Following the Royals Top Prospects: 6/24 - 6/30

We have had some action in the minors this week, with Nick Francis, Rey Navarro, and Jacob Odorizzi all being promoted from High-A to AA. The promotion of Navarro intrigues me; he got off to a scorching start in Wilmington this season, and his overall triple slash line of .285/.337/.484 is good for a second basemen in a pitchers park. While I don't think he will ever hit well enough to make it to the majors, he has hit well enough to earn a promotion and a spot on this list. I am curious to see how much he plays; there appears to be a logjam of middle infielders, with Christian Colon, Jeff Bianchi and Navarro on the roster. Navarro played third base in his debut, and I imagine he will switch between second and third with Bianchi. 

Triple-A: The Storm Chasers played six games this week, and only won two of them. Omaha plays their second game in a four-game series against the Albuquerque Isotopes on Friday.

Mike Montgomery (5.83/4.79/1.51) - Montgomery had his spot in the rotation skipped this week. He will take the mound for Omaha on Friday.

Johnny Giavotella (.323/.377/.443) - Gio continues to speak softly and carry a big stick, collecting ten hits this week. Three of Johnny's hits were doubles, and he smacked his sixth home run of the season. His triple slash line for the month of June is .398/.431/.610

Lorenzo Cain (.299/.365/.500) - Cain did not record a hit in the first four games this week, but has four hits over his last two. Lorenzo cracked his ninth homer of the season Thursday, and has drawn one walk in his past three games.

David Lough (.308/.349/.476) - Lough has not played in a game since the 21st, but I am having a hard time finding out why. He is still on the Storm Chasers active roster, so if he is injured, it must not be considered too serious.

Clint Robinson (.330/.404/.577) - Robinson only had four hits this week, but three of them were doubles. After a scorching start to the season, Robinson's numbers have been more pedestrian in June, hitting .297/.333/.505. Those numbers are not terrible, but are not great for a very hitter friendly league.

Double-A: The Naturals only played five games this week because of the Texas League All-Star Game. Unfortunately, they lost all five. NW Arkansas plays the second game of their three-game series against the San Antonio Missions Friday night.

Wil Myers (.288/.374/.417) - Myers had four hits this week, including two doubles. He also drew six walks, and questions on whether he still exists.

John Lamb - Disabled List

Christopher Dwyer (6.16/4.13/0.93) - After a string of three straight good starts, Dwyer was shelled Thursday night. The lefty allowed seven ruts on five hits in just 1.2 innings pitched, walking four batters while striking out one. While his FIP indicates he hasn't been awful, that six-run ERA is getting hard to stomach.

Christian Colon (.253/.336/.333) - Colon reached base safely four times this week: two hits and two walks. Although one of his hits was a double, his slugging has dipped below his OBP again. Only seven doubles in 261 plate appearances is bizzare, especially when compared to his four home runs.

Salvador Perez (.262/.311/.366) - Salvador had three hits in four games this week, all singles. If only "typical Salvador" rolled off the tongue a little bit better.

Derrick Robinson (.256/.339/.291) - Robinson slapped seven singles this week, and drew one walk. Derrick also stole six bases, and was caught stealing once.

Will Smith (4.52/4.46/1.34) - Smith was effective in his start this week, allowing two runs on seven hits in five innings. The southpaw fanned four batters, but also walked three.

Rey Navarro (.000/.000/.000) - Navarro played in his first game for the Naturals on Thursday, and went 0-for-3.

High-A: The Blue Rocks struggled this past week, only recording two wins in seven games. They look to avoid getting swept by the Salem Red Sox on Friday.

Timothy Melville (4.23/3.51/1.13) - Melville pitched very well on Wednesday, only giving up one run on seven hits in 6.2 innings pitched. The right-hander only issued one walk, and struck out six. If Melville can keep his walk rates low while regaining some of his strikeout tendencies from his past two season, his stock in the farm system would jump dramatically. 

Jake Odorizzi (2.87/2.07/0.82) - Odorizzi made two starts this week. In his first start, Jake allowed one run on three hits in six innings. He issued two walks, but struck out four. Odorizzi also pitched six innings in his second start, but gave up five runs on eight hits in this game. The righty, however, issued no walks and rung up six batters. Jake was dominant for the Blue Rocks the first half of the season, and will try his luck with the Naturals in the second-half of the season.

Noel Arguelles (2.32/3.37/0.76) - Arguelles also made two starts this week. Noel tossed six shutout innings in his first starts, giving up three hits and no walks while striking out two. The left-hander pitched 6.2 innings in his second start, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out four. Noel has only issued five walks in 66 innings this season, and has not walked a batter in his last four starts.

Low-A: The Cougars are on a hot streak, winning six of the seven games they played this week. They square of against the Beloit Snappers Friday night.

Cheslor Cuthbert (.307/.365/.465) - Cuthbert collected nine hits this week, and currently owns an eight-game hitting streak. Two of Cheslor's hits were doubles, and the third-baseman also drew two walks. 

Brett Eibner (.227/.292/.515) - One of these numbers is not like the others...(and if you guessed the middle number doesn't add up to 11, you win!) Eibner looks like he is healthy again; the center-fielder had ten hits this week, and five of them left the park. Brett also hit his first double of the season on Saturday, just for good measure. 

Yordano Ventura (5.26/3.79/1.50) - Ventrua made two starts this week. In his first start, Yordano allowed two runs on six hits in 5.2 innings. The righty struck out three batters, and walked one. Ventura only threw three innings in his second start, giving up six runs on seven hits. The young Dominican fanned four batters, but walked three.

Jason Adam (4.11/4.35/1.09) - Adam also made two starts this week. Jason only pitched three innings in his first start, allowing two runs on five hits while striking out three. The right-hander pitched five innings in his second start, giving up two runs on four hits. Jason struck out two batters in his second start, but issued one walk.