Post by MizzouTiger on Feb 18, 2008 12:45:21 GMT -5
www.kansascity.com/sports/royals/story/493247.html
Royals notebook: Kids to keep an eye on
Prospects to watch
Scratch below the obvious position battles for big-league jobs — No. 5 starter, back of the bullpen, 1B/OF/DH rotation — and it’s easy to find several Royals’ prospects facing a key spring.
Farm director J.J. Picollo ticked off five quick names when asked who merits extra scrutiny: Outfielder Chris Lubanski, infielder Mike Aviles and pitchers Carlos Rosa, Tyler Lumsden and Julio Pimentel.
•Lubanski, who turns 23 next month, has made steady if unspectacular progress through the minor-league system since his selection as the fifth overall pick in the 2003 draft.
•Aviles turns 27 next month and was also left off the 40-man roster despite his selection as the organization’s minor-league player of the year after batting .296 at Omaha.
•Lumsden, 24, was protected on the 40-man roster, but club officials show growing impatience at his inconsistency. He missed 2005 because of elbow surgery before joining the Royals in a 2006 trade that sent Mike MacDougal to the White Sox.
•Rosa, 23, could be in the rotation or the bullpen. There is no evidence of a lingering problem in the strained rib-cage muscle that sidelined him last season.
•Pimentel, at 21, is regarded as one of the organization’s top prospects and could be poised this season for a big move through the system. He was 9-1 with a 2.42 ERA after the All-Star break last season at Class A Wilmington.
Lost in translation
Catcher John Buck has a small collection of note cards with Japanese translations of words such as good, no good, fastball and I understand.
So how did Buck sum up Yasuhiko Yabuta’s throwing session Saturday to live hitters?
“Bueno!”
Yabuta raised his eyebrows but smiled.
“We make it up,” Buck said, “as we go along.”
Injury updates
Right-hander Brian Bannister was sidelined for a second day by what appears to be the flu, but lefty reliever Neal Musser is ready to test his sore back.
“(Musser) was wagging his tail a little bit,” manager Trey Hillman said. “He looked encouraged. The first day, he was worried.
“Something happens to your back, you get a tweak in there and it keeps you from walking upright. He’s still got time. We’ve got plenty of time.”
Catcher Kiel Thibault remains slowed by a sore shoulder. He is unable to throw but continues to take part in catching drills and batting practice.
Added backstops
Thibault’s injury prompted the Royals to summon catcher Cody Clark to camp ahead of schedule. The club previously added catcher Jeff Howell to the camp roster, which now consists of 63 players.
Howell, 24, batted .241 last season in 62 games at Class A Burlington and Class AA Wichita. Clark, 26, batted .244 in 48 games at Class A Wilmington and Class AAA Omaha.
Royals notebook: Kids to keep an eye on
Prospects to watch
Scratch below the obvious position battles for big-league jobs — No. 5 starter, back of the bullpen, 1B/OF/DH rotation — and it’s easy to find several Royals’ prospects facing a key spring.
Farm director J.J. Picollo ticked off five quick names when asked who merits extra scrutiny: Outfielder Chris Lubanski, infielder Mike Aviles and pitchers Carlos Rosa, Tyler Lumsden and Julio Pimentel.
•Lubanski, who turns 23 next month, has made steady if unspectacular progress through the minor-league system since his selection as the fifth overall pick in the 2003 draft.
•Aviles turns 27 next month and was also left off the 40-man roster despite his selection as the organization’s minor-league player of the year after batting .296 at Omaha.
•Lumsden, 24, was protected on the 40-man roster, but club officials show growing impatience at his inconsistency. He missed 2005 because of elbow surgery before joining the Royals in a 2006 trade that sent Mike MacDougal to the White Sox.
•Rosa, 23, could be in the rotation or the bullpen. There is no evidence of a lingering problem in the strained rib-cage muscle that sidelined him last season.
•Pimentel, at 21, is regarded as one of the organization’s top prospects and could be poised this season for a big move through the system. He was 9-1 with a 2.42 ERA after the All-Star break last season at Class A Wilmington.
Lost in translation
Catcher John Buck has a small collection of note cards with Japanese translations of words such as good, no good, fastball and I understand.
So how did Buck sum up Yasuhiko Yabuta’s throwing session Saturday to live hitters?
“Bueno!”
Yabuta raised his eyebrows but smiled.
“We make it up,” Buck said, “as we go along.”
Injury updates
Right-hander Brian Bannister was sidelined for a second day by what appears to be the flu, but lefty reliever Neal Musser is ready to test his sore back.
“(Musser) was wagging his tail a little bit,” manager Trey Hillman said. “He looked encouraged. The first day, he was worried.
“Something happens to your back, you get a tweak in there and it keeps you from walking upright. He’s still got time. We’ve got plenty of time.”
Catcher Kiel Thibault remains slowed by a sore shoulder. He is unable to throw but continues to take part in catching drills and batting practice.
Added backstops
Thibault’s injury prompted the Royals to summon catcher Cody Clark to camp ahead of schedule. The club previously added catcher Jeff Howell to the camp roster, which now consists of 63 players.
Howell, 24, batted .241 last season in 62 games at Class A Burlington and Class AA Wichita. Clark, 26, batted .244 in 48 games at Class A Wilmington and Class AAA Omaha.