The Kansas City Royals announced today that first baseman Eric Hosmer has been named the 2013 Les Milgram Royals Player of the Year.  The award was voted on by the Kansas City Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA).

Hosmer, 24, earned his first Les Milgram Player of the Year award after leading the team with a .302 batting average with a career-high 34 doubles, 17 homers and 79 RBI.  He paced the American League with 60 multi-hit games, which were tied for the fifth-most in Royals history.

Kansas City’s first-round selection in 2008, Hosmer ranked seventh in the league in hits (188), ninth in overall batting average (.302) and sixth in batting average vs. left-handed pitching (.323).

On May 18, he was batting .244 with 4 doubles, a homer and 11 RBI, but from May 19 on, he hit .317 with a Major League-leading 156 hits, 30 doubles, 16 homers, 68 RBI and a .484 slugging percentage.

Hosmer was selected as the Majestic Royals Player of the Month three times (June, July and August) during the season, while he hit over .300 in each of the last four months of the year, including .324 in July and September.

— Royals Media Relations —

The Kansas City Royals have announced that right-handed reliever Greg Holland has been named the 2013 Bruce Rice Pitcher of the Year.  The award was voted on by the Kansas City Chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA).

Holland, who will turn 28 on November 20, earned his second consecutive Bruce Rice Pitcher of the Year award after a record-setting season.  The North Carolina native set a franchise mark with 47 saves, topping the previous best of 45 by Dan Quisenberry (1983) and Jeff Montgomery (1993).

Holland made his first All-Star team while finishing third in the Majors in saves.  He led MLB with 40 saves from May 30 to the end of the season and converted 31 opportunities in a row from May 30 to September 3.  His 1.21 ERA set a club record for a reliever, besting Montgomery’s 1.37 mark in 1989.

Holland’s 103 strikeouts matched a 42-year old club record for a reliever while his 13.84 strikeouts per 9.0 innings topped his own franchise best from 2012.  Holland was named MLB Delivery Man of the Month for July and September along with Royals Pitcher of the Month in May, June and July.

— Royals Media Relations —

The Kansas City Royals announced Monday that the club has extended a one-year Qualifying Offer to right-handed pitcher Ervin Santana for the 2014 season.

Santana has until November 11 at 4 p.m. CT to accept or decline the offer.  A declined Qualifying Offer would mean the Royals would receive an additional selection at the end of the first round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft should Santana sign with another Major League team.

The Royals also announced today that right-handed pitcher Felipe Paulino has been reinstated from the 60-day disabled list.   Paulino made seven rehab starts between Northwest Arkansas (AA) and Omaha (AAA) in 2013, recovering from Tommy John surgery on July 3, 2012.

— Royals Media Relations —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Kansas City Royals exercised their $13.5 million option on right-hander James Shields on Thursday after he anchored one of the league’s best starting rotations last season.

Shields, acquired last offseason in a trade from Tampa Bay, went 13-9 with a 3.15 ERA and an AL-leading 228 2-3 innings. Shields was especially strong after the All-Star break, going 9-3 with a 3.06 ERA to help the Royals get into playoff contention.

Kansas City went 43-27 after the break to finish 86-76, its best record since 1989.

“The second half, we pretty much figured it out – figured out how to win and what it takes on a daily basis,” Shields said. “I think going into next spring training, we all have that good frame of mind, that good attitude, and hopefully we’ll have a good season next year.”

The decision Thursday to exercise Shields’ option was mostly a formality. The Royals sent top prospect Wil Myers and a package of other minor leagues to the Rays to acquire him, and they weren’t about to let him go after just one season in their rotation.

Especially the way he pitched this season, giving the Royals the kind of bona fide ace that they haven’t had since Zack Greinke was plying his trade a few years ago.

“I feel good about it. I feel like I pitched well for them last year,” Shields said. “I’m just excited to be back and be a Royal and have a good season next year.”

Shields, who earlier Thursday won the Joe Burke Special Achievement Awarded presented by the Kansas City chapter of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, said he hasn’t discussed a new contract with Royals general manager Dayton Moore.

He did say he was open to remaining in Kansas City beyond next season.

“When that times comes, I’ll definitely be focused on it,” Shields said. “The one thing I do know is I love the city. The organization is great. I’ve been here for one year and we’ve made tremendous strides. Their willingness to want to win is what intrigues me.”

In the meantime, Shields just might become the Royals’ best recruiter.

Ervin Santana and Bruce Chen, who both pitched well this past season, became free agents on Thursday, and Shields said that he will stay in touch with them through text messages.

Santana in particular figures to be among the most coveted starters on the free-agent market after going 9-10 with a career-best 3.24 ERA. He threw 211 innings this season.

“You have to understand the business of the game,” Shields said, “but we would love to have them back. Bruce brings veteran leadership, Magic brings veteran leadership, and both of those guys had phenomenal years. Magic was lights-out. We counted on him every five days.”

The Royals are also in need of help in right field and at second base, so they might be reluctant to give Santana the kind of money that he’ll demand on the open market.

They also have several promising arms in the minor leagues, including flamethrower Yordano Ventura and youngster Kyle Zimmer, who expect to compete for a rotation spot in spring training.

“It’s been amazing, just the transformation, how this organization has been working the last four or five years,” Shields said. “Just to see all the guys that went through the system and how they did this year, and the year we had, was truly amazing.”

— Associated Press —

The Kansas City Royals made history on Tuesday night. For the first time, three Royals players took home American League Rawlings Gold Glove awards.

Left fielder Alex Gordon, first baseman Eric Hosmer and catcher Salvador Perez were honored as the best defenseman at their respective positions.

It is the first time since 1989 that Kansas City has had multiple players win a Gold Glove in the same season.

Gordon became the first Royal to win three-straight Gold Glove awards since second baseman Frank White won six straight from 1977-82.

Gordon joins Amos Otis (1971, 1973-74) as the only Royals outfielder to win three awards.

“I’ve got a trophy case back in Lincoln, so this one won’t be the chip-and-dip tray,” Gordon said. “This one will actually go up in the trophy case. It means a lot. The first one was pretty special, just because it’s the first one, but to be able to share it with two teammates makes this one the best one of all.”

Gordon tied for the Major-League lead with 17 outfield assists, after finishing second in 2012 and first in 2011.

His 54 assists since the start of 2011 are the most in baseball — 16 more than Detroit’s Torii Hunter. Gordon led AL left fielders in games played (160), innings (1,3641/3), total chances (341) and putouts (323), while committing just one error for a .997 fielding percentage.

Hosmer became the first Royals first baseman to be honored with a Gold Glove, and was the first Royals infielder to be honored since Mark Grudzielanek (2B) in 2006.

A finalist for a Gold Glove in 2012, Hosmer earned the award after leading AL first baseman in games played (158) and assists (122). He also finished second in innings (1,3721/3), total chances (1,335) and putouts (1,205). His .994 fielding percentage ranked fourth among the league’s first basemen with at least 1,200 chances.

Perez is just the second Royals’ catcher to be honored with a Gold Glove, joining Bob Boone in 1989.

Named an All-Star for the first time in his career, Perez led AL catchers in assists with 71, which was a team record. He also threw out 23 runners. His 35.2 caught stealing percentage ranked second among qualifying catchers. Perez also ranked second among AL backstops in games (137), innings (11151/3), total chances (1,008), putouts (930).

He was also charged with just three passed balls, the fewest among AL catchers with at least 100 games behind the plate.

The Royals now have 23 Gold Gloves honorees in franchise history.

— Associated Press —

The Kansas City Royals have named former Seattle Mariners manager Don Wakamatsu and long-time Omaha Storm Chasers manager Mike Jirschele to the Major League coaching staff.  Wakamatsu will serve as the Royals’ bench coach and catching instructor after working as a special assignment scout for the New York Yankees during the 2013 season.  Jirschele, who has managed KC’s Triple-A affiliate in Omaha since 2003, will carry the title of Major League coach. Dale Sveum, who was added to the Major League staff on October 3, will serve as third base coach and also oversee infield instruction.

With the most recent hires, the Royals have finalized their coaching staff for the 2014 season. Wakamatsu, Jirschele and Sveum will join manager Ned Yost’s coaching staff along with returnees Dave Eiland (pitching), Pedro Grifol (hitting), Rusty Kuntz (first base/outfield/baserunning) and Doug Henry (bullpen).  Head athletic trainer Nick Kenney and the entire Royals’ training staff will also return for the 2014 season.

Wakamatsu served as the manager of the Mariners for the 2009 season and a majority of 2010 and was the Toronto Blue Jays’ bench coach in 2011-12, before taking his most recent position within the Yankees’ scouting department.  He has also been on coaching staffs with the Texas Rangers (2003-07) and Oakland A’s (2008).  He was selected to be a coach for the American League during the 2009 All-Star Game in St. Louis by Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon.

Jirschele has been in the Kansas City Royals’ organization since 1992 and has been the manager of the Omaha Storm Chasers for the last 11 seasons.  He led Omaha to the Triple-A Championship this season as well as the Pacific Coast League title for the second time in the last three years. He has also won three-consecutive Northern Division titles in the PCL.  The 1994 Sporting News Minor League Manager of the Year returned to the Omaha dugout in 2003 after serving as the Royals’ coordinator of instruction from 1999-2002.  Jirschele managed Omaha from 1995-97 before being named infield instructor for the Royals’ minor league system in 1998.  He also managed Wilmington (1994), Rockford (1993) and Gulf Coast (1992).  He led the Blue Rocks to the Mills Cup Championship in 1994, finishing with a 94-44 record while earning Carolina League Manager of the Year honors.  He was also named Gulf Coast League Manager of the Year in 1992.  The long-time minor league skipper was a 2011 inductee into the Central Wisconsin Baseball Hall of Fame and the 2011 Mike Coolbaugh Award winner for outstanding baseball work ethic, knowledge of the game, and skill in mentoring young players on the field.  He has accumulated 1,208 career victories at the minor league level, including 995 at Omaha.

— Royals Media Relations —

Major League Baseball and MLB Advanced Media announced that Eric Hosmer was named the Kansas City Royals’ nominee for the 2013 Hank Aaron Award.

Fans can vote exclusively online at MLB.com and the 30 Club sites. For the fourth straight year, a special panel of Hall of Fame players led by Hank Aaron will join fans in voting for the award, which is officially sanctioned by Major League Baseball and has recognized the most outstanding offensive performer in each League since it was established in 1999.

Hosmer enjoyed a breakout campaign, batting .302 with 34 doubles, 17 homers and 79 RBI.  He led the American League with 60 multi-hit games, which were tied for the fifth-most in Royals history.  The third-year first baseman ranked seventh in the league in hits (188), ninth in overall batting average (.302) and sixth in batting average vs. left-handed pitching (.323).  On May 18, Hosmer was batting .244 with 4 doubles, a homer and 14 RBI, but since May 19, he hit .317 with a Major League-leading 156 hits, 30 doubles, 16 homers, 68 RBI and a .484 slugging percentage.

The Hall of Fame panel led by Aaron includes some of the greatest offensive players of all-time –Roberto Alomar, Johnny Bench, Tony Gwynn, Paul Molitor, Eddie Murray and Robin Yount.  These Hall of Famers – who combined for 17,629 hits, 8,278 RBI and 1,723 home runs – have all been personally selected by Hank Aaron to lend their expertise to select the best offensive performer in each League.

Through October 10, fans will have the opportunity to select one American League and one National League winner from a list comprising of one finalist per Club. The winners of the 2013 Hank Aaron Award will be announced during the 2013 World Series.

“We knew all along that Eric has the capability of doing great things offensively, and it has been fun to watch him develop,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.  “He was arguably the best offensive player in the American League during the second half of the year.  His production was a big key as to why we had the best record in the league after the All-Star break.”

“It is a great honor that Major League Baseball recognizes the most outstanding offensive performer in each League with an award in my name,” said Hank Aaron. “The game is full of so many talented players today that I am thankful my fellow Hall of Famers and the fans assist in selecting the much deserving winners.”

— Royals Media Relations —

The Kansas City Royals announced Thursday they have added Dale Sveum to the 2014 coaching staff.  The former manager of the Chicago Cubs will be in charge of infield instruction while his in-game responsibilities will be determined at a later date.

The Royals also announced that the major league coaching contracts of Chino Cadahia and Eddie Rodriguez have not been renewed, with Cadahia offered an opportunity to be reassigned within the organization.

Sveum, 49, spent the last two seasons as the manager of the Chicago Cubs, after six years on the coaching staff of the Milwaukee Brewers, including three years with current Royals’ manager Ned Yost.  An infielder during his 12-year major league career, Sveum served as both third base and bench coach during his time with Milwaukee.

He also spent two seasons (2004-05) as the third base coach for the Boston Red Sox, including their World Series title year of 2004.  Sveum’s playing career spanned Milwaukee (1986-91), Philadelphia (1992), Chicago White Sox (1992), Oakland (1993), Seattle (1994), Pittsburgh (1996-97, 1999) and the New York Yankees (1998).

— Royals Press Release —