This Week in the Minors: September 1st

Readers, this edition of the ultra-popular article series "This Week in the Minors" will not feature usual author Minda Haas. In her stead I will be digitally penning the words, though considerably less eloquently. Like the most celebrated war heroes, Minda will return soon to triumph and fanfare next week.

AAA Omaha Storm Chasers

Omaha went 5-2 over the week including a four-game sweep of Fresno.

Not sure if Alex Gordon should qualify for this list, but we'll continue to operate outside the zeitgeist here at Royals Review and include him regardless of standards. Not only did Gordon qualify for this list on talent, but he was one of the best Royals minor league players period the past week.

Gordon: .458/.606/.542 8BB 5K and a whopping 225 wRC+

The apple of Mighty Minx's eye Brett Eibner also had an excellent week. Some fans think his performance over the course of the season and perhaps his career warrants a September call up, however unlikely in reality.

Eibner: .360/.407/.400 with 2BB 5K and 5 RBI

Others of note:

Cheslor Cuthbert: .286/.333/.464 1HR

Jose Martinez: .346/.452/.346

Reymond Fuentes: .375/.423/.500

Wandy Rodriguez: 5.2 IP 0ER 1H 5K 1BB

Miguel Almonte: 3.1 IP 0 ER 2H 2K 1BB

AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals

The Naturals went 6-1 over the past week scoring 5+ runs in all their wins.

Jorge Bonifacio had the best week of any Royals minor leaguer with 11 hits including a home run and a double. Bonifacio is hitting for power more consistently this year but has also surpassed over 1000 innings in AA.

My homeboy Luke Farrell made two starts this past week, pitching 11.2 innings while striking out six, walking five, and allowing six earned runs on 13 hits.

Bubba Starling and Hunter Dozier had a rough week, collecting just four hits between them until Monday night's game where each man picked up three apiece. Dominican shortstop and former wunderkind Raul Mondesi hit .333/.429/.333.

Everybody's favorite glass-boned pitcher Kyle Zimmer had another successful start. He threw five innings and 74 pitches with six strikeouts, one walk, and allowing two hits. Zimmer's FIP since technically starting games (August 2nd) is now 2.60.

Jonathan Dziedzic continued his decent 2015 AA campaign as he threw 11 innings with six strikeouts, two walks, and two earned runs.

A+ Wilmington Blue Rocks

Wilmington played just five games over the week due to a rain out and a scheduled off day, going 3-2 over the span.

Elier Hernandez and Cam Gallagher were the two hottest performers for the Blue Rocks, collecting eight hits each.

Elier Hernandez: .381/.480/.667 2 doubles, triples

Cam Gallagher: .444/.500/.556

Ryan O'Hearn continued displaying his power this week as he hit two home runs. His wRC+ is now at 133 while he's also posting his best career ISO of .241 in a tough Carolina League.

A Lexington Legends

Lexington went 2-4 over the week.

Recently traded Luis Valenzuela had a nice parting gift for his former squad as he collected 10 hits and two doubles before heading off to the Atlanta Braves and likely their Rome affiliate who shares the same league as the Legends.

Chase "Young Meat" Vallot hit four home runs but also struck out seven times.

Foster Griffin pitched six innings allowing one earned run and two hits with six strikeouts and no walks. His FIP is now at 4.09 on the year.

Fellow 2014 draftee (alongside Vallot and Griffin) Scott Blewett pitched twice. He went 11 innings, seven earned runs, five walks, and five strikeouts.

Adv. Rookie Idaho Falls Chukars

Amalani Fukofuka and Josh Banuelos paced the entire Royals organization in hits with 14 and 13 while Fukofuka hit two triples and Banuelos a single dinger.

2015 draftee Josh Staumont pitched three times this work in short spans. Over 6.2 innings he struck out twelve batters with four walks. However he did give up six earned runs over those innings. When your arsenal is really only a fastball (even one that touches 101 MPH) you're bound to get hit a bit.

Rookie Burlington Royals

Ashe Russell (the Royals 1st round pick this year) had a decent week. He threw 8.2 innings over two starts with six strikeouts and two walks. Most notably he matched up against the Houston Astros top picks/prospects in Daz Cameron and Kyle Tucker, retiring both. However Russell was stung by the home run bee (I don't know...) and gave up two home runs in that game.

The young catcher Meibrys Viloria collected seven hits this week, slashing .368/.400/.368. Lee Summit Missouri native Brandon Dulin had eight, including two double, a triple, and five RBI.

Now you as a reader, after reading this, know that Minda is irreplaceable.