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This is our weekly look at notable performances from all over the system, from big-name prospects and less heralded guys alike. The mission is to answer this simple question: "Who had a good week?"
Today, we’ll cover results from Monday, July 24 through Sunday, July 30.
AAA Omaha Storm Chasers (49-57)
This week alone, 1B/DH Frank Schwindel had 13 hits, including three doubles and three home runs, with 10 runs driven in. Going back a bit further, Schwindel has amassed a 16-game hit streak during which he’s batting .429/.444/.871/1.316 with eight (!!) home runs and seven doubles.
Outfielder Logan Moon hit a three-run homer on Sunday to cap off his 8-for-24 week. Moon, 25, is somewhat of a newcomer to the Triple-A level, but he is off to a good start with a .288/.333/.485 line through his first 17 games.
24-year-old catcher Nathan Esposito was brought up to Omaha from Adv-A Wilmington to fill in as backup while veteran Brayan Pena is on the Temporary Inactive list. He picked up his first Triple-A hit on Saturday.
Making his Triple-A debut this week was former indy leaguer Kevin Lenik. The Royals signed Lenik, a 25-year-old right-handed pitcher, from the Windy City Thunderbolts in June. He made stops at Burlington and Lexington before being summoned to Omaha.
AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals (53-54)
Left-hander Jake Kalish had a solid game on Sunday, with two runs surrendered on seven hits in seven innings. The ball was in play a bunch that game, as Kalish only struck out one and didn’t walk anyone. That start followed five shutout innings on Tuesday for Kalish, a 32nd-rounder from the 2015 draft.
Another lefty starter who did well this week is Emilio Ogando, who threw six innings on Saturday. One run scored against him, and he walked just one and struck out five.
Outfielder Donnie Dewees went 9-for-24 plus four walks this week. Among his nine hits were a double and a home run. That was his 9th bomb of the year, surpassing the five he hit in his first full season last year. The double was his 19th, tied for tops on the Naturals with first baseman Samir Duenez.
Another Naturals hitter with nine hits this week was third baseman Mauricio Ramos. He hit a home run, his 8th of 2017, and drove in eight runs.
A-Adv. Wilmington Blue Rocks (57-50)
RHP Jared Ruxer pitched his best game of 2017. He allowed four hits and zero runs in 6.2 innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts. Ruxer was previously in the Angels organization before the Royals acquired him in exchange for Brooks Pounders.
Second baseman D.J. Burt walked five times this week, in addition to going 7-for-19 with a pair of doubles. Burt was drafted in the 4th round of the 2014 draft out of his North Carolina high school, and is playing in the Carolina League at just 21 years old.
To correspond with catcher Nathan Esposito moving up to Omaha, 2017 draftee Nick Hutchins was promoted to Wilmington from rookie ball in Burlington. Hutchins was a 27th-round draft pick and hit a single in his High-A debut.
Low-A Lexington Legends (49-54)
Ofreidy Gomez, a 22-year-old righty from the Dominican Republic, made a solid start on Saturday. Gomez allowed five hits in six shutout innings, with two walks and eight strikeouts.
Right-handed reliever Justin Camp had a brief stint all the way up at Triple-A Omaha, but returned to the Lexington roster this week. In his return to Lexington, he struck out five batters in three shutout innings.