Daily Clips
March 16, 2017
LOCAL
KC gets leadoff HR from Mondesi, solid Hammel start
March 15, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan & Doug Miller/MLB.com
Changeup a critical pitch for Hammel in AL
Royals righty, who spent 2015-16 with Cubs, happy with how his repertoire is looking
March 15, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Hard hits from Soler music to Royals' ears
Offseason addition had been off to a slow start at the plate this spring
March 15, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Second MRI confirms no damage to Salvy's left knee
All-Star catcher was hurt during collision at plate in Classic
March 15, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Ned Yost had some harsh but fair comments on a fan's (rough) back tattoo of his face
March 15, 2017By Adrian Garro/MLB.com
Hammel impresses, Mondesi homers in 7-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox
March 15, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
Royals catcher Brayan Peña is eager to give back to his adopted country
March 15, 2017By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Salvador Perez’s knee OK but elbow is hurt; says he’ll be ready for Royals opener
March 15, 2017By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
This tattoo of Ned Yost may be the worst thing you’ll see today
March 15, 2017By Sam Mellinger & Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Royals prospect Bubba Starling had ‘minor’ laser re-adjustment procedure on right eye
March 15, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
Italian Job: Wine, baseball and the new life of former Royal Mark Teahen
March 15, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
Watch Eric Hosmer’s game-winning homer for the United States vs. Venezuela in the WBC
March 16, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
NATIONAL
Elite 8th: Jones, Hosmer power USA rally
Americans sitting pretty after late homers sink Venezuela
March 16, 2017By Chad Thornburg/MLB.com
Extra oomph: Hosmer's HR comes after long out
Statcast shows two similar batted balls had vastly different outcomes for U.S. first baseman
March 16, 2017By Andrew Simon/MLB.com
With Launch Of Sports Crate, MLB Fans Get Monthly Merchandise And VIP Experience Surprises
March 13, 2017By Maury Brown/Forbes.com
Thunder, Royals team up to host 'Thunder Day' July 16
March 15, 2017By Erik Horne/The Oklahoman
MLB TRANSACTIONS
March 16, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
KC gets leadoff HR from Mondesi, solid Hammel start
March 15, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan & Doug Miller/MLB.com
The White Sox broke a tie by bashing four home runs in three innings and pulled away to beat the Royals, 7-3, on Wednesday afternoon at Camelback Ranch.
Chicago second baseman Yoan Moncada, the second-ranked prospect in baseball according to MLBPipeline.com, stepped up with the first White Sox long ball of the afternoon, a two-run shot in the fifth inning which tied the game at 2 and also happened to be Moncada's first of the spring. Moncada, one of the prized prospects the White Sox got in the winter trade that sent Chris Sale to Boston, added a solo homer in the seventh off hard-throwing Royals closer Kelvin Herrera.
"That's one of the things that makes me feel really good," Moncada said through an interpreter. "You know [Herrera is] one of the best at his role. … It was a good game for me."
Chicago was trailing, 2-0, in the fifth inning and looking rather helpless against Kansas City starter Jason Hammel, but Rymer Liriano singled and reached third on two Royals throwing errors. Moncada took Hammel deep to right field to knot the game and chase the starter. Kansas City reliever Malcolm Culver didn't fare well in the sixth, giving up back-to-back homers: a two-run blast by Avisail Garcia and a solo shot by Cody Asche.
"Hammel looked really sharp," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Our goal was to give him four innings, but he got through that with 50 pitches so we sent him back out for the fifth. He was fantastic."
The game's scoring started right away when Kansas City's leadoff man, Raul Mondesi, drove a pitch from White Sox starter Reynaldo Lopez onto the grassy berm beyond the right-center-field fence to give the Royals a 1-0 lead. Mondesi scored the team's second run in the third inning when he led off with a walk, moved to third on a Christian Colon single, and scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jorge Soler. Jorge Bonifacio hit a solo homer to left center in the eighth for Kansas City's third run.
Lopez, the No. 46-ranked prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, settled in a bit after the first inning and lowered his spring ERA from 6.23 to 5.40. He finished off his outing with a flourish, retiring the final seven batters he faced. After the Mondesi homer, Lopez, who came to Chicago in the Adam Eaton trade over the winter, gave up only two hits.
Royals infielder Colon, in a battle for the starting second-base job, suffered a sprained middle finger on his right hand. Colon had singled and stolen second in the third inning, but then was picked off second. He injured the finger when his hand got trapped under his body as he dived to the bag.
Royals Up Next: The Royals will play split-squad games on Thursday with left-hander Jason Vargas targeted to start against the Mariners at Surprise Stadium in a 3:05 p.m. CT game (listen on Gameday Audio). In the other game, right-hander Josh Staumont, who started the spring in the Royals' big league camp, will start in a 3:10 p.m. CT matchup at Peoria Stadium against the Padres (watch on MLB.TV).
White Sox Up Next: The White Sox have an off-day Thursday but get right back at it on Friday at Camelback Ranch in a home game at 2:05 p.m. CT vs. the Cubs (watch on MLB.TV). Left-hander Derek Holland (3.18 ERA) will make his third start of the spring. Holland has given up two runs on five hits in 5 2/3 innings of Cactus League play, with five strikeouts and five walks.
Changeup a critical pitch for Hammel in AL
Royals righty, who spent 2015-16 with Cubs, happy with how his repertoire is looking
March 15, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
The plan for Royals right-hander Jason Hammel in this start was simple: Work on his changeup.
Hammel did just that Wednesday and tossed four straight scoreless innings before giving up a two-run home run in the fifth to White Sox super prospect Yoan Moncada in a 7-3 Royals loss.
"Funny thing is, when I was warming up, I felt like I'd never thrown a baseball before and I wouldn't get an out today," Hammel said, smiling. "But good changeup today. The game plan was to work on that more. It wasn't very good last time out.
"Pretty pleased with all my pitches, right up to the last pitch, but even that was a good pitch."
Hammel went 4 1/3 innings, gave up five hits, walked none and struck out five. He threw 67 pitches, 44 for strikes.
"Sometimes you never know what you're going to bring out there until you get out there," Hammel said. "First time working with Drew [Butera] behind the dish and that went well. He called a great game and I feel pretty good with the two catchers we got."
Hammel knows his changeup will be a critical part of his arsenal this season.
"We discussed earlier to work on the changeup more to righties and lefties," he said. "It's going to be a weapon this year, especially the way they stack lefties in the American League. Going to need that."
Hard hits from Soler music to Royals' ears
Offseason addition had been off to a slow start at the plate this spring
March 15, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Not that anyone on the Royals' coaching staff was panicking, but manager Ned Yost and his coaches certainly were at least slightly relieved when they saw outfielder Jorge Soler barrel two balls at the plate on Tuesday.
Soler, acquired in the offseason from the Cubs for closer Wade Davis, had been 3-for-31 before Tuesday -- and those three hits were all bloopers.
But on Tuesday against the Angels, Soler ripped his first extra-base hit of the spring -- a double to the wall in center. Later he ripped a single to left.
"That was probably the best I've felt in the box since the beginning of Spring Training," Soler said Wednesday morning through interpreter Christian Colon.
Yost said he believes Soler's early struggles simply were a matter of timing.
"The more at-bats you get," Yost said, "the more you work it out. I've seen guys have really bad Spring Trainings and then come the regular season, they're fine."
Soler disregarded any notion that the trade put pressure on him to produce right away this spring for his new team.
"I'm just being more aggressive," Soler said. "That's part of my game. I was being too passive early on. Timing is it, too. But be more aggressive."
The second part of Soler's development is defensively. He has been working every day with outfielders coach Rusty Kuntz for over a month on his jump and his routes to the ball.
"We've had a lot of conversations," Soler said. "I feel very comfortable out there. Rusty is doing a great job with me. Just going to continue to listen."
Yost has moved Soler between right field and left field all spring, just to see where he might position best.
"I feel comfortable, very comfortable in right field," Soler said. "In left field, I'm still working on some things. But I'll play wherever they want me, too."
Second MRI confirms no damage to Salvy's left knee
All-Star catcher was hurt during collision at plate in Classic
March 15, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
The second MRI conducted on Royals All-Star catcher Salvador Perez's injured left knee came back as clean as the first one conducted in Mexico -- no structural damage, just inflammation.
Perez said Wednesday morning in front of his locker that the knee felt fine and that he was certain to be ready for Opening Day.
"Of course. You think I'm going to miss Opening Day?" Perez said. "I don't think so."
Perez suffered the injury Saturday while playing for Venezuela in Jalisco, Mexico, in Pool D of the World Baseball Classic. Perez's backup catcher with the Royals, Drew Butera, who was playing for Italy, collided with Perez on a play at the plate.
Perez had to be helped off the field.
"I wasn't scared," Perez said. "Not like I had to worry about anything, because I didn't hear it pop or anything."
There is no definitive time table for Perez's return, manager Ned Yost said. And actually, while Perez's knee is fine, Yost said Perez hyperextended his left elbow on the same play.
"The elbow will keep him out longer than the knee," Yost said. "Probably about seven days or so. We'll see."
Perez and Butera have had several conversations since the incident, including one Tuesday morning.
"He apologized again, but he didn't have to," Perez said. "It's part of the game. You play hard, I play hard. For some reason, it happened."
Butera was aware he took a lot of criticism on Twitter.
"I won't say anything about that," Butera said. "You just have to laugh off what people say.
"It was a weird play. The ball was overthrown and I was trying to go outside. And then the throw back to him brought him back up the line. I tried to stop."
Butera is just relieved Perez turned out all right.
"He's obviously a great teammate, a great friend," Butera said.
Ned Yost had some harsh but fair comments on a fan's (rough) back tattoo of his face
March 15, 2017By Adrian Garro/MLB.com
Folks who decide to get a tattoo generally do so in hopes of paying tribute to something near and dear to their hearts, be it a loved one, special inspirational phrase or something else with which they connect on a personal level. Sometimes, tattoos are the result of losing a bet with a friend.
That's what seems to have happened to a Royals fan, who lost said bet and had to get manager Ned Yost's face tattooed on his back as penance: (click link for image)
Here's an in-progress photograph of the tattoo process, as shared by the man himself, Brett Marcus:
When reached for comment about this unique development, Yost reacted with a chuckle, telling MLB.com's Jeffrey Flanagan:
"Yeah, I saw it. The guy lost a bet. You'd think they could get a better picture of me. I'm just glad it was on his back and not his butt."
"It's a nice little tribute, though," Yost said in the video atop this post. And after all, he's right. A bad tattoo tribute is still better than no tribute at all.
Hammel impresses, Mondesi homers in 7-3 loss to the Chicago White Sox
March 15, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
The most impressive performance of Jason Hammel’s spring was spoiled by one pitch to White Sox second baseman Yoan Moncada. Well, nearly spoiled.
“Save for the last pitch, it was a pretty good outing,” said Hammel, who was making his third start of the spring for the Royals. “And even that was a pretty good pitch.”
The pitch in question came against Moncada — one of the game’s top prospects — with one out in the bottom of the fifth on Wednesday afternoon. Moncada belted a two-run homer to right field, tying the score. He would later add another homer against reliever Kelvin Herrera in the White Sox’s 7-3 victory at Camelback Ranch.
But for Hammel, who is settling in with a new club after signing a two-year deal in the offseason, the rest of the afternoon went to plan.
In 4 1/3 innings, he allowed two runs and five hits while striking out five. He spent most of the afternoon fine-tuning his change-up, which could be an important pitch as he transitions back to the American League.
“It’s going to be a weapon for me this year,” he said. “I know obviously I’m probably going to get a lot of left-handed lineups.”
To keep those hitters off balance, Hammel will seek to utilize a pitch that moves away from left-handers. On Wednesday, the results were promising.
In all, Royals manager Ned Yost said Hammel was scheduled to pitch four innings or 65 pitches. But after working through four innings on 50 pitches, Hammel took the mound for a fifth to elevate his pitch count.
“It felt real good,” Hammel said. “It’s kind of funny. I warmed up like I had never thrown a baseball before, too. I felt like I was going to be lucky to get an out today.”
As Hammel worked through another spring start, second baseman Raul Mondesi continued his furious push for a roster spot. Mondesi opened the afternoon with a leadoff homer against White Sox prospect Reynaldo Lopez. Mondesi added a walk and scored two runs, raising his batting average to .444 this spring.
“Mondi had a great day — scored both our runs with a home run and a walk,” Yost said. “He looked fantastic at second.”
Mondesi, 21, could still face a numbers crunch as he attempts to win the job at second base.
Christian Colon and Cheslor Cuthbert are out of options, which means they must be placed on waivers to be sent to the minor leagues. That could force their inclusion on the 25-man roster.
The other vacant spot could belong to Whit Merrifield, who offers the ability to play the outfield and three infield spots.
But for the moment, Mondesi continues to make his case.
The arms
Reliever Kelvin Herrera was touched up for two runs in one inning of work, though one was unearned. Herrera surrendered a solo homer to Moncada before allowing a grounder toward second base with one out.
The ball slipped past second baseman Merrifield, allowing Adam Engel to reach base. A wild throw from center fielder Billy Burns allowed Engel to race all the way to third base. He scored on a double by Danny Hayes.
Left-hander Mike Minor worked a scoreless eighth, keeping his Cactus League ERA at 0.00.
The regular guys
With Eric Hosmer still at the World Baseball Classic and Mike Mosutakas, Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon getting days off, the Royals’ lineup was a piecemeal group on Wednesday.
Right fielder Jorge Soler finished 0 for 2 with a sacrifice fly and a strikeout. Designated hitter Brandon Moss was 0 for 3 with a walk and a strikeout.
Colon started at shortstop but left the game after suffering a cut on his finger while being picked off second base. The Royals announced the injury as a “sprained middle finger.”
“He jammed the tip of his finger a little bit,” Yost said. “But the cut is not serious, so he should be OK tomorrow.”
The young guys
His path to the big leagues blocked by a glut of outfielders, Jorge Bonifacio continued his hot spring, homering off Chicago’s Michael Ynoa in the eighth inning.