KC Royals Opening Day Minors Recap

Happy Opening Day!

All four of the KC Royals full-season minor league affiliates opened the 2015 season on Thursday night on the road. It was a rough start for most of those who took the mound.

Reigning Triple-A champion Omaha needed extra innings to win their first game of the season. After tying the score in the ninth, the Storm Chasers scored four runs in the top of the tenth to beat New Orleans, 10-6. The two teams combined for 32 hits.

Mar 9, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Brett Eibner (68) hits in the first inning during a spring training baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Maryvale Baseball Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

In the ninth, Moises Sierra drove in the tying run with a single (Sierra had two hits). In the tenth, the inning started with a leadoff walk. After a sac bunt and an intentional walk, Whit Merrifield walked (2-for-5, two runs scored) before Reymond Fuentes drove in two runs with a single (3-for-4, three runs scored, two RBIs). Merrifield scored on a wild pitch and Fuentes scored on a Brett Eibner double (3-for-6, two doubles, two RBIs).

Aaron Brooks got the start and battled through five innings. He allowed three runs (two earned) on nine hits and two walks. Brian Flynn made his Royals debut and allowed a hit over 2/3 of an inning. Brian Broderick, also making his Royals debut, got out of the sixth, but allowed three runs (one earned) on four hits in the seventh. Buddy Baumann allowed one of the runs to score, but the run scored on an Orlando Calixte fielding error (one of three Omaha errors on the infield).

Luke Hochevar began his big league rehab assignment by allowing two hits in his one inning of work. Louis Coleman earned the win, giving up two hits, a walk, and a wild pitch over the game’s final two innings. The winning run for the Zephrys was on second base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but a fly out sent the game into extra innings.

After a rough 2014 season, there are higher expectations for Double-A NW Arkansas. It was much of the same to start the 2015 season, as the Naturals lost in Midland, 10-5.

Things went wrong quickly for the Naturals, as starter Miguel Almonte allowed two runs each in the first two innings. Almonte was done after that, allowing four hits and walking two (54 pitches, 31 strikes). Next up was Daniel Stumpf, and things got worse. Stumpf only lasted 1.2 innings and threw 52 pitches (20 for strikes), as he walked six.

Reid Redman made his Royals debut and allowed one run on three hits over 2.1 innings. He did enter the game in the fourth and left both runners stranded. Sam Selman was next, but only recorded two outs in the seventh. He did not allow a hit, but walked four and threw 34 pitches (14 for strikes). Malcom Culver stranded two runners, but allowed a leadoff home run in the eighth (on the first pitch he threw in the inning).

The Naturals pitchers walked 13.

Things were not so bad on offense. The Naturals out-hit the RockHounds, 11-9, and hit four solo home runs. Mike Bianucci hit two homers (three hits total), while Hunter Dozier and Jorge Bonifacio each hit one. Dozier also doubled and scored two runs.

Down 6-4 in the sixth, manager Vance Wilson pulled shortstop Raul Mondesi (1-for-3) in favor of Dusty Coleman (1-for-2). Not sure why.

High-A Wilmington once again opened a season in Myrtle Beach, but lost 9-1.

The Blue Rocks pitchers allowed 15 hits (though just one walk). Jakob Junis took the loss, as he allowed six runs on eight hits and a walk over four innings. Yender Caramo entered in the fifth with the bases loaded and allowed all three runs to score (along with a run of his own). Nick Green allowed a run over the next two innings, though he did allow all three of the hits in the sixth. Robinson Yambati allowed a run on a hit and a hit batter over one inning.

Bubba Starling hit two doubles in his first two at-bats. Zane Evans also had two hits in the loss.

Low-A Lexington scored three runs in the top of the fifth and held on for the 3-2 victory in Charleston.

Brandon Downes led off the fifth with a double and came around to score on Wander Franco‘s single. Three more singles followed and the Legends had the 3-0 lead. Downes would also collect an outfield assist. He also made a great catch:

Chad Johnson had two hits and a run scored. Every Legend had a hit except Samir Duenez.

Pedro Fernandez allowed just one hit and a walk over 4.1 scoreless innings (the walk was the last batter he faced). He struck out eight. Torey Deshazier picked up the win, though he allowed two runs on five hits over 3.2 innings. He struck out five. Zach Lovvorn earned the save with two strikeouts.

The Legends pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts.

Next: Five Royals Prospects to Watch in 2015