CASHMAN
03-29-2005, 03:12 PM
Royals trim down roster to 25 players
Pickering opens season April 4 in the cleanup spot at DH
By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com
Right-hander Denny Bautista was confirmed as the No. 5 starter over lefty Jimmy Gobble. (Charlie Riedel/AP)
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SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Calvin Pickering was declared the winner over Ken Harvey for a designated hitter/first base spot as the Royals whittled their roster to 25 players Tuesday.
Pickering, a hulking left-handed hitter, will open the season April 4 at Detroit in the cleanup spot as the DH.
Harvey, a 2004 All-Star Game selection, was optioned to Triple-A Omaha.
Emil Brown, a non-roster longshot when camp began, won the right-field derby over Abraham Nunez and Aaron Guiel.
Brown had a .409 average, four homers and 16 RBIs when he was summoned into manager Tony Pena's office to receive the good news.
Guiel was reassigned to the minor league camp and Nunez was put on hold pending being placed on waivers.
As expected, right-hander Denny Bautista was confirmed as the No. 5 starter over left-hander Jimmy Gobble, who was optioned to Omaha.
Bautista joins Jose Lima, Runelvys Hernandez, Zack Greinke and Brian Anderson in the rotation.
Right-hander Kyle Snyder was optioned to Omaha where the one-time starter will continue to pitch in relief.
That cleared the way for a bullpen cast of Mike Wood, Shawn Camp, Nate Field, Jaime Cerda, Mike MacDougal, Andrew Sisco and closer Jeremy Affeldt.
Pena confirmed that Ruben Gotay will be the second baseman and rookie Mark Teahen will be the third baseman alongside shortstop Angel Berroa.
Tony Graffanino, who came to camp as the projected second base, will be the reserve infielder. That means that Denny Hocking and Joe McEwing will be reassigned.
The demotion of Harvey means that team captain Mike Sweeney will play first base most of the time. He'll be backed up defensively by Eli Marrero, and Pickering will play there occasionally.
Marrero and Terrence Long will be platooned in left field. On the other side of center fielder David DeJesus, Matt Stairs will share time with Brown in right field.
The catching is set with John Buck as the regular and Alberto Castillo as the backup.
Pitchers Chris George and Dennis Tankersley, like Nunez, are out of options and are headed for the waiver wire.
Infielder Chris Clapinski, who is out for the season with an elbow injury, was reassigned to the minor league camp. Pitcher Scott Sullivan (back) and third baseman Chris Truby (wrist) will be placed on the disabled list.
Pitcher Kevin Appier announced he'd retire if he didn't get a job offer in the next two days.
Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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Pickering opens season April 4 in the cleanup spot at DH
By Dick Kaegel / MLB.com
Right-hander Denny Bautista was confirmed as the No. 5 starter over lefty Jimmy Gobble. (Charlie Riedel/AP)
Related Links
Royals regular-season tickets
Royals regular-season schedule
Royals Headlines
Royals notes: Appier hints at retirement
Royals trim down roster to 25 players
Royals mailbag: Outfield and pitching status
Sweeney homers KC past Padres
Royals' Pickering, Harvey in a heat for job
More Royals Headlines
MLB Headlines
Red Sox reacquire Myers from Cardinals
Bochy's two-year extension on hold
Galarraga announces his retirement
Williams approved as D-Backs partner
'Splendid' summer in sight for Ichiro
More MLB Headlines
ADVERTISEMENT
print this page | e-mail this page
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Calvin Pickering was declared the winner over Ken Harvey for a designated hitter/first base spot as the Royals whittled their roster to 25 players Tuesday.
Pickering, a hulking left-handed hitter, will open the season April 4 at Detroit in the cleanup spot as the DH.
Harvey, a 2004 All-Star Game selection, was optioned to Triple-A Omaha.
Emil Brown, a non-roster longshot when camp began, won the right-field derby over Abraham Nunez and Aaron Guiel.
Brown had a .409 average, four homers and 16 RBIs when he was summoned into manager Tony Pena's office to receive the good news.
Guiel was reassigned to the minor league camp and Nunez was put on hold pending being placed on waivers.
As expected, right-hander Denny Bautista was confirmed as the No. 5 starter over left-hander Jimmy Gobble, who was optioned to Omaha.
Bautista joins Jose Lima, Runelvys Hernandez, Zack Greinke and Brian Anderson in the rotation.
Right-hander Kyle Snyder was optioned to Omaha where the one-time starter will continue to pitch in relief.
That cleared the way for a bullpen cast of Mike Wood, Shawn Camp, Nate Field, Jaime Cerda, Mike MacDougal, Andrew Sisco and closer Jeremy Affeldt.
Pena confirmed that Ruben Gotay will be the second baseman and rookie Mark Teahen will be the third baseman alongside shortstop Angel Berroa.
Tony Graffanino, who came to camp as the projected second base, will be the reserve infielder. That means that Denny Hocking and Joe McEwing will be reassigned.
The demotion of Harvey means that team captain Mike Sweeney will play first base most of the time. He'll be backed up defensively by Eli Marrero, and Pickering will play there occasionally.
Marrero and Terrence Long will be platooned in left field. On the other side of center fielder David DeJesus, Matt Stairs will share time with Brown in right field.
The catching is set with John Buck as the regular and Alberto Castillo as the backup.
Pitchers Chris George and Dennis Tankersley, like Nunez, are out of options and are headed for the waiver wire.
Infielder Chris Clapinski, who is out for the season with an elbow injury, was reassigned to the minor league camp. Pitcher Scott Sullivan (back) and third baseman Chris Truby (wrist) will be placed on the disabled list.
Pitcher Kevin Appier announced he'd retire if he didn't get a job offer in the next two days.
Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
print this page | e-mail this page
Jump to Official Club Site MLB.com Angels Astros Athletics Blue Jays Braves Brewers Cardinals Cubs Devil Rays Diamondbacks Dodgers Giants Indians Mariners Marlins Mets Nationals Orioles Padres Phillies Pirates Rangers Red Sox Reds Rockies Royals Tigers Twins White Sox Yankees MLB Espaρol MLBP AlumniSearch Entire Site News 2005 News 2004 Shop Team Ballpark Official Info for Search Tips
E-mail Register | Log In Help | Contact Us Official Info Press Box Affiliates Mobile Partnerships Job Opportunities
© 2001-2005 MLB Advanced