Photo gallery: Royals vs. Storm Chasers exhibition game

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• Nicky Lopez talked to reporters a few hours before the game began. Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• Many players took indoor batting practice during the afternoon. Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• Jake Diekman wore a “Nebraska Strong” t-shirt in support of people experiencing severe flooding in his home state. Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• Alex Gordon told local media he was happy to be in Omaha for a reason other than a demotion or rehab assignment. Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• Rusty Kuntz overseeing a basket of balls during batting practice. Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• Adalberto Mondesi stretching before batting practice. Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• George Brett was in the house! Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• Billy Hamilton making his way through the handshake line during player introductions. Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• Frank Schwindel reacting to the call-and-response chant of “I like Frank! / “Me too!” led by Storm Chasers superfan Jan Huff, who really loves Frank Schwindel. Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• Baseball is for E V E R Y O N E Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• Josh Staumont’s Moustache catching some dramatic sun rays in the first inning. Oh and also Moustache’s Josh Staumont started the game for the Omaha side. Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• Stormy is up to absolutely no good. Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• No matter where you are in the room, Cam Gallagher’s piercing stare will follow you. Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• Khalil Lee hoping for a chance to run free. Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• That’s just a good reaction face from Nicky Lopez. Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• Nick Dini lost his bat twice in a row. The first one plopped safely into the newly-expanded netting over the third base dugout, and the second one went straight back into the home plate net. Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• Nick Heath got to show off his wheels a bit. Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• Frank Schwindel either broke his bat, or is leading a medieval army into battle. Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• DJ Burt (#8) trying to outrun a second ice-cold splash after he hit a game-winning sac fly in the 9th inning. Minda Haas Kuhlmann
• High fives all around for DJ Burt (#8), the walkoff hero. For the record, the game would end in a tie rather than go to extra innings if Omaha had not scored in the 9th. Minda Haas Kuhlmann

While Jack Johnson took care of using his words to cover the exhibition game between the Royals and the Storm Chasers, I took pictures. Lots of them.

In 2018, the two teams hoped to meet up for an exhibition matchup, but that game was called off due to cold, rainy weather. However, at that time Royals general manager Dayton Moore said he wanted to try again, and he meant it.

From what I could tell, fans were torn as to which team to cheer for, and generally just cheered everyone. But when the Omaha side built up their chance to win in walkoff fashion in the 9th, the crowd was decidedly pro-Omaha.

In addition to big leaguers and likely Triple-A players, many lower minor leaguers were part of the day. In total, 52 players took part in the game in front of a record crowd of 9,351. Omaha manager Brian Poldberg said that since each of these players made the trip, he would use each of them. That meant taking out a cruising Jake Newberry in the top of the 9th to allow Tad Ratliff to get one more out for Omaha.

For additional photo coverage of the exhibition game, check out my full album here.