Be sure to check out the most recent edition of the RFR Podcast. Alec Lewis came on the show to talk about the first base situation, the second tier of hitting prospects in the system, and the 2021 prep pitchers working out in Arizona.
One month of SEC play later and he’s hitting .378 with an OPS of 1.134 and now has more walks than strikeouts for the season. I know he’s not a phenomenal athlete, and it’s going to cause him some issues defensively, but not taking him in the first seven picks or so would be a classic example of over thinking.
Over at Royals Review, Minda Haas Kuhlmann recaps the last week in the minors.
Gabriel Cancel went on a tear this week, with 12 hits that included three doubles. To my eye, it was one of those stretches where he caught every break, with nearly every ball in play finding a hole or sneaking fair down the line. Cancel wound up with an odd batting line: .600/.591/.750, with a .750 average on balls in play.
AAA Omaha (15-15): L 2-5
Vinnie Pasquantino hit his 7th home run of the season last night, Gabriel Cancel continued his torrid pace, but the Storm Chasers managed just two hits for the game. They’ll be back at it today at noon in Iowa.
Box Score:
– Clay Dungan: 0-3, BB
– Brewer Hicklen: 0-3, BB, 3 K
– Vinnie Pasquantino: 1-4, HR, K
– Gabriel Cancel: 1-3, 2B, 2 K
– Daniel Mengden: 5 IP, 4 H, 4 BB, 5 K, 1 ER
AA Northwest Arkansas (15-13): W 7-4
The Naturals just keep on winning. The lineup is loaded top to bottom with legitimate prospects and the pitching staff has started keeping them in every game. If this team plays like this all year they’re going to win the Texas League again. Tyler Gentry and Christian Chamberlain should be up at some point, Nate Webb and Will Klein have yet to make their season debuts, and yet the Naturals are cruising to the tune of 7 wins in their last 10 games.
Box Score:
– Maikel Garcia: 1-3
– Nick Loftin: 2-3, 2B
– Michael Massey: 2-3, BB, K
– Seuly Matias: 1-4, HR, 2 K
– John Rave: 0-3, BB, K
– Nate Eaton: 0-3, BB, SB
– Robbie Glendinning: 1-4, HR, 2 K
– Tucker Bradley: 3-4, 2B
– Dante Biasi: 3 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 R
– Yefri Del Rosario: 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 0 R
A+ Quad Cities (11-17): L 4-17
The struggles continued for the River Bandits last night. Sometimes they hit, sometimes they pitch, rarely do they do both. The team is loaded with talent, it’s just not clicking all together just yet.
Box Score:
– Tyler Tolbert: 0-4, BB
– Herard Gonzalez: 0-5, 3 K
– Tyler Gentry: 3-4
– Luca Tresh: 0-4, K
– Burle Dixon: 1-4, 2B
– Peyton Wilson: 1-3, BB, K
– Kale Emshoff: 1-3, HR, K
A- Columbia (10-18): L 3-4
Unlike Quad Cities, Columbia is in most of their games. They haven’t won a bunch yet, but this is a young team that has all kinds of upside if they can start firing on all cylinders. Never a dull moment on this team.
Box Score:
– Darryl Collins: 0-1, 2 BB, K
– Carter Jensen: 1-3, BB, K
– Omar Hernandez: 0-3, 2 K
– Erick Pena: 1-4, K
– Wilmin Candelario: 0-4, 3 K
– Noah Cameron: 4.2 IP, 4 H, 1 BB, 7 K, 1 ER
– Delvin Capellan: 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 1 K, 1 ER
Royals Farm Report 