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Royals Rumors

Royals Activate Brady Singer For Debut

By TC Zencka | July 25, 2020 at 11:18am CDT

Tyler Zuber made his debut out of the Kansas City Royals bullpen last night in a week that will see quite a number of newly-minted big-leaguers dirty their cleats on major-league soil for the first time in their careers. Count highly-touted Royals’ prospect Brady Singer among them. The 18th overall selection of the 2018 draft is slated to start tonight’s game against the Indians. The Royals activated Singer earlier today, moving Ronald Bolanos to the taxi squad, the team announced on Twitter.

It’s not the ideal debut in that Singer’s friends and family won’t be able to be in attendance, but after just 26 professional starts, the Royals and Singer both are eager to see the 6’5″ righty against the game’s top competition, per Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star. Said Singer, “Obviously, the difference between the Futures Game and your first big-league start is much different. I feel like the Futures Game you’re kind of just showing what you’ve got and getting through that inning. But (Saturday) is day one. Locking in for as many games as I can go. Absolute huge game plan and studying tonight and figuring out what to do.” 

If there were a Triple-A season, it stands to reason that Singer would be making his debut there this season given that he only just reached Double-A in 2019. Still, the Royals would not put him in the majors if they felt he were not ready to handle that level of competition. In his only full season of professional ball, Singer went 12-5 with an eye-catching 2.85 ERA across 26 starts between High-A and Double-A in 2019. Singer notched 8.4 K/9 versus 2.4 BB/9 for an overall 3.54 K/BB as a 22-year-old last season. He’s the #4 ranked prospect in the Royals’ system by both Baseball America and Fangraphs.

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Kansas City Royals Newsstand Transactions Brady Singer Tyler Zuber

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Predict The AL Central Division Winner

By Jeff Todd | July 24, 2020 at 7:57pm CDT

With final roster decisions in the books and the 2020 season underway at long last, it’s time to make some predictions. We’ll poll the MLBTR readership on each of the game’s six divisions — though plenty more teams will crack the postseason under the rather inclusive new playoff qualification system.

There’s rather an interesting dynamic in the American League Central division this year. The Twins stepped up in 2019 and have added Josh Donaldson to an already potent lineup. They’ll try to hold off the Indians, who had previously enjoyed a stranglehold on the division and have some of the best core talent around. There’s no denying the immense potential that resides on the White Sox roster, which features both elite youngsters and newly inked quality veterans. The Royals feel they’ve got quick bounceback potential after a few down seasons; if a few players hit their ceilings, perhaps they could surprise. It’s harder to see a path for the Tigers, but they’ve also got a load of elite young hurlers pushing into the majors and will enter the season determined to make strides.

Which team do you think is the best of the bunch? (Poll link for app users.)

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Chicago White Sox Cleveland Guardians Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals MLBTR Polls Minnesota Twins

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Royals’ Greg Holland Earns Roster Spot

By Connor Byrne | July 24, 2020 at 12:44am CDT

The Royals made a few moves on Thursday, adding right-handers Greg Holland and Tyler Zuber, infielder/outfielder Erick Mejia and catcher Oscar Hernandez to their roster.

Holland is the only member of the quartet with significant major league experience, and he has thrived at times, as shown by his three All-Star nods in Kansas City from 2010-15. He threw 319 2/3 innings of 2.42 ERA/2.23 FIP ball with 12.11 K/9 and 3.52 BB/9 during that span, but August 2015 Tommy John surgery stopped Holland from contributing to the Royals’ World Series-winning run late that year and has knocked his career off course in the ensuing seasons.

Since he underwent his TJ procedure, Holland has recorded a 4.20 ERA/4.02 FIP with 10.21 K/9 and 5.3 BB/9 over 139 1/3 innings as a Rockie, National, Cardinal and Diamondback. But the the former lights-out closer will get a chance to revive his career with the Royals, who signed him to a minor league contract in the offseason.

Zuber, 25, ranked as FanGraphs’ 13th-best Royals prospect in April. The 2017 sixth-round pick climbed to the Double-A level for the first time last season and pitched to a 2.42 ERA/2.95 FIP with 10.38 K/9 and 1.73 BB/9 in 26 innings. Also 25, Mejia saw a bit of major league action last year in KC, but the overwhelming majority of his work came in Triple-A, where he hit .271/.339/.382 in 556 plate appearances. Hernandez, whom the Royals signed to a minor league pact earlier this month, appeared briefly with the Diamondbacks from 2015-16. He batted a paltry .209/.274/.399 in 168 PA last season with Boston’s Triple-A affiliate.

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Kansas City Royals Transactions Erick Mejia Greg Holland Oscar Hernandez Tyler Zuber

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Hunter Dozier Tests Positive For COVID-19

By Jeff Todd | July 22, 2020 at 10:00am CDT

Royals outfielder Hunter Dozier will open the season on the coronavirus-specific injured list. The club announced that he has tested positive for COVID-19.

This is obviously quite disappointing (and rather worrisome) news to receive, particularly on the eve of Opening Day. Dozier will be sidelined until he’s able to clear the virus from his system and register two positive tests. He says he is experiencing some symptoms. Hopefully, he’s able to make a swift and full recovery.

It’s concerning also that Dozier has been active with his teammates this week. He has obviously been isolated since receiving the test results, but it’s hypothetically possible he could’ve transmitted the virus to others in the organization before that time. It isn’t yet known if any other personnel came into such close contact with Dozier that isolation will be required.

Dozier, who’ll soon turn 29, entered 2020 hoping to build on a breakout effort last year. The first-round pick finally made good on his original promise, turning in a .279/.348/.522 batting line with 26 home runs and a league-leading ten triples over 586 plate appearances. While he benefited from a lofty .339 BABIP, Dozier backed it up with excellent exit velocity and sprint speed.

The news will dent Dozier’s earning abilities after the season, when he’ll qualify for arbitration for the first time. And it’ll hurt the Royals’ hopes for a surprise run in 2020. The added opportunity will open the door for a variety of other players for at least a few weeks. The newly acquired Franchy Cordero should be in line for significant action, with players such as Bubba Starling and Brett Phillips perhaps also seeing increased chances.

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Kansas City Royals Newsstand Coronavirus Hunter Dozier

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Royals Acquire Rights To Rule 5 Pick Stephen Woods Jr.

By Steve Adams | July 21, 2020 at 2:45pm CDT

The Royals announced today that they’ve sent a player to be named later or cash to the Rays in exchange for unrestricted rights to Rule 5 pick Stephen Woods Jr. Such moves are only possible once a player first goes unclaimed on outright waivers. Normally, a Rule 5 pick is then offered back to his original club, but the Royals worked out a trade to keep Woods in the organization — and because he’s already cleared waivers, the right-hander won’t require a spot on the 40-man roster.

Woods, 25, missed the entire 2018 season due to shoulder surgery but returned in 2019 to throw 86 1/3 frames of 1.88 ERA ball with 8.2 K/9, 3.4 BB/9 and a 53.4 percent ground-ball rate in Class-A Advanced. Pitching the majority of last season at age 24, Woods was a bit old for the level, but the results were obviously quite encouraging for a pitcher coming back from a major surgical procedure. The Kansas City organization was clearly enamored of the former eighth-round pick’s upside and will now be able to hang onto him for the foreseeable future.

Woods has a history of control struggles, but he’s also missed plenty of bats in both his NCAA and professional career. His velocity was down a bit from its previous levels in 2019, FanGraphs’ Eric Longenhagen noted at the time of the Rule 5 Draft, but Woods also posted the lowest walk rate of his career in ’19.

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Kansas City Royals Rule 5 Draft Tampa Bay Rays Transactions Stephen Woods Jr.

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Royals Place Jakob Junis On Injured List

By Connor Byrne | July 20, 2020 at 10:26am CDT

The Royals have placed right-hander Jakob Junis on the 10-day injured list, Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star relays. Junis got a late start to Summer Camp because of a positive COVID-19 test, so he needs more time to build up for the campaign.

This news throws a wrench into Kansas City’s season-opening plans, as the 27-year-old Junis joined lefties Danny Duffy and Mike Montgomery as locks for its rotation. Junis was a major source of innings for the Royals in each of the previous two seasons, during which he combined for 352 1/3 frames. He amassed 175 1/3 over 31 starts last year and posted 8.42 K/9 against 2.98 BB/9, but Junis struggled to a 5.24 ERA/4.82 FIP.

Before losing Junis, the Royals’ starting staff was already set to open the season without righty Brad Keller, who just returned from a coronavirus diagnosis and will need time to get up to speed. Interestingly, though, the team’s openings in its rotation could clear a path for 23-year-old Brady Singer, who looks as if he’ll earn a 30-man roster spot, per Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com. Singer made a strong case for himself with four scoreless innings in an intrasquad game Friday.

The 18th overall pick in 2018 and currently MLB.com’s 59th-ranked prospect, Singer is no stranger to recording outstanding numbers. In his first minor league season last year, he combined for 148 1/3 innings with a 2.85 ERA and 8.4 K/9 against 2.4 BB/9 between High-A and Double-A.

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Kansas City Royals Brady Singer Jakob Junis

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Royals Add Jake Brentz To Player Pool

By Anthony Franco | July 19, 2020 at 8:47am CDT

The Royals added reliever Jake Brentz to their Summer Camp player pool this week, reports Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com (Twitter link). He has been assigned to their alternate training site in Kansas City, Kansas, per MiLB.com.

Originally an 11th-round selection of the Blue Jays, Brentz has yet to make the majors but has twice been traded as a prospect. He was sent from the Toronto organization to the Mariners as part of a package for reliever Mark Lowe. Seattle would move him for MLB middle relief help as well, including him in a package to pick up Arquimedes Caminero from the Pirates. Pittsburgh released Brentz last August; he hooked on with the Royals on a minor-league deal shortly thereafter.

The 25-year-old has spent the better part of the past three seasons in the high minors, where he’s been undercut by control issues. Between Double-A and Triple-A, Brentz has a combined 6.10 ERA with an unpalatable 7.5 BB/9. He’s also shown some swing-and-miss stuff, though, registering 10.3 K/9 over that same period. He’ll be on hand as left-handed relief depth for a Royals club that just traded its top southpaw, Tim Hill, to acquire Franchy Cordero and Ronald Bolanos from the Padres.

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Kansas City Royals Transactions Jake Brentz

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Brad Keller Returns To Royals Camp

By Jeff Todd | July 17, 2020 at 11:49pm CDT

Right-hander Brad Keller is on his way back to Royals camp, MLB.com’s Jeffrey Flanagan was among those to report (Twitter link). He had been sidelined owing to a COVID-19 diagnosis.

Fortunately, it seems Keller has emerged from his infection without any significant complications. While he hasn’t yet provided any detail regarding his situation, it seems fair to presume he is in good health since he’s now ready to get back to work on the ballfield. Keller had to clear two negative tests before he was able to return.

If the Royals are to mount a surprise run at the postseason in 2020, they’ll need Keller to be at his best. Soon to turn 25, Keller carries a rather nice 3.68 ERA through 305 2/3 MLB frames over the past two seasons.

Though he has averaged a modest 6.4 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 to this point in his MLB career, the sinker-baller has more than good fortune to cite for his success. Keller owns a 52.0% lifetime groundball rate and 0.65 HR/9 rate to date, both notable numbers in this era of the long ball.

If Keller can continue to tamp down on the dingers, he’ll keep delivering big value to the organization and set himself up for a nice payday as a first-time arbitration-eligible player. Even if he settles in as a back-of-the-rotation starter, Keller already rates as a Rule 5 heist.

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Kansas City Royals Brad Keller

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Royals Acquire Franchy Cordero, Ronald Bolanos From Padres For Tim Hill

By Connor Byrne | July 16, 2020 at 9:15pm CDT

In a surprising preseason swap, the Royals have acquired outfielder Franchy Cordero and right-hander Ronald Bolanos from the Padres for left-handed reliever Tim Hill. Both teams have announced the trade. Jeff Passan of ESPN first reported the news. To make room for Cordero and Bolanos on their 40-man roster, the Royals will place infielder Kelvin Gutierrez on the 45-day injured list because of a sprained UCL, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com tweets.

In Cordero, the Royals are getting a power-hitting 25-year-old who was once a fairly touted Padres prospect. Cordero debuted in the majors in 2017, but various injuries have largely prevented him from making an impact in the league. He played in only nine games and totaled just 20 plate appearances last season.

Despite the health issues Cordero has dealt with, there’s plenty to be intrigued about from the rebuilding Royals’ point of view. He carries a lifetime .925 OPS in Triple-A 517 plate appearances, for one. Furthermore, as MLBTR’s George Miller explained in May, Cordero has shown off impressive speed and hard-hitting ability during his limited time in the majors. There are flaws, including Cordero’s penchant for striking out (he has done so 38.8 percent of the time in the majors), but he could prove to be a wise long-term investment for the Royals. As things stand, he’s not on track to reach arbitration until after this year or free agency until the end of the 2023 campaign.

Cordero also has a pair of minor league options remaining, but he may have a chance to play a prominent role in Kansas City’s outfield this season.

Bolanos could also get an opportunity to prove himself in KC as early as this season. He’s only 23, but Bolanos did make his debut in San Diego last year with 19 2/3 innings of 5.95 ERA ball and 8.69 K/9 against 5.49 BB/9. While those numbers aren’t impressive, and Bolanos hasn’t dominated in the minors (4.38 ERA with 8.6 K/9 and 3.8 BB/9 in 324 2/3 innings) since signing for $2.25MM out of Cuba in 2016, he’s still regarded as a promising prospect. Baseball America ranked Bolanos as the 13th-best farmhand in the Padres’ deep system, noting he could at least turn into a power reliever in the majors.

The losses of Cordero and Bolanos could sting the Padres if they realize their potential, but this deal’s an attempt for the long-suffering team to draw closer to contention in the near term. Hill’s the oldest player in the deal at 30 years of age, but he’s also the most proven major leaguer of the trio, and there’s plenty of long-term control (Hill won’t be eligible for arbitration until after 2021).

Hill debuted in 2018 and has since notched a 4.11 ERA with 8.54 K/9, 2.85 BB/9 and an excellent 59.8 percent groundball rate across 85 1/3 innings, though the sidearmer has been much more vulnerable against right-handed hitters (.326 weighted on-base average) than lefties (.239). That’s notable with the league implementing a three-batter minimum rule this season.

The Padres are hopeful Hill’s acquisition will help make up for the absence of injured lefty Jose Castillo, according to general manager A.J. Preller (via AJ Cassavell of MLB.com). It’ll also further deepen a bullpen that was already set to feature the likes of Kirby Yates, Drew Pomeranz, Emilio Pagan and Craig Stammen in late-game situations.

Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Kansas City Royals Newsstand San Diego Padres Transactions Franchy Cordero Kelvin Gutierrez Ronald Bolanos Tim Hill

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Kelvin Gutierrez Has Grade 2 UCL Sprain

By Connor Byrne | July 15, 2020 at 1:08am CDT

  • The Royals won’t have infielder Kelvin Gutierrez when the season opens. He’s dealing with a Grade 2 UCL sprain and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, Lynn Worthy of the Kansas City Star reports. A fairly well-regarded prospect, the 25-year-old Gutierrez made his major league debut last season with a .260/.304/.356 line in 79 plate appearances.
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