Five Potential September Callups for the Royals

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The Kansas City Royals could find themselves in an unfamiliar place this September – playing games that matter. While last season featured the Royals making a spirited run to get on the periphery of the chase for the Wild Card, their late season run just occurred too late in the year.

This year, however, is a different story for the Royals. Once again, the Royals have gone on that second half surge, surpassing the Detroit Tigers to take over the American League Central. Now, with the playoffs appearing to be a true possibility, the Royals will have a different mindset going into September. Instead of evaluating players strictly for the future, they may look at bringing up players that could help them extend their lead.

There are certainly going to be reinforcements on the way in terms of players being activated from the disabled list. Eric Hosmer and Scott Downs are likely to be healthy once September rolls around, allowing the Royals to bolster their lineup and their bullpen. Yet, there are also players currently in the minor leagues, some of who may not even be on the Royals 40 man roster presently, that could help the Royals end the 29 year postseason drought.

So, what players could potentially help the Royals in that quest this September? There are several that could, if given the opportunity, make an impact upon the Royals playoff chances. While there may be others that are not covered in this article, here are the five players, in no particular order, most likely to make an impact in Kansas City this September.

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5. Johnny Giavotella

Recently, there has been some talk that Johnny Giavotella could be on the way out, losing his spot on the Royals 40 man roster to such players as Brandon Finnegan and/or Christian Binford. While Giavotella has not turned into the player that the Royals may have expected when he was drafted in the second round of the 2008 MLB Amateur Draft, he would still likely be claimed by a team that feels that a change of scenery is all he needs.

What Giavotella has appeared to be thus far is a AAAA player, someone who can perform quite well at the AAA level, but cannot bring that success to the majors. His numbers throughout his career lend credence to that thought, as Giavotella has posted a .310/.381/.441 batting line with 31 home runs in his career with the Omaha Storm Chasers, but has only hit at a .235/.275/.329 rate with four home runs with the Royals.

So why could Johnny Giavotella, with this track record of not producing at the major league level, be a factor in September? Quite simply, Giavotella could end up facing similar competition to what he did in Omaha. Teams such as the Chicago White Sox and the Boston Red Sox, who the Royals face ten times during September, are likely going to give the younger players a chance. Facing minor league players, Giavotella could deliver for the Royals.

Having added the ability to play third and left field with relative competence, Giavotella brings more versatility to the Royals bench. That defensive flexibility, along with the potential of feeling more comfortable in facing players of a similar caliber, could help Giavotella make an impact on the Royals.

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4. Christian Binford

While fellow prospect, and 2014 first round selection, Brandon Finnegan gets the attention as a possible bullpen piece for the Royals in September, it may be that Christian Binford has a better chance at seeing time in Kansas City this fall. For a player who was drafted in the 30th round in 2011, making the Royals 40 man roster in time for a possible playoff push would be quite the moment for what has been a meteoric rise through the system.

Despite not being a highly touted prospect, Binford has dominated at virtually every level he has played at. Although he has typically been much younger than the competition he has faced, Binford has posted a career 2.59 ERA and a 1.086 WHiP. At just 21 years old, he has held his own in his eight starts with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals, producing a 3.919 ERA and a 1.062 WHiP, striking out 38 batters against six walks.

Christian Binford does not have overpowering stuff, throwing a fastball in the low 90’s and mixing in a sinker and a slider. Yet, he generates ground balls at a decent rate, possessing a career mark of 1.45 ground balls per fly ball. Even if Binford does not come up as a starter for the Royals, he could still have a role in Kansas City as a ground ball throwing reliever, coming in with a runner on base to attempt to get a needed double play.

Binford may not be the first pitching prospect that one thinks of with the Royals, but he may be get a chance to produce in Kansas City before some of the other, more highly touted, pitchers come though the system. That chance could even come as soon as September.

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3. John Lamb

As recently as Spring Training this season, John Lamb’s career appeared to be on life support. After undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2011, Lamb had bombed out in his attempt to come back. His fastball had lost approximately ten MPH, and Lamb was gettign shelled at every stop in the minor leagues. Through the 2012 and 2013 seasons, he posted a 5-15 record with a 5.92 ERA. Formerly a top prospect, Lamb appeared to be on the verge of becoming a case of what could have been.

Fortunately, someone forgot to tell Lamb how the script was supposed to end. Although he struggled at the start of the season for the Storm Chasers, Lamb still showed signs of promise. Since then, he has been able to carry over those early successes, no matter how few there were, to turn in a solid season. Even though Lamb’s 7-9 record does not jump out, he has managed to post a 3.62 ERA, striking out 123 batters in 126.1 innings of work.

John Lamb’s overall numbers may also be hurt by the fact that he is an extreme fly ball pitcher in a hitter’s league. For the season, Lamb has given up a fly ball to the outfield 38.5% of the time, far above the league average of 27.6%. However, that pitching style could work out in Kauffman Stadium, with its spacious outfield and the Royals spectacular outfield defense. If need be, Lamb could step in as a starter late in the year, and could end up pitching better than one would expect.

He may no longer profile as a top of the rotation starter, but Lamb could still be effective in the majors. That chance could come as soon as this season.

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2. Francisco Pena

Francisco Pena already had his debut with the Royals this season, getting into one inning of action while Salvador Perez was injured. Although he has yet to receive a major league at bat, Pena already made his presence felt by throwing out the only baserunner who attempted to steal against him. Even if he never plays another game at the big league level, Pena can always claim that he was perfect when it came to throwing out major league base stealers.

Yet, Pena is likely to have more than that one appearance, as his minor league numbers have been impressive. Signed by the Royals as a minor league free agent, Pena has truly exploded in Omaha. For the year, he has produced a .257/.298/.556 batting line, walking only 16 times in 330 plate appearances. Yet, there is that last number – the .556 slugging percentage., fueled by Pena’s 26 home runs on the season.

In his minor league career before this season, Francisco Pena never hit more than eight home runs in a year. He has annihilated that mark with those 26 long balls, as he has suddenly turned into a power hitter, even taking part in the AAA Home Run Derby. On a team where Salvador Perez leads the team with 15 home runs, that power production could be very useful for the Royals. Having a potential power bat on the bench if needed as a pinch hitter, or having Pena as an option to let Perez have a games as the Royals designated hitter, could pay dividends in the stretch run.

It is not often that a third string catcher can make an impact. However, if that power production can translate at the major league level, Pena has a chance to do just that.

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1. Justin Maxwell

Remember him? After his game winning grand slam last season, Maxwell faded away, being removed from the 40 man roster when he was sent to Omaha following a dismal start to the 2014 season. However, he has found that hitting stroke once again, posting a .294/.361/.478 batting line with eight home runs for the Storm Chasers.

Even if Maxwell is not going to be an every day player for the Royals, he still has one thing that he has done well throughout his career – hit left handed pitching for power. During his time in the majors, Maxwell has posted a .230/.344/.407 batting line with eleven home runs against lefties in just under 400 plate appearances. Maxwell also has a bit of speed, having stolen 26 bases against nine time being caught.

Justin Maxwell could also help with defensive flexibility, having experience at all three positions in the outfield. While he may rate as a below average defensive player at all three positions, he is also not completely terrible either. Maxwell has a solid arm, averaging one assist every sixteen games in his career, coming out to roughly ten per full season. Against a left handed starter, Maxwell could be an important piece for the Royals.

If he was to be brought back onto the 40 man roster, Maxwell would have one role – to hit left handed pitching hard. Fortunately, that may be his greatest asset as a baseball player.

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In the midst of a playoff chase for the first time in 29 years, the Kansas City Royals could use all the help they can get. With rosters expanding in a couple of weeks, the Royals find themselves having several players that could make a positive impact upon that push to Blue October.

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