watch in Spring Training in 2027, especially if Kansas City decides to make him a reliever. Double-A Northwest Arkansas: Hunter Owen, LHP The stats overall this year aren't pretty for the former Vanderbilt product. In 22 appearances and 88 IP, Owen sports a 6.14 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, and 5.37 FIP. However, he's been a much different pitcher since the beginning of August. In five starts and 27 IP last month, Owen posted a 1.33 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 2.03 FIP, and 27% K-BB%. The 24-year-old lefty has been a strikeout and swinging-strike machine recently, as evidenced by his 40.5% K% (96th percentile) and 17.7% SwStr% (91st percentile). Control was a little erratic, as shown by a 29th percentile walk rate and 17th percentile zone rate. However, Owen generated a lot of chase (37.1% O-Swing%) and CSW% (32.7%) to make up for that inconsistent control. Incredibly, the former Vandy product has continued this scorching August into September. He struck out eight and walked only one in six innings of work on Wednesday evening. Owen could be a candidate to be added to the 40-man roster this offseason. He could be eased in as a starter, perhaps holding a hybrid reliever/starter role like Daniel Lynch IV or Bailey Falter. Owen has the strikeout stuff to be effective, and he's not far away from making his MLB debut. If he's not protected, he could get selected in the Rule 5 Draft in December (if it happens, of course, which seems unlikely with the pending lockout). He can work on a few things in the meantime. His command needs polish, as home runs allowed have been a huge issue for Owen this year. He has a HR/FB% of 15.3%, which is 5.9% higher than last year's mark. Furthermore, he's giving up an LD% of 27.5%, up 2.2% from last year. Those need to regress a bit if he wants to be successful at the MLB level. Still, with strong strikeout (24.8% K%) and control numbers (15.1% K-BB%), Owen has the profile to be a successful lefty reliever in the Majors. High-A Quad Cities: Dash Albus, LHP Albus is not a pitcher who's going to generate much fanfare at first glance. He's a 19th-round pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Abilene Christian, a Mid-Major school. He doesn't cast an intimidating presence on the mound at 5'11, 180 pounds. Furthermore, the numbers have been fine, but not impressive, for a Minor League reliever. Last season, he posted a 3.54 ERA in 61 IP with the Fireflies. This season, he has a 4.39 ERA in 26.2 IP with the River Bandits. Thus, it is easy to dismiss him as just "organizational bullpen depth." However, he had an impressive August that should put Royals fans on notice. In nine outings and 16.2 IP in August with Quad Cities, he posted a 1.08 ERA, 0.78 WHIP, 1.84 FIP, and 29% K-BB%. He has looked in control on the mound, and his quick and efficient style is starting to pay dividends in High-A ball after an initial slow start. For context, Albus made some noise last year in Columbia with an eight-pitch immaculate inning back in late July. It will be interesting to see how Albus continues to develop as he progresses in the Royals' farm system. As a reliever, he could move quickly if he continues to produce on the mound. The Royals lack high-quality lefty relievers right now on the 40-man roster, and he could be a cheap internal option who could contribute by the end of 2027 or Opening Day in 2028. Albus doesn't have an immaculate stuff profile, which limits his ceiling. However, he has shown strong control at each level: Low-A (6.00 K/BB this year) and High-A (3.63 K/BB). For a Royals bullpen that struggles with walks at the Major League level, the former ACU product has the skill set that they need in the future. Low-A Columbia: Andy Basora, RHP The 21-year-old Basora has been a sporadic Fireflies closer this year, as he has eight saves in 44 appearances and 58 IP. Strikeouts haven't been an issue for him, as evidenced by a 24.1% K%. However, the walks could be better, as demonstrated by a 12% BB% and 12% K-BB% with Columbia. However, it seems like the Dominican-born righty is finally getting into a groove in Low-A ball. Over the last month, Basora posted a 2.70 ERA, 1.58 WHIP, 2.50 FIP, and 21.7% K-BB%. His 15.1% SwStr% ranked in the 73rd percentile, his 30% K% ranked in the 75th percentile, and his 32.3% CSW ranked in the 79th percentile. For a reliever who pitches in high-leverage for the Fireflies, those are encouraging metrics. The Royals have moved slowly with Basora, as this was his first full season of affiliated ball, and he didn't make his Complex League debut until last year as a 20-year-old. He also has a lot of growing to do, as he is 6'3 but only weighs 155 pounds. That said, his frame could help him gain some velocity, especially as he gains productive weight. Basora will actually be Rule 5 eligible this December due to spending so much time in the DSL. However, the Royals have had some success with slow-moving international signees before, like Carlos Hernandez, who debuted in the DSL and Complex League at a much older age than other Latin American prospects. Considering he hasn't pitched above Low-A ball yet, it's unlikely that Basora will be drafted in December. That means Basora will have plenty of time to keep developing on the mound and could become a reliever with high Major League upside, possibly debuting in 2028 or 2029. View full article

Columbia backed Shane Van Dam and Michael Braswell III with 13 runs at Myrtle Beach, and Quad Cities rode Jordan Woods' six strikeouts and Blake Mitchell's ninth-inning single past Peoria. Northwest Arkansas led 5-3 before Augusto Mendieta took a walk-off loss, and Omaha scored twice as Tony Gonsolin allowed five runs. Carson Roccaforte homered for Omaha, Felix Arronde worked five innings, Steven Zobac struck out three, and Kamden Edge finished the ninth for the save. Kansas City Royals Transactions Kansas City Royals selected the contract of LF Drew Waters from Omaha Storm Chasers. Kansas City Royals recalled RHP Easton McGee from Omaha Storm Chasers. Kansas City Royals recalled RHP Nolan Hoffman from Omaha Storm Chasers. Saints Break Through Early And Late In 11-2 Win Over Omaha The Omaha Storm Chasers lost 11-2 to St. Paul, and the visitors did most of their damage in two innings. Starter Gonsolin allowed three runs in the first before recording an out, when a fly ball to left field cleared the fence with two runners aboard. Gonsolin finished with 3 1/3 innings pitched, seven hits, five runs, five earned, two walks, and three strikeouts, taking the loss. Roccaforte answered in the second with a home run to right field, his third of the season, for Omaha's first run. He also drew a walk and scored once. The sixth inning decided it for the Saints. St. Paul scored five times against Ethan Bosacker and Luke Little, starting with a two-run double to left field, continuing with a run-scoring triple to center field, and closing with an RBI single. Bosacker was charged with three runs across 1 2/3 innings, and Little allowed two runs while recording two outs. Omaha's last run came in the seventh, when Alejo Lopez singled to right field to score Jacob Berry. Abraham Toro led the offense with two hits in four at-bats, and the Storm Chasers finished with seven hits, seven runners left on base, and two errors. Omaha also went just 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Lucas Erceg and Scott Alexander each worked a scoreless inning in relief, allowing no hits and striking out one apiece. Ben Sears gave up a solo home run over 1 1/3 innings. The loss dropped the Storm Chasers' record to 59-71. Player AB R H RBI BB K Gavin Cross 4 0 1 0 0 2 Alejo Lopez 4 0 1 1 0 2 Brett Squires 4 0 1 0 0 1 Abraham Toro 4 0 2 0 0 1 Carson Roccaforte 3 1 1 1 1 0 Luca Tresh 3 0 0 0 1 0 Jacob Berry 4 1 1 0 0 1 Brandon Drury 4 0 0 0 0 3 Colton Becker 4 0 0 0 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Tony Gonsolin 3 1/3 7 5 5 2 3 2 Ethan Bosacker 1 2/3 2 3 3 2 3 0 Luke Little 2/3 2 2 2 2 2 0 Ben Sears 1 1/3 1 1 1 0 1 1 Lucas Erceg 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Scott Alexander 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Naturals Lose 6-5 On Walk-Off Double In Arkansas The Northwest Arkansas Naturals carried a two-run lead into the ninth inning and lost 6-5 on a two-out double to left field. Zobac, the Royals' No. 19 prospect and fresh off the IL, opened the game with a scoreless inning, allowing no hits and no walks while striking out three. Arronde followed with the longest outing of the night, covering five innings on six hits, three runs, three earned, three walks, and two strikeouts. The Royals' No. 16 prospect also got some help from the Naturals infield defensively. Arkansas built its lead in the third, scoring three times on a run-scoring double to center field and a two-run single to right field. Northwest Arkansas answered with four runs in the fifth. Luke Pelzer singled to short to bring home Justin Johnson, Sam Kulasingam lined a two-run single to right field to tie the game, and Spencer Nivens lifted a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Javier Vaz for a 4-3 lead. Hyungchan Um added insurance in the eighth with a triple to right field that scored Connor Scott, his first three-bagger of the season. Tyson Guerrero held the lead through two scoreless innings, giving up no hits with two walks and three strikeouts. The ninth turned quickly. Mendieta allowed a run-scoring single to right field, then a two-run double to left field with two out ended it. Mendieta was charged with three runs on three hits over 2/3 of an inning. Kulasingam led the offense with two hits and two RBI in five at-bats. The Naturals collected eight hits, drew six walks, left nine runners on base, and went 3-for-6 with runners in scoring position. Northwest Arkansas is now 53-72 this season. Player AB R H RBI BB K Luke Pelzer 5 1 1 1 0 2 Javier Vaz 3 1 0 0 2 1 Sam Kulasingam 5 0 2 2 0 1 Spencer Nivens 2 0 1 1 2 1 Daniel Vazquez 5 0 1 0 0 0 Connor Scott 4 1 1 0 0 2 Justin Johnson 4 1 1 0 0 1 Alberto Rodriguez 2 1 0 0 1 0 Hyungchan Um 2 0 1 1 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Steven Zobac 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 Felix Arronde 5 6 3 3 3 2 0 Tyson Guerrero 2 0 0 0 2 3 0 Augusto Mendieta 2/3 3 3 3 1 1 0 Mitchell's Ninth-Inning Single Lifts Quad Cities Past Peoria The Quad Cities River Bandits scored twice in the top of the ninth inning and beat Peoria 5-4. Blake Wolters started and worked three innings, allowing three hits, three runs, three earned, one walk, and one home run while striking out three. The home run was a two-run drive to right-center field in the second inning. Quad Cities got on the board in the third. Zion Rose singled to right field, stole third base, and scored on a wild pitch. Peoria pushed the lead back to 3-1 with a run-scoring double to left field in the bottom half. The fourth was the turning point for the River Bandits. Austin Charles singled to center field, and Tyriq Kemp followed with a two-run home run to left-center field, his 12th of the season, to tie the game at 3-3. Unfortunately, Peoria regained the lead in the fifth on a run-scoring single to center field. Woods held the game within striking distance for Quad Cities. He worked four innings, the longest outing of the night for the River Bandits, allowing three hits and one run with two walks and six strikeouts. In the ninth, Nolan Sailors walked, and Rose drew a two-out walk before Mitchell lined a single to right field that scored Kemp and Rose for a 5-4 lead. Jackson Cleveland picked up the win with a scoreless inning in the 8th inning, and Edge worked the ninth for the save. Mitchell finished with three hits in four at-bats, two RBI, and a walk. Charles added two hits, including a double. The River Bandits went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven. With the win, Quad Cities improved their record to 68-54. Player AB R H RBI BB K Asbel Gonzalez 5 0 1 0 0 2 Zion Rose 3 2 1 0 1 0 Blake Mitchell 4 0 3 2 1 1 Ramon Ramirez 4 0 0 0 0 2 Derlin Figueroa 3 0 0 0 0 1 Stone Russell 0 0 0 0 1 0 Jose Cerice 4 0 0 0 0 0 Austin Charles 4 1 2 0 0 1 Nolan Sailors 1 0 0 0 3 1 Tyriq Kemp 4 2 1 2 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Blake Wolters 3 3 3 3 1 3 1 Jordan Woods 4 3 1 1 2 6 0 Jackson Cleveland 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Kamden Edge 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 Fireflies Score In Six Innings To Beat Myrtle Beach 13-6 The Columbia Fireflies collected 13 hits and 13 runs in a 13-6 win at Myrtle Beach, scoring in six of their nine innings. Van Dam started and worked four innings, allowing six hits, three runs, three earned, one walk, and five strikeouts. Braswell III took the win with two innings of one-run relief on three hits, no walks, and two strikeouts. Columbia took the lead for good in the third. Daniel Lopez tripled to right field to score Jhonayker Ugarte, Henry Ramos singled to left field to bring home Lopez, and Camden Johnson added a run-scoring ground ball single to third base for a 3-1 edge. The fourth was the biggest inning for the Fireflies on Tuesday. JC Vanek walked with the bases loaded to force in Ricson Gonzalez, Ugarte scored on a wild pitch during the next at-bat, and Johnson walked with the bases loaded to score Lopez. That made it 6-1. Connor Rasmussen broke it open in the sixth with a three-run home run to right field, his fourth of the season, scoring Vanek and Johnson for a 10-3 lead. Rasmussen finished with two hits, three runs, and three RBI. Vanek went three-for-five with a double and two RBI, and Ugarte reached base four times with two hits, two walks, three runs, and two RBI. Dalton Hill and Adrian Belen each allowed one run in relief. Myrtle Beach answered with a solo home run in the eighth and a run-scoring single in the ninth, but Columbia had already added two runs in the eighth on Ugarte's single to center field. The Fireflies went 7-for-19 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners on base in the victory. They are now 64-62 this season. Player AB R H RBI BB K Henry Ramos 5 1 1 1 1 1 JC Vanek 5 1 3 2 1 0 Roni Cabrera 5 0 0 0 1 3 Camden Johnson 4 1 1 2 2 2 Jhosmmel Zue 6 1 1 0 0 4 Connor Rasmussen 4 3 2 3 1 1 Ricson Gonzalez 3 1 1 0 2 0 Jhonayker Ugarte 3 3 2 2 1 1 Daniel Lopez 5 2 2 2 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Shane Van Dam 4 6 3 3 1 5 0 Michael Braswell III 2 3 1 1 0 2 0 Dalton Hill 2 1 1 1 0 2 1 Adrian Belen 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 Top 20 Prospect Performance Kendry Chourio: DNP David Shields: DNP Josh Hammond: DNP Blake Mitchell: 3-for-4, 2 RBI, BB, K Sean Gamble: DNP Ramon Ramirez: 0-for-4, 2 K Zion Rose: 1-for-3, 2 R, BB Asbel Gonzalez: 1-for-5, 2 K Carson Roccaforte: 1-for-3, HR, R, RBI, BB Taylor Rabe: DNP Yandel Ricardo: DNP Justin Lamkin: DNP Drew Beam: DNP Michael Lombardi: DNP Jack Slightom: DNP Felix Arronde: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K Angeibel Gomez: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Steven Zobac: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K Blake Wolters: 3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 K, HR View full article

Image courtesy of USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect The 2026 Minor League season is coming to its conclusion soon, with September being the final month of play. Right now, only the River Bandits and Fireflies are in playoff contention. However, that hasn't stopped some hitters in the Kansas City farm system from standing out over the past month. Here are four Minor League hitters in the Royals system who had strong performances in August, and what Royals fans could expect from them in the last month of the Minor League season. Triple-A Omaha: Peyton Wilson, 2B/3B Wilson has been a polarizing fringe prospect in the Royals system. He's 26 years old, hasn't been put on the 40-man roster, and hasn't been selected in the Rule 5 Draft either. He simply hasn't hit enough to be a viable promotion candidate. This August, however, the former Alabama product is showing that he may be ready for a chance at the Major League level. In 76 plate appearances this month, Wilson is hitting .324 with a .931 OPS and has three home runs, nine runs scored, 11 RBI, and four stolen bases. For the season, the second baseman is hitting .284 with a .796 OPS and 105 wRC+ in 76 games and 313 plate appearances. While he has only six home runs this year in Omaha, his power has begun to bud in August. Michael Massey should be returning from the IL this week, and the Royals have been getting good production from Josh Rojas off the bench recently. Thus, it may be tough for Wilson to make his MLB debut with the Royals in September. That said, he may have boosted his candidacy for the December Rule 5 Draft. It wouldn't be surprising to see him in another organization next Spring Training after such a solid finish to the 2026 season. Double-A Northwest Arkansas: Spencer Nivens, OF After hitting 20 homers in 2024 in High-A Quad Cities, Nivens has failed to transition that power to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. He only had six homers last year and has just eight this season. That said, despite the lack of big flies, the former Missouri State product has been a more complete hitter this year, especially in August. In 108 plate appearances this month with the Naturals, Nivens is hitting .330 with a .902 OPS. While he didn't hit any home runs in August, he has 15 runs scored, 12 RBI, and five stolen bases. For the season, he is hitting .277 with an .811 OPS, 109 wRC+, and a 0.74 BB/K ratio. Another strength of Nivens' profile is that he's been a great gap-to-gap hitter in Northwest Arkansas. He has 26 doubles this year, six more than he had in 2025. The Royals will need to add Nivens to the 40-man roster to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. That feels unlikely, especially since other options in the Royals' farm system are more deserving and closer to the big leagues in terms of preparation (Gavin Cross and Carson Roccaforte). That said, Nivens is proving at least that if he goes unselected in the Rule 5 Draft (likely), he could be one to watch in Triple-A Omaha in 2027 who could earn himself a call-up in the second half next season, especially if he can grow the power tool a bit with the Storm Chasers. High-A Quad Cities: Zion Rose, OF Making the transition from college to the draft to the complex league to High-A ball in a span of months isn't easy. And yet, Rose has handled those transitions with ease and growth, an encouraging sign of his outlook as a professional baseball player. In his first full month in Minor League ball, Rose is hitting .273 with a .767 OPS in 72 plate appearances. The power hasn't quite matured yet, but he's walking at an 18.1% clip, only striking out 19.4% of the time, whiffing just 24.6% of the time, and chasing just 22.1% of the time. Those are solid marks, and his plate discipline from last year at Louisville has translated well to High-A Quad Cities. Rose isn't pulling the ball in the air much, as he ranks in the 10th percentile in Pull Air%. That has stunted his slugging a bit, as evidenced by a .364 mark. Nonetheless, it seems like he has been driving the ball more lately, especially as he gets more comfortable with Midwest League pitching. He also has shown an ability to hit the ball to all fields, as illustrated by his opposite-field home run on August 22nd, his first as a professional. At the very least, Rose is showing he can be a disciplined, polished hitter who can hit for average as a professional. The big question now is his power and whether he can barrel and lift the ball more. That could determine whether he will live up to the hype of being the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 MLB Draft. Working on that power tool will be a key priority for Rose and the Royals' Hitting Development team this offseason. Low-A Columbia: Tyson Moran, 1B Moran is an intriguing fringe prospect of sorts. He's a bit old for the level (he's 20), and he doesn't have a pure position. He also doesn't offer much speed on the basepaths, as he has just three stolen bases in 63 games between Low-A Columbia and the Complex League. And yet, all the 2025 13th-round pick does is hit. In 51 plate appearances with the Fireflies since being called up, he is hitting .283 with a .766 OPS. The Canadian has a home run, seven runs scored, six RBI, and two stolen bases. His plate approach has been extremely disciplined, with just a 13.7% K% and 9.8% BB%, for a 0.71 BB/K ratio. His 20.7% whiff% ranks in the 83rd percentile, a solid sign that he is the kind of hitter who can make contact effectively as a professional. I am not sure about Moran's ultimate outlook as a prospect because so much of his value is tied to the bat. If he doesn't hit, his stock drops pretty significantly. He's also not a big guy at 6'0, 180 pounds. Thus, he doesn't offer a ton of value at first base, which has been his main position in the Carolina League and Complex League this season. Still, Moran needs to be a player who Royals fans should pay attention to in 2027, especially when he plays his first full season in affiliated ball. He likely will repeat in Low-A, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him move quickly to High-A, especially if he can gain some strength and develop his power tool this offseason. View full article

Image courtesy of Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Week in a Nutshell The Kansas City Royals continued their hot play on the road, as they took four of six on this most recent road trip. It wasn't exactly an easy slate, as they faced off against the Blue Jays and Guardians, two teams in a better position for a Wild Card playoff berth. However, Kansas City held its own against both teams and kept its postseason hopes alive, though they remain slim (0.1% as of Sunday, according to Fangraphs). Even though it was a positive road trip overall, some concerns this week kept it from being fully encouraging. These issues could shape how Royals President of Baseball Operations approaches this offseason. Those concerns were particularly amplified in Sunday's series finale, as the Royals lost by 10 runs to the Guardians, their worst loss in a series finale since August 9th, when they lost to the Cubs 10-2 at Kauffman Stadium. Record this Week: 4-2 Run Differential for the Week: +8 Record for the Year: 62-76 Run Differential for the Year: -83 Standing: 5th in the AL Central One Sentence Game Summaries Game 133: KC 5, TOR 3 The Royals extend their winning streak to nine in Toronto thanks to a strong performance from Lugo. Game 134: TOR 3, KC 0 Toronto's Nathan Luke hits a three-run home run that snaps the Royals' season-long win streak. Game 135: KC 13, TOR 2 Jensen and Cags lead offense in 11-run blowout of Blue Jays in series finale. Game 136: KC 3, CLE 0 Wacha has best outing of year, shutting out Cleveland, striking out 10 in eight innings of work. Game 137: KC 8, CLE 3 Rojas has big day off bench with two hits and four RBIs to clinch series for Kansas City. Game 138: CLE 11, KC 1 Lugo is pummeled in series finale, giving up 9 runs in 3.2 IP. News and Notes The Royals got more tough injury news in Toronto. Michael Massey hit the field hard on a play and was pulled from the game. Kansas City put him on the 7-Day Concussion IL and called up Josh Rojas in his place. Furthermore, they also promoted Anthony Gose from Omaha and optioned right-hander Mason Black to Triple-A. A minor move happened on Saturday, though nothing official has happened in terms of "transactions." After the Guardians game, the Royals put John Schreiber on waivers. This lets a team pick him up for the rest of the season. Schreiber will be owed $600,000 by any team that claims him on waivers. Teams have 48 hours to claim him, or he stays on the Royals roster for the rest of the year. Schreiber will be a free agent after this season, and it's likely that the Royals will not bring him back for 2027. The Standouts It was an excellent week for the Royals' young pair of hitters: Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone. After a tough stretch, Jensen has seemed to get locked back in at the plate. In 22 at-bats this week, he hit .273 with a .978 OPS. The Royals catcher had two home runs, four RBI, seven walks, and an OBP of .433. Jensen has swing-and-miss issues, but when he's seeing the ball well, he's either laying off bad pitches or hitting bombs. This week, the 23-year-old did an excellent job of not chasing, minimizing strikeouts, and hitting the ball hard, as shown in his Statcast percentiles below. Cags was even better this week than his fellow 23-year-old. The former Florida Gator led all Royals in hits with 10 this week and hit .435 with a 1.087 OPS in 23 at-bats. He also had two doubles, a homer, and six RBI. On the flip side, Cags didn't walk at all, and he struck out six times. However, Royals fans can live with his free-swinging approach if it produces results. That certainly was the case, according to his Statcast percentiles this week. 100th percentile 90th% EV? 99th percentile LA Sweet-Spot%? 93rd percentile barrel%? That will certainly work for the Royals lineup, especially in the No. 3 spot in the batting order. Thus, it makes sense why Cags is being floated as an extension candidate this offseason. On the pitching end, the main story this past week was Michael Wacha, who absolutely dominated the Guardians on Friday night. Not only did he pitch eight innings of shutout ball, but he struck out 10, and his velocity and other Statcast metrics were all up, as evidenced in the Statcast percentiles summary below. It's only one outing. That said, it was an impressive one, especially with it coming against a division foe like the Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland, a place where the Royals have struggled for a while. While Wacha is piling on the innings, he looks stronger than ever on the mound, which is not only encouraging for this stretch run, but 2027 as well. Wacha is proving that despite his age, he may be able to carry the Royals rotation in the No. 1 or 2 spot next year, something that didn't feel likely a month ago. If Wacha finishes the 2026 season strong, then the Royals can add a couple of pieces around Wacha this offseason, with the thought that the All-Star will be Kansas City's 2027 Opening Day starter. The Questionable I want to focus on one player here: Seth Lugo, who was absolutely thrashed by the Guardians on Sunday. After giving up nine runs in this most recent outing, Lugo's ERA ballooned to 5.03. That would tie him with Philadelphia's Aaron Nola for the third-worst ERA of qualified starting pitchers in baseball (Lugo had the 5th-worst ERA going into his Sunday start). In 28 starts and 154 IP this year, Lugo has a 5.03 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. This is the second straight year his ERA has increased significantly, rising from 3.00 in 2024 to 4.13 in 2025. Furthermore, when looking at his Statcast Percentiles Summary via TJ Stats, he's done a good job of limiting walks and finding the strike zone. Unfortunately, beyond those two areas, he's rated as subpar in most categories. Not only is Lugo struggling to generate swinging strikes (6th percentile), but he's not generating any chase either (3rd percentile O-Swing%). Add that with a hard-hit rate that ranks in the 15th percentile, and it's not surprising that Lugo is having a career-worst year as a starting pitcher. The big issue is that Lugo has particularly regressed in the second half this year, especially with his control. Before the All-Star Break, the 36-year-old posted a 4.56 ERA and 1.43 WHIP in 104.2 IP. This is what his TJ Stuff+ summary looked like in the first half, via TJ Stats. His chase%, whiff%, and xwOBACON were all subpar before the All-Star Break. However, he did a good job of throwing strikes, as evidenced by a 53.3% zone rate and 64.4% strike rate. That helped him maintain a low walk rate at 7.6%, which helped him maintain an 11.6% K-BB% despite a sub-20% K%. In the second half, he has a 6.02 ERA and 1.40 WHIP in 49.1 IP. When looking at his TJ Stuff+ summary since July 17th (his first second-half start), the main issue seems to be a dip in the zone rate. Interestingly enough, the stuff overall has been slightly better (99 TJ Stuff+ compared to 98 in the first half), the chase% and whiff% have been the same, and the xwOBACON has been better (.337 to .419 in the first half). The main issue? His 48.4% zone rate and 62.5% strike rate are 4.9% and 1.9% lower in the second half, respectively. The walks are slightly up, the strikeouts are down, and as a result, his K-BB% of 8.0% is 3.6% worse. It's hard to be an effective starting pitcher with a sub-10% K-BB%, and Lugo is certainly experiencing that dilemma right now. It's not just the numbers that have been bad for Lugo in the second half. In Sunday's game, he didn't run to first base quickly enough, and Cleveland's Steven Kwan ran out what should've been an easy groundout at first base. The Guardians made Lugo pay with a three-run inning, which pushed the lead to five runs at the end of the third. The Royals couldn't recover after that brutal inning. And that's frustrating to see, especially from a pitcher who's not only won a Gold Glove and finished second in the AL Cy Young voting in 2024, but also is owed $21.5 million this year and next. The Royals need more from a guy who's making $43 million this year and next, and has the option to make $20 million in 2028. Lugo was paid at the end of last year to not necessarily be an ace, but a No. 2 or 3 pitcher. Now? He looks like the fifth-best pitcher in the Royals rotation, behind Noah Cameron, who is only in his second year at the Major League level. What's interesting to see is that Lugo wasn't bad on Tuesday in the Royals' win over the Jays. The control was a bit erratic (sub-50% zone rate), but he generated a 27.9% whiff rate and 101 overall TJ Stuff+. It looked like Lugo was turning the corner into becoming a better strikeout pitcher down the stretch, much like Wacha. Now, after Sunday's disaster, that progress is questionable. The Royals need to see Lugo rebound in some fashion in September. If he doesn't, they may need to make some tough decisions with him in 2027, whether that's putting him on the trade block or perhaps moving back to the bullpen if he continues to struggle in a starting role. They can't compete for a playoff spot next year with a starting pitcher who has an ERA over five. Looking Ahead The Royals return to Kauffman Stadium for a long homestand that includes series against the Marlins (Tuesday-Thursday), Blue Jays (Friday-Sunday) and Diamondbacks (Monday-Wednesday). The Royals' playoff chances are slim, but if they want to stay alive, they will need to sweep at least one series, maybe two. Even a 6-3 homestand may not be enough. They need to go 8-1 or 7-2, at the very least, to stay in the playoff hunt. They are at least catching some teams at the right time. The Marlins are 5-5 in their last 10 games and struggled in their last series against a Nationals team that is 65-74. The Blue Jays rebounded and swept a flailing Mariners team at the Rogers Centre this weekend. However, they lost 2 of 3 at home to the Royals and have traditionally struggled at Kauffman. Lastly, the Diamondbacks were inconsistent against a Giants team this weekend that's worse than the Royals, and Arizona is dealing with the drama surrounding star second baseman Ketel Marte. If the Royals truly believe they are a playoff team, they need 7 or more wins this homestand (and honestly, I believe 8 or 9 is necessary; 7 may not be enough). Anything less? They should look to call up some young guys in Omaha or Northwest Arkansas and give some Minor Leaguers MLB debuts when they hit the road next week for a long final road trip that includes stops in Boston, Houston, and Pittsburgh. View full article

David Shields struck out seven across six innings in Quad Cities' 7-2 win. L.P. Langevin added five strikeouts in two innings. Northwest Arkansas walked off Frisco 8-7 after Javi Vaz drove in three runs. Columbia won 6-5 in eleven innings on Camden Johnson's two-run single, backed by Jose Gutierrez and Jhon Reyes. Omaha lost 7-6 despite home runs from Alejo Lopez, Drew Waters, and Luca Tresh. Mason Black worked 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief. Kansas City Royals Transactions No Roster Moves Three Omaha Home Runs Are Not Enough In Iowa Lopez led off the game with a home run, and Omaha carried a lead into the fifth inning before falling 7-6 at Iowa. The Storm Chasers built the lead in the second inning. Waters walked and stole second base, Colton Becker singled him home, Becker stole second base, and Elih Marrero doubled Becker in for a 3-1 edge. Omaha added two more in the fourth when Waters and Luca Tresh hit back-to-back home runs for a 5-1 lead. Vince Velasquez could not hold it. He allowed a solo home run in the first inning, a run on a sacrifice fly in the fourth, and then four runs in the fifth, when Iowa put together a solo home run, a run-scoring single, and a two-run home run. Velasquez finished with 4 2/3 innings, seven hits, six runs, no walks, and two strikeouts, and he gave up three home runs. Black followed with 2 1/3 scoreless innings, two hits, and two strikeouts. Lucas Erceg took the loss after allowing two hits and a run in one inning, with the deciding run scoring on a double in the eighth. Omaha pulled even in the seventh when Lopez doubled, and Brandon Drury singled him home. The Storm Chasers put runners on in the ninth on walks to Becker and Drury, but Abraham Toro flied out to end the game. Lopez finished 2-for-5 with a double, a home run, and one RBI. Waters was 2-for-2 with two walks, a home run, and one RBI. Omaha had eight hits, three home runs, four walks, left six runners on base, and went 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position. The Storm Chasers are now 58-70. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alejo Lopez 5 2 2 1 0 2 Carson Roccaforte 3 0 0 0 0 2 Brandon Drury 1 0 1 1 1 0 Abraham Toro 5 0 0 0 0 1 Brett Squires 4 0 0 0 0 1 Drew Waters 2 2 2 1 2 0 Luca Tresh 4 1 1 1 0 2 Jacob Berry 4 0 0 0 0 0 Colton Becker 3 1 1 1 1 0 Elih Marrero 4 0 1 1 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Vince Velasquez 4 2/3 7 6 6 0 2 3 Mason Black 2 1/3 2 0 0 0 2 0 Lucas Erceg 1 2 1 1 0 1 0 Naturals Walk Off Frisco After Javier Vaz Clears The Bases Northwest Arkansas scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat Frisco 8-7. The Naturals put up three runs in the first. Luke Pelzer singled, Vaz doubled him to third base, and Pelzer scored on a wild pitch that moved Vaz to third base. Sam Kulasingam singled Vaz home, Spencer Nivens singled, and Kulasingam scored from third base when Nivens was caught stealing. Frisco answered with five runs in the fourth on a three-run home run and a two-run home run off Grant Gambrell, who finished with four innings, eight hits, five runs, no walks, and three strikeouts. Frank Mozzicato followed with two scoreless innings, no hits, three walks, and one strikeout. Dennis Colleran Jr. worked two innings and gave up one hit, one run, three walks, and one strikeout. Zachary Cawyer allowed an unearned run and a walk in one inning, blowing the save and picking up the win. Connor Scott homered to cut the deficit to 5-4. Northwest Arkansas took the lead in the seventh. Angel Acosta singled, Hyungchan Um singled, Pelzer was hit by a pitch, and Vaz doubled all three runners home for a 7-5 lead. Frisco tied it with single runs in the eighth and ninth. In the bottom of the ninth, Acosta singled, Alberto Rodriguez and Um moved him to third base on sacrifice bunts, Pelzer was walked intentionally, and Acosta came home on a wild pitch. Vaz finished 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI. Acosta was 2-for-4, Um was 2-for-3, and Scott was 2-for-4 with a home run. The Naturals went 3-for-3 with runners in scoring position and stranded four runners. Northwest Arkansas is now 53-70. Player AB R H RBI BB K Luke Pelzer 3 2 1 0 1 0 Javier Vaz 4 1 2 3 0 2 Sam Kulasingam 3 1 1 1 1 2 Spencer Nivens 4 0 1 0 0 3 Connor Scott 4 1 2 1 0 0 Justin Johnson 4 0 0 0 0 1 Angel Acosta 4 2 2 0 0 0 Alberto Rodriguez 2 0 0 0 1 2 Hyungchan Um 3 1 2 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Grant Gambrell 4 8 5 5 0 3 2 Frank Mozzicato 2 0 0 0 3 1 0 Dennis Colleran Jr. 2 1 1 1 3 1 0 Zachary Cawyer 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 Shields Strikes Out Seven As Quad Cities Handles Beloit No. 2 Royals prospect Shields turned in a quality start, and Quad Cities beat Beloit 7-2. Shields worked six innings, allowed three hits and two runs, walked nobody, and struck out seven. The only damage against him was a two-run home run in the fifth inning. His 11 wins are the most of any teenager in the Minor Leagues this season. Ethan McElvain followed with one inning and one hit. Langevin finished with two innings, one hit, and five strikeouts. The River Bandits scored in five different innings on six hits and six walks. Zion Rose walked, stole second base, moved to third base on a balk, and scored on a wild pitch for the first run. Jose Cerice hit a ground-rule double in the fourth and came home on a single by Austin Charles. Quad Cities pushed the lead to 4-2 in the fifth. Nolan Sailors walked and stole second base, Rose singled him home, Rose reached third base on a pickoff error, and Blake Mitchell brought him in on a fielder's choice. Tyriq Kemp doubled home Derlin Figueroa an inning later. Figueroa supplied the last two runs in the seventh. Rose and Ramon Ramirez both walked and moved into scoring position, and Figueroa doubled them both home for a 7-2 lead. Figueroa finished 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Rose was 1-for-3 with two walks, one RBI, and three runs scored. Cerice and Kemp each doubled. Quad Cities struck out nine times, went 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position, and left seven runners on base. The River Bandits sport the best record of the Royals affiliates with a 66-54 record after Saturday's win. Player AB R H RBI BB K Nolan Sailors 4 1 0 0 1 2 Zion Rose 3 3 1 1 2 1 Blake Mitchell 4 0 0 1 0 1 Ramon Ramirez 3 1 0 0 1 1 Derlin Figueroa 4 1 2 2 0 1 Jose Cerice 3 1 1 0 0 1 Austin Charles 3 0 1 1 1 0 Tyriq Kemp 4 0 1 1 0 2 Stone Russell 3 0 0 0 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR David Shields 6 3 2 2 0 7 1 Ethan McElvain 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 L.P. Langevin 2 1 0 0 0 5 0 Johnson Walks It Off For Columbia In The Eleventh 2026 9th-round pick Johnson singled home two runs in the bottom of the eleventh inning to give Columbia a 6-5 win over Charleston. Gutierrez gave the Fireflies 5 2/3 innings, allowing three hits and two unearned runs with two walks and four strikeouts. Justin LeGuernic worked 1 1/3 innings and allowed three hits, one run, and struck out three. Jhon Reyes struck out three over two innings and did not allow a hit, though one run scored against him. Moises Amezquita took the win with two innings, one hit, one unearned run, one walk, and two strikeouts. Columbia trailed 3-1 heading to the eighth. JC Vanek was hit by a pitch, No. 5 prospect Sean Gamble moved him to second base on a ground out, and Roni Cabrera singled him home. Tyson Moran walked, Cabrera took third base on a wild pitch, and Connor Rasmussen doubled both runners home for a 4-3 lead. Charleston tied the game in the ninth. Neither team scored in the tenth, and Charleston's zombie runner came around on a single in the eleventh for a 5-4 lead. The Fireflies answered with Rasmussen as their zombie runner. Ricson Gonzalez singled Rasmussen to third base, and Daniel Lopez ran for Gonzalez. Jhonayker Ugarte then walked, and Rasmussen was thrown out at the plate on a force play. Johnson then singled to right field to bring home Lopez and Ugarte. Gonzalez finished 3-for-5. Rasmussen was 2-for-5 with a triple, a double, and two RBI. Johnson had one hit, one walk, two RBI, and four strikeouts. Columbia committed three errors, went 5-for-16 with runners in scoring position, and left eleven runners on base. The Fireflies improved to 63-61 this season with the win. Player AB R H RBI BB K Camden Johnson 5 0 1 2 1 4 JC Vanek 3 1 0 0 1 1 Sean Gamble 3 0 0 0 1 2 Henry Ramos 0 0 0 0 0 0 Roni Cabrera 4 1 1 1 0 2 Tyson Moran 4 1 0 0 1 0 Connor Rasmussen 5 1 2 2 0 1 Ricson Gonzalez 5 0 3 1 0 0 Daniel Lopez 0 1 0 0 0 0 Jhonayker Ugarte 4 1 1 0 1 1 Gabriel Silva 5 0 0 0 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jose Gutierrez 5 2/3 3 2 0 2 4 0 Justin LeGuernic 1 1/3 3 1 1 0 3 0 Jhon Reyes 2 0 1 1 0 3 0 Moises Amezquita 2 1 1 0 1 2 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kendry Chourio: DNP David Shields: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 7 K Josh Hammond: DNP Blake Mitchell: 0-for-4, 1 RBI, 1 K Sean Gamble: 0-for-3, 1 BB, 2 K Ramon Ramirez: 0-for-3, 1 BB, 1 K Zion Rose: 1-for-3, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 1 K Asbel Gonzalez: DNP Carson Roccaforte: 0-for-3, 2 K Taylor Rabe: DNP Yandel Ricardo: DNP Justin Lamkin: DNP Drew Beam: DNP Michael Lombardi: DNP Jack Slightom: DNP Felix Arronde: DNP Angeibel Gomez: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Steven Zobac: DNP Blake Wolters: DNP View full article

On Saturday, after the Royals' latest victory over the Guardians, MLB Insider Joel Sherman reported that Kansas City had placed veteran reliever John Schreiber on waivers. Schreiber was reportedly pushed to be traded at the Trade Deadline, but the Royals could not find any suitors or a suitable return. While the Royals have won 12 of their last 14, their playoff chances remain slim at 0.2%, according to Fangraphs. Thus, putting Schreiber on waivers allows him to be picked up by another playoff team, saves the Royals $600,000, and frees up a roster spot on the 40-man and 26-man active roster. Teams have 48 hours to claim Schreiber on waivers. If he is not selected, he will remain on the Royals for the remainder of the year. The Reds placed Eugenio Suarez and TJ Friedl recently on waivers, but found no takers. Schreiber came to the Royals from the Red Sox before the 2024 season, when he was traded for pitching prospect David Sandlin (who's currently in the White Sox organization). In 188 games and 165 IP with the Royals, he has posted a 3.71 ERA, 4.02 FIP, and accumulated a 1.1 fWAR. He's seen some regression this year. While his ERA is 3.65, his FIP is 4.88, his K-BB% is 6.9%, and his HR/FB% is 16.7%. Those are all the worst marks in a season of his three-year career with the Royals, and as a result, his fWAR is -0.3. His Statcast percentiles haven't been great either, as he's struggled to generate strikeouts and whiffs this year, even though his barrel rate allowed and GB% are still solid. Those rates and numbers could explain why the Royals couldn't trade Schreiber by the Deadline. MLB rosters expand to 28 on September 1st. Thus, waiving Schreiber could allow them to add another player on the active roster for that stretch run. Storm Chaser righty Lucas Braun and Naturals lefty Hunter Owen are two potential options that the Royals could bring up for the last month of the 2026 season. View full rumor

Coleman Picard turned in a quality start as Columbia edged Charleston 3-2, and Drew Beam won as Northwest Arkansas beat Frisco 5-3 behind Sam Kulasingam's two-run home run. Carson Roccaforte went 3-for-3 with a home run, though Omaha lost 4-3 in 10 innings. Kendry Chourio struck out four for Quad Cities, and Ben North homered to tie the game, but the River Bandits fell 7-6. Andy Basora closed out Columbia for his eighth save. Kansas City Royals Transactions No Roster Moves Cross And Roccaforte Homer, But Omaha Falls In Extras At Iowa Gavin Cross homered leading off the game, and Roccaforte tied it later with a solo shot, but Omaha dropped a 4-3 decision in 10 innings at Iowa. The Royals' No. 9 prospect finished 3-for-3 with a home run, a walk, and an RBI. Cross went 2-for-6 with a home run, an RBI, and three strikeouts. Peyton Wilson had a hit, a walk, and a hit by pitch. Omaha collected nine hits and drew six walks, but the Storm Chasers struck out 12 times and left 14 runners on base. Hunter Patteson worked four innings, allowing five hits and two runs while walking five and striking out three. Ben Sears followed with two innings, one hit, and one walk. Luke Little added an inning with a strikeout. Matt Moore retired all six hitters he faced and struck out three. Scott Alexander recorded one out, gave up a hit and a walk, and was charged with two runs, one of them earned. Omaha scored first. Cross opened the game with a home run to left-center. After Cross' 15th homer of the year, Wilson singled, Abraham Toro walked, and Roccaforte singled to load the bases, but the Storm Chasers did not add to the lead. Roccaforte's home run to right-center in the seventh made it 2-2. It was his second home run this year with the Storm Chasers. Drew Waters singled behind him, but two strikeouts ended the Omaha threat. In the 10th, zombie runner Waters scored when Omar Hernandez reached on a throwing error, putting Omaha ahead 3-2. Iowa answered with two runs in the bottom half off veteran reliever Scott Alexander, with the winning run scoring with one out. The Storm Chasers went 1-for-14 with runners in scoring position. The loss dropped their record to 58-69. Player AB R H RBI BB K Gavin Cross, RF 6 1 2 1 0 3 Peyton Wilson, 2B 3 0 1 0 1 0 Brett Squires, 1B 5 0 0 0 0 1 Abraham Toro, 3B 4 0 1 0 1 2 Carson Roccaforte, CF 3 1 3 1 1 0 Drew Waters, LF 4 1 1 0 1 2 Colton Becker, SS 5 0 0 0 0 2 Brandon Drury, DH 3 0 0 0 2 2 Omar Hernandez, C 4 0 1 0 0 0 Totals 37 3 9 2 6 12 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Hunter Patteson 4 5 2 2 5 3 1 Ben Sears 2 1 0 0 1 1 0 Luke Little 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Matt Moore 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 Scott Alexander 1/3 1 2 1 1 0 0 Totals 9 1/3 7 4 3 7 8 1 Kulasingam's Two-Run Homer Lifts Northwest Arkansas Past Frisco Kulasingam's two-run home run put Northwest Arkansas ahead for good in a 5-3 win over Frisco. Kulasingam went 1-for-3 with the home run, two RBI, a walk, and two strikeouts. Javi Vaz was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Jorge Alfaro added two hits, including a double, and an RBI. Alberto Rodriguez also had two hits and scored a run. Luke Pelzer went 1-for-3 with an RBI double, a walk, and a run scored. The Naturals collected 10 hits, drew five walks, and left seven runners on base. Beam, the Royals' No. 13 prospect, took the win after five innings, giving up six hits and three runs with four walks and three strikeouts. Augusto Mendieta followed with three innings, three hits, no runs, two walks, and four strikeouts. Zachary Cawyer worked one inning for his fifth save. Northwest Arkansas scored twice in the first. Pelzer walked, stole second, and stole third before scoring during Spencer Nivens' at-bat. Nivens was hit by a pitch, Daniel Vazquez walked, and Alfaro singled to left to make it 2-1. The third inning provided the difference. Vaz doubled to right, and Kulasingam followed with a home run to right-center for a 4-2 lead. Alfaro doubled later in the inning, but the Naturals did not add to the total. Rodriguez and Angel Acosta opened the fourth with singles, and Pelzer doubled to center to score Rodriguez for a 5-2 lead. Frisco scored once more, and Mendieta and Cawyer combined for four scoreless innings to close it out. The Naturals went 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Their record is now 52-70 this season. Player AB R H RBI BB K Luke Pelzer, CF 3 1 1 1 1 1 Javi Vaz, DH 4 1 2 0 0 2 Sam Kulasingam, 3B 3 1 1 2 1 2 Spencer Nivens, LF 2 1 0 0 1 0 Daniel Vazquez, SS 3 0 0 0 1 0 Jorge Alfaro, 1B 4 0 2 1 0 1 Canyon Brown, C 3 0 1 0 1 1 Alberto Rodriguez, RF 4 1 2 0 0 1 Angel Acosta, 2B 4 0 1 0 0 1 Totals 30 5 10 4 5 9 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Drew Beam 5 6 3 3 4 3 1 Augusto Mendieta 3 3 0 0 2 4 0 Zachary Cawyer 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals 9 9 3 3 6 7 1 North's Tying Homer Wasted As Quad Cities Falls To Beloit Quad Cities twice came back from a deficit, then lost 7-6 to Beloit on a ninth-inning home run. The undrafted North went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and two RBI. Jose Cerice had a hit and two RBI. Nolan Sailors finished 1-for-2 with an RBI, two walks, and a stolen base. Derlin Figueroa had a double and a run scored, and Stone Russell added a double. The River Bandits managed seven hits, drew seven walks, struck out nine times, and left eight runners on base. Chourio, the Royals' top prospect, started and gave up three runs on three hits in three innings, walking none and striking out four. Rob Hensey followed with three innings, six hits, three runs, four walks, and three strikeouts. Kamden Edge worked two hitless innings with four strikeouts. Yimi Presinal took the loss, allowing a home run in his inning of work. Beloit scored three times in the first. Quad Cities answered with two in the bottom half. Asbel Gonzalez and Zion Rose walked, and Cerice lined a single to right that scored both. Blake Mitchell, the Royals' No. 4 prospect, singled and came home on an Erick Torres groundout in the third to tie it 3-3. Beloit pushed across three more over the next two innings, and Sailors singled home Figueroa to cut the deficit to 6-4. The eighth inning brought Quad Cities even. Sailors walked, and North drove a line drive to left-center for a two-run home run and a 6-6 tie. Russell doubled behind him, but a strikeout ended the inning. Beloit homered in the ninth to lead 7-6, and the River Bandits got a walk in their last turn at bat but did not score. The River Bandits went 2-for-16 with runners in scoring position. The loss dropped their record to 65-54. Player AB R H RBI BB K Asbel Gonzalez, CF 3 1 0 0 2 2 Zion Rose, LF 3 1 0 0 2 2 Blake Mitchell, C 4 1 1 0 1 2 Jose Cerice, 3B 4 0 1 2 0 0 Derlin Figueroa, 1B 5 1 1 0 0 1 Erick Torres, RF 4 0 0 1 0 0 Nolan Sailors, DH 2 1 1 1 2 1 Ben North, SS 4 1 2 2 0 1 Stone Russell, 2B 3 0 1 0 0 0 Totals 32 6 7 6 7 9 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Kendry Chourio 3 3 3 3 0 4 1 Rob Hensey 3 6 3 3 4 3 0 Kamden Edge 2 0 0 0 0 4 0 Yimi Presinal 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 Totals 9 10 7 7 4 12 2 Picard's Quality Start Carries Columbia Past Charleston Picard gave Columbia six innings, and the Fireflies came back to beat Charleston 3-2. Picard allowed four hits and two runs with one walk and two strikeouts, a quality start that earned him the win. Dalton Hill followed with an inning and a walk. Michael Braswell III worked an inning and issued a walk. Basora finished with one inning, one hit, and one strikeout for his eighth save. The three relievers combined for three scoreless innings. Henry Ramos led off and went 1-for-4 with an RBI. JC Vanek had a hit, a walk, and an RBI. Jhosmmel Zue had a hit, a run scored, and an RBI. Roni Cabrera had a hit, a walk, and a run scored. Columbia managed five hits, drew four walks, struck out 11 times, and left six runners on base. Charleston scored twice in the first. Columbia answered in the third. Zue singled to center, and after two outs, Ramos singled to center to score Zue. Vanek followed with a single to center that scored Ramos and tied it 2-2. The sixth inning decided it. Cabrera and Connor Rasmussen drew walks, and Zue lifted a sacrifice fly to right that scored Cabrera for a 3-2 lead. Columbia did not get a runner past first base over the final two innings, but the bullpen protected the margin. Hill, Braswell, and Basora allowed one hit and two walks the rest of the way, and Basora retired the last batter of the game on a ground ball. The Fireflies went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position. The win boosted Columbia's record to 62-61. Player AB R H RBI BB K Henry Ramos, CF 4 1 1 1 0 2 JC Vanek, 1B 3 0 1 1 1 2 Camden Johnson, SS 4 0 0 0 0 1 Sean Gamble, DH 4 0 0 0 0 1 Roni Cabrera, LF 3 1 1 0 1 1 Connor Rasmussen, 2B 2 0 0 0 2 0 Jhosmmel Zue, C 2 1 1 1 0 1 Jhonayker Ugarte, 3B 3 0 0 0 0 2 Daniel Lopez, RF 3 0 1 0 0 1 Totals 28 3 5 3 4 11 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Coleman Picard 6 4 2 2 1 2 0 Dalton Hill 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Michael Braswell III 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 Andy Basora 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 Totals 9 5 2 2 3 3 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kendry Chourio: 3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 4 K David Shields: DNP Josh Hammond: DNP Blake Mitchell: 1-for-4, BB, 2 K Sean Gamble: 0-for-4, K Ramon Ramirez: DNP Zion Rose: 0-for-3, 2 BB, 2 K Asbel Gonzalez: 0-for-3, 2 BB, 2 K Carson Roccaforte: 3-for-3, HR, RBI, BB Taylor Rabe: DNP Yandel Ricardo: DNP Justin Lamkin: DNP Drew Beam: 5 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 3 K Michael Lombardi: DNP Jack Slightom: DNP Felix Arronde: DNP Angeibel Gomez: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Steven Zobac: DNP Blake Wolters: DNP View full article

Image courtesy of David Dermer-Imagn Images The Royals took two of three from the Blue Jays in Toronto this week. Although their nine-game winning streak ended, a 10-2 Sunday win in the series finale helped Kansas City win its 12th game in its last 14 contests. Joel Penfield of KC Sports Network and I discussed that series and the Royals' winning ways in August on Thursday evening's Royals Postgame Show. While winning the Blue Jays series was nice, the Royals need to take, if not sweep, the weekend series against the Guardians to have any legitimate hope of making the playoffs. Thankfully, Kansas City set the tone on Friday by winning 3-0 in the opening game of the series in Cleveland. In fact, when it came to setting the tone on Friday, starting pitcher Michael Wacha was the one who led the charge for Kansas City. In a masterful, eight-inning outing, the 35-year-old veteran allowed no runs, four hits, no walks, and struck out 10. His 10 strikeouts were the most for Wacha in a single game this season and his most since May 20th against the Boston Red Sox, when he struck out eight in six innings of work. The Royals All-Star outdueled the Guardians' Tanner Bibee, who allowed one run on seven hits and two walks and struck out five in six innings of work. The outing improved Wacha's ERA to 3.32 and WHIP to 1.10 this season in 170.2 IP. Wacha not only produced incredible results at Progressive Field against the Guardians on Friday, but he also posted some of his best metrics this season, especially with his four-seamer and changeup, his two primary pitches. When looking at his TJ Stuff+ summary from Friday, Wacha produced TJ Stuff+ marks over 100 on his two most-thrown pitches. That helped him generate strong metrics in his chase%, whiff%, and xwOBACON. Overall, Wacha sported a 52.4% zone rate, 34.7% chase%, 30.2% whiff%, and .341 xwOBACON against the Guardians. Those are all above-average marks. On his four-seamer, he not only posted a 101 TJ Stuff+ on the pitch, but also a 36.8% chase%, 20% whiff%, and .165 xwOBACON. For context, that TJ Stuff+ mark was seven points better than his season TJ Stuff+ mark of 94. Here's a look at Wacha's overall TJ Stuff+ summary this season. In addition to a bump in four-seamer TJ Stuff+ on Friday, Wacha also saw an increase in TJ Stuff+ on the changeup (102 to 99), cutter (97 to 93), the curveball (97 to 94), the sinker (91 to 88), and slider (106 to 101). So, with Wacha's stuff playing up in Cleveland, results improved, too. That improved stuff profile showed up on film in all 10 of his strikeouts, as seen in the video below. At 61-75, the Royals' playoff chances remain long. They are still 10.5 games behind in the AL Central, and their playoff odds remain stable at 0.1%. That said, the Royals are going to finish the season fighting, and it seems like the veteran Wacha is going to be one of the main players to lead that charge as Kansas City enters the final month of the regular season. Is Wacha's Fastball Improving? The fastball was the most eye-popping pitch from Wacha on Friday. While the whiff rate was modest compared to his other offerings (just 20%), he commanded the pitch effectively against the Guardians. Wacha threw the offering 39 times, good for a usage rate of 37.9%. He averaged 94.7 MPH on the four-seamer, a 1.7 MPH increase from his season-long mark, as well as a 2.2 MPH difference from his most recent outing against the Tigers at Kauffman Stadium on August 22nd. In fact, here's a look at his TJ Stuff+ summary from that outing against Detroit. Wacha's four-seamers in this most recent outing were a night-and-day difference from his August 22nd start. He not only threw far fewer pitches (21.9%) against Detroit, but he also had a much worse TJ Stuff+ (89), zone rate (47.%), and chase rate (27.3%). Surprisingly, his whiff rate and xwOBACON were better against the Tigers. Nonetheless, despite those mixed results, the velocity and TJ Stuff+ difference stick out. While Wacha flooded the zone enough to be successful against the Tigers (53.1% zone rate), the stuff and velocity metrics hinted that he may have been feeling some fatigue after a long season. However, the boost in four-seamer TJ Stuff+ and velocity on Friday showed that Wacha is NOT fatigued and could be leaned on as the Royals make a push in this stretch run of the 2026 season. Interestingly enough, Wacha has shown spikes in four-seam velocity at times earlier this season. You can see that in his pitch velocity chart by game this season below via Savant. Wacha has seen positive spikes in velocity in July and early August, when the four-seamer surpassed 94 MPH. However, after such outings, he saw declines to under 93 MPH in his next starts. Thus, it will be interesting to see if Wacha can maintain that 94+ MPH velocity on his four-seamer in his next couple of starts, or if it can at least stay in the 93 MPH range. If that happens, Wacha may be able to keep improving outcomes on the four-seamer, which has been good at generating chase and CSW but has had mixed results at limiting xwOBA and producing whiffs. When looking at his four-seamer heatmap data against lefties and righties this year, Wacha at least has shown a propensity to command it effectively in the zone (up and near the edge of the zone). Added velocity with that command will only make the four-seamer a more effective pitch, especially when it comes to results on whiff% and xwOBACON. On Friday, the former Texas A&M product really lived up to expectations on the edges of the strike zone against Cleveland. That strategy worked, especially with the increase in velocity on the pitch. Wacha produced plenty of called strikes and whiffs on the four-seamer, and when Guardians hitters did make contact, it resulted in outs, not base hits. The four-seamer has been a widely thrown pitch for Wacha this year, but it hasn't been an elite pitch by any means. That said, when he's able to get good stuff on the pitch and demonstrate strong command with it, he's found success on the mound, especially against AL Central teams. How Wacha's four-seam velocity and stuff fare in his next couple of outings could determine the Royals' slim playoff hopes, as well as whether or not Wacha will hit the 200 IP mark this season. If he does, it would be the first time in his career he hits that milestone. Can Wacha Be the Ace They Need (For This Year and Next)? After the All-Star Break, Wacha has been even better than his 1st half self, which earned him a spot in the All-Star Game in the first place. In seven outings and 43.1 IP after the All-Star Break, he has a 2.70 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. That is better than the 3.77 ERA and 1.19 WHIP produced in 19 outings and 119.1 IP. However, looking at his Statcast percentiles from the first and second halves via TJ Stats, Wacha has regressed after the All-Star Break. That is especially true in many batted-ball categories, including hard-hit rate and groundball rate. It simply seems like hitters are more locked in against Wacha after the All-Star Break. His GB%, SwStr%, barrel%, and Z-Contact% are all significantly down from his first-half marks. Thus, the veteran righty may be succeeding a bit due to batted-ball luck, rather than solely on his pitching skills. His .202 BABIP in the second-half illustrates that some lucky batted-ball results could be in play for Wacha. And yet, Wacha is doing what a veteran "ace" needs to do: he's carrying the Royals to victory. He's carried them in their past two games, despite not getting much run support. The former Aggie has gotten just six runs of support in the past two games against Detroit and Cleveland, respectively. And yet, that lack of Royals run production hasn't deterred him on the mound, as evidenced by the wins. Even though Wacha isn't the prototypical ace, he's doing "ace-like" things for a Royals team that is in dire need of such a pitcher with that profile, both this year and next. Cole Ragans is out until midway next year as he recovers from elbow surgery. Kris Bubic is no longer in the Royals organization. Noah Cameron has been a stud, especially recently, which makes fans wonder if he could be the Opening Day Starter over Wacha in 2027. However, he'll be starting just his third MLB season next year. Despite an improved pitching arsenal since moving to calling his own pitches, his four-seamer is arguably worse than Wacha's, based on TJ Stuff+ data. Cameron is a great story and someone who will remain a key part of this Royals rotation long-term. He's proven that he can be a "pitcher" and not just a "thrower" this season. That said, for the Royals to get anywhere, whether in September or in 2027, they need a healthy, effective Wacha. Since 2022, he's been one of the most dependable pitchers in baseball, and often doesn't get much recognition for his consistency or impressive results on the mound. Granted, Wacha may or may not be the Opening Day starter next year, as so much depends on what the Royals do this offseason. (Will they sign a free agent ace?) That said, he's got to be an essential and effective part of the rotation that manager Matt Quatraro and pitching coach Brian Sweeney can lean on over a full season. Outings like Friday, especially with the impressive stuff and velocity, are a sign that Wacha is living up to, if not surpassing, those heightened expectations in Kansas City. View full article

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. 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 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 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 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 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kendry Chourio: DNP David Shields: DNP Josh Hammond: 1-for-2, BB, K Blake Mitchell: 0-for-3, 2 BB, K Sean Gamble: 1-for-5, HR, 2 RBI Ramon Ramirez: 1-for-3, 2 BB, K Zion Rose: DNP Asbel Gonzalez: 0-for-3, 2 BB, K Carson Roccaforte: 1-for-5, RBI, K Taylor Rabe: DNP Yandel Ricardo: 0-for-3, BB, RBI, K Justin Lamkin: DNP Drew Beam: DNP Michael Lombardi: DNP Jack Slightom: DNP Felix Arronde: DNP Angeibel Gomez: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Steven Zobac: DNP Blake Wolters: DNP View full article

Image courtesy of John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images The Kansas City Royals' nine-game winning streak finally came to an end on Wednesday night, as they lost to the Blue Jays 3-0. The Royals had their chances in this one, but they left eight runners on base and went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position. That's not going to result in a victory, even if the Blue Jays were just as frustrating with ducks on the pond in this one (1-for-5 with runners in scoring position). Even though Kansas City lost, fans couldn't blame the pitching in this one. The lone runs from the Blue Jays came on a three-run home run by Nathan Lukes in the bottom of the fourth inning. Other than that mistake changeup, Randy Dobnak was solid once again on the mound for the Royals. In a losing effort, Dobnak produced another quality start. He allowed three runs on six hits and one walk while striking out five in six innings of work. It was a pretty typical start for Dobnak in Toronto: he didn't possess great stuff or generate a ton of whiffs, but he kept the Blue Jays off balance and generated a lot of weak contact. Dobnak allowed only a .342 xwOBACON in this one, which rates slightly above average. That helped him succeed despite lackluster TJ Stuff+ (93), zone% (47.8%), chase% (25%), and whiff% (12.5%) numbers. Over his 92 pitches, the 31-year-old righty leaned heavily on his sinker (45.7% usage). Dobnak flooded the strike zone with the fastball offering, as evidenced by a 59.5% zone rate. While he gave up a few hits with the pitch, for the most part, he generated a lot of outs with it, even though he threw it clearly in the strike zone a majority of the time, as illustrated by his sinker zone chart from Wednesday. After the outing, Dobnak sits with a 1.92 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 3.76 FIP, and 5.9% K-BB% in 10 outings (eight starts) and 51.2 IP. Despite major injuries to so many key starting pitchers on the 40-man roster, Dobnak has stepped up and kept the Royals' rotation competitive. One could argue that he's been the Royals' best pitcher since the All-Star Break, which is a testament to him and a black eye on the rest of the Royals' starting pitching staff. The former Minnesota Twin will be entering his second season of arbitration next season, and his future seems unclear, even in the midst of all the Royals' pitching injuries. Does Kansas City keep him on the 40-man roster and give him a shot to keep his rotation spot in 2027? Or do the Royals non-tender him and replace him with a free-agent starting pitcher this offseason? Let's look at the case for keeping Dobnak, the case for non-tendering him, and what the Royals should do with their surprising pitching stud next season. The Case to Keep Dobnak Dobnak doesn't strike many guys out, but he's become a savant as a pitcher, much in the mold of a Michael Wacha or Seth Lugo. In fact, he's shown that he can be just as good, if not better, than those two veterans over the past month with the Royals. In August, Dobnak has been the third-best Royals starting pitcher in terms of fWAR (0.4), and his 3.09 FIP ranks third as well, as seen in the table below via Fangraphs. The 31-year-old righty has definitely benefited from a high LOB%, which explains why his xERA of 4.92 is so much higher than his actual 2.29 ERA. That said, he's struck out more batters than Noah Cameron (6.83 K/9), Lugo (6.75 K/9), and Wacha (5.55 K/9) this month, and his 54% GB% also leads the five-pitcher sample from above. When looking at his Statcast percentile, Dobank ranks below average in many categories, which dampens his overall profile. However, he's been effective in three important categories: O-Swing% (chase), barrel%, and GB% (groundball percentage). The Statcast profile may underwhelm those who haven't been paying attention to Dobnak or the Royals in general this season. However, Dobnak arguably has a better Statcast profile than veteran Lugo, who lags behind Dobnak this year in barrel%, O-Swing%, and GB%. Lugo has a lot going for him. His pitch mix is much more impressive than Dobnak, as Lugo sports four pitches with TJ Stuff+ marks of 100 or better. Dobnak has only one, his changeup, which has a 100 TJ Stuff+. Furthermore, Lugo has a better zone rate and limits free passes better than Dobnak, which matters for a starting pitcher. Lastly, the 36-year-old righty has been much more durable this year, as evidenced by his 150.1 IP in 27 outings. Then again, Dobnak isn't making $21.5 million this year and next like Lugo. Instead, the former undrafted free agent is making the league minimum of $780,000, finishing a one-year deal he signed with the Mariners last offseason, according to Spotrac. When Dobnak has been mixing it up well, he's been able to freeze and lock up many hitters. That was the case recently with the Athletics' Henry Bolte, whom Dobnak struck out on a sweeper back in the Royals' win over the Athletics on August 20th at Kauffman Stadium. ZzZ3cVlfWGw0TUFRPT1fVWdKUlVsSU1BbEFBVzFFS1ZBQUhDVk5lQUZoVFVRVUFWbEJYQ1FFR1ZWVlNWQUJl.mp4 The stuff isn't elite, but Dobnak is crafty, durable, and works fast on the mound. The Royals need a pitcher like that in 2027, and he gives the Royals a lot more guarantees for time on the mound than other options like Ryan Bergert, Ben Kudrna, and even Cole Ragans, who are all coming off injuries from this past season. Even with some expected regression in 2027, Dobnak could be able to produce enough on the mound to be a worthwhile No. 5 pitcher for the Royals who could produce an ERA in the low fours or high threes and generate an fWAR of 1.5 to 2.0 in a full season. For an end-of-the-rotation arm, that's not just serviceable but an asset of value, especially considering all the injuries that have affected pitching staffs this season. The Case Against Dobnak While the Statcast percentiles aren't great, his TJ Stuff+ summary from this year may be even worse. Dobnak is not just posting a subpar 93 TJ Stuff+, but he's also sporting a 43.1% zone rate and 20.4% whiff rate, both below-average marks in those respective categories. While he is generating a decent amount of chase and strong xwOBACON numbers, the rubber is going to meet the road for Dobnak regression-wise sooner rather than later. The Royals could give Dobnak a guaranteed spot in the rotation and a bump in his paycheck. That said, he could also tank over a full season and regress back to the pitcher who posted a 7.64 ERA and 5.59 ERA in 2023 and 2024 with the Twins. Against the Angels on August 15th, Dobnak made some mistakes that resulted in extra-base hits, with this double from former Royal Adam Frazier being a prime example. WU9WYjNfWGw0TUFRPT1fQkZCUVVWd05WZ01BV3dCVVhnQUhCVlVFQUZsWFV3VUFBMVlHQVFGVUJRQlVDUVVG.mp4 The sinker in that at-bat isn't in a terrible location. However, it's a bad command of an 0-2 count pitch, and the veteran Frazier makes Dobnak and the Royals pay with a double. A silver lining is that Moisés Ballesteros was on first, and because of his slow speed, he couldn't score on the double (most hitters would). Thus, at-bats like that, along with lackluster stuff metrics, should give Royals fans pause. The Royals also have some intriguing arms ready for 2027. That includes Tony Gonsolin and John Means, both of whom are on their way back from the IL soon. Gonsolin threw a rehab outing in Omaha on Wednesday, and Means had one in Quad Cities. Gonsolin was solid in his first outing with the Royals organization. He allowed no runs, no hits, and only one walk in three innings of work. The former Dodgers pitcher also struck out three batters to boot. While the fastball stuff wasn't impressive, the rest of his repertoire proiled nicely, as seen below via his TJ Stuff+ summary. Gonsolin's fastball was alarming, but it's also an effect of not pitching for almost a year. As for Means, he had a quick outing, allowing only one hit and no runs or walks in an inning of work. The Royals clearly have more upside with Gonsolin and Means than Dobnak, who just has never been the same kind of caliber of pitcher as those two. Kansas City has always been a bad team at holding onto guys, especially pitchers, too long and not moving on sooner rather than later. Dobnak may be a prime dilemma for Royals President of Baseball Operations JJ Picollo, who knows he has to win in 2027 to reinvigorate the fanbase. Dobnak is too old to be part of the future. Also, for a team that's going to finish with a losing record in 2026, it's important for the Royals to invest in assets with a ceiling rather than ones who may simply be flashes in the pan. Could Dobank be another example of the latter? Unfortunately, based on his TJ Stuff+ metrics and other results, it feels likely, which could result in an ugly 2027 for Dobank in Kansas City. Final Thoughts The returns of Gonsolin and Means could be huge boosts to this pitching staff, and perhaps Ben Kudrna, Ryan Bergert, and Cole Ragans will be healthy to return at some point in 2027. That said, none of those guys listed above are guaranteed contributors, especially with all of those pitchers having robust injury histories over their careers. I am not sure if you go into 2027 with Dobnak guaranteed a spot in the Royals' rotation. However, does he deserve to keep his roster spot and challenge for a rotation spot in Spring Training? Absolutely. Dobnak has done enough this season to earn that consideration on both ends. Even with the returning pitchers coming off the IL in 2027, the Royals will need to boost their rotation in some way. It wouldn't be surprising to see them pick up a couple of starting pitchers, much like they did in 2024 with Wacha and Lugo, whom they signed in free agency. Like Wacha and Lugo, I expect the Royals to pursue pitchers like Tyler Mahle, Jeffrey Springs, or Michael Soroka rather than big-money ones like Zac Gallen, Michael King, or Tarik Skubal. The Royals will want pitching depth in 2027, and that likely means Dobnak stays around, even with the addition of new arms to the pitching staff (and the return of a few others). Maybe Dobnak's role is different next year. Maybe he's a spot starter or a long reliever for Kansas City next season, which is much different from the regular starting pitcher role he's been given this season. Still, Dobnak could thrive in that kind of role, which is why I believe he's in Surprise, Arizona next Spring. Fewer innings for Dobnak will conserve his mojo on the mound and make it harder for hitters to scout and hit against, especially with his extensive six-pitch mix. Furthermore, with two minor league options, if Dobnak doesn't work out next Spring Training, they can option him and get him some work in Omaha to prepare for a sudden call-up in Kansas City to replace a hurt pitcher. View full article