Instructional League Play Begins

The minor league seasons are over and the Royals are in their final series of the year, but baseball keeps going.  Many of the Royals minor league players are in Arizona right now beginning instructional play.

Chief among them is Bubba Starling, the Royals first round pick in 2011.  Because he signed right at the deadline, Starling wasn’t assigned to any short season rookie level club, so this will be his first work as a professional baseball player in a game setting.

He’s not the only rookie down there though.  July international signees Elier Hernandez and Adalberto Mondesi will be in Arizona as well, along with other 2011 draft picks and prospects.

A full list below (via the KC Star):

Pitchers (36): Angel Baez, Christian Binford, Nicolas Blanco, Bryan Brickhouse, Aaron Brooks, Allen Caldwell, Yender Caramo, Edwin Carl, Darwin Castillo, Kevin Chapman, Antonio Cruz, Fernando Cruz, Malcom Culver, Ryan Dennick, Eric Diaz, Jonathan Dooley, Cody Fassold, Santiago Garrido, Michael Giovenco, Nick Graffeo, Jakob Junis, Jon Keck, Stephen Limpkins, Jossiel Martinez, Jason Mitchell, Kellen Moen, Matt Murray, Aroni Nina, Cesar Ogando, Brian Peacock, Nick Rogers, José Rodriguez, Clayton Schulz, Kyle Smith, Yordano Ventura and Ali Williams.

Catchers (10): Josiah Atkins, José Bonilla, Edul Escobar, Cam Gallagher, Pedro Gonzalez, Travis Jones, Julio Rodriguez, Jin-Ho Shin, Kenny Swab and Luis Villegas.

Infielders (19): Michael Antonio, Humberto Arteaga, Orlando Calixte, Nick Cuckovich, Cheslor Cuthbert, Dean Espy, Carlos Garcia, Patrick Leonard, Jack Lopez, Daniel Mateo, Alex McClure, Adalberto Mondesi, Henry Moreno, Luis Piterson, Maurico Ramos, Mark Threldkeld, Ramon Torres, Justin Trapp and Murray Watts.

Outfielders (14): Lane Adams, Ysmelin Alcantara, Jarrell Allen, Jerico Blanco, Jorge Bonifacio, Brett Eibner, Brian Fletcher, Terrence Gore, Gabriel Gray, Elier Hernandez, Alex Llanos, Yem Prades, Bubba Starling and D’Andre Toney

Cuthbert, Eibner, Bonifacio, Chapman and Ventura (along with Bubba, Mondesi and Hernandez) are probably going to be on most Royals top prospect lists and players like Antonio, Arteaga, Calixte, Brooks and Leonard have a shot to get in there too.

Play started today and runs through October 21.

As for how they’re doing today? Third round pick in 2011 Bryan Brickhouse seemed to have a good day: