Kansas City Royals Winter League Check In

Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Just because the Kansas City Royals season has ended does not mean that baseball is over.

It has been just about three and a half weeks since the Kansas City Royals were hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy at Citi Field. In 83 days and a handful of hours, according to the Spring Training Countdown, Spring Training and the hope of a new season will be there. In the meantime, there are plenty of free agent rumors to keep our attention on the game we enjoy so much.

In this lull between seasons, there is still baseball being played. The Arizona Fall League finished their season last week, but the Winter Leagues are in full swing. There is still plenty of baseball out there; it is just not as easy to locate as major or minor league action.

These leagues also feature several members of the Royals organization. Several top prospects have been on the field this fall, with players appearing on three different continents. It can certainly be a lot to keep track of.

So, let us take a look around these Fall and Winter Leagues. Who has impressed, and who has struggled thus far? Our trek will begin with the recently completed Arizona Fall League, where several Kansas City Royals prospects got to perform against some top minor league talent.

Next: Building on his breakout season

credit: Jen Nevius.

The star of the Arizona Fall League for the Kansas City Royals, when it came to hitting, was Bubba Starling. After his breakout season in 2015, Starling continued to impress in Surprise. Not only did he provide a solid .274/.330/.440 batting line, but Starling also hit four home runs, displaying some of that power potential. He did strike out 25 times in his 84 at bats, which is a concern, but Starling did not look overmatched and finished off the year strong.

Ramon Torres had a decent showing, producing a .262/.304/.400 batting line with four doubles and a home run, but the other Royals position players struggled. Cam Gallagher had two hits in his eleven at bats, but did manage to drive in two runs. Zane Evans had a rough time in Surprise, posting a .139/.225/.139 batting line, striking out eight times in 36 at bats.

On the pitching side of the ledger, most of the Royals had success as well. Matt Alvarez, Brooks Pounders and Andrew Edwards combined to allow only three earned runs in 27.1 innings of work, striking out 23 batters while issuing two walks. Bryan Brickhouse also contributed a scoreless inning, despite allowing three baserunners on a hit and two walks in his only appearance.

For all of the success that Alvarez, Edwards and Pounders had, the opposite was true for Kevin McCarthy. He appeared in ten games, pitching 9.2 innings, but allowed ten runs on eleven hits, two walks and three hit batters. McCarthy was done in by two horrendous outings, as he gave up all ten runs in 1.1 innings over those two games. With those appearances removed, McCarthy had a much better time, allowing only four hits and a walk in those eight other innings of work.

Next: Heading down under

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Let us now look at the Winter Leagues, beginning with the Australian Baseball League.

It has been a matter of two different experiences thus far for the three members of the Kansas City Royals playing for the Melbourne Aces. Logan Moon has had a difficult time thus far, posting a .172/.233/.172 batting line, striking out 24 times in 64 at bats. On the plus side, Moon, who stole twelve bases in Wilmington during the 2015 campaign, has four steals for the Aces.

Ryan Dale has also struggled in his limited time for the Aces. In his 25 at bats, he has three hits and has struck out ten times. This is not that far removed from his career .201/.293/.257 batting line, but the native Australian is only 19 years old and has yet to play above the Pioneer League. There is still plenty of time for Ryan to develop.

Mike Hill, meanwhile, has had an excellent time in Melbourne. The third baseman/outfielder has produced a .323/.400/.452 batting line with five doubles and a home run, driving in ten. Hill has also made excellent contact, striking out only 14 times in 62 at bats while drawing six walks. Hopefully, this can be a springboard going forward for Hill heading into the 2016 season.

Next: Off to the Dominican League

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Thus far, the Kansas City Royals have had a few players get action in the Dominican Winter League, although none have seen a great deal of action. Raul Mondesi has made one appearance without an at bat, and Cheslor Cuthbert was 1-2 with two walks in his only outing.

Jorge Bonifacio is hitless in his three at bats with two strikeouts, but has managed to score two runs. Interestingly enough, both runs were scored after Bonifacio reached base after striking out. This is certainly one of those times where baseball is an interesting game statistically.

Francisco Pena has served as the fourth catcher for Aguilas, and has only received 19 at bats thus far. He has not exactly done much to give the team an incentive to play him much more, with only four hits and two walks. Pena has scored twice, but does not have any extra base hits and has not driven in any runs at this point.

Of the five members of the Royals organization to see action thus far in the Dominican Winter League, Orlando Calixte has had the most playing time. He has also had a rough go thus far, with six hits in 33 at bats. He has walked three times, scoring four runs and has driven in two. However, like Pena, Calixte has yet to generate an extra base hit.

Next: Gathering in Venezuela

Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

Wrapping up this trek through the Winter Leagues, we begin by stopping off in Mexico to check in on Kansas City Royals lefty Cristian Castillo. Playing for the Caneros de los Mochis, Castillo has thus far been unable to build on his promising performance in the Dominican Summer League. In his two appearances, Castillo has allowed two runs on a hit and a walk in 1.1 innings of work. Aside from that one home run, Castillo has been solid, striking out two.

Moving along to our final stop in Puerto Rico, we have three more players to check on. Alexis Rivera has appeared in five games, but only has seven at bats. Rivera has walked twice, stealing a base, and made his one hit count when he hit a home run against the Cangrejeros de Santurce.

Speaking of Santurce, that is where we find Reymond Fuentes. He has had a solid start to his season, posting a .333/.393/.392 batting line with a home run, five RBI and eight runs scored. That home run is Fuentes’ only extra base hit thus far this season.

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The most impressive performance for the Kansas City Royals in Puerto Rico may belong to Daniel Stumpf. The lefty reliever has been excellent pitching in middle relief, allowing only one earned run in twelve innings. He has allowed nine hits and three walks, striking out five, but Stumpf has also induced three double plays. An extreme ground ball pitcher, who had two ground ball outs for every out in the air, Stumpf may have found a perfect role going forward.