The Royals announced on Wednesday that they’ve selected the contracts of right-handers Seth Maness (as Derrick Goold first reported earlier this morning) and Al Alburquerque from Triple-A Omaha. In order to clear spots on the 40-man roster, Kansas City designated infielder Christian Colon and minor league outfielder Peter O’Brien for assignment. Additionally, righty Jake Junis was optioned to Omaha.
Kansas City was obviously looking to get some fresh arms into the bullpen, and they’ve chosen two veterans who are looking to get their careers back on track. Maness has been a steady contributor but was non-tendered after undergoing a primary repair procedure (a Tommy John alternative) last year. Alburquerque has plenty of MLB experience, too, though he only received two major league frames last year.
Colon, 27, was the fourth overall pick in the 2010 draft but never lived up to that billing. He looked to have potentially carved out a spot on the Royals’ roster back in 2015 when he slashed .290/.356/.336 through 119 plate appearances as a rookie, but he followed that performance up with a lackluster .231/.294/.293 in a larger sample of 154 PAs last year. Thus far in 2017, Colon had played sparingly, logging 19 PAs and hitting and going 3-for-17 at the plate.
The 26-year-old O’Brien drew plenty of attention in Spring Training after clubbing seven homers and posting a 1.112 OPS, but the slugger’s production wilted in Omaha, where he got off to an unsightly .162/.235/.276 start through 115 plate appearances. The former catcher has long intrigued fans and MLB clubs with his considerable power, but strikeouts and a lack of defensive contributions have limited O’Brien’s opportunities. He did receive 79 MLB plate appearances with the D-backs in 2015-16, though he turned in a .176/.228/.446 batting line and punched out 32 times.
Oh no, not Peter O’Brien
there better not be any rave review jokes, or I will delete my account and never use this site/app ever again.
This is basically a joke lol
Bye Felicia
Yep, Bye Felicia. If you can’t take a joke around here, we don’t want ya.
By-bye Felicia
For the pathetic offense KC had produced, to never give Obrien a shot is beyond me….
Some team with a dh slot will give him a chance.
White Sox
It might be because he was batting .162 and striking out in about 1/3 of his ABs at Omaha.
In all seriousness has he done anything to even warrant a shot. He has a .162 aver with a .511 ops and a 30% K rate. He’s just not very good.
Better chance of Double Al’s slider working it’s magic again than O’brian working out.
O’Brien has hit .284/.332/.551/.883 (.328 BAbip) and .254/.295/.505/.800 (.332 BAbip) the last two seasons in AAA. This years line is either pure luck (he has a .197 BAbip) or KC is trying to get him to work on placing the ball instead of working off his natural power (his ISO has also dropped from a steady 250+ all the way down to 114) He needs work obviously, but it’s not like his current skills are all that horrible as is
Now there is a 24yo Outfielder on the KC 40-man who has hit merely .228/.306/.373/.679 over 6 minor league seasons, including just .166/.212/.245/.457 at the Triple-A level, that is hitting .138/.211/.207/.417 this season and after .183/.235/.298/.534 last year – if absolutely anyone should be DFA’d, it’s really got to be Bubba Starling. I honestly cant believe they are still holding out hope on this guy as clearly he isn’t ever going to develop or they are stunting his growth with their specific approach with him
O’Brien didn’t get rave reviews on his defense as a catcher or OF.
He did get rave reviews about his power though…
Very stupid dropping O’Brien especially if they don’t think Hosmer is going to be a Royal after this season! Surely there was a better AAA lifer that could have been released. Possibly Orlando?
We have O’Hearn stocked up and ready in Omaha. The only thing O’Brien offers is power, no defense, no contact.
Also Samir Duenez looks like he might be a better prospect than O’hearn. 20 years old and hitting well in AA. O’heard probably has better power but Duenez looks more athletic and makes better contact. It’ll be interesting to see who gets the call.
O’Brien seems like a perfect candidate to try Korea or Japan. His power will work well over there and he could learn the plate discipline to make that power a contribution here as well. It worked for Thames obviously and it possibly could work for Wilin Rosario (who has looked much better over there) this offseason.
What kind of reviews did O’Brien get on defense? I can’t remember.
Grave?
No, no, brave! He’s going to Atlanta.
Dep-RAVE-d?
Am I missing something about the rave review jokes?
Just a lame, played out “joke” from an old thread on here.
You’re a joke
I’m with mcdusty. He’s just sore that he didn’t think of it first!
If you watch O’Brien at all (esp in person) it’s extremely hard not to root for him – from his appearance and approach to his swing and even often on Defense he looks fantastic …and then frustratingly the results just aren’t there.
I hope he catches on with a club who has a better record of getting the most out of hitters, as some adjustments might just take him from curious case to productive Fan-Fave
please save us, Peter O’Brien. Come to Philly, we’ll take a chance on your bat. It ain’t like Franco is doing much.
Are you serious? Franco is a very good talent.
I like his fielding but I fear he’s going to be a Ryan Howard type. Homer or strikeout. I dunno. I was never crazy about him.
Help us Peter O’ Brien. You’re our only hope.
The Pirates might be a decent fit for the Pirates.
Pirates need more pirates.
“The Pirates might be a decent fit for the Pirates.”
The Pirates who don’t fit–Kang, Marte–are giving the Pirates fits. Their season is about to walk the plank.
Moreso than the Pirates would be a fit for let’s say, the Blue Jays
but do the pirates draw rave reviews of the pirates?
Christian Colon had two of the biggest hits in Royals history and for that, I will always have a soft spot for him…
Best of luck to him wherever he lands and I guarantee he will welcomed back with open arms every time he comes back for a 2015 World Championship reunion…
O’Brien should go to Korea, he’s a lot like Thames….many power, many strikeouts. maybe he could turn things around too
Between hiflew’s comment yesterday and yours today, should Pete O’Brien go play in Korea?
Korea might not be such a bad idea.. Thames raised the stock placed on players that come out of the KBO. But he’ll have to be good. Thames was the first KBO player to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in a season and only got three years $15 million guaranteed with a 2020 club option