Happy Friday everyone. Minor League Baseball is back and all is officially right in the world again. Royals fans have lofty expectations for the farm system in 2019 (as they should) and last night got things kicked off on all four levels of full season baseball for the Royals affiliates.

Lexington Legends (A)

Final Score: Legends 5 – Shorebirds 6

The reigning South Atlantic League champions began their title defense on Thursday in Lexington. Chase Vallot made a triumphant return to full season baseball by hitting a home run and a triple in a losing effort. Vallot’s return is a welcoming site and he wasn’t alone. Michael Gigliotti returned to the Legends lineup after tearing his ACL in 2018 by hitting an RBI double. The Legends play the Shorebirds again tonight at 6:05 pm CT.

Box Score:
Michael Gigliotti – 2-5, 2B, RBI
Nathan Eaton – 1-4, 2B, BB
Chase Vallot – 2-3, 3B, HR, BB
Reed Rohlman – 1-4, BB
Charlie Neuweiler – 5 IP, 2 ER, 4 K
Josh Dye – 3 IP, 2 ER, 5 K
Kyle Hinton – 2 IP, 1 ER, 5 K

Wilmington Blue Rocks (A+)

Final Score: Blue Rocks 2 – Red Sox 10

Slow start for the Blue Rocks, who probably have the loftiest expectations of any team in the system this year. The 2018 South Atlantic League championship team has moved on to Advanced-A ball and took some lumps in their season opener last night. Daniel Lynch started for Wilmington and got BABIP’d a bit. The offense couldn’t muster much of anything as Kyle Isbel’s home run accounted for the only RBI of the night. Wilmington is back in action tonight at 6:05 pm CT with Brady Signer on the bump.

Box Score:
Kyle Isbel – 1-4, HR
Seuly Matias – 0-2, 2 BB
Daniel Lynch – 3 IP, 4 ER, 6 K
Colin Snyder – 2.1 IP, 0 ER, 2 K

Northwest Arkansas Naturals (AA)

Final Score: Naturals 5 – Cardinals 1

The Naturals picked up the only win for any KC affiliate on Thursday evening. Khalil Lee and Samir Duenez made big returns to the Naturals lineup, while newcomer Conner Greene dominated on the bump. Jake Kalish added three perfect innings in relief and the Naturals cruised to an easy victory. They play the Cardinals again tonight at 7:05 pm CT.

Box Score:
Nick Heath – 1-4, 2B, BB
Khalil Lee – 2-4, BB, SB
Samir Duenez – 2-4, 3B, BB
Emmanuel Rivera – 1-4, BB
Meibrys Viloria – 1-2, 2 BB
Conner Greene – 6 IP, 1 ER, 4 K
Jake Kalish – 3 IP, 0 ER, 7 K

Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA)

Final Score: Storm Chasers 2 – Redbirds 9

Not the best start to the 2019 campaign for Omaha. Heath Fillmyer struggled, the offense couldn’t muster much of anything, and the Chasers will have to wait until tonight at 7:05 pm CT to take another “shot” at the Redbirds (hehe).

Box Score:
Cheslor Cuthbert – 1-3, 3B
Kelvin Gutierrez – 2-4
Brett Phillips – 1-4, 3B
Heath Fillmyer – 4 IP, 6 ER, 3 K
Andres Machado – 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 K
Josh Staumont – 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 K

 

Photo Credits: PLPhoto2015 (@PPhoto2015)