After being the Texas League MVP in 2008 and a Triple A All-Star last season, he entered 2011 with the opportunity that had escaped him until last August – a full time spot in the big leagues.  Over the years, Kila’s been a mythic figure in the Royals farm system.  As the big league club struggled to get on base and struggled even more to hit the ball out of the park, this guy with a funny name was doing both at remarkable levels.

In 2008, he was doing well enough to inspire fans to call for his opportunity to come up.  In 2009, there was outcry that the Royals traded for Mike Jacobs to take a spot that was deservedly Ka’aihue’s.  In 2010, Twitter became the birthplace of the #FreeKila movement.  The day he finally made it to the big leagues outside of a September callup seemed like a shift to give younger players their shot.

He saw all of four plate appearances in May and was sent back to Omaha until August 2.

The Royals concerns have been his bat speed and maintaining his power against major league pitching every day.  So far, their concerns seem valid.  The new outcry, a year later, is to ship Kila off to the first team that’ll have him.  Send him to Omaha.  Cut him.

Am I disappointed? Of course.  I want Kila to show that his success in the minors wasn’t a fluke and that he can be a part of a successful Royals team.  His success just puts the Royals in an even better position as prospects continue their ascent to the majors.  Watching his struggles is frustrating, to be sure, but what’s more frustrating is the fickle turn against him.

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