Blue Rocks shortstop Orlando Calixte via Jen Nevius

BA believes he may outgrow the shortstop position, but he has a strong arm. He struggled immensely at the plate with a push to Low-A in 2011 (just .208), so he returned there to start the 2012 season. Despite showing homerun power (he hit ten in 62 games), he still struggled (.241).

Injuries in the upper levels of the middle infield moved everyone up, so Calixte was promoted to High-A Wilmington. He more than held his own once promoted to the Blue Rocks and impressed manager Vance Wilson with his bat, despite being just 20-years old:

Calixte’s a free-swinger. Typically a young kid like that who’s a free swinger, you get exposed even at this level. For him to be able to step up, he’s such a big part of our team. A big part of our success. Not only am I proud of him, but very, very happy for him.

He hit .281 with 17 doubles, but did strike out 65 times in 63 games in a pitcher’s ballpark and league. However, strikeouts were a problem throughout the Blue Rocks lineup.

The alarming part of Calixte’s game is his defense. At shortstop in Kane County, he made 25 errors in 278 chances. After his promotion, in the same amount of chances, he made 21 errors. So that’s 46 total errors. Sure, he gets to balls that others cannot and makes the flashy play, but it’s the routine plays that give him trouble.

He began the offseason by participating in instructional league and has since moved on to the Arizona Fall League. Calixte is a member of Surprise’s taxi squad, meaning he can only play on Wednesdays and Saturdays. He has played both third base and shortstop and has yet to make an error in three games (he has also hit). Hopefully Calixte can team up with the sure-handed Alex McClure and tighten up his defense.

For more on Calixte, check out a comparison between him and third base prospect Cheslor Cuthbert by Zach Mortimer at PineTar Press.

I could show you video of Calixte striking out against Baltimore Orioles uber prospect Dylan Bundy, which was much talked about around Twitter, but I’ve decided to link to one of my favorite videos of Calixte:

Who doesn’t love watching a guy get pied in the face following a walk-off win?

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.

Blue Rocks shortstop Orlando Calixte

Saturday night’s Wilmington Blue Rocks game was considered boring for the first eight innings. Well, boring for those who do not like pitcher’s duels. It got exciting quick in the bottom of the 9th inning when Cheslor Cuthbert led off the inning with a single off Lynchburg reliever Juan Jamie. He moved to second base on a wild pitch and Nick Van Stratten moved him to third base on a ground out. Van Stratten had squared to bunt but pulled back and slapped it up the middle.

The Hillcats elected to intentionally walk the next two batters to load the bases with one out. Luis Piterson hit into a force out (the out came at the plate), which brought up shortstop Orlando Calixte with two outs and the bases loaded.

The 2-2 pitch was VERY close. So close that the entire Lynchburg infield began exiting the field. The catcher triple-clutched his throw because he couldn’t believe the home plate umpire did not call the pitch a strike.

Anyway, with new life and a 3-2 pitch, Calixte took the fastball into left field, just out of reach of the diving left fielder for the game winner. While the Blue Rocks were celebrating and chasing Calixte around the field, the Hillcats coaching staff was going nuts at the umpire. I don’t blame them and I’m pretty sure any other coaching staff in baseball would have been freaking out (the pitch looked that good).

After the game, Calixte talked (through interpreter Angel Franco, the Blue Rocks utility fielder) about the game winning hit, facing a pitcher who throws so hard, how many game winning hits he has had in his career, and how he took that 2-2 pitch. He, like Pounders, was also pied in the face during the interview, but kept on going. Pounders was kind enough to wipe some of the shaving cream out of his face.

Following all the shaving cream pies, Blue Rocks manager Vance Wilson wanted to make sure he was facing the hallway just in case a pie was coming his way. He talked about the throws by Brett Eibner, the start from Pounders, his bullpen duo of Chase Boruff and Robinson Yambati, the defensive abilities of Lynchburg shortstop Nick Ahmed, and how well his team is finally playing with the playoffs about two weeks away.

Judy Johnson is a Hall of Famer and the namesake of the field at Frawley Stadium. His statue stands outside the ballpark. He was a key member to some of the best teams in Negro League history. You can find out more about Johnson HERE .

The thing that disappoints me is that they have dropped the ball over the years with honoring the Negro Leagues in Wilmington (just like they have in Kansas City). Back in the day, both teams used to wear Negro League uniforms (I am a sucker for old school uniforms). Then their game worn hats would be auctioned off to support the Negro Leagues. They do have auctions going on throughout the concourse of autographed memorabilia tonight (which are drawing some crowds).

This year is no different. It is also Star Wars Night, with Star Wars characters set to be in attendance. It seems as if the promotional team is more interested in pushing that than the history of the Negro Leagues and Judy Johnson.

Anyway, to the game (and enough of my rambling).

First half Northern Division champion Lynchburg (the High-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves) is in town and the Hillcats are 2.5 games back of the Blue Rocks in the second half standings. The Blue Rocks have taken the first two games of the four-game series, as the pitchers have allowed just two runs to the Hillcats. In Game 1, the Blue Rocks won 2-1 and walked off on a bases loaded walk in the bottom of the 10^th inning. In Game 2, the Blue Rocks scored ten runs in the bottom of the 2^nd inning and rode the arm of Matt Ridings to another victory.

Taking the mound for the Blue Rocks tonight is Brooks Pounders, who the Royals acquired this past offseason from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Despite the fact that Pounders has been with Wilmington since June, this will be the first time I will be seeing him pitch. With the Blue Rocks, he is 5-4 with a 4.83 ERA in 13 games (12 starts). He has allowed more hits (74) than innings pitched (63.1). His last start at Potomac was a great one: 7IP, 4H, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 5K.

The Hillcats will be sending Dimasther Delgado to the mound. Overall he is 6-6 with a 4.35 ERA in 20 starts. He, like Pounders, allows more hits than innings pitched (125 hits in 107.2 innings). Delgado faced the Blue Rocks in back-to-back-starts (June 29 and July 5) and allowed three runs in each game.

Lineups:

HILLCATS: Mycal Jones (CF), Nick Ahmed (SS), Dan Brewer (LF), Chris Garcia (1B), Edward Salcedo (3B), Adam Milligan (RF), David Rohm (DH), Emerson Landoni (2B), and Chad Comer (C).

BLUE ROCKS: Orlando Calixte (SS), Brett Eibner (CF), Lane Adams (RF), Matt Fields (1B), Cheslor Cuthbert (3B), Nick Van Stratten (DH), Geulin Beltre (LF), Juan Graterol (C), and Luis Piterson (2B).

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April 9, 2012; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Royals center fielder Lorenzo Cain (6) at bat against the Oakland Athletics during the third inning at O.co Coliseum. Oakland defeated Kansas City 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE

Omaha lost in extra innings to Memphis, 6-4. The Storm Chasers received a solid outing from starter Everett Teaford, who pitched six shutout innings. He allowed just two hits while striking out five. They also received a solid relief outing from Brandon Sisk, who pitched two shutout innings. But between those two and after was where all the runs were given up.

Wil Myers played third base, but made an error (though it did not cost them a run).

NW Arkansas lost the finale of their series with Tulsa, 5-4. The Drillers scored five runs in the top of the 6th inning. That was after John Whittleman gave the Naturals a 2-0 lead in the first inning with his 13th homerun of the season.

The Naturals did receive a good relief outing from Elisaul Pimentel. He allowed three hits over 3.2 innings. 27 of his 39 pitches were thrown for strikes.

Lorenzo Cain continued his rehab, but started as the DH on Thursday night. He went 0-for-4 with a run scored and two strikeouts.

Wilmington started the second half much the way they played during the first half. They lost to Carolina, 7-3. The Blue Rocks had 12 hits, but went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.

The Blue Rocks had a few base-running blunders. Whit Merrifield went too far on a double and was thrown out at second base. They failed on a double steal (second and home) and both were thrown out.

It could have been much worse, as the Mudcats had 18 hits, but on consecutive singles in the 8th inning, Carolina had base runners thrown out at the plate. That allowed Cole White to give up five hits in one inning but only allow one run.

The Blue Rocks welcomed Orlando Calixte to the lineup (who was promoted to replace the promoted Alex McClure). He started at shortstop and went 2-for-4 in his High-A debut. It was a tough night for Brett Eibner: he went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts.

The short-season Burlington Royals lost to Pulaski 4-3. Royals starter Daniel Hernandez threw five perfect innings and struck out five. His relief quickly hit a batter, gave up a hit, and then the lead. Still no Bubba Starling.

March 11, 2012; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Mike Montgomery (22) delivers a pitch during the fourth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Phoenix Municipal Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-US PRESSWIRE

After winning ten in a row, Omaha has now lost two straight, as they lost the finale in Nashville on Sunday, 4-1. The Storm Chasers out-hit the Sounds, 10-6 but committed three errors, went 2-for-8 with runners in scoring position, and grounded into two double plays.

Wil Myers went 4-for-5, but did not score a run. Salvador Perez caught all nine innings (but did not collect a hit).

With the injury to Chris Getz at the big league level, Johnny Giavotella was taken out after his first at-bat (a first inning strikeout). Max Ramirez replaced Gio in the lineup and went 2-for-4.

Mike Montgomery was solid, despite the loss. He allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and three walks over six innings.

NW Arkansas ended their two game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over Springfield to split the four-game series. Chris Dwyer pitched into the 8th inning before really getting into trouble. He allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six.

The Cardinals made it interesting in the 9th inning, but Buddy Baumann worked around an RBI double and two walks to escape with the save.

Yem Prades provided the insurance (and actual game winning run) with a solo homerun in the top of the 9th inning. Eric Duncan gave the Naturals the lead in the 4th inning with a two-run homerun.

Wilmington tied an unfortunate record in the team’s history: most losses in a first half. They tied the 2000 team with 41 first half losses. The 2000 team (which was full of prospects at the time) was one of the worst teams in history. The Blue Rocks lost to Winston-Salem, 6-5 in ten innings to end the first half.

It was a bullpen game for the Blue Rocks and they actually led 4-1 before the Dash scored three runs in the 4th inning. Nick Rogers was the hard-luck loser, as he allowed an unearned run in the top of the 10th inning. He walked three (he did not allow a hit) over 2.1 innings.

The bottom two in the Blue Rocks order, bench players Michael Liberto and Luis Piterson, went 4-for-9. The Blue Rocks out-hit the Dash, 11-9, but went just 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position and struck out 12 times.

The Blue Rocks have the next three days off for the All-Star break and hopefully can forget about the first half and play better when the second half starts on Thursday in Carolina.

Kane County is heading into the All-Star break on a down note, just like the Blue Rocks. The Cougars have lost five in a row (and eight of their last nine), as they lost Sunday’s finale to Cedar Rapids, 5-3. The Cougars bullpen did throw four hitless (and scoreless) innings of relief.

On offense, Daniel Mateo, Jorge Bonifacio, and Orlando Calixte each had two hits (six of the team’s eight hits). Calixte hit his tenth homerun of the season.