Kevin O'Brien

Yeah, I missed that and just noticed it this morning (I was traveling and didn't get to this piece until later last night). I get the feeling that they will do whatever they can to just get him MLB innings, whatever the role. While I know he has more value as a starter, he's definitely more valuable healthy, so they need to put him in a role that will keep him on the mound. But I agree. It's been nice to see him actually progressing instead of having a setback like so many Royals pitchers this year who are on the IL.

It hasn't been a season to remember for the Kansas City Royals. Even though the AL Central has been one of the weaker divisions in baseball. As of Sunday, the Royals are 35-50, good for last in the division. They are 9.5 games behind in the division and are seven games behind in the AL Wild Card race. According to Fangraphs, their playoff odds are 2.7%. Only the Los Angeles Angels have worse playoff odds at 1.5% (they are actually better with a 36-49 record). Thus, with the Royals likely looking toward next year, it will be important for them to take advantage at the Trade Deadline and bring in assets who could provide long-term value. This Trade Deadline will look more like the 2023 one, where they traded some veterans for prospects and young players, than the ones in 2024 and 2025, when they added to improve their outlook for the remainder of the season. Here are some candidates the Royals President of Baseball Operations, JJ Picollo, could trade at the Deadline this season. Definitely Traded OF Lane Thomas Team Control Through 2026 2026 Stats: 214 PA, 87 wRC+, .660 OPS, 0.3 fWAR The Royals signed Thomas to a one-year, $5.25 million deal this offseason, hoping that he could be a platoon bat with Kyle Isbel at the very least. He's had to take on a bigger role with Isbel on the IL due to plantar fasciitis. Thomas has been solid this month with a 98 wRC+, .318 wOBA, and four home runs in 89 plate appearances. The 30-year-old outfielder has been solid against lefties this year. He has a 95 wRC+ with a .314 wOBA and 0.80 BB/K ratio in 98 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers. That is much better than his 81 wRC+, .293 wOBA, and 0.52 BB/K ratio in 116 plate appearances against right-handed pitchers. There's been a lack of competent right-handed bats available recently, especially in free agency. Thus, he could fit easily on a competing roster, especially in a platoon role. The Royals do not need him, especially with him likely leaving Kansas City in free agency at the conclusion of the season. OF Starling Marte Team Control Through 2026 2026 Stats: 101 PA, 85 wRC+, .664 OPS, 0.1 fWAR The 37-year-old outfielder hasn't been a huge impact player for the Royals this year. He's barely cracked the 100 plate appearance mark, and he's been mostly utilized as a DH against left-handed starting pitchers. The power has gone, as he has only one home run and an ISO of .079, his worst mark in that category since 2023 with the Mets (.076 ISO). While Marte won't be a starter for an MLB club, he is cheap ($1 million deal), and he brings a veteran presence to the clubhouse and lineup. At his age, he doesn't fit in the Royals' long-term plans, so it would be best for Kansas City to trade him, even if he doesn't command a lot in return. RP John Schreiber Team Control Through 2026 2026 Stats: 33 IP, 3.27 ERA, 5.08 FIP, -0.3 fWAR The Royals' bullpen has been a disaster, as they rank 30th in reliever ERA, WHIP, H/9, and HR/9. Schreiber has been the lone positive reliever of this group, with a 3.27 ERA. Unfortunately, his FIP hasn't fared as well, with a lower K/BB ratio (2.17) and a higher HR/9 (1.64) than usual for him. He could be due for regression in the second half, which doesn't help an already bad bullpen. While Schreiber's numbers may not impress another team, he's a dependable reliever who has posted an ERA under 4 every season since 2022. Schreiber is in his last year of team control with the Royals and will be a free agent after this season. The Royals would benefit from trading Schreiber sooner rather than later, especially after a rough outing in the Royals' blowout loss on Friday against the White Sox. SP Kris Bubic Team Control Through 2026 2026 Stats: 50.1 IP, 4.11 ERA, 3.72 FIP, 0.8 fWAR Bubic is currently on the IL, but he made a rehab appearance last week and is expected to make another on Wednesday. He is only pitching one inning at a time in each outing, so it appears that the Royals are easing him in (Update, 6/29: He also threw two innings of one-hit ball on Saturday against Columbus). These early results prove that he may be on the verge of a return to the Majors soon, even if it may result in a transition to the bullpen. That's not necessarily a bad thing, as Bubic thrived in 2024 in the bullpen, posting a 2.67 ERA and 1.95 FIP in 30.1 IP. Due to his injury issues over the past two years and the fact that he will be a free agent after this year, Bubic's trade value has likely deflated. Still, he's an arm with some upside, and a team may acquire him to solidify their bullpen. He could also interest a team that may want to sign him after the season to a team-friendly deal with the hope that he can bounce back and be a starter again in 2027. RP Matt Strahm Team Control Through 2026 2026 Stats: 25.2 IP, 5.96 ERA, 7.00 FIP, -0.9 fWAR Strahm was acquired from Philadelphia with the hope that he would solidify the Royals' bullpen. Unfortunately, that's backfired, with Strahm posting an ERA of nearly 6 and an FIP of 7. He will be a free agent this offseason, and he could thrive in a new change of scenery. He posted a 1.87 ERA in 66 outings in 2024 and a 2.74 ERA in 66 outings in 2025. Thus, a team may be convinced that Strahm could channel that again with a winning ballclub. The Royals are probably kicking themselves for trading away Jonathan Bowlan to Philadelphia to acquire Strahm. The former Royals righty has a 3.70 ERA and 2.70 FIP in 24.1 IP. While Kansas City can't get Bowlan back, they could perhaps acquire another arm with long-term value similar to him by trading Strahm by the Trade Deadline. Probably Traded SP Michael Wacha Team Control Through 2027 (Club option for 2028) 2026 Stats: 108.2 IP, 3.31 ERA, 3.70 FIP, 2.0 fWAR Wacha has been the Royals' best starting pitcher for arguably a second season in a row. He has a 2.0 fWAR already this year, and ZiPS predicts him to accumulate another 1.3 fWAR by the end of the season. While he's not a strikeout artist, he's crafty and can eat innings when he's on, as was the case in Saturday's outing when he threw 7.2 IP of one-run ball. The Royals are in a dilemma with Wacha, as they not only signed him as a free agent before 2024 but also signed him to a 2025 extension. Kansas City trading a free-agent pitcher who wanted to stay in KC isn't a great precedent, especially for a club that has struggled to attract free-agent starting pitchers in the past. Thus, Picollo may be tempted to keep Wacha for at least one more year, to save face with other potential free agents this offseason. SP Seth Lugo Team Control Through 2027 (Vesting option for 2028) 2026 Stats: 90.1 IP, 4.18 ERA, 4.05 FIP, 1.2 fWAR The situation with Lugo is similar to Wacha's. They signed Lugo to an extension before the Trade Deadline rather than trading him away, which most experts thought the Royals should've done. Lugo has been fine this year, with a 4.18 ERA and 1.2 fWAR in 90.1 IP. That's not quite as good as Wacha, but it's solid for a 36-year-old starting pitcher. His 4.05 FIP is also nearly a run better than a year ago (5.09). Thus, Lugo is showing some progress over his mediocre 2025 campaign (0.5 fWAR). The issue with Lugo is that he's WAY more expensive than Wacha, even though their contract situations are similar. Wacha is due $14 million next year and has a $14 million club option for 2028. Lugo is due $21.5 million in 2027 and has a $20 million vesting option for 2028. Thus, the Royals would need to kick in some money in any trade involving Lugo, which may be too much for them, especially if they're already planning on trading Wacha. RP Daniel Lynch IV Team Control Through 2028 2026 Stats: 34 IP, 2.65 ERA, 3.25 FIP, 0.5 fWAR Lynch has had a strong season and has been one of the few bright spots of this Royals bullpen. He's faded a bit in June, with a 4.61 FIP this month after posting a 3.36 FIP in May and a 1.87 FIP in April. That said, he's been one of the Royals' more dependable relievers. Furthermore, his 21.7% K% is 5.8% better than a year ago, and his fWAR is already 0.7 higher than his 2025 mark. The Royals still hold control of Lynch for two more seasons after 2026, so there is no need to rush him, especially with him transitioning to a higher-leverage role this year. Furthermore, he is the third-longest-tenured Royals player behind Salvador Perez and Bubic, so he brings some leadership value to the clubhouse. Nonetheless, if the Royals can get an enticing package for Lynch, they may be forced to part ways with their former 2018 competitive round pick by this year's Trade Deadline. RP Alex Lange Team Control Through 2028 2026 Stats: 36.1 IP, 4.95 ERA, 3.85 FIP, 0.1 fWAR Lange was designated for assignment by the Tigers this offseason and ascended to the role of Royals closer this season. That wasn't the plan when they acquired him, but he's been a nice pickup, making less than $1 million this year. On Sunday, he collected his seventh save of the season, retiring the White Sox in order in the ninth on three groundball outs. Lange has control issues still (1.76 K/BB ratio), but he's done a good job of keeping the ball in the yard (5.6% HR/FB%). He may not be a closer for another organization, but he could boost any bullpen thanks to his strong ability to generate swing-and-miss. Lange has a 27.2% CSW and 12.2% SwStr%. His 44.7% zone rate is also a career-best, showing the progress he's made since coming over from Kansas City. While trading away Lange leaves the Royals in a deeper hole, and it would suck to lose a local kid (he grew up in Lee's Summit), his value has never been higher, and they could use a return of prospects. RP Lucas Erceg Team Control Through 2028 2026 Stats: 31.2 IP, 5.40 ERA, 4.84 FIP, -0.1 fWAR Erceg has been awful this year, even though he produced a scoreless outing on Sunday in the Royals' 5-4 win. His K/BB ratio has gone from 4.50 in 2024, to 2.67 in 2025, to 1.32 this year. His CSW has seen a similar trend, going from 31.3% in 2024, to 26% in 2025, to 23.4% this season. It's been a rough year for Erceg, and he's lost the closer's job, even though he leads the Royals with 12 saves. While the lackluster strikeout, walk, and CSW numbers don't bode well for his trade value, the fastball velocity is still good at 97.3 MPH. That's only 0.5 MPH less than a year ago. Thus, it's not a matter of stuff with Erceg, but command. Another organization could find a way to tap into Erceg's command again. If they do, they will have him for two more years. That long-term value could net the Royals something decent in exchange for Erceg at the Trade Deadline, though Kansas City won't give him away for nothing. Unlikely to Be Traded OF Kyle Isbel Team Control Through 2027 2026 Stats: 183 PA, 79 wRC+, .651 OPS, 0.4 fWAR Isbel would've been a great trade candidate if healthy. However, while he's only on a 10-day IL, it's unlikely he'll be 100 percent by the Trade Deadline. Even with a full more year of team control, teams likely won't be interested in Isbel, especially if his defense, his best tool, is affected by this foot injury. 1B Vinnie Pasquantino Team Control Through 2028 2026 Stats: 291 PA, 81 wRC+, .660 OPS, -0.1 fWAR After hitting 32 home runs and 113 RBI last year, the Royals inked the Pasquatch to a modest two-year extension in the offseason. The move hasn't worked out, as he is down in nearly every category and is currently on the IL with a hamate injury that required surgery. The recovery from hamate injuries isn't good, especially for power hitters like Vinnie. Thus, the interest may not be there, even with Pasquantino still having two more years of team control after this season. Still, Jac Caglianone has emerged as a solid piece for this team's future, which could make Vinnie's future in Kansas City hazier. The Pasquatch could get traded, but it likely won't be until the offseason or the 2027 Trade Deadline. C Salvador Perez Team Control Through 2027 2026 Stats: 327 PA, 52 wRC+, .573 OPS, -1.4 fWAR The Salvy regression has finally come, and boy, did it come fast. After being such a dependable power bat since 2021 (20+ HR each season), he's struggled immensely. He has 10 home runs, but just a .131 ISO, and the rest of his numbers are putrid. The Marlins have shown interest in Perez before, and their catching situation isn't great, so a veteran like Salvy could make sense in an abbreviated role. However, the Royals want Salvy to retire as a Royal, so he's unlikely to be traded either this year or next. View full article

Brett Squires homered and tripled with four RBI, but the Omaha Storm Chasers fell 13-11 in ten innings. The Northwest Arkansas Naturals wasted Felix Arronde's six innings in a 7-6 walkoff loss. Tanner Jones spun five scoreless innings, and Trevor Werner's three-run homer keyed a seven-run ninth as the Quad Cities River Bandits won 7-2. Darwin Rodriguez took the loss as the Columbia Fireflies dropped a 4-1 decision despite nine hits. Royals Transactions Kansas City Royals recalled RHP Eric Cerantola from Omaha Storm Chasers. Kansas City Royals optioned RHP Mitch Spence to Omaha Storm Chasers. Storm Chasers' Early Outburst Wasted In Extra-Inning Loss The Omaha Storm Chasers built an early lead and then watched it disappear in a 13-11, ten-inning loss to the Columbus Clippers. Squires carried the offense, going 3-for-4 with a triple, a home run, a stolen base, two runs, and four RBI. Brandon Drury added a home run, two RBI, and two runs, while Rudy Martin Jr. reached base three times from the leadoff spot. Omaha put up six runs in the second inning to seize control. The affiliate loaded the bases on two walks and a hit by pitch, then pushed across the first run on Kevin Newman's bases-loaded walk that scored Drury. A run came around on a strikeout, Squires followed with a two-run triple, and Abraham Toro and Gavin Cross each delivered an RBI double to cap the rally. The Clippers chipped away over the middle innings, scoring five in the fourth and adding single runs in the sixth, eighth, and ninth. Squires' two-run homer in the ninth tied the game and forced extra innings, but Columbus answered with four runs in the top of the tenth, including a two-run home run that brought home the zombie runner. Omaha managed only two runs in the bottom of the tenth on Drury's two-run homer and fell short. Starter Bailey Falter worked 3 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on two walks with four strikeouts. Génesis Cabrera took the loss after surrendering four runs in the tenth. The Storm Chasers stranded seven runners and went 5-for-15 with runners in scoring position. They are 36-44 this season. Omaha Storm Chasers Hitting Player AB R H RBI BB K Rudy Martin Jr. 6 2 2 0 0 1 Peyton Wilson 6 0 1 1 0 3 Brett Squires 4 2 3 4 1 0 Abraham Toro 4 1 1 1 1 1 Gavin Cross 4 1 1 1 1 0 Brandon Drury 4 2 1 2 1 1 Luca Tresh 4 1 0 0 1 0 Andrew Velazquez 4 1 1 0 0 1 Kevin Newman 2 1 0 1 1 0 Matthew Lugo 2 0 1 0 0 0 Omaha Storm Chasers Pitching Player IP H R ER BB K HR Bailey Falter 3 1/3 6 4 4 2 4 0 Andrew Pérez 2/3 1 2 2 1 0 1 Mason Black 3 2 1 1 1 3 1 Jose Cuas 2/3 1 1 1 1 0 0 Anthony Gose 1 1/3 1 1 1 0 2 1 Génesis Cabrera 1 3 4 3 1 1 1 Naturals Squander Lead In Walk-Off Loss To Springfield The Northwest Arkansas Naturals carried a lead into the late innings but fell 7-6 on a walk-off home run against the Springfield Cardinals. Sam Kulasingam led the way, going 2-for-4 with a home run, a stolen base, two runs, and two RBI. Jack Pineda reached base three times with two hits, a walk, a stolen base, and two RBI, and Connor Scott homered. The decisive frame for the Naturals was a five-run third inning. Scott opened the scoring with a solo home run, Pineda laced a two-run single, Kulasingam followed with an RBI single, and Colton Becker doubled home another run. That outburst, added to a run in the first, gave Northwest Arkansas a 6-3 lead. The advantage did not hold. Springfield trimmed the deficit with a run in the sixth, tied it with two runs in the seventh, and ended it with a leadoff home run in the ninth. Royals Keep's No. 14 prospect Arronde turned in a strong start, working six innings and allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Oscar Rayo took the loss after allowing the walk-off home run. The Naturals left four runners on base and went 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Northwest Arkansas is now 30-43. Northwest Arkansas Naturals Hitting Player AB R H RBI BB K Carson Roccaforte 4 1 1 0 1 1 Jack Pineda 3 1 2 2 1 0 Sam Kulasingam 4 2 2 2 0 0 Jorge Alfaro 4 0 0 0 0 1 Spencer Nivens 4 0 1 0 0 1 Colton Becker 4 0 1 1 0 1 Omar Hernandez 4 0 0 0 0 1 Connor Scott 4 1 1 1 0 1 Alberto Rodriguez 4 1 1 0 0 0 Northwest Arkansas Naturals Pitching Player IP H R ER BB K HR Felix Arronde 6 5 4 3 1 4 1 Frank Mozzicato 1/3 1 2 2 2 0 0 Oscar Rayo 1 2/3 1 1 1 0 1 1 River Bandits Erupt For Seven In Ninth To Stun South Bend The Quad Cities River Bandits broke a scoreless tie dramatically, plating seven runs in the ninth inning to beat the South Bend Cubs 7-2. Werner provided the biggest swing, a three-run home run, and finished 1-for-4 with three RBI. Ramon Ramirez, Royals Keep's No. 6 prospect, went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, and Tyriq Kemp added a hit, an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base from the leadoff spot. The ninth inning told the whole story offensively. Ramirez started the rally with a two-run double, Connor Rasmussen brought home a run on a groundout, Werner crushed his three-run homer, and Kemp capped the scoring with an RBI single. The seven-run frame turned a 2-0 deficit into a comfortable win. Starter Jones was dominant, working five scoreless innings and allowing just one hit with one walk and five strikeouts. The Cubs scratched across single runs in the sixth and eighth, but Quad Cities steadied things out of the bullpen. Kamden Edge, Royals Keep's No. 19 prospect, earned the win with two innings of work, allowing one run on one hit with two strikeouts. The River Bandits left four runners on base and went 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Quad Cities improved their record to 32-39 after the victory over the Cubs. Quad Cities River Bandits Hitting Player AB R H RBI BB K Tyriq Kemp 4 1 1 1 1 1 Asbel Gonzalez 4 1 0 0 1 0 Blake Mitchell 4 0 0 0 0 2 Ramon Ramirez 4 1 2 2 0 0 Nolan Sailors 3 1 1 0 1 1 Erick Torres 2 1 0 0 2 0 Connor Rasmussen 4 0 0 1 0 2 Trevor Werner 4 1 1 3 0 1 Angel Acosta 4 1 1 0 0 0 Quad Cities River Bandits Pitching Player IP H R ER BB K HR Tanner Jones 5 1 0 0 1 5 0 Aiden Jimenez 1 1 1 1 0 2 1 Max Martin 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 Kamden Edge 2 1 1 1 0 2 0 Fireflies' Bats Stranded In Loss To Kannapolis The Columbia Fireflies collected nine hits but managed only one run in a 4-1 loss to the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. Roni Cabrera led the offense, going 2-for-3 with an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. Ivan Sosa also notched two hits, and Stone Russell doubled, but the affiliate repeatedly failed to bring runners home, stranding eight in the contest. Kannapolis built its lead early. The Cannon Ballers scored once in the first and then put up three runs in the third inning, a frame aided by a throwing error. Columbia could not respond until the seventh, when Cabrera singled home Yandel Ricardo, Royals Keep's No. 10 prospect, for the team's lone run. Starter Rodriguez took the loss, working five innings and allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits with one walk and two strikeouts. The bullpen was sharp behind him, as Brandon Herbold, Yeri Pérez, and Andy Basora combined for three scoreless innings of relief. The Fireflies' inability to cash in with runners aboard, eight left on base, proved the difference. Columbia Fireflies Hitting Player AB R H RBI BB K Josh Hammond 4 0 1 0 0 0 Sean Gamble 4 0 1 0 0 1 Stone Russell 4 0 1 0 0 0 Jhosmmel Zue 4 0 1 0 0 0 Yandel Ricardo 4 1 1 0 0 0 Roni Cabrera 3 0 2 1 1 0 Josi Novas 4 0 0 0 0 0 Ivan Sosa 4 0 2 0 0 0 Gabriel Silva 4 0 0 0 0 2 Columbia Fireflies Pitching Player IP H R ER BB K HR Darwin Rodriguez 5 5 4 3 1 2 0 Brandon Herbold 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 Yeri Pérez 2/3 0 0 0 2 1 0 Andy Basora 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kendry Chourio: DNP David Shields: DNP Josh Hammond: 1-for-4 Blake Mitchell: 0-for-4, 2 K Sean Gamble: 1-for-4, K Ramon Ramirez: 2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI Drew Beam: DNP Carson Roccaforte: 1-for-4, 2B, BB, SB, K Asbel Gonzalez: 0-for-4, BB Yandel Ricardo: 1-for-4 Michael Lombardi: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Justin Lamkin: DNP Felix Arronde: 6 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K Blake Wolters: DNP Steven Zobac: DNP Austin Charles: DNP Daniel Vázquez: DNP Kamden Edge: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K Warren Calcano: DNP View full article

Three Royals affiliates won on the same night. David Shields fired six one-run innings with seven strikeouts as Quad Cities routed South Bend, 8-1. Randy Dobnak turned in a quality start, and Omaha rallied past Columbus, 6-3, behind Matthew Lugo's two-run homer. Josh Hammond went 4-for-4, and Sean Gamble drove in three as Columbia beat Kannapolis, 7-3, with Coleman Picard closing on 3 1/3 hitless innings. Northwest Arkansas' game against Springfield was rained out. Royals Transactions No Roster Moves Late Rally Carries Storm Chasers Past Columbus The Omaha Storm Chasers scored three runs in the eighth inning to break a tie and beat the Columbus Clippers, 6-3. Dobnak worked 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits with no walks and five strikeouts for a quality start. Omaha grabbed the early lead in the first when Lugo hit a two-run home run that scored Brett Squires for a 2-1 advantage. Columbus answered with two runs in the third to lead 3-2, and Omaha tied it in the fifth on a Peyton Wilson run-scoring single that brought home Gavin Cross. The Storm Chasers took control in the eighth. Drew Waters doubled to drive in Rudy Martin Jr. for a 4-3 lead, and Brandon Drury followed with a two-run single that scored Lugo and Waters to make it 6-3. Eli Morgan earned the win with a scoreless eighth, and Eric Cerantola closed the ninth for his eleventh save, striking out two. Brett Squires led the offense, going 3-for-4 with a double. Lugo finished with two RBIs, two runs, and a walk, while Gavin Cross added two hits. Omaha left six runners on base and went 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The Storm Chasers are now 35-42. Player AB R H RBI BB K Abraham Toro 4 0 1 0 0 0 Peyton Wilson 4 0 1 1 0 3 Brett Squires 4 1 3 0 0 1 Rudy Martin Jr. 0 1 0 0 0 0 Andrew Velazquez 0 0 0 0 0 0 Matthew Lugo 2 2 1 2 1 1 Drew Waters 4 1 1 1 0 1 Brandon Drury 4 0 1 2 0 2 Luca Tresh 4 0 0 0 0 1 Gavin Cross 3 1 2 0 1 0 Kevin Newman 3 0 0 0 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Randy Dobnak 6 1/3 8 3 3 0 5 1 Génesis Cabrera 2/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 Eli Morgan 1 1 0 0 1 2 0 Eric Cerantola 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 David Shields Dominates As Quad Cities Tops South Bend Shields turned in a dominant start as the Quad Cities River Bandits beat the South Bend Cubs, 8-1. Shields worked six innings, allowing one run on three hits with one walk and seven strikeouts for a quality start. Mason Miller followed with two scoreless innings and two strikeouts, and Yimi Presinal finished with a scoreless ninth. Quad Cities built its lead with a three-run second inning. Erick Torres drew a bases-loaded walk that scored Luke Pelzer, Connor Rasmussen grounded into a force out that brought home Derlin Figueroa, and Asbel Gonzalez followed with a run-scoring single that plated Tyriq Kemp for a 3-0 lead. The Bandits added a run in the third on a Torres sacrifice fly double play that scored Ramon Ramirez, and Pelzer drove in Blake Mitchell with a groundout in the seventh. Quad Cities pulled away with three runs in the ninth, two of them on bases-loaded walks to Kemp and Torres. Gonzalez led the offense, going 3-for-5 with a stolen base from the leadoff spot. Pelzer added three hits, a walk, and two runs, and Torres finished with three RBIs and two walks. The River Bandits left ten runners on base and went 4-for-15 with runners in scoring position. Quad Cities improved to 31-37. Player AB R H RBI BB K Asbel Gonzalez 5 1 3 1 0 0 Blake Mitchell 4 2 1 0 1 2 Ramon Ramirez 4 1 0 0 1 2 Luke Pelzer 4 2 3 1 1 0 Derlin Figueroa 5 1 2 0 0 2 Tyriq Kemp 4 1 1 1 1 2 Erick Torres 2 0 1 3 2 0 Connor Rasmussen 4 0 0 2 1 1 Trevor Werner 4 0 0 0 1 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR David Shields 6 3 1 1 1 7 0 Mason Miller 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 Yimi Presinal 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Josh Hammond, Sean Gamble Power Columbia Past Kannapolis The Columbia Fireflies pulled away with a three-run sixth inning and beat the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers, 7-3. Shane Van Dam picked up the win, allowing two runs, one earned, on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts over five innings. Picard closed the game with 3 1/3 scoreless and hitless innings, striking out three to earn his first save. Columbia trailed 1-0 after an unearned run in the first before taking the lead in the third. Gamble laced a two-run triple that scored Ivan Sosa and Hammond, and Hyungchan Um followed with a run-scoring groundout that brought home Gamble for a 3-1 advantage. The Fireflies broke the game open in the sixth. Jhosmmel Zue singled home Yandel Ricardo, Ivan Sosa added a run-scoring groundout, and Josh Hammond singled in Angel Ramirez to push the lead to 6-2. Gamble capped the scoring with a run-scoring single in the ninth. Hammond led the offense, going 4-for-4 with a double and a stolen base from the leadoff spot and scoring twice. Gamble finished with three RBIs, and Ricardo added three hits, including two triples. Columbia left seven runners on base and went 7-for-18 with runners in scoring position. The Fireflies improved to 37-35 for the season. Player AB R H RBI BB K Josh Hammond 4 2 4 1 1 0 Sean Gamble 5 1 2 3 0 1 Hyungchan Um 4 0 0 1 1 3 JC Vanek 4 0 0 0 1 3 Yandel Ricardo 4 1 3 0 1 1 Roni Cabrera 3 0 0 0 1 1 Jhosmmel Zue 4 1 2 1 0 1 Angel Ramirez 4 1 0 0 0 1 Ivan Sosa 4 1 0 1 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Shane Van Dam 5 3 2 1 2 2 0 Yeri Perez 2/3 0 1 1 2 0 0 Coleman Picard 3 1/3 0 0 0 0 3 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kendry Chourio: DNP David Shields: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 7 K Josh Hammond: 4-for-4, 2B Blake Mitchell: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 K Sean Gamble: 2-for-5, 3B, K Ramon Ramirez: 0-for-4, 2 K Drew Beam: DNP Carson Roccaforte: DNP Asbel Gonzalez: 3-for-5 Yandel Ricardo: 3-for-4, 2 3B, K Michael Lombardi: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Justin Lamkin: DNP Felix Arronde: DNP Blake Wolters: DNP Steven Zobac: DNP Austin Charles: DNP Daniel Vázquez: DNP Kamden Edge: DNP Warren Calcano: 0-for-1, 2 R, 4 BB View full article

Lord, Beeter, and Orlando Ribalta are the only relievers with 10 or more appearances since May 1 with ERA marks under four. Mitchell Parker, Paxton Schultz, and Gus Varland all have 10 or more appearances over that same time frame, but they sport ERAs over 6. That is not effective, even for an offensive-first team. The Nationals wouldn't need Schreiber to come in and be their closer. It seems like Beeter can handle that situation just fine (and his 2.69 xERA and 2.58 FIP hint that better days are ahead). That said, Schreiber could be an effective 7th or 8th-inning setup man that could lock down in high-leverage situations. That gives the Nationals bullpen more weapons in the transition to Beeter in the ninth. Who Could the Royals Get From the Nationals? Schreiber is not going to command a great prospect package from Washington. After all, he's a reliever, and he's a free agent next year who likely wouldn't return to D.C. While I don't think Schreiber would command a top prospect, he could help the Royals net a "turnaround" project or two in return. Two names that could be included in a Schreiber deal are outfielder Robert Hassell III and pitcher Andry Lara. Both are post-hype prospects who have failed to do much in the Majors and are currently languishing in Triple-A. Hassell is the more high-profile of the two. He was one of the prized prospects in the Juan Soto trade with the Padres, but he hasn't hit enough to be a relevant player at the Major League level. In 70 games and 206 plate appearances last season, Hassell hit .223 with a 58 wRC+. He was plagued by a 30.1% K% and 3.9% BB% with the Nationals a year ago. In Triple-A this year, he's hitting .224 with a 67 wRC+ in 228 plate appearances. Thus, he's not due for a call-up anytime soon, especially with a 26.3% K%. However, he has shown some intriguing skills in his Statcast profile in Triple-A this season. That makes one wonder if he could thrive in a new change of scenery. Hassell barrels the ball at a decent rate (6.6%), and the average EV and LA Sweet-Spot% ranked in the 60th percentile or above. At 24 years old, he's too young to give up on, but he seems like a superfluous asset for the Nationals right now. Conversely, the Royals could give Hassell a chance in CF as soon as this year, especially with Kyle Isbel out for an extended period of time. The same story is true for Lara on the pitching end. Lara was ranked as the 27th-best prospect in the Nationals system in 2024, according to Fangraphs. He's primarily been utilized as a starter for Triple-A Rochester, with 13 starts (14 appearances) and 64.1 IP. The sample hasn't been great, as he has a 5.60 ERA, but his 5.02 FIP and 4.97 xFIP are more encouraging marks. He also demonstrated solid grades on the splitter and sinker, and they seem to generate soft contact well, based on xwOBACON. Lara made his MLB debut with the Nationals last year and posted an 8.79 ERA in nine outings and 14.1 IP. While his 5.44 FIP was better, he struggled with command, as evidenced by his 12.8% K% and 1.25 K/BB ratio. Thus, he doesn't seem to fit in either the Nationals' rotation or bullpen at this time. Still, he seems like a pitcher who could benefit from a change of scenery and a change in pitch mix. The Royals have successfully tweaked or added pitches to struggling pitchers' repertoires, with varying degrees of success. Lara seems like another candidate. Maybe throw the sinker and splitter more and four-seamer less? Add a changeup or sweeper into the mix? With those changes, it's easy to see Lara see a spike in positive production as a member of the Royals. Would Schreiber be enough for Hassell and Lara? That's hard to tell, but it's a conversation worth having between Toboni and Royals President of Baseball Operations JJ Picollo. View full article

In our latest episode of the "Royals Pipeline" on KCSN, Jared Perkins and the College Baseball Show, and I talk about the upcoming draft and possible options for the Royals at No. 6 and No. 30. You can find the video version below: Please like, comment, and/or subscribe to Royals Pipeline and our other shows (One Royals Way and Postgame Live) at KCSN, available on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. Also, what did you think of our picks? Who do you like at No. 6 or No. 30? Feel free to reply below!

Carson Roccaforte and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals could not hold an early lead in a 7-1 loss, while the Quad Cities River Bandits fell 8-1 despite a Luke Pelzer RBI. The Omaha Storm Chasers rallied for two in the ninth but came up short, 3-2. In the lone win, Ryan McDonagh fired five scoreless innings, and Andy Basora closed it out as the Columbia Fireflies edged Kannapolis, 4-1, behind a two-run eighth. Mets Transactions Kansas City Royals signed free agent SS Andrew Velazquez to a minor league contract. Storm Chasers Rally Falls Short In 3-2 Loss The Omaha Storm Chasers nearly erased a three-run deficit in the ninth but fell 3-2 to the Columbus Clippers at home. Henry Williams turned in the longest outing, working 4 2/3 innings and allowing two runs on five hits with six strikeouts and four walks. Kris Bubic made a rehab start and was efficient in an inning of work. He had one strikeout and six strikes on eight pitches. Columbus scratched out single runs in the third, seventh, and eighth innings to build a 3-0 lead. Omaha's offense was quiet until the ninth. With Peyton Wilson aboard, Luca Tresh doubled to right field to score him, and Drew Waters followed with a double to center that brought Tresh home, cutting the margin to 3-2. The rally stalled there. Tresh, Waters, Wilson, Brandon Drury, Gavin Cross, and Kevin Newman each collected a hit, but Omaha stranded four runners and struck out 13 times as a team. Tresh and Waters drove in the only runs. The Storm Chasers' record fell to 34-42 with the loss. Player AB R H RBI BB K Abraham Toro 4 0 0 0 0 1 Peyton Wilson 4 1 1 0 0 3 Matthew Lugo 4 0 0 0 0 2 Luca Tresh 4 1 1 1 0 1 Drew Waters 4 0 1 1 0 1 Brandon Drury 4 0 1 0 0 0 Gavin Cross 3 0 1 0 0 1 Luke Maile 3 0 0 0 0 2 Kevin Newman 3 0 1 0 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Kris Bubic 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Ethan Bosacker 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 Henry Williams 4 2/3 5 2 2 4 6 0 Mason Black 1 1/3 4 1 1 0 2 0 Ben Sears 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Naturals Sink After Roccaforte's Early Homer In 7-1 Defeat The Northwest Arkansas Naturals jumped in front in the first inning when leadoff man Roccaforte homered to right field, but the offense went silent the rest of the way in a 7-1 loss at Springfield. Roccaforte finished 2-for-4 with a double and a home run, accounting for the lone run. Steven Zobac drew the bulk of the work, allowing one run on three hits over four innings with two strikeouts, two walks, and a home run. The game turned in the fifth, when Springfield erased a 1-1 tie by plating three runs, capped by a three-run homer off Oscar Rayo. The home side added three more in the eighth on a pair of home runs to pull away. Frank Mozzicato surrendered three runs in his single inning of work, and Rayo gave up three across 2 2/3 innings. Daniel Vazquez, Jack Pineda, Spencer Nivens, Colton Becker, and Canyon Brown each singled, but the Naturals stranded six and managed just the one run. They also went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Northwest Arkansas is now 30-39. Player AB R H RBI BB K Carson Roccaforte 4 1 2 1 0 0 Jack Pineda 3 0 1 0 0 1 Sam Kulasingam 4 0 0 0 0 2 Spencer Nivens 4 0 1 0 0 0 Daniel Vazquez 4 0 1 0 0 2 Colton Becker 4 0 1 0 0 0 Omar Hernandez 3 0 0 0 1 0 Canyon Brown 3 0 1 0 0 2 Justin Johnson 3 0 0 0 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Steven Zobac 4 3 1 1 2 2 1 Frank Mozzicato 1 2 3 3 0 1 1 Oscar Rayo 2 2/3 4 3 3 2 2 2 Brandon Johnson 0 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 River Bandits Stymied In 8-1 Loss At South Bend The Quad Cities River Bandits managed only four hits and fell 8-1 to South Bend. The game was ended after eight innings due to rain. Emmanuel Reyes took the loss, allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits over four innings with one strikeout and three walks. South Bend struck first with three runs in the opening inning, one of which was unearned after a fielding error by Tyriq Kemp. The game broke open late. South Bend pushed across three runs in the seventh, then added two more in the eighth, including a two-run homer surrendered by Kamden Edge in his lone inning. Quad Cities answered in the eighth when Pelzer singled to left field to score Asbel Gonzalez for the team's only run. Gonzalez, Blake Mitchell, Pelzer, and Connor Rasmussen recorded the four hits, while Derlin Figueroa struck out four times. The River Bandits left eight runners on base and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Quad Cities is now 30-37 after the loss to South Bend. Player AB R H RBI BB K Nolan Sailors 4 0 0 0 0 3 Asbel Gonzalez 3 1 1 0 0 1 Blake Mitchell 3 0 1 0 1 1 Ramon Ramirez 4 0 0 0 0 2 Luke Pelzer 4 0 1 1 0 1 Derlin Figueroa 4 0 0 0 0 4 Tyriq Kemp 2 0 0 0 1 1 Connor Rasmussen 3 0 1 0 0 1 Angel Acosta 3 0 0 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Emmanuel Reyes 4 3 3 2 3 1 0 Max Martin 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 Nick Conte 0 2/3 1 3 3 3 1 0 Chase Jessee 0 1/3 1 0 0 1 1 0 Kamden Edge 1 4 2 2 0 1 1 McDonagh's Gem And Late Push Lift Fireflies To 4-1 Win Ryan McDonagh anchored the Columbia Fireflies in a 4-1 win at Kannapolis, throwing five scoreless innings and allowing just two hits while striking out three and walking two to earn the win. The Fireflies built their lead early, scoring twice in the second inning. Josi Novas singled to bring home Hyungchan Um, and the inning produced the game's first runs. Columbia tacked on two more in the eighth to create breathing room. Angel Ramirez lifted a sacrifice fly to score JC Vanek, and Jhosmmel Zue singled to left field to bring in Yandel Ricardo. Zue led the offense at 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Jhon Reyes, Hunter Alberini, and Andy Basora combined for three innings out of the bullpen, with Basora recording the save. Columbia worked nine walks but left nine runners on base. The Fireflies also went 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position. The lone Kannapolis run came in the seventh against Alberini and was unearned. The win improved Columbia's record to 36-35 for the season. Player AB R H RBI BB K Josh Hammond 5 0 0 0 0 0 Sean Gamble 4 0 1 0 1 3 Stone Russell 3 0 0 0 2 0 JC Vanek 3 1 1 0 2 0 Yandel Ricardo 4 1 1 0 0 1 Hyungchan Um 2 1 0 0 1 1 Angel Ramirez 3 0 0 1 0 2 Jhosmmel Zue 3 1 2 1 1 0 Josi Novas 3 0 1 1 1 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Ryan McDonagh 5 2 0 0 2 3 0 Jhon Reyes 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 Hunter Alberini 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 Andy Basora 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kendry Chourio: DNP David Shields: DNP Josh Hammond: 0-for-5 Blake Mitchell: 1-for-3, BB, K Sean Gamble: 1-for-4, BB, 3 K Ramon Ramirez: 0-for-4, 2 K Drew Beam: DNP Carson Roccaforte: 2-for-4, 2B, HR, RBI Asbel Gonzalez: 1-for-3, R, SB, K Yandel Ricardo: 1-for-4, R, K Michael Lombardi: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Justin Lamkin: DNP Felix Arronde: DNP Blake Wolters: DNP Steven Zobac: 4 IP, 3 H, R, 2 BB, 2 K, HR Austin Charles: DNP Daniel Vázquez: 1-for-4, 2 K Kamden Edge: 1 IP, 4 H, 2 R, K, HR Warren Calcano: DNP View full article

My pleasure Yirsandy. I appreciate the kind words and have enjoyed your stuff here and on the other Diamondcentric sites! You definitely bring some great analysis and fresh perspective! I think that's a good point about Lynch's internal value. Right now, he's the third-longest tenured Royals player behind Salvy and Bubic. So if he stays, he will be the second longest. I think there is a value to that and I do believe the Royals as an organization care about those factors more than most. I also think as you said the Fermin deal may be a bit of apples and oranges in terms of comparison on my end. Still, I liked the Fermin deal because it was an example of the Royals trading someone at their peak, which they didn't do often under previous GM Dayton Moore. With the bullpen such a mess, I could see them wanting to hold onto Lynch a little longer because he's young and brings stability. That said, if the right deal comes along, I'm hoping they take advantage, even if Lynch is a clubhouse and "fan" favorite. They need to stock talent as much as they can, especially as they undergo this evaluation process for the remainder of 2026! Thanks for the reply!

Felix Arronde fanned eight over five scoreless innings as Northwest Arkansas rallied late to beat Springfield 6-3, with Carson Roccaforte driving in three. Darwin Rodriguez tossed seven scoreless innings, and Jhosmmel Zue belted a grand slam in Columbia’s 4-3 win. Bailey Falter won in Omaha’s 3-2 victory behind homers from Abraham Toro and Drew Waters. Quad Cities fell 6-2 despite Angel Acosta’s two-run shot. Royals Transactions Kansas City Royals placed 3B Maikel Garcia on the 10-day injured list. Left hand muscle strain. Kansas City Royals recalled 3B Josh Rojas from Omaha Storm Chasers. Toro And Waters Go Deep As Storm Chasers Edge Columbus Omaha rode two home runs and a strong start to a 3-2 win over the Columbus Clippers. Falter set the tone, allowing one run on six hits over five innings while striking out five and walking none. Anthony Gose followed with two scoreless innings, striking out three, and Genesis Cabrera struck out two in a scoreless frame. Eric Cerantola allowed a run in the ninth but closed it out for the save. Toro got the scoring started with a solo home run in the second inning. The Storm Chasers added two more in the fourth, when Waters launched a solo shot and Luke Maile singled home Brandon Drury. That proved to be enough, as Omaha held on through the final innings. Toro, Waters, Drury, Brett Squires, and Maile each collected a hit. The Storm Chasers left six runners on base and went 1-for-3 with runners in scoring position. Omaha is now 34-41 this season. Player AB R H RBI BB K Peyton Wilson 4 0 0 0 0 1 Matthew Lugo 4 0 0 0 0 1 Brett Squires 3 0 1 0 0 0 Luca Tresh 1 0 0 0 0 1 Abraham Toro 4 1 1 1 0 3 Drew Waters 4 1 1 1 0 0 Brandon Drury 4 1 1 0 0 2 Gavin Cross 1 0 0 0 2 0 Luke Maile 2 0 1 1 1 0 Kevin Newman 2 0 0 0 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Bailey Falter 5 6 1 1 0 5 0 Anthony Gose 2 2 0 0 1 3 0 Genesis Cabrera 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 Eric Cerantola 1 2 1 1 0 2 0 Arronde Dominates And Roccaforte Drives In Three In Naturals Comeback Northwest Arkansas scored five runs over the seventh and eighth innings to pull away from the Springfield Cardinals in a 6-3 win. Arronde, our 14th-ranked prospect at Royals Keep, was outstanding, striking out eight over five scoreless innings while allowing three hits and no walks. Caden Monke struck out three over 1 2/3 scoreless innings, and Zachary Cawyer struck out two in a scoreless ninth. Tommy Molsky surrendered three runs in the home half of the ninth. The Naturals took an early lead in the first when Roccaforte scored on a Spencer Nivens groundout. The game stayed close until the seventh, when Roccaforte doubled home two runs. Northwest Arkansas broke it open in the eighth, plating three runs, two of them on bases-loaded walks to Alberto Rodriguez and Roccaforte. Roccaforte finished 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Rudy Martin Jr. scored twice and stole two bases. The Naturals left nine runners on base and went 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position. The Naturals improved to 30-38. Player AB R H RBI BB K Carson Roccaforte 4 1 2 3 1 0 Jack Pineda 4 0 0 0 1 1 Sam Kulasingam 4 0 0 0 0 0 Spencer Nivens 5 1 2 1 0 1 Daniel Vazquez 5 0 1 0 0 3 Rudy Martin Jr. 3 2 1 0 1 0 Omar Hernandez 2 2 0 0 1 1 Connor Scott 2 0 0 0 2 2 Alberto Rodriguez 2 0 1 1 2 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Felix Arronde 5 3 0 0 0 8 0 Caden Monke 1 2/3 1 0 0 1 3 0 Tommy Molsky 1 1/3 1 3 3 3 1 0 Zachary Cawyer 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 Acosta Homers But River Bandits Fall To South Bend Quad Cities dropped a 6-2 decision to the South Bend Cubs despite an early lead from a home run. Tanner Jones took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits over five innings with five strikeouts, two walks, and a home run. Aiden Jimenez followed with a scoreless inning, but Yimi Presinal gave up three runs in two-thirds of an inning. L.P. Langevin struck out three over 1 1/3 scoreless innings to close. The River Bandits got their offense going in the fifth inning, when Angel Acosta hit a two-run home run that scored Connor Rasmussen. That accounted for both Quad Cities runs. The lineup managed five hits, with Nolan Sailors, Blake Mitchell, Ramon Ramirez, Tyriq Kemp, and Acosta each recording one. The River Bandits drew six walks but left eight runners on base, unable to add to their total after the fifth. They also went just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Quad Cities fell to 30-36 after the loss to South Bend. Player AB R H RBI BB K Nolan Sailors 5 0 1 0 0 3 Asbel Gonzalez 4 0 0 0 0 2 Blake Mitchell 3 0 1 0 1 1 Ramon Ramirez 1 0 1 0 2 0 Luke Pelzer 2 0 0 0 1 0 Derlin Figueroa 4 0 0 0 0 2 Tyriq Kemp 4 0 1 0 0 2 Connor Rasmussen 2 1 0 0 2 1 Angel Acosta 4 1 1 2 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Tanner Jones 5 7 3 3 2 5 1 Aiden Jimenez 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 Yimi Presinal 2/3 3 3 3 0 1 0 L.P. Langevin 1 1/3 0 0 0 1 3 0 Zue Grand Slam And Rodriguez Gem Lift Fireflies Past Kannapolis Columbia rode one big inning and a dominant start to a 4-3 win over the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. Rodriguez was excellent, throwing seven scoreless innings while allowing five hits and one walk and striking out six. Dash Albus pitched a scoreless inning for the save. Henson Leal allowed three runs in the eighth, but the lead held. All four Fireflies runs came in the second inning. With the bases loaded, Jhosmmel Zue hit a grand slam to right field, scoring Yandel Ricardo, Hyungchan Um, and Roni Cabrera ahead of him. That outburst gave Rodriguez all the support he needed. Sean Gamble, Stone Russell, JC Vanek, Roni Cabrera, Zue, and Josi Novas each collected a hit, and Gamble added a stolen base. Columbia left just three runners on base and went 2-for-3 with runners in scoring position. The win improved the Fireflies' overall record to 35-35. Player AB R H RBI BB K Josh Hammond 4 0 0 0 0 0 Sean Gamble 4 0 1 0 0 1 Stone Russell 4 0 1 0 0 0 JC Vanek 4 0 1 0 0 2 Yandel Ricardo 3 1 0 0 1 0 Hyungchan Um 3 1 0 0 1 0 Roni Cabrera 4 1 1 0 0 2 Jhosmmel Zue 3 1 1 4 0 2 Josi Novas 3 0 1 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Darwin Rodriguez 7 5 0 0 1 6 0 Henson Leal 1 4 3 3 1 1 0 Dash Albus 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kendry Chourio: DNP David Shields: DNP Josh Hammond: 0-for-4 Blake Mitchell: 1-for-3, BB, K Sean Gamble: 1-for-4, SB, K Ramon Ramirez: 1-for-1, 2 BB Drew Beam: DNP Carson Roccaforte: 2-for-4, 2B, 3 RBI, BB Asbel Gonzalez: 0-for-4, 2 K Yandel Ricardo: 0-for-3, BB Michael Lombardi: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Justin Lamkin: DNP Felix Arronde: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K Blake Wolters: DNP Steven Zobac: DNP Austin Charles: DNP Daniel Vázquez: 1-for-5, 3 K Kamden Edge: DNP Warren Calcano: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 K View full article

Image courtesy of Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images On Tuesday, before the Royals' second game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field, manager Matt Quatraro shared some deflating news about Opening Day starter Cole Ragans. Here's what Quatraro shared with the media, as shared by KC Star Royals beat writer Jaylon Thompson. It's been a difficult year for Ragans, who was already coming off an injury-plagued 2025 campaign. In eight starts and 35.1 IP this year, the 28-year-old lefty posted a 4.84 ERA, a 1.42 WHIP, and a 6.18 FIP. Once again, Ragans proved to be a strikeout machine with a 29.8% K%. Unfortunately, he struggled with his control, posting a 15.2% BB% and 14.6% K-BB%. He also allowed a 26.3% HR/FB%, nearly double his rate from a year ago. When looking at his TJ Stuff+ summary from this year, the stuff and whiff rates remained solid, but he struggled to find the strike zone and allowed too much hard contact, as demonstrated by his rough xwOBACON numbers. Ragans had a 104 overall TJ Stuff+ and three pitches with grades over 55 (four-seamer, changeup, and slider). He also had a 31.7%, which is excellent (he also had a 30.9% whiff rate on the four-seamer and a 40.4% mark on the changeup). However, Ragans' 44.4% zone rate was mediocre, and that command inefficiency allowed hitters to be more selective, which explains the slightly subpar chase rate. Overall, the former Ranger allowed a .428 xwOBACON, with his changeup (.452) and knucklecurve (1.267) getting hit particularly hard. For context, it wasn't just an increase in walks that hurt Ragans. When looking at his Statcast percentile comparison between this year and 2025, he saw massive declines in categories in which he thrived a year ago. That sharp regression illustrated that something was ailing Ragans on the mound. In 2025, he ranked in the 98th percentile in xwOBA, 70th percentile in O-Swing%, and 69th percentile in Swing%. This year? He ranks in the 30th percentile in xwOBA, 25th percentile in O-Swing%, and 24th percentile in Swing%. Those are massive declines and uncharacteristic for him, even though he could be prone to wildness at times on the mound. The data showed that something was wrong with Ragans, and so far, the Royals have seemingly acted accordingly, even though they haven't been specific about his injury. A couple of weeks ago, he was pulled from his rehab stint in Omaha after experiencing elbow soreness the day after his start. Less than a week ago, he was moved from the 15-Day IL to the 60-Day IL. Now, he's en route to surgery and cannot just miss the remainder of the season, but perhaps a significant portion of the 2027 campaign. So what does this latest setback mean for not just Ragans, but a Royals rotation that's running on fumes? This Will Be the Third Major Surgery for Ragans Ragans has an extensive injury history, which explains why the Rangers made him available in the Aroldis Chapman trade back in 2023. In 2018, as a Minor Leaguer in the Rangers system, he underwent his first Tommy John surgery. In May 2019, he had a second Tommy John surgery after they found out the first surgery didn't address what had been ailing him initially. While there were two surgeries, many experts felt that Ragans' situation was better characterized as one "long" surgery because he didn't pitch much during his rehabilitation after the first unsuccessful surgery. A full breakdown of his surgery, recovery, and comeback can be found in this piece from Tread Athletics, which supported Ragans in his second rehabilitation process and helped him develop into an "ace" pitcher with the Royals. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== It's unclear if the surgery to repair a VEO impingement will be similar to Tommy John surgery or what kind of timetable it will put Ragans on, recovery-wise. If it is a similar recovery time to Tommy John surgery, then Ragans may miss the entirety of 2027. The Royals will face an interesting dilemma regarding Ragans' contract at the conclusion of next season. In February of 2025, Ragans and the Royals agreed to a three-year, $13.25 million extension. The deal bought out three of Ragans' arbitration years, and he is due to make $4.583 million this year and $7.583 million next season. However, the deal leaves his final year of arbitration open for 2028, which would be the last year the Royals would have control over Ragans. As of now, a positive aspect of this injury situation is that the Royals could negotiate a cheap one-year deal with Ragans after his current deal expires at the end of next season. While Ragans hasn't been healthy the past two years, he showed in 2024 that when he is, he can be one of the best starting pitchers in the league. In 2024, Ragans posted a 3.14 ERA, 1.14 WHIP, 2.98 FIP, and 20.5% K-BB% in 186.1 IP. He demonstrated not just excellent stuff but also posted strong numbers in zone, chase, whiff, and xwOBACON, as evidenced by his TJ Stuff+ summary from that All-Star season. The Royals could put their blind trust in Ragans, perhaps extend him after next year on a super-cheap deal, with the hope that he will be 100 percent in 2028 and 2029, at the very least. As much as Royals fans would like to trade Ragans now, especially after two injury-plagued years in a row, the reality is that this latest setback probably kills his trade value. One has to wonder whether the Royals regret not trading Ragans for a package that included Jarren Duran when they had the chance this offseason. With this latest news, Kansas City may be better served by investing in Ragans, hoping he bounces back and outperforms his contract, rather than trading him for pennies on the dollar after this surgery. How Does This Royals Staff Adapt? The Royals have gotten lucky with their pitching depth. In addition to Ragans, Kansas City has lost Kris Bubic to an extended absence, and his outlook remains murky after he was pulled from a rehab stint due to shoulder soreness. On a positive note, he had a bullpen session last week, so at least he's in a better spot for an MLB return than Ragans. Right now, the Royals' rotation is in decent shape with Michael Wacha, Seth Lugo, Stephen Kolek, Noah Cameron, and Luinder Avila. Even though Avila wasn't the sharpest in the Royals' 12-5 win over the Rays, he did a great job of working through jams and minimizing hard contact in the winning effort, as illustrated below in his TJ Stuff+ summary. That said, while Kansas City may be okay for now, they could be in trouble if someone else gets hurt. Having a contingency plan explains why they acquired MLB veterans Randy Dobnak and Matt Moore. They are guys who could fill in at the MLB level if needed. Still, it may be worthwhile for the Royals to think about acquiring starting pitching depth at the Trade Deadline, especially since Bubic will be a free agent next year and with Ragans likely out for a majority, if not all, of next season. Last year, GM JJ Picollo traded catcher Freddy Fermin to San Diego for Kolek and Ryan Bergert. Kolek has obviously been a success story, but Bergert was on a positive trajectory with the Royals until an early-season injury in Omaha that required surgery. Like Ragans, Bergert's future for 2027 is questionable, but he holds solid starter potential if healthy, as evidenced by his TJ Stuff+ summary from a year ago. In 76.1 IP, Bergert posted a 3.66 ERA and 1.26 WHIP with a 105 TJ Stuff+ and 51.5% zone rate. He needs to improve his chase and whiff rates, as well as his xwOBACON, to be a more dependable arm in the rotation. Nonetheless, Bergert proved last year that, if healthy, he could be a No. 4 or 5 starter in this rotation, much like Kolek. In fact, Kolek's TJ Stuff+ metrics have paled in comparison to Bergert's. And yet, the 29-year-old former Padres pitcher has demonstrated success with the Royals, sans last Sunday's disastrous outing against the Cardinals. The Royals need to be aggressive in acquiring starting pitching this summer, much like they were last summer in the Fermin trade. Even after a second-straight win over the Rays, which improves their record to 34-46, Kansas City is still 7.5 games back in the division and has 5.8% odds to make the postseason, according to Fangraphs. That percentage is the lowest of any team in the AL Central. Safe to say, Picollo and the Royals front office need to be thinking about 2027, even with this positive stretch in June. To acquire pitching to make up for the Bubic and Ragans losses next year, Kansas City could lose some popular players. However, if they trade the right assets, such as Lane Thomas, John Schreiber, or Daniel Lynch IV, just to name a few, they could get the starting pitcher or just general pitching depth they need to feel better about their outlook for 2027 and beyond. Losing Ragans for the year is a tough pill to swallow for this organization that has been snakebitten by injury. That said, this is an opportunity for the Royals to mold their organization in-season in the right way and to get a head start on the upcoming offseason as well. View full article

Just ordered my copy. Cannot wait to check it out!

The infield defense has been incredibly solid this year, as you pointed out in your post. I do think Massey replacing India has been a major upgrade and has helped this pitching staff overall. The good thing is Massey has stayed healthy, which hasn't been the case in years past. The outfield is a much more complicated issue. Thomas and Jac have great arm strength, but their OAA numbers are bad. Collins has been bad overall. Overall, the OF ranks 25th in OAA with a -7 mark. I think Jac moving to first base will help long term. His success rate is equal to his estimated success rate at first, which is not the case in RF (-2%). I think this offseason, it would be nice for the Royals to upgrade the outfield, perhaps get someone who can not just improve the lineup, but outfield defense as well, especially with Isbel's long-term outlook questionable after his foot injury.

Image courtesy of USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect We have just completed our June voting for our Top-20 Prospects list at Royals Keep. Thank you for your votes and for helping determine this list. We remain one of the few independent Royals sites that let our community vote every month on who the Top-20 prospects are in the Royals system. If you haven't joined the community, please do so to get engaged here at Royals Keep. It hasn't been a great year for the big-league club. The Royals are 32-46, beginning a four-game series on the road in Tampa Bay. However, there have been some promising stories in the Kansas City farm system, especially in the lower levels. Here's what the new Top-20 list looks like after this most recent stretch of voting from our users and staff at Royals Keep. (New additions are in bold.) Kansas City Royals Top 20 Prospect List Kendry Chourio, RHP A+ (Previously #1) David Shields, LHP A+ (Previously #2) Josh Hammond, SS A (Previously #5) Blake Mitchell, C A+ (Previously #4) Sean Gamble, OF/2B A (Previously #3) Ramon Ramirez, C A+ (Previously #6) Drew Beam, RHP AA (Previously #7) Carson Roccaforte, CF AA (Previously #10) Asbel Gonzalez, CF A+ (Previously #8) Yandel Ricardo, SS A (Previously #11) Michael Lombardi, RHP A (Previously #14) Ben Kudrna, RHP AAA (Previously #9) Justin Lamkin, LHP AA (Previously Unranked) Felix Arronde, RHP AA (Previously #12) Blake Wolters, RHP A+ (Previously #13) Steven Zobac, RHP AA (Previously #16) Austin Charles, 3B/SS A+ (Previously Unranked) Daniel Vazquez, SS AA (Previously #18) Kamden Edge, RHP A+ (Previously Unranked) Warren Calcano, SS DSL (Previously #19) In this new list, we lost a few names from the previous ranking. Luinder Avila, who's become a starter in the Royals' rotation, graduated from prospect status. We also saw a couple of arms from the 2021 MLB Draft drop out of the Top-20. That includes former first-round pick Frank Mozzicato, who's struggled once again in Northwest Arkansas with a 7.59 ERA in 42.2 IP. Furthermore, fourth-round pick Shane Panzini also dropped from the list after struggling in Omaha. He has a 10.22 ERA in 24.2 IP with the Storm Chasers this season. Risers The following prospects were previously on the Royals Top-20 Prospects list last month and moved up in the rankings in our June voting. Those prospects are as follows: Hammond (From #5 to #3) Roccaforte (From #10 to #8) Ricardo (From #11 to #10) Lombardi (From #14 to #11) Hammond hit .290 this past month, which is solid, but his other metrics were a bit underwhelming. He posted a .333 OBP, a .667 OPS, and 80 wRC+ in 76 plate appearances in June. He also has a 0.28 BB/K ratio, highlighted by 18 strikeouts to five walks. However, Hammond had a solid game on Sunday, hitting his first home run in June. Roccaforte has gotten a lot of prospect buzz recently, especially with the plantar fasciitis injury to Kyle Isbel. Unfortunately, it hasn't been a kind June to Roccaforte. In 75 plate appearances this month, he's hitting .188 with a .637 OPS and 63 wRC+. Strikeouts have been a problem for Roccaforte this month, as he is striking out 37.3% of the time and sporting a BB/K ratio of 0.32. Despite this cold stretch, he carries a lot of upside due to his power, defense, and speed. Ricardo has been decent in June, though he was much better in May after a slow start in April. In 75 plate appearances this month, he's hitting .246 with a .663 OPS and 79 wRC+. The plate discipline has been solid from Ricardo in June, as he has a 10.7% BB% and 0.47 BB/K ratio. He also has a home run, three stolen bases, and has scored 15 runs this month for the Fireflies. Lombardi made the biggest gain of the risers, moving up three spots in the June voting. The former Tulane product has been a strikeout machine this month with 18 strikeouts in 13.1 IP, good for a 30.5% K%. Walks have been a bit of an issue, as he has a 16.9% BB% and a 1.80 K/BB ratio. Thus, it's not a surprise that his FIP is 5.34, nearly two points higher than his ERA. Nonetheless, in three starts this month, Lombardi has demonstrated an ability to strike guys out in bunches, which is what one wants to see from a pitching prospect at the Low-A level. Fallers While some Royals prospects improved their stock in June, some saw the inverse effect. Below are prospects who saw a tumble in the Top-20 voting in this past month (though they remained on the list). Gamble (From #3 to #5) Gonzalez (From #8 to #9) Kudrna (From #9 to #12) Arronde (From #12 to #14) Wolters (From #13 to #15) Calcano (From #19 to #20) Gamble, Gonzalez, and Calcano all had inconsistent offensive performances recently, especially in June. However, Gamble has at least shown progress in this past month, even though his overall numbers are poor (.179 average and 59 wRC+ in 264 PA). In 63 plate appearances in June, Gamble is hitting .292 with an .882 OPS and 143 wRC+. He is also showing improved plate discipline with a 0.92 BB/K ratio this month. Even though he tumbled in the rankings this month, he may be on his way to moving back up if he continues to build on this strong June. Gonzalez hit .250 this month in Quad Cities with 10 stolen bases. The power was paltry this month, as he had no homers and an ISO of .000. That said, he had a 0.71 BB/K ratio, which includes a 15.6% BB%. It would be nice to see his power bounce back, but at least he's not giving away at-bats in June. It's been a disappointing start for Calcano, who is repeating the DSL in 2026. In 12 games and 52 plate appearances, he's hitting .152 with a .453 OPS and 7 wRC+. He is also striking out a lot, as evidenced by his 34.6% K% and 0.22 BB/K ratio. He may be off this list in July if things don't improve. On the pitching end, Kudrna and Arronde were primarily affected by injuries this month. Kudrna is out for the year after arm surgery. Arronde returned off the IL to make two starts in June, but they've been brutal outings. He has an 11.57 ERA and 15.01 FIP in 4.2 IP with the Naturals. As for Wolters, he saw an early boost after pitching well in Columbia and earning the promotion to Quad Cities. However, it's been a rough transition to High-A ball for the 2023 second-round pick. On a positive note, Wolters has 16 strikeouts in 12.1 IP, good for a 23.2% K%. The negatives? He has a 14.59 ERA, a 1.60 K/BB ratio, and 2.92 HR/9. Control is still an issue, and he's getting hit hard. With his strikeout stuff, though, the 21-year-old is at least proving that he can be a bullpen option in the future, though he still has time in the development process. New Addition Scouting Reports No. 13 Justin Lamkin, LHP AA The 22-year-old Lamkin was drafted by the Royals in the competitive round portion of the 2025 MLB Draft (71st overall). A Texas A&M product, the lefty posted a 3.42 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 84.1 IP with the Aggies. Lamkin was known as a strikeout machine with impeccable control in college. In his final season in College Station, he produced a 28% K% and 22.6% K-BB%. The Royals did not rush Lamkin after drafting him, as he didn't pitch at any level in the Royals system in 2025. However, he got a lot of work with the Royals' pitching development team in Surprise, Arizona, and that seemed to pay off in 2026. Lamkin began the season in High-A Quad Cities and absolutely dominated. In six starts and 28.1 IP, he posted 1.27 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, and 3.45 FIP. He maintained his strong strikeout command from college, producing a 34.9% K% and 24.9% K-BB% with the River Bandits. That strong performance in High-A ball helped Lamkin earn a promotion to Northwest Arkansas. The former Aggie pitcher only made two starts with the Naturals before landing on the IL. While his ERA was 3.97, his WHIP was 0.97, his K% was 34.9%, and his K-BB% was 27.9%. Thus, Lamkin demonstrated all the same qualities in Double-A that made him successful in High-A before going on the IL. While he was transferred to the 60-Day IL, it sounds like the Royals are doing so to be "cautious," not because of a serious injury. Lamkin's profile is very similar to Kris Bubic's. His fastball averages only 91-93 MPH, but he generates good extension and maintains impeccable command. The former Texas A&M product sports a four-pitch mix that also includes a curveball, slider, and changeup. His slider is his best-rated secondary offering and is seen as his put-away pitch, according to scouts. While his timetable to return is unclear, Lamkin is putting himself in place to challenge for a rotation spot in 2027, as long as he stays healthy. No. 17 Austin Charles, 3B/SS High-A Charles was off to a hot start in 2026 before being sidelined due to a hip and stomach ligament issue that required surgery in early June. Charles was recently added to the 60-Day IL, and it seems unlikely that he will return to the River Bandits this season. Before the injury, the 22-year-old infielder demonstrated all the skills and intangibles that made him an intriguing prospect a couple of seasons ago in Low-A Columbia. In 30 games and 123 plate appearances, Charles was slashing .306/.377/.491 with an .868 OPS, .185 ISO, and 121 wRC+. The lanky (he's 6'5) prospect also had three home runs, 20 runs scored, 19 RBI, and eight stolen bases on nine attempts. It was a nice bounce-back for Charles after he struggled in his initial exposure in High-A in 2025 (57 wRC+ in 232 PA). Charles was a 20th-round pick in the 2022 MLB Draft out of Stockdale High School in Bakersfield. He had a commitment to UC Santa Barbara, but signed with the Royals after they offered him an overslot signing bonus of $429,500. Charles was a multi-sport athlete in high school who didn't focus solely on baseball, yet possessed intriguing offensive and defensive tools that got the attention of MLB scouts. He was always seen as a bit of a raw prospect, much like Lorenzo Cain, but Charles has developed nicely over the past couple of years and has gotten rave reviews regarding his leadership and makeup. The injury is a bummer because Charles was likely on his way to earning a promotion to Double-A ball around this time. If fully healthy, he could be making his Double-A debut on Minor League Opening Day in 2027. No. 19 Kamden Edge, RHP High-A A 20th-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, the right-hander out of Northern Oklahoma JC has been a sleeper that has slowly captured the attention of prospect experts. Though his ceiling isn't that high due to him being a reliever, Edge is showing the ability to thrive in high-leverage situations with the River Bandits. In 20 outings and 26.2 IP, Edge has a 2.70 ERA and 0.68 WHIP with a 36.9% K% and 28.2% K-BB%. He has three saves in four chances and two holds, and he's been able to succeed in multiple-inning outings. Edge has gotten some BABIP luck, as it sits at .128. That explains why his FIP is higher at 4.25. Nonetheless, the former JuCo product is showing Royals fans MLB reliever upside, which is what this organization needs given the MLB bullpen's struggles in 2026. The 21-year-old was named the River Bandits' pitcher of the month for May after he posted a 0.79 ERA and 0.71 WHIP that month. Edge is known for his 95-96 MPH fastball, low release, and sweeping slider. He has leveraged these traits to succeed this season with Quad Cities. Ranked as the No. 35 prospect in Fangraphs' 2026 Royals Prospects Rankings, here's what they said about Edge in their scouting report: The command has definitely taken a step forward this year. After posting an 18.3% BB% and 10% K-BB% last year with the Fireflies, he has an 8.7% BB% and 28.2% K-BB% with the River Bandits this year. That improvement in command could help him move to Double-A later this year and perhaps give him a chance to earn a spot in the MLB bullpen in 2027 Spring Training. View full article

Abraham Toro hit for the cycle and drove in six runs as Omaha outslugged St. Paul 15-12 in 11 innings, with Brandon Drury and Josh Rojas adding key extra-base hits. Hunter Patteson worked six strong innings, and Frank Mozzicato struck out one and allowed no runs in relief for Northwest Arkansas, but the Naturals dropped a 5-4 decision. Michael Lombardi fanned seven over 4 2/3 innings, and Josh Hammond homered for Columbia, which came up a run short. Quad Cities' finale against Wisconsin was postponed due to rain. It will be made up in a doubleheader at a later date. Royals Transactions No Roster Moves Toro Completes The Cycle In Wild Omaha Slugfest Toro turned in a monster game, hitting for the cycle, driving in six runs, and helping the Omaha Storm Chasers outlast the St. Paul Saints 15-12 in 11 innings. Toro went 5-for-6 with a double, a triple, and a home run, while Drury added four hits, a homer, and three RBIs, and Matthew Lugo collected four hits, including a home run. The game swung wildly in the fourth inning, when St. Paul plated nine runs to erase an early Omaha lead and surge ahead. The Storm Chasers chipped away, with Lugo and Toro both homering in the fifth to cut the deficit to 10-8. Omaha tied the game in the eighth and pushed to extra innings. In the 11th, starting with the zombie runner at second, Drury singled home a run, and Rojas doubled in two more to break the game open for a 15-12 final. The pitching was rough on both sides, with St. Paul having to pitch shortstop Tanner Schobel in the 11th inning. Andrew Pérez opened with two innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out four. Aaron Sanchez struggled badly, surrendering seven runs on seven hits in 1 2/3 innings. Eric Cerantola closed it out with a scoreless inning and two strikeouts. Omaha left 10 runners on base and went 10-for-23 with runners in scoring position. The Storm Chasers are now 33-41 this season. Player AB R H RBI BB K Josh Rojas 6 0 1 2 1 3 Matthew Lugo 7 2 4 1 0 2 Brett Squires 5 2 2 0 1 1 Abraham Toro 6 3 5 6 0 0 Peyton Wilson 6 1 3 1 0 0 Luca Tresh 6 0 1 0 0 2 Drew Waters 5 1 1 1 1 1 Brandon Drury 6 3 4 3 0 0 Elih Marrero 6 3 3 1 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Andrew Pérez 2 2 1 1 0 4 1 Aaron Sanchez 1 2/3 7 7 7 0 0 2 Ethan Bosacker 2 1/3 3 2 2 2 2 1 Luke Jackson 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Dan Altavilla 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 Mason Black 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 Eli Morgan 1 1 1 0 2 3 0 Eric Cerantola 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 Naturals Bullpen Falters In Ninth As Tulsa Rallies The Northwest Arkansas Naturals carried a one-run lead into the ninth inning but could not hold on, falling 5-4 to the Tulsa Drillers. Jack Pineda paced the offense with three hits and three RBIs, while Spencer Nivens added two hits, a walk, and an RBI. Connor Scott also chipped in two hits, including a double. Northwest Arkansas built its lead methodically, even though they could not hold it at the end. The Naturals scored once in the first inning when Pineda singled home a run, added two more in the fifth on another Pineda single that brought in Scott, and pushed across a fourth run in the seventh when Nivens singled home Carson Roccaforte for a 4-2 advantage. That cushion vanished in the ninth, when Tulsa plated three runs to take the lead and the win. Patteson turned in a solid outing, allowing two runs on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts over six innings. Mozzicato followed with two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and two walks while striking out one. Augusto Mendieta took the loss, giving up three runs on five hits in the ninth. The Naturals left 11 runners on base and went 3-for-21 with runners in scoring position. The loss dropped Northwest Arkansas's record to 29-38. Player AB R H RBI BB K Carson Roccaforte 4 1 1 0 1 1 Rudy Martin Jr. 5 1 2 0 0 1 Jack Pineda 5 0 3 3 0 1 Spencer Nivens 3 0 2 1 2 0 Daniel Vazquez 5 0 0 0 0 1 Alberto Rodriguez 5 0 0 0 0 2 Canyon Brown 4 0 2 0 0 1 Connor Scott 4 1 2 0 0 1 Justin Johnson 3 1 0 0 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Hunter Patteson 6 2 2 2 3 3 2 Frank Mozzicato 2 1 0 0 2 1 0 Augusto Mendieta 1 5 3 3 0 1 0 Fireflies Comeback Bid Falls One Run Short In Hickory The Columbia Fireflies mounted a late rally but came up short, dropping a 4-3 decision to the Hickory Crawdads. JC Vanek led the way with three hits, a double, a home run, and an RBI, while Hammond reached base three times with two hits, a home run, a walk, and an RBI from the leadoff spot. Jhosmmel Zue added two hits and an RBI. The game remained quiet for most of the afternoon in the series finale on Sunday. Columbia scratched out a run in the fourth inning when Zue grounded out to bring home Vanek for a 1-0 lead. Hickory answered in the seventh, plating four runs to seize control. The Fireflies fought back, getting a solo home run from Vanek in the eighth and another from Hammond in the ninth, but stranded the tying run and fell by a single run. Lombardi was excellent, striking out seven over 4 2/3 innings while allowing four hits and a walk, with none of his three runs earned. Jose Gutierrez opened with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts. Andy Basora surrendered a run in two-thirds of an inning. Columbia left nine runners on base and went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position. The loss dropped the Fireflies' record to 34-35. Player AB R H RBI BB K Josh Hammond 4 1 2 1 1 1 Stone Russell 5 0 1 0 0 1 Hyungchan Um 5 0 0 0 0 1 JC Vanek 4 2 3 1 0 0 Roni Cabrera 4 0 1 0 0 2 Jhosmmel Zue 4 0 2 1 0 1 Angel Ramirez 3 0 0 0 1 0 Ivan Sosa 4 0 1 0 0 3 Josi Novas 4 0 1 0 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jose Gutierrez 2 0 0 0 0 3 0 Michael Lombardi 4 2/3 4 3 0 1 7 0 Andy Basora 2/3 1 1 1 0 1 1 Jhon Reyes 2/3 0 0 0 1 2 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Kendry Chourio: DNP David Shields: DNP Sean Gamble: DNP Blake Mitchell: DNP Josh Hammond: 2-for-4, HR, BB, K Ramon Ramirez: DNP Drew Beam: DNP Asbel Gonzalez: DNP Ben Kudrna: DNP Carson Roccaforte: 1-for-4, BB, K, SB Yandel Ricardo: DNP Felix Arronde: DNP Blake Wolters: DNP Michael Lombardi: 4 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K Luinder Avila: DNP Steven Zobac: DNP Frank Mozzicato: 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K Daniel Vazquez: 0-for-5, K Warren Colcano: DNP Shane Panzini: DNP View full article

Image courtesy of Peter Aiken-Imagn Images Week in a Nutshell It wasn't a great start for the Kansas City Royals last week. They lost their first two games against the Washington Nationals in D.C. However, the Royals salvaged the series against Washington with a win in the third game and went on to win two straight against their I-70 rival back at Kauffman Stadium. While they were unable to complete the sweep over the weekend, the offense came alive with 10 runs and had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth. The Royals' offense was the most potent in baseball over the past week. They tied for second in home runs and ranked first in OPS over the past seven days. Unfortunately, they ranked 28th in ERA and 27th in WHIP, which explains their .500 record in this most recent stretch of games. Record this Week: 3-3 Run Differential for the Week: +5 Record for the Year: 32-46 Run Differential for the Year: -44 Standing: 5th in the AL Central One Sentence Game Summaries Game 73: WSH 7, KC 3 Mitch Spence, predictably, is not sharp enough in the series opener against the Nationals. Game 74: WSH 6, KC 4 Former Royal Foster Griffin and Nine-hole hitter Nasim Nunez carry the day for the Nationals. Game 75: KC 6, WSH 2 Luinder Avila strikes back in the Nation's Capital. Game 76: KC 14, STL 6 Royals bombard Cardinals pitching early, and Salvador Perez becomes the new HR King of Kauffman, but Bobby Witt Jr. is injured. Game 77: KC 6, STL 5 Cardinals nearly come back in the ninth, but Alex Lange closes it out. Game 78: STL 12, KC 10 It's all about runs and home runs, baby! News and Notes The week started out with an acquisition, as the Royals acquired some much-needed pitching depth on June 15th. Kansas City traded low-level Minor League reliever Denis Samudio for Toronto's Connor Seabold, who was recently designated for assignment. Additionally, the Royals also promoted Spence to make the start on Monday against the Nationals. After Spence's start, the Royals promptly optioned him to Omaha and called up the recently acquired Seabold to add depth to the Royals bullpen. A Minor League move that got some attention was the promotion of No. 1 Royals prospect Kendry Chourio to High-A. Chourio posted a 1.88 ERA in Low-A Columbia as an 18-year-old. In his Quad Cities debut, Chourio gave up seven runs (five earned) in 4.2 IP, but he struck out 10 hitters. Those strikeouts are nice to see, even if the High-A debut was mixed. The Royals continued to add to their pitching depth this week with a couple of acquisitions of arms. On June 17th, Kansas City added former Twins pitcher Randy Dobnak, who was pitching in the Seattle Mariners organization. The Mariners received cash in exchange for the 31-year-old pitcher who is currently in Omaha (he made his Storm Chasers debut on Friday). On June 20th, the Royals signed left-handed pitcher Matt Moore to a Minor League deal. Moore was once a top prospect in the Rays system who made an All-Star team with Tampa Bay. He also found success as a reliever with the Giants and Angels. However, he hasn't pitched since 2024 due to arm injuries. Lastly, after going on the 7-Day IL for concussion protocol after getting hit in the head by a line drive, Seth Lugo made his return to the Royals rotation on Friday, April 19th. Mason Black was optioned to Omaha to make room for Lugo on the active roster. In the Royals' 6-5 win over the Cardinals, Lugo went six innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits and three walks with no strikeouts. He not only produced a quality start but also earned the win. The worst Royals news of the week came on Thursday, as Witt tweaked his knee during a tough play in the hole with the bases loaded. On Friday morning, it was reported that Witt had suffered a grade 1 MCL sprain. Manager Matt Quatraro kept Witt out of the lineup on Friday and Sunday against the Cardinals, but they have not added Witt to the 10-Day IL. They want to continue to monitor him and re-evaluate before the trip to Tampa Bay, especially since he's walking around okay. The Royals play against the Rays on Monday. Thus, it's likely that they will announce a decision with Witt in the morning, whether it's an IL stint or just regular days off in between games until he's 100 percent. Highlights Like last week, the Royals' offense carried the club over this past week of games. Kansas City thrived in nearly every offensive category as a team over the past seven days. Their .956 OPS was tops in the league this week. Their .313 batting average was the second-highest mark by a team this week, and they also tied for second in home runs with 13 (only the Angels had more, and they played this week in Sacramento). The Royals also ranked third in runs scored with 43, and their 38 strikeouts were the seventh-fewest in baseball over the past seven days. There has been a much more aggressive approach in June, but it still seemed to pay off in a decent number of walks and a solid OBP this week. Their 20 walks were the 10th-most in baseball, and their .375 OBP ranked 4th as well. While the Royals certainly received a ton of grief earlier in the year for their struggles and inconsistency, they have put that behind them in June, despite the injuries. For context, over the past 30 days, the Royals rank 11th in OPS, are tied for 2nd in batting average (with Milwaukee), are tied for 9th in runs scored, rank 4th in stolen bases, and rank 8th in OBP. The only downside for this team has been home runs, as they rank 23rd in home runs over the past 30 days. However, they certainly added to that total on Sunday with four against the Cardinals. Individually, it was the Carter Jensen and Jac Caglianone Show this week. Jensen had the best week overall, with 10 hits in 20 at-bats, good for a .500 average. He also posted a 1.515 OPS, a .565 OBP, and launched two home runs, including one on Sunday against St. Louis lefty JoJo Romero. In addition to power, Jensen flashed an excellent eye at the plate this week. He had three walks to only two strikeouts. The former Park Hill High School product is looking more comfortable in the leadoff spot. He is currently slashing .279/.333/.554 with an .877 OPS in 68 at-bats at leadoff. Cags had a great week in our last Week In Review, and it was more of the same from him in the past seven days. In 25 at-bats this week, the former Florida product had eight hits, the second-most of any Royals hitters this week. He slashed .323/.393/.840 with 1.233 OPS. That included four home runs, seven runs scored, and seven RBI. On Sunday, Caglianone launched two bombs, with both home runs making their way into the fountains. His second home run of the game got the Royals within three and came off of Cardinals closer Riley O'Brien, who's been struggling over the past two months with ERA marks of 6.30 in May and 7.71 in June. With Vinnie Pasquantino on the IL and Witt and Maikel Garcia going through their own injury issues, the Royals are depending on Caglianone to keep up this production in the No. 3 spot in the batting order. He is now hitting .275 with an .829 OPS in 272 plate appearances, and he has 12 home runs to boot. Furthermore, his Statcast percentiles have been impressive this year, especially in barrels, exit velocity, and hard-hit rate. Nick Loftin also had a strong week for the Royals, primarily filling in at third base with Garcia still going through some issues with his hand. In 22 at-bats, he hit .318 with a 1.036 OPS, and he launched his second home run of the year on Sunday against the Cardinals. Lane Thomas has also been trending in the right direction offensively. He had two home runs in the Nationals series (his former team), and he hit .269 with a .922 OPS in 26 at-bats. He also had three walks to three strikeouts, continuing to show the plate approach that this Royals lineup needs. Lastly, Salvy made history this week with his 10th home run of the year on Thursday against the Cardinals. His homer made him the all-time leader in home runs at Kauffman Stadium. He was previously tied with Hall of Famer George Brett. It hasn't been the best year for Salvy, but it seems like his power is finally coming around (.462 slugging this week), which means that he could be closing in on being the Royals' all-time home run champ sooner rather than later. Lowlights Notice how I didn't mention any pitching in the highlights? That's because it was a brutal week for the Royals pitching staff as a whole. Stephen Kolek had a nightmare outing on Sunday, as he gave up nine runs on nine hits (including three home runs) and one walk in 1.2 IP. When looking at his TJ Stuff+ from his outing against the Cardinals, nothing went right for Kolek: he couldn't find the strike zone, he couldn't generate chases or whiffs, and his stuff, which rated as subpar (95 TJ Stuff+), got hit hard. On a positive note, Avila had a nightmare outing on Friday, June 12th, at home, and he ended up having a great outing against the Nationals on Wednesday (5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 5 K). Let's hope that this was just an example of a bad outing on a hitter-friendly day (May for St. Louis only lasted two innings as well and allowed six runs). Matt Strahm's freefall continued this week. In three outings and 2 IP, he allowed four runs on five hits and two walks. While he didn't give up any home runs, he didn't generate any strikeouts, and his TJ Stuff+, chase, and whiff rates this week looked pretty paltry, according to TJ Stuff+ data. Strahm didn't give up a run on Sunday, but he didn't look too crisp either. He allowed one hit and one run and had runners in scoring position. While he got out of the jam, his command struggles continued to varying degrees on Sunday (he had two wild pitches). Daniel Lynch IV also had a tough week on the mound for the Royals. In two outings, he gave up three runs on two hits (one home run) and two walks. He had only one strikeout, an ERA of13.50, and his WHIP was 2.00. The TJ Stuff+ wasn't too out of character for him this week, but he struggled in all the major categories, including zone rate, chase rate, whiff rate, and xwOBACON. Lynch remains one of the Royals' best trade chips. That said, he's seen his ERA go from 0.87 in April to 3.00 in May to 4.15 in June. He's not been trending in the right direction, and he's showing that he may not be able to handle those "closer" opportunities either, as Quatraro has preferred Lange in ninth-inning spots. Looking Ahead The Royals hit the road again for seven games in seven days, a tough stretch that will test their pitching depth (which wasn't helped today by the Royals only getting 1.2 innings from Kolek). Kansas City first visits the Tampa Bay Rays, who are second in the AL East with a record of 43-31. The Ratys rank last in the league in home runs, but they rank third in batting average and fourth in OBP. Despite high totals, runs have been inconsistent. They rank 18th in runs scored. Nonetheless, they have some talented hitters in the lineup, such as Junior Caminero and Yandy Diaz. The Rays' pitching staff is solid, and the Royals will face Drew Rasmussen and Shane McClanahan to begin the series. They don't strike out a ton of batters (they rank 20th in K%), but they don't walk batters (they rank 4th in BB%), and they take advantage of their stellar defense. The Rays' .273 BABIP is fourth-lowest in the league. An Achilles' heel for this pitching staff is its propensity to allow the long ball. They are allowing a 1.21 HR/9, which ranks 20th. Hence, if the Royals can continue to hit the ball hard as they did against St. Louis, they could put pressure on this Tampa Bay pitching staff. After a four-game series with the Rays, the Royals travel to the South Side for a three-game series against the White Sox. Chicago is having a breakout season. They are 39-37, good for second in the AL Central. They don't hit for a high average (23rd), but they draw walks (13th in OBP) and hit bombs. They rank second in the league in home runs, and they have two players with 20 home runs this year already (including one on the IL). That said, the White Sox pitching staff isn't much better than the Royals'. They rank 20th in ERA and 21st in FIP. Furthermore, their 4.47 FIP is only four points better than the Royals' FIP. Thus, it could be a case of which pitching staff breaks first this weekend at Rate Field. While the Royals won two of three this past weekend, the White Sox were swept by the Tigers in Detroit, who are 33-44 and second-to-last in the AL Central. Thus, the White Sox are trending in the wrong direction after building so much momentum earlier in June. That gives an opportunity for the Royals to surprise in Chicago, especially if the White Sox can't make up any ground in a three-game series with the Cleveland Guardians from June 22nd to the 24th at the Rate. View full article