Minor League Updates

The Royals front office has been active this past week shifting players around and you may recognize some of the names on the move.

First, I mentioned the biggest recent promotion, as Wil Myers advanced from Burlington in Low-A ball to Wilmington in High-A. So far he’s 8-19 while batting fifth in the order.

But aside from Myers, who Baseball America ranked third before the season among Royals prospects, left-handed pitcher Chris Dwyer made the move from Wilmington to Northwest Arkansas. Dwyer was 6-3 with a 2.99 ERA and 1.328 WHIP while striking out 9.9 batters for every nine innings. Baseball America ranks him ninth in the Royals system.

Dwyer’s battery mate Ben Theriot will join him in Double A as well. Theriot was pushed up with Myers needing his playing time in Wilmington.

Jarrod Dyson had been hurt most of the year with a high ankle sprain, but finally started seeing time when rookie camps opened following the first-year player draft in June, starting his 2010 in Arizona where he went 13-25 and stole three bases. He’s since moved on to Wilmington where he’s 7-23 in five games and has stolen two bases there. He’s speedy and known for his defense, but doesn’t have much power. Think Juan Pierre.

With the trade of Edwin Bellorin to Houston, a spot opened up for Manny Pina in Omaha. The Texas League All-Star produced a line of .250/.326/.411/.737 in Northwest Arkansas. He also hit six homers in 168 at-bats. Pina is solid defensively and is pretty likely to be the second catcher on the roster next season. For that I apologize (and Jason Kendall snickers).

Perhaps my favorite “hidden” prospect in the system, Louis Coleman, advanced from Double A to Triple A Omaha as well. Coleman, the ace of 2009 College World Series Champion LSU Tigers, has dominated every level so far, carrying a career minor league 2.30 ERA and 0.848 WHIP in his two years in the Royals system. Coleman advanced quickly last season starting in Burlington before finishing the year in Wilmington. He started 2010 in Northwest Arkansas and now should see the rest of his action in Omaha. The reliever may even be a September call up on a fast track for a bullpen job next season. In 2010, Coleman had a 2.09 ERA and 0.871 WHIP for the Naturals with a 3.93 strikeout to walk ratio.

Also, you may be interested to learn, for Chicago White Sox first round pick Brian Anderson made his professional pitching debut for the Arizona Royals of the Rookie League. The outfielder-turned-pitcher threw one inning and surrendered one hit but struck out two. Apparently he was hitting 95mph on his fastball.

They join such names as Mike Montgomery and John Lamb in earning promotions in 2010.  I suspect there are a few other players who’ll make a move up a level before the season’s up…

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.