I wouldn't call it a very good weekend when one of your best pitching prospects calls trainers in after 2 batters.

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/ba...t-with-injury/

Bowlan was pulled from his start for Double-A Northwest Arkansas in the first inning due to an apparent injury, Northwest Arkansas play-by-play broadcaster Nicholas Badders reports.

Bowlan struck out both of the batters he faced in his start before calling for a trainer after throwing his 10th pitch of the afternoon. Northwest Arkansas has yet to provide an update on the nature or extent of the 24-year-old right-hander's injury. Bowlan has posted a 1.59 ERA and 25:3 K:BB in 17 innings through his first four outings of the season.

Doesn't sound too good

We are 22-23. What does it mean?

We went 4-1 this week and our expect wins (FG)?for the year went from 77 to 78. Which is what we were projected at the start. Our playoff odds are about 8%, a tick down from 10% at the start.


Run differential says we are a 20 win team as does Base Runs. We are the only team that has the same number for both metrics: -25 runs.


Our position players are 25th of 30. (8 baserunning, 20 hitting, 28 fielding).


Our pitching is 13th. (10 starting pitching. 19 bullpen)

How much are you willing to bet he doesn't hit one this year?

Oof. That fielding score. That has to be roiling GMDM.

He’s been a bit hamstrung having to put that statue Soler in RF several games. His metrics are terrible as is the eye test.

Benintendi surprisingly scores terrible too. I’m mixed on the eye test for him.

This should improve when Mondesi returns. We have to decide who plays RF.

Will Rich Hill bring along Big Mouth?

If you would have told me that Whit was hitting .250 and sub-.700 OPS, Dozier hitting .130, Soler hitting .180, Keller, Minor, Junis all 5.00+ ERA, I'd assume we would be 10 games under .500.

I would take that bet at 4:1 odds.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A Royals minor-league note: OF Seuly Matias (High-A Quad Cities) has a broken finger. Was placed on 7-day IL on May 20. Sounds like it’ll be a few weeks.</p>&mdash; Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) <a href="https://twitter.com/alec_lewis/status/1396896369034600451?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

No HR, opsing so so bad too. Might as well just cut the guy. Super disappointing 2019 and no 2021.

I think Benintendi is fine, the eye test for him is people adjusting to watching Platinum Glove Gordon for a decade in left. I had to watch some Cardinals and Sunday Night Baseball to realize he is alright in left.

Adjusting from playing in a little league outfield to Kauffman Stadium for 81 days out of the year could absolutely be a factor, too.

Yeah, cuz that post sure does scream I want attention.

Feels like we've had a bunch of days off in the past week or so.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Those Nick Pratto swing changes we talked about in spring training?<br><br>They seem to have stuck.<br><br>He’s hitting .286/.440/.679 with six homers and makes this week’s �� sheet:<a href="https://t.co/QTQeamNVTi">https://t.co/QTQeamNVTi</a><br><br>(�� <a href="https://twitter.com/nwanaturals?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nwanaturals</a>)<br><br> <a href="https://t.co/zECJXVytbH">pic.twitter.com/zECJXVytbH</a></p>&mdash; Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) <a href="https://twitter.com/BaseballAmerica/status/1396958705665650690?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 24, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Pretty and powerful swing.

***Official 2021 Royals Season Repository Thread***
 

After Some Struggles, Nick Pratto's Stock is Rising in the Royals Farm System

Kansas City Royals No. 9 prospect Nick Pratto is using 2021 as a bounce-back year after not being able to compete in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kansas City Royals first base prospect Nick Pratto is used to feeling the pressure. It goes back to Little League when his team from West Huntington Beach, California reached the Little League World Series finals.

A 12-year-old Pratto stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning, with two outs and bases loaded in a 1-1 ballgame against Japan, the overwhelming favorites to win the game. He was batting .400 throughout the tournament with six RBIs and no home runs heading into the at-bat. He was 2-for-3 on the day with two singles.

The left-handed-hitting Pratto watched the first pitch sail wide outside. A pinch-runner was called into third base, in case of a wild pitch or passed ball scenario. The slight delay didn’t phase Pratto. Another pitch was thrown high. Pratto asks the umpire about the count, as the scoreboard says one strike. Ump confirms the count is 2-0. Pratto steps in and is ready.

BOOM. Game-winning hit from Nick Pratto as this was just the beginning of the rise of Nick Pratto.

Pratto continued to learn and grow as he started his high school career. He played first base and was a pitcher as well. By his sophomore season, he was hitting .370 on the varsity team and was considered a great defensive player when he was at first base. His success continued as he was chosen to represent Team USA in the 18U Baseball World Cup.

Pratto was considered one of the best prospects in the 2017 MLB Draft and the Royals were able to snag him with the 14th overall selection. The talk started swirling around Kansas City about Pratto becoming the next Eric Hosmer. It made sense with Pratto being a left-handed, hard-hitting, solid defensive first baseman.

In 2018, Pratto had a very good season with Royals affiliate Class Low-A Lexington Legends. In 127 games he hit .280 with 14 home runs, 62 RBI, and 22 stolen bases.

In 2019, Pratto moved up to Class High-A Wilmington Blue Rocks. He struggled in that season, playing 124 games and only batting .191, with nine home runs and 46 RBI.

Much of the 2020 season was a wash due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to minor league seasons being canceled, Pratto was only able to utilize scrimmages and intrasquad matchups against his teammates. Despite the circumstances, he used that time to learn and grow.

His defense continued to be top-notch and his power began to grow. Royals assistant general manager J.J. Piccolo noted Pratto hit around 16 home runs and was the most improved player in the system.

Pratto’s refined mental approach and improved offensive firepower were rewarded at the start of the 2021 season, getting a promotion to Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Since then, he’s maintained his steady ways. Pratto has slashed a .283/.415/.640/ with a 1.141 on-base plus slugging percentage. He’s also hit six home runs to go along with 11 RBIs early in the season. He's gotten especially hot this past week.

A lot of the hype surrounding the Royals' next wave lies within the pitching core that was drafted over the past three seasons, along with potential superstar Bobby Witt Jr. but don’t forget about the hard-hitting lefty.

The Royals typically don’t have their players skip levels, so it’s likely we’ll see both Bobby Witt Jr. and Nick Pratto starting in Triple-A Omaha with the Storm Chasers at the beginning of the 2022 season. However, it wouldn’t be shocking to see both of them make it up to Kansas City to join the Royals at some point in 2022. Pratto may see a more prominent and permanent role heading into 2023, but don’t count him out if he has a solid Spring Training in 2022.

When the Royals are ready to make a true playoff push, it’s likely they will have Pratto as their everyday first baseman.

Mixing the old crew of Salvador Perez, Whit Merrifield, Adalberto Mondesi, and Hunter Dozier along with the next core group of young players, will give Royals fans a lot to look forward to as the team pushes toward the future.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Royals GM, Dayton Moore will join us today during the 5P hour. Speaking with Moore earlier this morning... he said Adalberto Mondesi is &quot;back with the club in Tampa” and will hopefully be back either tonight or tomorrow.</p>&mdash; Soren Petro (@SorenPetro) <a href="https://twitter.com/SorenPetro/status/1397237146847748113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

PBJ

Well, we said it would be about 2 months when we heard about this prior to opening day, so almost right on schedule.

Pray he can stay healthy cause we need his speed and athletic ability in the field and at the plate. Gives this offense a completely different dynamic when he's 'on'.

Royals lineup tonight vs Dick Mountain includes Mondesi.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">And that decision came quick. Mondesi is back — and playing shortstop, hitting seventh tonight against the Rays. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a> <a href="https://t.co/NuWIMYEwS4">pic.twitter.com/NuWIMYEwS4</a></p>&mdash; Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) <a href="https://twitter.com/anne__rogers/status/1397277688000299008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Let's go!

Back to .500!

Yes!

And I’ll take it!!

We're going to the god damn Super Bowl!!!

Pratto's timeline works perfect with Santana's contract.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Picking right back up.<br><br>Adalberto Mondesi is the first player in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a> history to record four straight games with multiple extra base hits and the first in the Majors to do so since 2018.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TogetherRoyal?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TogetherRoyal</a> <a href="https://t.co/22GOoM7lCp">pic.twitter.com/22GOoM7lCp</a></p>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1397372418969190400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 26, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

After this Rays series we have a long stretch against the Twins, Pirates, Twins again and Angels. We have a chance to get some wins. Need to take advantage.

Just bought a 2013 Mondesi Bowman Chrome Auto BGS 9.5 for $70. Hopefully he keeps this up, so I can flip it.

Good Gawd

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...7f42adebe7.png

It's like there was a marketing meeting where a bunch of guys about the age of gblowfish sat around and tried to design a "hip" hat for the younger fan.

This is the result.

My favorite is they don’t even have the area code(816) for where the Royals actually play. I think they are all Kansas area codes.

That’s the tell. Looks like the work of trust fund Johnson County interns to me.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">New bio, who dis? <a href="https://t.co/60jhNHRDnZ">pic.twitter.com/60jhNHRDnZ</a></p>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1397296947531235332?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The KCMO/816 omission is hilarious, but why the **** would anyone want a bunch of area codes on their hat?

And we've only won two World Series. They couldn't have at least jammed the 2015 logo on there?

Right. The whole hat is a disaster. Omit the actual area code. Omit the other championship. As Rodney Dangerfield would’ve said “When you buy a hat like this, I bet you get a free bowl of soup”.

Whoever designed that needs to commit not alive immediately.

LMAO

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/E2QT8vZX...png&name=small

I'm not sure why they thought area codes would be so appealing, but apparently Tampa Bay's hat has the area code for Tampa, but not for St. Petersburg, where the team actually plays.

The Dodgers and Braves each have 9 area codes crammed on. The Braves also have a UFO/flying saucer for some reason...maybe the locals know.

I need a website where I can see all of them at once.
These things are so stupid and now that they have pulled the entire line, it might actually be kind of cool to have one...

Not really the same at all, but everything crammed in there kind of reminds me of the jersey Gaylord Perry makes appearances in.

https://yanksgoyard.com/wp-content/u.../94733267.jpeg

The Reds hat was actually ok. But I bet someone is going to lose their job over this one.

Hat looks like Post Malone's face

ROFL

There isn't even an 816 on it. JOHNSON COUNTY REPRESENTED INSTEAD MO FOS

Didn't notice the New Era logo the first time... holy shit, figured it was some knock off store from China or something. LMAO

Keith Law’s Mock Draft 1.0

Is Bubba Starling still with the Royals/ in baseball?

When Omaha Storm Chasers started season -
Outfielders (5): Kyle Isbel, Erick Mejia, Anderson Miller, Edward Oliveras, Bubba Starling.

Omaha Stats - 17 AB, .176 AVG, .300 OBP, .586 SLG, 2 HR

Whoa. I just looked and apparently the Royals are still paying him to play baseball. Hasn't played in Omaha since 5/20.

Maybe there is an opening for at 29-year old QB at Nebraska this fall.

Random...but this has to be one of the wrist plays ever right?

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="es" dir="ltr">Javier Báez.<br>El Mago.<br>The Magician. <a href="https://t.co/yZX7HgUFCU">pic.twitter.com/yZX7HgUFCU</a></p>&mdash; Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cubs/status/1397965478027530246?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 27, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He'll probably get beaned next time up for breaking an unwritten rule there.

Clever though.

It's not really clever though. He just got lucky that the 1st baseman made the stupidest play ever. He could have literally walked back to the base and inning over.

The pirates first baseman totally screwed that up

ROFL Why didn't the first baseman just touch first? What an idiot.

I think he still could have tagged out Baez and it wouldn't have mattered if the runner crossed home first?

It is pretty clever in that you're forcing the other team to do something they normally wouldn't..... which in this case is to think.

That's hilarious. Little League stuff.
Even if they would have tagged Baez going to first AFTER the runner crossed the plate, the run wouldn't have counted.

That's correct, if they tagged him before reaching 1st base.

Jonathan Bowlen is out and needs Tommy John. ****ing hell that sucks for him and us. Dude was absolutely lights out and now this shit happens. Reminds me of that one pitcher in the minor leagues that was really ****ing good and then never got his shit back.

Deleted

Some crazy GM needs to TJ every draft pick they signed. The moment they sign, get them TJ surgery. It seems like it's going to happen anyway, just get it over with.

Speaking of merch, will the Royals participate in the 'city connect' jerseys or nah?

You could always google to find out what % of MLB pitchers have had TJ.

I did and found out in like 7 seconds.

This is why depth is as important as having guys that perform.

Bowlan being lost for a bit sucks, but it sucks less than it otherwise would because of the organizational depth at P. Because they still have Kowar and Marsh and Cox and Haake and etc., it isn't a devastating loss.

Marshs BB to K ratio is insane last time I checked.

Why are you so unhappy? Do you need a hug. Let me know if you ever need anybody to talk to. It's not your fault. Remember, It's not your fault.

A lot of "ugh" to unpack in this tweet.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We have made the following roster moves. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Royals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Royals</a> <a href="https://t.co/DPI8kRr46h">pic.twitter.com/DPI8kRr46h</a></p>&mdash; Kansas City Royals (@Royals) <a href="https://twitter.com/Royals/status/1398367483451654144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 28, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Sucks about Man Bun going down, but he has been off lately... Zimmer and Brentz have been better and can/have closed lately.

At least O'Hearn is gone. Maybe Dozier can finally get going.

Dozier starting in RF tonight, Gutierrez still at 3B, Lopez to bench

I think Soler gets moved this summer - he's been aight... but it looks more and more like Salvy is slated to be DH/1B rotation guy sooner rather than later. That being said, GMDM is the king of holding on to guys too long...

Hernandez ERA is almost 11. Gonna miss Man Bun. Please God no more Wade Davis closures. Hopefully Dozier can do better than Zip for 30 this time around.

Did you miss the part that said Ryan O'Hearn is gone?

Santana is essentially our only good hitter.

Batting Runs above avg:
Santana +9.1
Rest of team -33.4


fWAR:
Santana +1.3
Rest of team +1.2


Our entire position player list apart from him isn’t very far from being replacement level.

What has happened to Merrifield this season?

Is Kowar going to pitch Saturday vs the Twins?

The dirty 30's finally got to him. Life comes at you fast.

His BABIP is really low. An increased ground ball percentage is part of that, but his hard hit and flyball rates are in line with recent strong years. Walk rate is up, too.

It could be age. Could be bad luck luck. Could be an approach change that he needs to flip back. Could be a combo of all of those.

We need a bigger sample size to really know.

I say we hire Santana as our hitting coach. I LOOOVE his approach at the plate. Hope he can coach up Mondesi.