Justin Marks from the 2011 season with the Wilmington Blue Rocks. (Photo: Jen Nevius)

Lefty Justin Marks has been a relative unknown since coming over from Oakland in the David DeJesus deal. However, 2012 was his breakout season (despite a solid 2011 in High-A).

It started in Double-A, where NW Arkansas pitching was battered all season long. Marks was one of only three starters (Jake Odorizzi and Michael Mariot were the others, but Mariot was a reliever for the bulk of the season) to have an ERA under 4.00. He was just 3-5 in 17 starts, but had a 3.80 ERA over 85.1 innings. He struck out 73, walked 38, and had a 1.37 WHIP. He made one start at the end of the season in Triple-A which was disastrous.

The walks per nine innings was high in Double-A (four), but he allowed less than a homerun a game in a hitter’s league. He also left about 74% of base runners on base.

Marks then traveled to Surprise to play in the prestigious Arizona Fall League. The Royals did not send any elite prospects to the league, but Marks became one of the AFL’s top starters. He was the only Royal to be named to the AFL’s top prospect list following the season. In the AFL, he was 5-1 with a 2.58 ERA over seven starts. Over 24 innings, he walked just five while striking out 22.

With Surprise, he only had two starts where he allowed more than an earned run, one of those being his last. Marks did not walk a batter over his final four starts. In his first two starts, he only allowed one hit and that came in his second start.

The 2012 season culminated with Marks being added to the Royals 40-man roster.

I thought he had a shot, though a long one, to crack the Royals rotation in 2013. Then the team acquired James Shields and Wade Davis. Now, he will be lumped in with a large group competing for that one spot in the rotation this spring. Unless, the Royals decide to try him out as a left-handed reliever. The only one guaranteed a spot is Tim Collins, but there are also guys like Bruce Chen, Will Smith, and Everett Teaford fighting for that second spot in the bullpen.

Injuries always occur, so there is still hope for Marks. Putting together a solid 2013 in Triple-A should at least garner him a September callup. Or a shot at a 2014 roster spot.

Justin Marks from last season with the Blue Rocks. (Photo: Jen Nevius)

Those are some of the key players who the Royals thought would be competing for rotation spots coming into spring training, but so far, none of them are any closer than they were two years ago. If the Royals are going to develop any depth that’s close to the big leagues, it’s going to have to come from another name.

That’s what makes Justin Marks‘s performance in the Arizona Fall League intriguing. In six games, he’s 5-0 with a 2.21 ERA in 20.1 innings. Over that stretch, he’s struck out 19 and walked just five.

He doesn’t profile as a key prospect, but this is what happens – players you don’t expect to turn into much can develop. Something clicks, they get in a groove and they build on it. In the case of Marks, he’s had some success in the minors, especially since joining the Royals organization. Two winters ago, he came over as part of the David DeJesus trade, mostly as an add-on with Vin Mazzaro. While with Oakland, he had a 5.07 ERA in 258.2 innings. Once he got to Kansas City, he reduced that by about a run (4.18 in 236.2 innings). In 2011, he spent all season in High A Wilmington but advanced to Double A in 2012 and made one start in Triple A.

As a lefty, he may get a longer than usual look, and he’s always had a good strikeout rate in the minors, too. To look at his numbers, his walkrate could be better, but as 2012 progressed he saw improvement in that area month by month. If he can continue that trend (which he has so far in the AFL), he could be a dark horse pitcher.

Now, that doesn’t mean that he should rocket up prospect lists. He’s probably never going to be anything more than a #5 starter, and more likely to be a spot starter type. His slider has developed into a good pitch, so he could work some innings that maximize his appearances against left-handed batters.

Marks will be 25 years old once pitchers and catchers report, so he’s probably not going to see much more time in Double A. Look for him to start out in Triple A and be a regular starter there and, if it becomes necessary, he could be a call up in the case of injury issues. The best takeaway is that it’s good to see a pitcher who’s relatively close to the majors who’s having some success and could be an emergency option.

The Royals will send minor leaguers from their system to join those of the Braves, Rays, Rangers, and Marlins in Surprise in the eight team league. Last season, Wil Myers took his first steps towards rebounding from a tough 2011 Double A season by mashing in the AFL.

This year’s players are:

RHP Edwin Carl

Carl’s 2011 is one of legend after throwing 33 innings in the Pioneer League and three more in the Midwest League. He struck out 72 batters. He only walked five unintentionally. For those scoring at home, that’s a 15 to 1 strikeout to walk ratio.

That’s pretty ridiculous.

In 2012, he’s spent half his time in Kane County and half in Wilmington. The strikeouts are still there as he’s whiffed 102 in 114 innings. He’s walked 27, which, while over five times what he did last year, is still very good. He’ll turn 24 in two days, so the Royals are hoping to get more looks at him in Surprise to see what they have here.

LHP Justin Marks

Marks was the other part of the David DeJesus trade that also brought Vin Mazzaro to the Royals.

A former third round pick, he’s shown the ability to be an adequate part of a minor league rotation. His control could be better (3.5 BB/9 for his career and 4 BB/9 in Double A) but he can get strikeouts and has decent secondary stuff. He could end up being a spot starter or lefty reliever one day. Marks was recently promoted to Omaha.

LHP Jon Keck

The Royals saw enough from Keck in Wilmington to move him up to Double A after six weeks. After 22.1 innings at High A, he’s been okay in Northwest Arkansas, but not spectacular.

He’s got to work on his control if he’s going to be an option at the big league level. While his 8.1 career K/9 is great, the 5.2 BB/9 isn’t and it’s been 6.1 BB/9 in his 40 Double A innings. Keck was a 2009 draft pick who’s been hanging around the lower levels since signing.

Blue Rocks shortstop Orlando Calixte

SS Orlando Calixte

The shortstop formerly known as Paul Carlixte and Orlando Caxito was a million dollar signing out of the Dominican and has had a very good season with the bat and the glove in Low A Kane County and High A Wilmington.

Defense is his best asset and he has good hands and a good arm, plus scouts think he may be able to develop power. This year, he’s hitting .266/.318/.451 in 517 plate appearances and has 14 homers between Kane County (10) and Wilmington (4). He’s hit .289/.333/.438 in 59 games with the Blue Rocks. He’s definitely the most interesting player assigned to Surprise, although he’s designated as the “taxi squad” player – only eligible to play Wednesdays and Saturdays.

SS Alex McClure

So far, McClure hasn’t hit much as a pro (.216/.272/.266 in almost 1000 plate appearances) but he’s said to be a smart player with decent speed and a good glove. He broke his hand last season and missed some time but was able to work his way up to Double A this year.

OF Whit Merrifield

Merrifield was part of the 2010 College World Series Champion South Carolina team (and in fact delivered the championship-clinching hit in walkoff fashion) and was drafted by the Royals in that same season. He’s a very good doubles hitter (30 in 2011, 21 so far this year) with okay home run numbers. He stole 24 bases last year and has 25 so far this year as well and was promoted to Double A earlier in August.

OF Brian Fletcher

Fletcher was the player of the year in Kane County last season and is a guy with some pop. Unfortunately, he’s also a guy who doesn’t have a lot of skill in the field. He’s usually been in the outfield, but saw a lot of time at first base in Wilmington this season.

After hitting .289/.353/.411 in the Carolina League, he was moved up to Northwest Arkansas in June. Since, he’s hit .245/.302/.409 with nine homers. He’s struck out more than a third of the time in Double A as opposed to about 20% of the time at the High A level. That’s probably what he’ll be working on in the AFL most. Fletcher was deemed the Royals “priority player” to maximize his playing time.

The Royals also announced that an eighth player – a pitcher – will join the group in Surprise, but have yet to decide on which player that will be.

Update: Added information about Fletcher and Calixte’s designations for the AFL period.

NW Arkansas lost to Springfield, 5-2. Newly minted All-Star Justin Marks took the loss, as he allowed three runs on six hits and a walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out six.

The Naturals collected just four hits and their lone RBI came via Sharlon Schoop sac fly in the 7th inning.

Sugar Ray Marimon

Wilmington lost the pitcher’s duel to Winston-Salem, 2-1. The Blue Rocks had their chance to at least to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th inning. They had runners at second and third base with just one out, but Dash reliever Terance Marin struck out the next two batters to pick up the save.

Sugar Ray Marimon of the Blue Rocks was bested by Spencer Arroyo of the Dash. Arroyo allowed just five hits over six shutout innings. Meanwhile, Marimon allowed two runs in the top of the 7th inning. He allowed nine hits and two walks over 6.2 innings, but took the loss.

Juan Graterol returned from the DL and went 4-for-4. Pitcher Leondy Perez finally went to the DL with an arm injury (he lasted just one inning of his start last Friday).

The Dash did not clinch the first half title, as Salem also won. The Dash lead the Southern Division by two games with two to go.

Over 9,000 fans showed up to watch Kane County commit five errors, have two passed balls, collect just four hits, and lose to Cedar Rapids, 6-0. Daniel Mateo committed four errors at second base, giving him 21 on the season. Shortstop Orlando Calixte committed his 24th error of the season. Catcher Kenny Swab had two passed balls.

Andrew Ferguson started for the Cougars and allowed three runs (one earned) on eight hits over 5.1 innings.

After a poor start from Sean O’Sullivan (4IP, 9H, 6R, 3BB, 5), Blaine Hardy followed with four scoreless innings of relief. He allowed just two hits while striking out four to pick up the win.

Salvador Perez again caught all nine innings (he went 0-for-3 with a run scored). Chris Getz was the DH and went 0-for-5. Five Omaha players had two hits.

Justin Marks from last season with the Blue Rocks

After taking over first place in the Texas League’s North Division on Saturday night, NW Arkansas traveled to face the team they stook first place from, Tulsa. The Drillers came back to defeat the Naturals, 4-2 and ended their seven-game winning streak.

Neither team hit early on, as pitching dominated. Naturals starter Justin Marks allowed just one run on five hits and two walks over seven innings. However the Drillers came back with three runs with two outs off Naturals reliever Patrick Keating. Two of those runs scored on Rey Navarro‘s fielding error at shortstop.

The Naturals had just four hits, with Ryan Jenkins delivering the two out, two-run double in the 7th inning. Three of their four hits came in that inning.

The Wilmington Blue Rocks were swept at Winston-Salem, as they lost Sunday’s finale 2-0. The Blue Rocks collected just three hits. The loss pushed the Blue Rocks to five games back of Lynchburg in the Carolina League’s Northern Division with seven games to go in the first half. They have lost five in a row.

The Blue Rocks struck out eight times, back-to-back to end the game. Brett Eibner picked up two more strikeouts, to raise his total to 70 on the season (fourth most in the CL).

Sugar Ray Marimon took the loss. He allowed two runs on seven hits and four walks over six innings. Brooks Pounders made his Blue Rocks debut with one scoreless inning of relief.

Kane County went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position en route to their 4-1 loss to Peoria. Four of the Cougars’ seven hits came from Daniel Mateo and Michael Antonio.

Andrew Ferguson made his first start of the 2012 season for the Cougars (he was an 18th round draft pick of the KC Royals in last June’s draft out of Arkansas State University). He allowed one run on two hits and four walks over four innings. He struck out four.

I don’t mean for this to be depressing so follow along (after the jump) and see where I go with all of this. (more…)

And shortly after, they shipped him off to Oakland for pitchers Vin Mazzaro and lefty Justin Marks.

Gage is on the scene already with a dynamite player profile of Mazzaro, so I want to look at this transaction from a wider perspective.  What does it really mean?
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