Daily Clips
February25, 2017
LOCAL
Out of options, Colon out to impress in spring
Royals infielder is competing for starting second-base job
February 24, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Starting in opener, Yost to move lineup around
Staumont will start first Cactus League game vs. Rangers on Saturday
February 24, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Classic gives Yost chance to watch prospects
Royals will have six veterans leaving camp for international play
February 24, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Drew Butera is back for Royals as team’s reliable backup catcher
February 24, 2017By Shelby Hyde/KC Star
Ask Rustin: Jason Hammel, Kyle Zimmer, and the best restaurants in Surprise
February 24, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
Ned Yost will be cheering for two drivers in Sunday’s Daytona 500
February 24, 2017By Blair Kerkhoff/KC Star
Brandon Moss found the secret to hitting more home runs. Can the Royals follow his lead?
February 24, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
Bubba Starling has left pressure behind while at Royals’ spring training
February 24, 2017By Blair Kerkhoff/KC Star
Position experimentation is a Royals’ spring theme as Cactus League play opens
February 24, 2017By Blair Kerkhoff/KC Star
Danny Duffy is KC’s most visible cheerleader — ‘It’s different here, dude’
February 24, 2017By Sam Mellinger/KC Star
Talk in Royals clubhouse sometimes turns to hockey
February 24, 2017By Shelby Hyde/KC Star
George Brett, Alex Gordon and hitting the ball to the opposite field
February 24, 2017By Lee Judge/KC Star
Chiefs tweet fun message about Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas’ football form
February 24, 2017By Pete Grathoff/KC Star
Dyson’s departure could give Royals’ Billy Burns more playing time
February 24, 2017AP (via FOXSportsKC.com)
MLB TRANSACTIONS
February 25, 2017 •.CBSSports.com
LOCAL
Out of options, Colon out to impress in spring
Royals infielder is competing for starting second-base job
February 24, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
There's no question this is a pivotal year for Royals infielder Christian Colon, and he understands that.
Colon, 27, is trying to win the open second-base job. He's in competition with Whit Merrifield, Raul Mondesi and Cheslor Cuthbert.
Taken No. 4 overall by the Royals in the 2010 Draft, Colon is ready to prove he can be the answer there.
"Every year it's important to perform well," Colon said. "But I think this year, personally, it's important. Very important. I'm out of options. I need to go out there and prove I can be one of the guys that can help this team win.
"That's what I'm concentrating on. It's all about getting the reps down here and trying to help the team."
Colon spent his offseason in a rigorous conditioning program with teammate Alex Gordon back in Kansas City. Colon lost nearly 10 pounds and can feel the difference on the field.
"I feel great," Colon said. "I feel a lot stronger. I'm getting lower on ground balls. I feel like I'm swinging better, getting to the ball better. I feel good with my range. I worked a lot on my agility. I feel like I'm moving a lot better."
Out of Minor League options, Colon must earn a spot on the Royals' 25-man Opening Day roster or the team will have to put him on waivers. He has played 118 games over the past three seasons with the Royals, hitting .268 in 299 Major League at-bats.
Colon knows his time to step up is now.
"That's what motivated me and really fueled the fire to the workouts I did," he said.
"At the same time, getting back to the postseason really fueled me, too. That's the goal."
Starting in opener, Yost to move lineup around
Staumont will start first Cactus League game vs. Rangers on Saturday
February 24, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals manager Ned Yost usually can't wait for games to begin at this point in Spring Training. He's normally bored watching batting practice, bullpen sessions and infield practice every day.
But as Yost and the Royals get ready for Saturday's Cactus League opener against the Rangers at Surprise Stadium (2:05 p.m. CT, live via an exclusive audio webcast on royals.com), Yost is somewhat indifferent this year during his seventh Spring Training with the club.
"I'm not like dying to get to the games," Yost said. "I mean, I'm glad we're getting to the games. But it's different, because in years past, every day you'd see your main guys, and they looked good and everyone else was a rung or two below that. So then you were interested to see the games and see how your guys would do.
"But this year, it's really interesting to see everyone on a daily basis. So it's not like I'm rushing to see the games. I'm still interested to see all the guys do their work. It's really been different for me. It's the first time I'm ready for the games to start, but I'm just not dying for the games start."
Right-hander Josh Staumont, the Royals' No. 3 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, will get the start Saturday for the Royals and throw two innings or around 35 pitches.
Yost also indicated he plans on experimenting more with his lineups during Cactus League games this year.
"You're going to see different guys leading off, like Alex Gordon or Mike Moustakas," Yost said, "and you shouldn't read anything into it. We're just trying to get them more at-bats.
"And we'll see guys in different positions. We'll move guys around to see what kind of versatility we have."
Yost already has suggested Gordon, a Gold Glove Award winner in left field, may see some time in center. Christian Colon, battling for a starting job at second base, could also play some outfield. Hunter Dozier, the club's No. 2 prospect and a third baseman and outfielder by trade, will see some time at first base.
"It's a chance to see what we got," Yost said.
Classic gives Yost chance to watch prospects
Royals will have six veterans leaving camp for international play
February 24, 2017By Jeffrey Flanagan/MLB.com
Royals manager Ned Yost sees the bright side of sending players to the World Baseball Classic in the middle of Spring Training: He'll get to see some of his younger players longer.
The Royals have six players on their 40-man roster committed to the Classic: first baseman Eric Hosmer, catchers Salvador Perez and Drew Butera, shortstop Alcides Escobar, left-hander Danny Duffy and reliever Joakim Soria.
In their absence, Yost will get to see several young catchers, such as Cam Gallagher, Parker Morin, Zane Evans and Chase Vallot, as well as veteran Brayan Pena, a non-roster invitee.
Prospects Hunter Dozier and Ryan O'Hearn will get looks at first base while Hosmer is away.
"Our young catchers wouldn't have an opportunity to play very much, because we'd be trying to get Drew [Butera] ready and Sal [Perez] ready," Yost said. "So we get to see our young first basemen and then see our younger shortstops like [Ramon] Torres and [Humberto] Arteaga.
"From that perspective, it's not a bad thing."
Yost will admittedly miss his key players, but he is supportive of their decision to take part in the Classic.
"I mean, do I want my players to go play the WBC? Nah, I'd rather have them here," Yost said. "But is it a cool thing to go play the WBC? Yeah, it's great to play for your country. I'd want to if I was a player."
Drew Butera is back for Royals as team’s reliable backup catcher
February 24, 2017By Shelby Hyde/KC Star
Drew Butera backs up Salvador Perez, the Royals’ veritable iron-man All-Star catcher. But Butera thinks like an everyday player.
“Mentally, I come to the park every day thinking that I’m going to play … in case he’s banged up a little bit, I’m always ready to play,” Butera said.
Royals manager Ned Yost, who was a backup catcher in the big leagues, raves about how Butera fills that role.
“We all feel, now more than ever, more comfortable with giving Salvy days off because we know that we’re covered defensively back there with him,” Yost said of Butera. “I mean he’s just a tremendous backup. If you were going to write a book and say, ‘OK, this is the attributes that you need for a perfect backup catcher’ — he hits every one of them.”
Butera said Yost hasn’t told him one thing in particular about the role of the backup. But Yost has given him something valuable for the job: confidence.
“There have been times where we’ve lost 2-1, and I’m like, ‘Man, we should have done this,’” Butera said. “I’ll get on the plane, he’ll grab me: ‘Hey, great job today. That was a hard game. You blocked a bunch of balls.’
“There are times that I’ll be, not down, but like ‘Man, we should’ve won that game.’ He’ll kind of pull me aside and give me that extra confidence.”
Butera added of Yost: “He understands my position. He understands what this role is, so it’s been really cool to work with him.”
Butera stood at his locker one recent morning and talked about all the ways he stays sharp for his infrequent starts. He works with catching coach Pedro Grifol on defensive drills such as blocking, throwing and receiving. Butera praises Grifol in the same breath he does Yost: “It’s been a lot of fun working with both of them.”
Butera said he catches every between-starts throwing session by starting pitchers. “This way I’m familiar with all the pitchers — say I don’t catch (Jason) Vargas for two weeks and then (Perez) gets banged up,” he said. “I got to go in there. I’m familiar with what Vargas is doing. I’m familiar with how his pitches are moving.”
Butera also goes to the bullpen during the game to warm up relievers.
“Depending on how the game is going, I’ll stay on the bench for probably about five innings, and then I’ll head down there,” he said. “But for me, that’s the way I feel I’ll stay fresh and be able to go in if something happens to (Perez) when they pinch run for him in the eighth inning.
“I’m loose. I’m ready to go. It doesn’t take long for me to get ready.”
Butera, 33, is a seven-year big-league veteran. He’s never been a full-time regular. As long as Perez stays healthy, Butera is not likely to approach his career-high of 75 starts (with Minnesota in 2011).
In 2014, the season before Butera arrived, Perez was so busy that, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, Perez set a big-league record: 161 starts at catcher over the regular season and postseason.
In 2015, Butera joined the Royals from the Angels early in the season. He started 23 games for the Royals that season and 34 last season. Now he’s beginning a two-year contract as Perez’s colleague.
“Drew is one of the best backups I’ve ever had,” Perez said. “He helped me. He’s got a good personality and (is a) nice teammate ... so it’s good when you have people like that and he understands his job. He knows he’s going to play when I get a day off. ... He’s one of the best backups I’ve had.”
If Butera is going to start a game, he usually finds out from Yost at least one day in advance.
“They’ve been really good with me, letting me know when I’m going to play, to prepare for that,” Butera said.
Butera may be well-versed in his routine that keeps him ready defensively, but last season he contributed offensively, too. He had a career-high four homers to go with his 16 RBIs. He hit .285 — the first time in his seven-year career he hit above .200.
“He took a big jump in his offense last year — really started to understand what it took to be a productive hitter,” Yost said.
There’s one more reason Butera is an ideal backup catcher. He’s not seeking Perez’s starting job.
“We have a common goal,” Butera said. “It’s not like I’m trying to take his job. It’s not like he doesn’t want me to play. We have a common goal, and that’s to win.
“Honestly, we both want to play, but we both believe if he plays 162 games and we win every game, fine. If I play 162 games and we win every game, fine. Our goal is to win a World Series, and we share that common interest.”
Ask Rustin: Jason Hammel, Kyle Zimmer, and the best restaurants in Surprise
February 24, 2017By Rustin Dodd/KC Star
So this is the kind of thing perfectly suited for spring training, the kind of camp joke that might find itself in a bigger story down the road, but is too good not to be shared right now.
So here goes. All around the Royals clubhouse, people have noticed this: Jason Hammel looks exactly like Luke Hochevar.
“Every time I see him, I think of Hoch,” Royals manager Ned Yost says. “… He looks just like him.”
Hammel, of course, is the Royals’ new starting pitcher, the former Cub who signed a two-year, $16 million contract in the final weeks of the offseason. And Hochevar is the former Royals pitcher who remains a free agent after undergoing surgery last summer to address thoracic outlet syndrome.
And yes, there is some weird symmetry here. For the first time in 11 years, Hochevar isn’t here in Surprise with the Royals. And now the club has gone out and acquired somebody that could be his stunt double.
In truth, Hammel and Hochevar are not quite twins. But there is an uncanny similarity in their hair, beard, gait and mannerisms. On the latest SportsBeat KC podcast, Joel Goldberg and I break down the differences. So go ahead and listen to that. But we’ll finish this inane intro with this thought: Hammel, a Pearl Jam-loving native of the Seattle area, is essentially Hochevar if he was from the Pacific Northwest.
OK, let’s get to the mailbag. The music pick of the week is not from Seattle. It’s Tennis, which was in Phoenix this week and has a new album out in March.
@MarkSchremmer: Is there genuine reason to be optimistic that Kyle Zimmer will remain healthy and make his MLB debut in 2017?
Let’s start here: Kyle Zimmer is in camp and throwing well. He’s returning from surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome — a procedure that includes the removal of a rib, which sounds awful. All in all, he’s battled an array of shoulder issues and other injuries since being drafted No. 5 overall in 2012.
Zimmer has remained remarkably optimistic and determined through all his injury problems — and despite repeated kicks to the gut, year after year, setback after setback, he remains open, honest and accessible about his career. Spoiler: It’s been insanely frustrating.
This will all be the subject of a longer story at some point during camp. But for now, we know this: Zimmer is slated to start on Sunday in the Royals’ second game of the spring. Earlier this week, he said he experienced some normal soreness after throwing live batting practice, but that’s to be expected.
Is there genuine reason to be optimistic? We’ll see. We’ve been here before. But for now, Zimmer is optimistic. So there’s that.
@asal1876: what is your favorite kind of suprise?
1. A $10 bill found in an old pair of jeans
2. A bar tab that is much cheaper than you think it’s going be
@Mutiny32: What's your favorite restaurant in Surprise?
This is a yearly topic around spring training, and I’ll say it again: Surprise is not exactly a culinary destination. It’s mostly chain restaurants and strip malls. But there are some decent spots.
Saigon Kitchen is a Vietnamese place with good food and a good vibe. And Little Sicily is a little pizza place in a strip mall with good pie. It’s also BYOB. It’s not just good pizza for Surprise, either. It’s just good.
@FScottWenzel: is attending camp worth the trip as an avid fan?
Yes. Definitely yes. I don’t want to tell anybody how to spend their money, but the weather is great. The sight lines at the smaller stadiums are solid. The whole atmosphere is fairly laid back and relaxing.
Don’t expect to see a ton of your favorite players in games, of course. They’re usually done after a few innings, especially early in camp. But I think the best fan experience is probably just showing up to the workouts in the mornings. In the weeks before the games begin, you can watch batting practice up close on the practice fields. Once minor-league camp starts, you can do the same with the club’s younger prospects.
If autographs are your thing, there’s an opportunity for that. Just be polite.
And, of course, you may run into scenes like this.
@JoshVernier610: Moose hitting the light tower got the fans going. Hos flexed for 'em, Cain leaned on it for 'em, Sal egged 'em on & Moose kept hitting tanks
Tweet of the year.
@zdhoughton: What's the outlook for Jorge Bonifacio? That outfielder list is looking awfully crowded just now!
Bonifacio is almost certainly ticketed for Omaha again, and I haven’t watched much of him this spring. (It’s early.) But he coupled a strong performance in camp last year with solid numbers at Class AAA.