The Arizona League Royals, that is. The rookie Royals won their season opener today over the AZL Padres 10-5 in come-from-behind fashion, scoring 6 runs in the 8th and 9th innings. Top offensive perfomers were 2009 19th-round pick Ryan Stovall of Thomas College (he's a 3b, DH'ed today--2-3, 2RBI, 2 R, 1 BB), 2009 10th-round pick Geoffrey Baldwin (1B and the only drafted HS signed yet--1-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB) and 2008 6th round draft pick Alex Llanos (2-5, 2 runs). 2008 Venezuelan signee Willian Avinazar had a rough-but-not-too-horribly-rough start (4 runs on 4 hits, 3K/1BB), and 2009 33rd round pick Claudio Bavera got the win, giving only 1 H and 2 BB and striking out 2 in 2.2 IP. Josh Worrell, 2009 30th rounder and spawn of Curse-of-Denkinger-related relief pitcher Todd Worrell, pitched a scoreless ninth with a K.

Rookie league teams Burlington and Idaho Falls open their seasons tomorrow night.