Royals Make First Camp Cuts

It should come as a surprise to nobody that quite a few players will be leaving the Royals big league camp. As opening day draws nearer, the Royals will focus on getting more playing time to those players they expect to be on the major league roster and there just won’t be enough innings to go around.

Minor league spring games started on Thursday as well and those rosters need to be filled.

Nathan Adcock and Ryan Verdugo were optioned to Triple A while Noel Arguelles was optioned to Double A. All three are on the 40 man roster, hence the option year usage.

Adcock had four strikeouts in 4.1 scoreless innings, while Arguelles held his own in four innings of his own. Verdugo threw one inning and gave up a run on four hits.

Jake Odorizzi, Will Smith, Chris Dwyer and Mike Montgomery – among the key pitching prospects in the Royals minor leagues – will all shift to minor league camp, as will lefty Brandon Sisk. Odorizzi gave up two runs in four innings in Surprise in big league camp. Dwyer gave up only one hit in three innings and struck out three (though walked three as well) while Smith made two scoreless appearances, walking none in four innings.

Montgomery is another story. He threw two innings in his first appearance, walking one and striking out one. It wasn’t a great performance but it wasn’t bad. His second appearance, though, was described as “dreadful“. He’s gone from having an outside shot at a spot in the rotation to being shuttled to the minor league side of things. Reports suggest that he has a lot of problems in his timing and isn’t commanding his pitches.

Even with the injury to Salvador Perez, catcher Julio Rodriguez will see more time in minor league games rather than playing behind Brayan Pena, Max Ramirez and Cody Clark. Paulo Orlando, who has been out after hernia surgery, didn’t make an appearance and will try to get into the action on the backfields.

Wil Myers will also leave the big league side, after getting five singles in 18 at bats. He struck out five times, including two in Wednesday night’s loss against Seattle. He held his own in the field, but after an injury-slowed season in Northwest Arkansas, he’ll likely spend most of his time in Omaha. The Royals will keep David Lough, Mitch Maier and Jarrod Dyson around to spell Lorenzo Cain, Alex Gordon and Jeff Francoeur.

More cuts will come as the Royals whittle down to a 40 man and opening day roster.

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