Sunday Rafters Report

It’s time for another Royals based AFL update with news on Lough.

OF-Jarrod Dyson has replaced OF-David Lough on the Surprise Rafters roster.  I contacted the Star’s Bob Dutton and also Baseball America since I was unable to find a reason why Lough had not appeared in a game on my own.  Shortly thereafter, BA’s John Manuel posted the following on their Prospects Blog.  Bob Dutton wrote me back last night with similar information, though he mentioned that Lough was battling hamstring issues instead of a back problem.  Either way we now know that Lough was pulled off the Rafters roster due to injury.  I’d like to thank both Bob and John* for responding to my inquiry.

*I have no way of knowing that John Manuel’s blog post was a direct result of my email but due to the timing of events I’m going to believe that it was.  I’m sure several people have asked them in the last week or so, but I’m not a big believer in coincidence.

Since Dyson didn’t get a write up on my Ready for the Rafters post two weeks ago, I’ll start with that before getting into the usual Rafters Report content.

OF-Jarrod Dyson (8/15/1984)  Royals 2006 50th Round Pick  (CF=65 / LF=13 / DH=1)
2009 Burlington Bees:  0.343/.397/.403 with 0 HR, 9 SB, 5 BB, and 14 SO in 75 PA
2009 NW Arkansas Naturals:  0.258/.331/.319 with 0 HR, 37 SB, 27 BB, and 54 SO in 283 PA
After spending all of 2008 in High-A with the Blue Rocks, Dyson opened 2009 with the Bees.  He spent 17 games in low-A before jumping Wilmington to join the Double-A Naturals.  Dyson is another of the many speed first, no power OF prospects in the Royals system, but Dyson seems to have better plate discipline than most of the others.  He has maintained a rate of around 1 BB for every 2 SO at every stop which is decent but still a little light for the type of player he is.  As a 50th round pick he has already largely defied the odds to get to Double-A and he held his own while making one of the toughest jumps in the minor leagues.  His AFL experience this fall, on top of his Double-A performance, should land him a spot on the 2010 Omaha Royals roster.

Thursday, October 22nd (3-2 Win)
CF-Jarrod Dyson:  1-4, 1 SO, 1 CS
3B-Mike Moustakas:  0-4
RHP-Blake Wood:  3.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO
LHP-Brandon Sisk:  1.0 IP, 1 BB, 2 SO

Friday, October 23rd (15-12 Win)
CF-Jarrod Dyson:  1-6, 1 RBI
3B-Mike Moustakas:  1-4, 2 R, 1 BB
SS-Jeff Bianchi:  2-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 RBI, 1 SO
RHP-Aaron Hartsock:  1.0 IP, 1 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 SO, 1 HR

Saturday, October 24th (4-3 Loss)
CF-Jarrod Dyson:  3-5, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 CS
DH-Jeff Bianchi:  0-2, 1 R, 2 BB, 1 SB
LHP-Ben Swaggerty:  1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO

Season Stats:
CF-Jarrod Dyson:  0.333/.467/.800, 1 3B, 2 CS, 0 BB, and 1 SO in 15 AB
3B-Mike Moustakas:  0.276/.313/.483, 3 2B, 1 HR, 1 SB, 1 BB, and 3 SO in 29 AB
SS-Jeff Bianchi:  0.313/.378/.438, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 SB, 4 BB, and 5 SO in 32 AB
RHP-Blake Wood:  2 GS, 5.0 IP, 3.60 ERA, 7 H, 2 BB, and 3 SO
RHP-Aaron Hartsock:  4 G, 4.1 IP, 4.15 ERA, 3 H, 1 BB, and 3 SO
LHP-Ben Swaggerty:  4 G, 4.1 IP, 10.38 ERA, 6 H, 3 BB, and 3 SO
LHP-Brandon Sisk:  3 G, 4.0 IP, 2.25 ERA, 3 H, 2 BB, and 3 SO

I spent my evening/night watching college football so I didn’t get a post up yesterday.  Thus, today will be a double post day with the another one published later tonight.  Until then, have a great day!