Royals Rumblings - News for October 19, 2023

Preston Farr launched a new Substack, Farm to Fountains, which includes his 2023 Royals All-Prospect team:

Starting Pitcher: Mason Barnett

Barnett led the Royals’ farm system in strikeouts with 137 this year. He started his year with Quad Cities (pitching well) and performed substantially better following a mid-season promotion to Northwest Arkansas. He averaged double-digit strikeouts per nine innings and should get a chance to pitch in the major leagues as early as next season.

Relief Pitcher: John McMillon

John McMillon had such a unique path through the minor leagues this season. He started his season at Low-A Columbia but actually pitched at every single level of the organization this season. Eventually, he made his major league debut and looked impressive in a small sample size. Unfortunately, an injury shortened an otherwise excellent season for McMillon. He will start next season in Spring Training and a place in the big league bullpen will be his to lose.

Gavin Cross is getting a reset in the Arizona Fall League:

Cross saw initial improvements with one-on-one coaching in the batting cages in the AFL. It showed advancements in his swing mechanics, but he indicated the adjustments still needed to transfer to game action.

“The game is still sort of reverting back to what I was doing this season, but it’s slowly getting there,” Cross said. “Just looking forward to building on that and building on an offseason and then hitting the ground running next year and having a better year.”

Your weekly AFL Royals update:

• Gavin Cross is hopefully getting comfortable on the backfields as he started just once for Surprise in the past week. Playing DH, he went 1-3 with a double and a pair of walks. He has hit .286/.444/.357 in 18 AFL plate appearances, adding four stolen bases without being caught.
• Peyton Wilson has been almost an everyday player for the Saguaros, drawing four starts at second base this week. He went 2-17 while drawing five walks. Both hits were doubles. In 53 AFL plate appearances, he is hitting .293/.434/.561 with more walks (ten) than strikeouts (eight).
• Nick Loftin was pulled from the Fall League roster this week. He batted .273/.273/.455 in 11 Fall League plate appearances. His roster spot has been filled by CJ Alexander, who has yet to make his AFL debut.
• Eric Cerantola pitched two innings in relief last night. He allowed two runs on six hits, striking out and walking one. He has a 3.38 ERA in eight fall innings with two walks and nine strikeouts.
• Rylan Kaufman allowed three runs in 1.2 innings of relief last night. He surrendered three hits and two walks and struck out two. He has a 7.36 ERA in 3.2 fall innings with 3 walks and five strikeouts.
• Jacob Wallace pitched thrice this week, including a four-walk outing last night. He has a 7.20 ERA in five fall innings with six walks and eight strikeouts.
• Beck Way did not pitch this week.
• Angel Zerpa started last night’s game, allowing two runs in 2.1 innings. He gave up three hits, walked two, and struck out two. He has a 4.26 ERA in 6.1 fall innings with four walks and five strikeouts.

The Houston Astros jumped on Max Scherzer early to take Game Three over the Texas Rangers.

Trea Turner captured the entire human experience in the first inning on Tuesday.

Philadelphia sports fans are gradually shedding their reputation of vitriol. ($)

The Charlotte Hornets are giving fans a big reason to turn away from the team. (CW: Domestic violence)

Ja Morant’s irresponsible actions have his NBA career in jeopardy.

A’ja Wilson led the Las Vegas Aces to their second consecutive WNBA championship with a victory over the New York Liberty.

The two remaining winless FBS teams top this week’s College Football Bottom 10.

Instagram is helping fuel an epidemic of Kia and Hyundai thefts.

Your song of the day is Not In California by K.Flay.