As Spring Training gets underway, players all over the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues are getting back into the swing of things. Some are having a “been there, done that” sort of moment, as the newness of the experience has long since worn off. For many of the younger prospects, however, it’s a time to hone…
(This is Part Two of our interview with Vance Vizcaino, whose roller-coaster 2019 led him finally to a Rule 5 selection by the Chicago Cubs, and closer to the majors than ever.) Vizcaino found himself facing the possibility of joining another team, though this time under different circumstances, as the Rule 5 Draft approached. A…
It was a strange trip for former Kansas City Royals (and now, former Colorado Rockies) outfielder Vance Vizcaino, in 2019. From his release by Kansas City, to being contacted by the Rockies while he was on the road heading back home, to his eventual success and subsequent selection in the Rule 5 Draft by the…
It should be noted at this point that Marklund wasn’t exactly a mystery as a prospect; coming out of St Thomas Aquinas HS in Vancouver in the Class of 2014, he had been scouted during his appearance in the 2013 Northwest Showcase. Among these notes, scouts mentioned that his fastball peaked at 85, and that…
(This is part one of a two-part interview with Brandon and Joe Marklund, recorded at their home in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, as Brandon had just recently returned from the Premier-12 Tournament in Japan.) Twenty-seven kilometers east of Vancouver, on the north bank of the Fraser River in British Columbia, sits Port Coquitlam, a town…
(This is the third and final part of a three-part series of articles, chronicling Chase Vallot‘s history in the Kansas City Royals organization. In this article, we take a look at Vallot’s 2019 performance, his struggles in 2018, how he worked through them, and his outlook on the game, in general.) Back in Lexington for…
(This is Part Two of a three-part series on former Top-30 Royals prospect Chase Vallot, documenting his time with the Wilmington Blue Rocks and his 2019 return to the Lexington Legends.) When Vallot advanced to Wilmington for 2017, he continued to follow his familiar pattern at the plate: lots of strikeouts (127), but an .818…
(This is Part One of a three-part series taking a look at former Top-30 Royals prospect Chase Vallot, his first few years as a pro, and his attempt to advance once more above Low-A Lexington.) Chase Vallot is a young man on a mission. It goes without saying. The St. Thomas More product and 2014…
A 4th-round pick out of the University of Arkansas in last year’s MLB Draft, Eric Cole‘s 2019 season so far has been an ice-cold start followed by a red-hot run. And he’s still running. The 22-year-old switch-hitter got his start in rookie-level Burlington in 2018, where his traditional stats and peripherals showed true promise. Over…
Signed as an international free agent for $1.5 million in July 2015, SS Jeison Guzman has certainly had his share of both supporters and detractors when it comes to his potential and his ability to fulfill it. However, while he’s been a pro since age 17, he’s also been well below the average age at…
Drafted in the 2nd round of the 2017 Draft out of Chipola College in Marietta, Florida, LHP Evan Steele has displayed an impressive arsenal at Lexington, this year. At 6’5”, 210, the 22-year-old Georgia native certainly looks the part of a power pitcher, though his strengths lie more simply in location and changing speeds. He…
We take a look at the Legends’ third baseman, who has been heating up dramatically in the month of June.
When the Lexington Legends beat the Columbia Fireflies on June 16th, they clinched the Southern Division for the first half of the season and guaranteed themselves a playoff spot. Yes, we are excited about this. You can’t see me right now, but I’m jumping up and down and screaming like an imbecile, this very moment.…
Here’s a deeper look at the five Lexington Legends selected for this year’s SAL All-Star Game.
We’re just about fifty games into the season down in the South Atlantic League, and just over three weeks from the All-Star Game (has it been that long, already?). In many ways, we’ve become familiar with the new players, and we’ve even seen a few from various teams make that jump to Class-A Advanced. In…
Royals Farm Report 