Daily Clips
May 31, 2018
LOCAL
Royals' 7-run frame tops Twins in rubber tilt
Moose, Dozier, Soler launch homers as bullpen rallies late
May 30, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Moose hits highest launch-angle HR in MLB
Royals third baseman's 46 degree jack sparks 7-run 2nd frame
May 30, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals nearly inked '85 Draft pick Deion
Two-sport star chose college after verbal agreement with KC
May 30, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Bonifacio close to starting rehab assignment
Royals outfielder is serving an 80-game suspension for PEDs
May 30, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals turn blowout into nail-biter but hold off Twins 11-8
May 30, 2018By Blair Kerkhoff/KC Star
D'oh! Royals lost track of outs Wednesday, started to run off the field
May 30, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Royals make pitching moves: Blaine Boyer to DL, Trevor Oaks recalled from Omaha
May 30, 2018By Blair Kerkhoff/KC Star
Tankless task: Losing doesn't guarantee draft success for Royals, or other MLB teams
May 30, 2018By Lee Judge/KC Star
Royals' Drew Butera sneaked in a hug with Twins player during Tuesday's game
May 30, 2018By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Baseball legend Satchel Paige's former home burns, investigators looking into arson
May 29, 2018By Matt Campbell/KC Star
Royals’ Hunter Dozier hits first career homer, makes a trade for the ball in victory over the Twins
May 31, 2018By Rustin Dodd/The Athletic
MINORS
Early Burst Sends Chasers Over Dodgers, 8-5
Omaha win their 7th out of 8 in series opener in OKC
May 30,2018By Omaha Storm Chasers
Big Innings, Bullpen Lead Naturals To 10-5 Win In Frisco
May 30, 2018By Northwest Arkansas Naturals
Big Inning Dooms Blue Rocks
Wilmington Falls in Second Game of Series
May 30, 2018By Wilmington Blue Rocks
NATIONAL
A peek into the future of MLB broadcasts: wearable cameras (the Vladdy Cam!) and streaming locker room talks
May 30, 2018By Richard Deitsch/The Athletic
Semien on paternity list after welcoming son
May 30, 2018By Jane Lee/MLB.com
MLB TRANSACTIONS
May 31, 2018 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
Royals' 7-run frame tops Twins in rubber tilt
Moose, Dozier, Soler launch homers as bullpen rallies late
May 30, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
It took the Royals 14 innings to muster two runs in a victory on Tuesday night.
But they peppered the Twins for nine runs in the first two innings on Wednesday before holding on for an 11-8 victory in the rubber game at Kauffman Stadium.
The Twins scored seven runs off relievers Trevor Oaks and Burch Smith, which turned a laugher into a nail-biter. But Royals reliever Kevin McCarthy came on and retired all four hitters he faced, restoring some order, while Tim Hill retired both hitters he faced.
Nervous times for Royals manager Ned Yost.
"I think we can find a bunch of words for it," Yost said, shaking his head. "We just couldn't slow them down. We weren't throwing strikes. We weren't throwing down in the zone. We were leaving balls up. They kept adding on and adding."
Yost did not want to have to use McCarthy, who had appeared in three of the four previous games, but Yost said he had no choice.
"I was kind of hanging a little bit," McCarthy said. "But I looked at the video and [my sinker] was really sinking a little bit more. Maybe I was staying on top of it more."
Kelvin Herrera closed out the ninth for his 12th save.
Mike Moustakas had a double and a home run, his 12th, and four RBIs. His 46 degree launch-angle home run came in a seven-run second inning as the Royals grabbed a 9-0 lead.
Jorge Soler had four hits, including a rocket homer into the left-field bullpen, which Statcast™ had at a 113-mph exit velocity.
Hunter Dozier socked his first career homer in the seventh, a laser shot into the left-field corner that Statcast™ measured at 111 mph.
The home runs by Dozier and Soler gave the Royals an 11-8 cushion.
"It was quite refreshing and relaxing for us," Yost said, grinning.
Earlier, a lot of eyes were on Royals right-hander Brad Keller, who was making his first Major League start and his first since he was in the Minor Leagues last season. Keller, who was on a 50-60 pitch count, fired three efficient innings, giving up three hits and one run while striking out three. He threw 51 pitches and likely will be stretched out to 70-75 pitches in his next outing.
"It was good, first time starting in a while," Keller said. "Nerves were a little high in the first inning. I was just trying to settle down and get my bearings."
MOMENT THAT MATTERED
The Royals' bullpen was reeling in the sixth inning as Smith gave up three runs and left with two out after a two-run double by Miguel Sano made it 9-7. In came left-hander Brian Flynn, who walked the first hitter he faced and then gave up a bloop RBI single that made it 9-8. Then with the potential tying and lead runs on second and third, Flynn struck out Max Kepler on a 3-2 four-seamer. The Twins didn't threaten again.
"If I'm not mistaken runners were at second and third," Yost said, "so that was huge right there. We got the out when we needed it."
HE SAID IT
"I don't know. But our fans love us and I know dogs love us, too." -- Yost, when asked pregame how many dogs he thought would be in the stadium for "Bark at the Park" night
MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY
Soler thought he had his eighth home run of the season in the second inning. His drive hit off the top of the left-center-field wall and first appeared to hit a fan and bounce back in the ballpark. But after a crew-chief review, it was determined the ball hit the corner of the top padding and bounced back in the park for an RBI double. But Alex Gordon singled in Soler and the Royals got the run anyway.
"I have no idea how that ball bounced back," Yost said.
UP NEXT
After an off-day on Thursday, right-hander Ian Kennedy (1-5, 5.15 ERA) will start as the Royals return to action on Friday at 7:15 p.m. CT to open a three-game set with the A's at Kauffman Stadium. Kennedy permitted two runs and five hits over five innings in a loss to the Rangers on Saturday. Righty Frankie Montas (1-0, 1.50) will start for the A's.
Moose hits highest launch-angle HR in MLB
Royals third baseman's 46 degree jack sparks 7-run 2nd frame
May 30, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas wasted no time in getting the Royals going in Wednesday night's 11-8 win in the rubber game against the Twins at Kauffman Stadium.
First, Moustakas hit a sinking liner to left in the first inning off Twins rookie Fernando Romero that was mishandled by left fielder Eddie Rosario but ruled a two-run double.
Then, Moustakas hit a moon shot in the second inning toward the right-field corner. When the ball finally came back down, it just sneaked inside the foul pole and into the seats, a two-run homer, his 12th. That gave the Royals a 5-0 lead en route to a seven-run second frame.
The home run traveled only a projected 339 feet, according Statcast™. It had a 46-degree launch angle, the highest of any home run hit in MLB this season.
"I knew I hit it good," Moustakas said. "I knew I stayed inside of it, but it was really high and I didn't know if it had the distance.
"I knew about the launch angle from [the postgame show on FOX Sports Kansas City]."
That launch angle was the highest for any Royals hitter since Salvador Perez, who also had a 46-degree launch-angle homer in 2015.
Later in the inning, Jorge Soler drilled what first was ruled a two-run home run to left-center field. But after a crew-chief review, it was determined the ball hit the corner of the padding on top of the wall and bounced back and was therefore ruled an RBI double.
No matter. Alex Gordon singled in Soler to make it 7-0. Ryan Goins capped off the seven-run inning with a two-run triple to make it 9-0.
Royals nearly inked '85 Draft pick Deion
Two-sport star chose college after verbal agreement with KC
May 30, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Could the Royals have had Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders in the same outfield in the late 1980s and early 90s?
Yep, it came very close to happening.
Long-time Royals fans know the legacy of multi-sport superstar Bo Jackson. The Royals drafted him in the fourth round of the 1986 MLB Draft and he played five seasons in Kansas City, authoring numerous legendary moments, while also starring for the NFL's Los Angeles Raiders.
But the Royals also came within an eyelash, and a late-night steal, of also landing Sanders.
The Royals drafted Sanders out of North Fort Myers High School in Florida in the sixth round of the 1985 Draft, with the 149th overall pick.
That Draft was loaded with superstars such as B.J. Surhoff, Will Clark, Barry Bonds, Barry Larkin, Rafael Palmeiro and so on.
Kansas City used the 17th overall pick that year to take shortstop Brian McRae, the son of Royals Hall of Famer Hal McRae. Brian converted to a center fielder and had a productive 10-year Major League career primarily with the Royals, Cubs and Mets.
But then Royals scouting director Art Stewart took a chance in the sixth round with Sanders.
"We had a scout covering a high school game in Bradenton [Fla.] and we were actually looking at some other players," Stewart said. "But when we got the report back, it was all about this kid named Deion Sanders. Nothing but glowing reports about him. So we started to scout him."
Sanders was a three-sport star at North Fort Myers High School.
"He was just 17 years old," Stewart said, "but he had amazing tools. He had speed and power. He hit from the left side and he could really fly. He ran a 3.94 to first, which for 17 years old, is pretty fast."
Stewart discussed the possibility of drafting Sanders with the Royals' front office.
"We knew it would be difficult to get him," Stewart said. "We knew he wanted to play football at Florida State. But we were persistent. We kept at it. And when the Draft came around, we thought we'd take a chance."
In the days after the Draft, the Royals' confidence that they could sign Sanders grew.
And then one night, Stewart had a heart-to-heart phone call with Sanders, and they agreed to a $40,000 deal.
"That was a lot of money back then," Stewart said. "Especially for a sixth-round pick."
Stewart dispatched one of his scouts to Fort Myers that night to get the paperwork signed. But by the time that scout arrived the next morning, Sanders had changed his mind and signed with Florida State and legendary coach Bobby Bowden.
"We had a verbal agreement over the phone," Stewart said. "But our scout got there too late. Somehow, in the middle of the night, Florida State got to him and signed him. I mean, we had him."
Sanders went on to have a standout career at Florida State. And in 1988, the Yankees drafted him and signed him. The following year, the NFL's Atlanta Falcons took him with the fifth overall pick, and his two-sport career began.
Sanders debuted with the Yankees in 1989. Eventually he also played baseball with the Braves, Reds and Giants. His baseball career was so-so: He did lead the league in triples with 14 with the Braves in 1992.
Sanders never really came back to hurt the Royals. He played in eight games against Kansas City and hit .226. Overall, Sanders, in a nine-year MLB career, slashed .263/.319/.392.
But Sanders had a Hall of Fame NFL career, amassing 53 career interceptions and two Super Bowl rings.
"The funny thing is," Stewart said, "if he had signed with us, and we had developed him, I think he would have been a helluva baseball player. He had all the tools."
The Royals were known for drafting future NFL players back then. In 1979, the Royals also drafted Dan Marino out of Pittsburgh and John Elway out of Stanford. Neither signed with the Royals.
"We could have had a helluva football team back then," Stewart said.
Bonifacio close to starting rehab assignment
Royals outfielder is serving an 80-game suspension for PEDs
May 30, 2018By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
In less than two weeks, Royals outfielder Jorge Bonifacio, serving an 80-game suspension, will begin a rehab assignment in the Minors in preparation for being activated to the 25-man roster.
Royals officials say Bonifacio, who was suspended by Major League Baseball for testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance, likely will begin his rehab assignment on June 12. By MLB rule, it will last 15 days.
View Full Game Coverage
Bonifacio, who had been the Royals' starting right fielder entering Spring Training, will be reinstated from the suspended list after the club's game against the Brewers at Miller Park on June 27. On June 28, an off-day, he will be activated and a corresponding move will be made.
That corresponding move should be interesting. The Royals could have a logjam of outfielders then with Bonifacio along with Jorge Soler, Jon Jay and Alex Gordon. And Cheslor Cuthbert, presently on the disabled list, likely will be activated by then and would probably fill the DH spot again, especially if first baseman Lucas Duda, also on the DL, is activated by then as well.
Royals officials also say that Bonifacio probably will alternate time between Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha during his rehab, depending on the logistics of each team's travel schedule.
Bonifacio has been working out at the team's Spring Training facilities in Surprise, Ariz., since his suspension began and he has been playing in extended spring games.
The Royals on Wednesday recalled right-hander Trevor Oaks from Omaha and placed reliever Blaine Boyer on the 10-day disabled list with a strained lower back.
Royals manager Ned Yost said Boyer, who has an 11.76 ERA in 20 appearances, has been dealing with the back issue for some time and that it flared up on the recent road trip.
The Royals needed another available arm after right-hander Scott Barlow had to go four innings in relief in a 2-1 win in 14 innings over the Twins on Tuesday. Yost needed another pitcher to piggyback Brad Keller's start on Wednesday -- Keller made his first start of the season after appearing in 21 games as a reliever and was slated to be on a 55-60 pitch count.
Oaks made one start for the Royals against the White Sox in April and permitted five runs and 12 hits in five innings.
Royals turn blowout into nail-biter but hold off Twins 11-8
May 30, 2018By Blair Kerkhoff/KC Star
The Royals turned a blowout into a nail-biter but had enough left to outlast the Twins 11-8 on Wednesday at Kauffman Stadium.
An early nine-run lead was reduced to one after six innings and the Royals were headed toward an epic collapse until a couple of turning points.
First, reliever Kevin McCarthy, pitching for the fourth time in five games, settled bullpen turbulence with a clean seventh inning.
"I was thinking if we get through this and get it to Mac I think we're going to be in pretty good shape," Royals manager Ned Yost said.
McCarthy retired the Twins in order in the seventh and collected the victory, improving his record to 4-2.
"He's one of those guys you have a lot of confidence in anytime he gets in the game," Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas said.
Hunter Dozier then drove the first pitch of the Royals’ seventh over the left-field wall for his first major-league home run and gave his team some breathing room.
"I didn't know that was his first major-league home run," Yost said. "It kind of caught me off guard. I've seen him hit homers, smash the ball all over the park in spring training. This was cool to see."
And something of a relief for Dozier.
"It's a good feeling," said Dozier, who first homer came in his 72nd major-league at-bat. "I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I'd been close."
The Royals seemed to have created all the comfort they would need with two runs in the first and seven in the second inning. Everyone pitched in. The first nine runs were scored by nine players.
Moustakas drove in four of them. Left fielder Eddie Rosario misplayed a line drive into a two-run double in the first.