Drafted with the intent of someday being the shortstop of the future for the organization, Bianchi’s career could never fully get started as numerous injuries derailed any progress he was making, and took away his one real chance of making the majors two years ago.

In 2009 Bianchi batted .315 with a .356 on-base percentage over Single-A and Double-A, putting him in line for a possible spot on the big league roster entering the 2010 season, or at the very least a promotion to Triple-A and being the next in line to play shortstop. All of that was cut short when it was announced he would undergo Tommy John surgery, and miss the entire season (more…)

The Omaha assignments were expected, with Clint Robinson getting his first shot at Triple A and David Lough returns after a decent 2010 with the (then) Royals.  Clint held his own in spring training, hitting .389/.400/.889 with two homers and nine RBIs in 19 plate appearances.  Lough hit .235/.350/.235 in 20 appearances.

Derrick Robinson returns to Northwest Arkansas to follow up on a season where his hitting finally started to show signs of developing.  On top of another 50 steal season, he got on base 34.5% of the time.  He added more extra base hits than in any other season, as well.  This spring, he hit .364/.417/.636 in 12 plate appearances with a double and triple, but didn’t attempt any stolen bases.

Bianchi is going to spend some time in Double A to get back into baseball rhythm after missing all of 2010 with a torn elbow ligament.  He’s been hampered by injuries his entire career but has always been a solid prospect in the Royals system.  If he gets back in gear in Double A, he should play most of the season in Omaha and might be a utility option in Kansas City if things go well.  Bianchi struggled in spring training games, getting just one hit – a double – in 16 plate appearances.

The Royals roster stood at 49 players in camp after the moves, including non-roster invitees Eric Hosmer, Irving Falu, Salvador Perez, Mike Montgomery and Aaron Crow, among others.

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Some scouting reports project he’ll stay at shortstop, some say his limited range will force him to move to second base.  He’ll jump above Jeff Bianchi and Rey Navarro once he signs to be the top shortstop prospect in the Royals system.

I’ll have more tomorrow on Colon, and if you were taking part in the Fansided MLB Draft chat this evening, you will know that Wally will definitely want to chime in on this pick.  (I hear he already bought the Pepto Bismol)

You can stay current on all the Kings of Kauffman content and news by following us on Twitter, Facebook, or by way of our RSS feed.

I meant to get this published last night, but that was before my Market Fresh Update took twice as long to pull together than I though it would.

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The “Big” News:

According to Bob Dutton 3B-Mike Moustakas may miss the first two weeks of the regular season.  Apparently Moose strained his right oblique on a swing earlier this week and now his debut for Northwest Arkansas will be delayed.  J.J. Picollo recapped the action:

He felt something and the next swing, with two strikes he hit a single, but you could see that his swing was a little funny. He jogged down the line and called the trainer out.

Moustakas becomes the 3rd top-12 prospect in the organization, joining Danny Duffy and Jeff Bianchi, to be cut down by the injury bug this spring.

Also of note is the report that the Colorado Rockies have shown interest in RHP-Juan Cruz.  Personally, I think Dayton should try to move him in a deal and eat some of his contract if necessary.  Cruz strikes me as a good bet to bounce back this season after a dismal 2009 campaign anyway but a return to the NL would likely help him find his way a little faster.  He never seemed to settle in or get all that comfortable in Kansas City last season.

If this deal actually happens, the open bullpen slot could be used to evaluate one of the younger arms in the system with Blake Wood and Carlos Rosa being the two guys I most want to see in the Royals pen right now.  Since this is Dayton Moore we are talking about, we’d probably end up with on of the guys who were signed to minor league contracts this offseason like Brad Thompson or Josh Rupe.  I’ve got nothing against either Thompson or Rupe, and they really aren’t that old (28 and 27 respectively) but I don’t view either player as part of the team’s future.  Rosa and/or Blake Wood could be but we will never really know unless they are actually given a chance.

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Royals Bloggin’:

Royalscentricity – Logjammin: Middle-Infield Style

Royals Authority - Taking Stock of Spring

Royals Junkie – Anxiety in Baseball: Modern Techniques Can Ease The Burden

14 for 77 – Bees rotation as intriguing as any in the system

The Hardball Times – Five Questions: Kansas City Royals

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Transactions:

On Monday, LHP-Noel Arguelles was optioned to high-A Wilmington and SS-Jeff Bianchi was optioned to Double-A NW Arkansas.

On Tuesday the Royals optioned RHP-Carlos Rosa and RHP-Victor Marte to Triple-A Omaha.  I’m not surprised by either player being optioned down, especially Marte who has been battling injury.  I am however surprised that Rosa wasn’t given a longer look this spring.  It should be sink or swim time in the majors for Carlos, but Dayton and Trey won’t even let him get into the water.  Matthew Pouliot of Hardball Talk* took notice of the move as well.

*When did Circling the Bases become Hardball Talk?

On Wednesday the Royals optioned RHP-Aaron Crow to Double-A NW Arkansas.  Like the Rosa and Marte moves, this certainly didn’t come as a shock.  I have been extremely impressed by Crow thus far between his AFL and spring training innings and he is further along than I thought he would be.  I know some people wanted him to make the opening day roster, and some people believe the Royals should be conservative and keep him in the minors all season.  Typically I’d be in league with the latter group, but when it comes to Aaron Crow I hope the Royals let his pitching determine how quickly he moves up instead of sticking to a preconceived plan, time frame, or basing it on need at the major league level.  If Crow is the special talent we all hope and think he is, I wouldn’t be at all opposed to seeing him in Kansas City before the All Star break.

OF-Rene Oriental (25) is back with the Royals after a very bizarre detour.

According to Baseball America, the Royals signed LHP-Oswaldo Bravo at the end of February.

The latest from Baseball America Minor League Transactions indicates that the team signed LHP-Jose Sanchez last week and also released RHP-Deybi de la Cruz, LHP-Aneidy Toribio, 3B-Josh Johnson, and OF-Shawn Griffin.

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Former Royals:

Everyone’s favorite, RHP-Sidney Ponson, has signed with the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League.  The linked MLB Trade Rumors post on the topic sums it up perfectly with the following:

He became a free agent in August after Kansas City designated him for assignment, and this is the first time we’ve heard his name since.

Blue Jays C-John Buck hit two home runs yesterday and is now hitting 0.375/.375/.875 through 16 spring at bats.

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Random Stuff:

Remember the A.J. Ellis for Alberto Callaspo trade rumors?  Thanks to the pulled groin of catcher Russell Martin, it looks like we’re going to find out if Ellis has what it takes to survive in the major leagues.  He’s going to get his shot wearing a Dodgers uniform instead of a Royals one and I am completely okay with that.

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen tells it like it is in his own very unique way.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are going to try and set the world record for the “largest gathering of people wearing fleece blankets.”  Tim Lincecum in a Giants knock-off Snuggie is cool.  Tens of thousands of Angels fans showing up to a game to don their own Hideki Matsui “blankie”?  Not so cool.  Snuggie-mania is running wild throughout this great country and I refuse to get on board.

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I should be back with more tonight including the latest edition of the Baseball Side of FanSided and the reveal of KoK Prospect #8.

(Wally Fish is the lead blogger for Kings of Kauffman and FanSided’s MLB Director.  Subscribe to his RSS feed and add him on Twitter to follow him daily.)

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So how are the 7 Royals doing that are part of the Surprise Rafters?  Here is a look at their early game-by-game performance. (more…)