The Kansas City Royals announced Wednesday that the team has declined its 2013 option on right-handed pitcher Joakim Soria, making him a free agent.
Soria, 28, missed the entire 2012 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow on April 3. Acquired in the Major League Phase of the Rule 5 Draft on December 7, 2006, Soria is 13-15 with 160 saves and a 2.40 ERA in 298 career Major League outings, all for Kansas City.
— Royals Media Relations —
Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc., and ESPN2 announced tonight that Kansas City Royals outfielder Alex Gordon was awarded the American League Rawlings Gold Glove in left field for a second consecutive season. The awards were voted on by American League managers and coaches and honor the best individual fielding performances at each position in the American and National Leagues. First baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas and right fielder Jeff Francoeur were named finalists for the award yesterday, but were not selected.
Gordon becomes the first Royals player to win a Rawlings Gold Glove in back-to-back seasons since second baseman Frank White in 1986-87. He joins Amos Otis (1971, 1973-74) as the only Royals outfielders to win the award on multiple occasions. Gordon finished second in Major League Baseball with 17 outfield assists, two shy of teammate Jeff Francoeur, on the heels of pacing MLB with 20 assists in 2011. He led all American League left fielders in games (160), innings (1424.1), total chances (338) and putouts (319) while committing just two errors for a .994 fielding percentage, the best in the league (min. 125 games in left field). Gordon, a former third baseman, earned his first career Gold Glove in 2011, his first full season in the outfield.
Gordon’s Gold Glove is the 20th awarded to Royals players all-time (10th different player) and the eighth to an outfielder (5th different outfielder).
Below is a list of the 20 Royals’ Rawlings Gold Glove winners:
1971 – Amos Otis (OF)
1973 – Amos Otis (OF)
1974 – Amos Otis (OF)
1977 – Al Cowens (OF), Frank White (2B)
1978 – Frank White (2B)
1979 – Frank White (2B)
1980 – Frank White (2B), Willie Wilson (OF)
1981 – Frank White (2B)
1982 – Frank White (2B)
1985 – George Brett (3B)
1986 – Frank White (2B)
1987 – Frank White (2B)
1989 – Bob Boone (C), Bret Saberhagen (P)
2000 – Jermaine Dye (OF)
2006 – Mark Grudzielanek (2B)
2011 – Alex Gordon (OF)
2012 – Alex Gordon (OF)
Voting for the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award™ will begin tonight at 9:15 p.m. CT at www.rawlings.com, allowing the general public to weigh in as to who is “The Finest in the Field®” in each League. Voting runs through Tuesday, November 6 at 11 p.m. CT. To determine the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award winners, fans can only select one player among the 2012 Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners from each League.
The Rawlings Platinum Glove Award winners will be unveiled during the 2012 Rawlings Gold Glove Award Ceremony presented by Gold Sport Collectibles on Friday, November 9, 2012, at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. In addition to the Award presentation to this year’s winners, Hank Aaron and Cal Ripken, Jr. will accept special recognition awards, and Johnny Bench will be the sixth inductee into the Rawlings Gold Glove Award Hall of Fame, joining Roberto Clemente, Jim Kaat, Willie Mays, Brooks Robinson and Ozzie Smith. Noted baseball fan Jerry Seinfeld will perform an hour-long show to end the evening’s festivities.
— Royals Media Relations —
Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation, today announced that four Kansas City Royals – first baseman Eric Hosmer, third baseman Mike Moustakas, left fielder Alex Gordon and right fielder Jeff Francoeur – were named 2012 American League Gold Glove Award finalists. The Royals are the only American League club with more than three finalists.
Rawlings also announced that for the second consecutive year, ESPN2 will air the 2012 Rawlings Gold Glove Award® Announcement Show on Tuesday, October 30, 2012, at 8:30 pm CT. The Rawlings Gold Glove Awards honor the best individual fielding performances at each position in the American League™ and National League™, as voted by Major League managers and coaches. Changes implemented into the award program last year remain for 2012, including the separation of the three outfield positions and the unveiling of the top-three finalists plus ties at each position.
Gordon is attempting to win the award for the second consecutive year and join Amos Otis (1971, 1973-74) as the only Royals outfielders to win multiple Rawlings Gold Gloves. The other left field finalists are Desmond Jennings (Tampa Bay Rays) and David Murphy (Texas Rangers). Francoeur is looking for his second career Gold Glove after winning his first in 2007 while with the Atlanta Braves. This is Francoeur’s second-straight mention as a finalist among American League right fielders and he is joined by Shin-soo Choo (Cleveland Indians) and Josh Reddick (Oakland Athletics). Hosmer and Moustakas are first-time finalists and have yet to win a Gold Glove. The other first baseman finalists are Adrian Gonzalez (formerly of the Boston Red Sox) and Mark Teixeira (New York Yankees), while Moustakas is joined by Adrian Beltre (Texas Rangers) and Brandon Inge (Detroit Tigers/Oakland Athletics).
Following the ESPN2 announcement telecast, voting for the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award™ will begin at www.rawlings.com, allowing the general public to weigh in as to who is “The Finest in the Field®” in each League. To determine the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award winners, fans can only select one player among the 2012 Rawlings Gold Glove Award winners from each League.
The Rawlings Platinum Glove Award winners will be unveiled during the 2012 Rawlings Gold Glove Award Ceremony presented by Gold Sport Collectibles on Friday, November 9, 2012, at The Plaza Hotel in New York City, with Jerry Seinfeld entertaining this year’s Rawlings Gold Glove Award recipients and key executives in the industry, and Joe Piscopo serving as the master of ceremonies.
— Royals Media Relations —
The Kansas City Royals named Jack Maloof as the club’s Major League hitting coach and Andre David as the assistant Major League hitting coach.
“We are extremely pleased that both Jack and Andre will be joining our Major League staff,” said Royals manager Ned Yost. “Both bring valuable experience as Major League hitting coaches. In addition, they have worked closely with a majority of our young hitters from the moment they signed and that creates a comfort level that should prove very beneficial for all of us.”
“The Royals were fortunate to have a talented group of hitting coaches within our organization,” said Royals GM Dayton Moore. “Jack and Andre have done a tremendous job developing young hitters throughout their careers and are highly-respected amongst both the players and their peers.”
Maloof joined the Royals in 2008 as the club’s Special Assistant to Player Development and Minor League Hitting Coordinator. The 2013 season will mark his second stint as a Major League hitting coach, having served with the Florida Marlins in that capacity from 1999-2001. With Florida, he helped the club’s batting average rise in his first season by 15 points while the Marlins increased their home run production from 114 in 1998, the year prior to his arrival, to 166 in 2001. In addition to his time with the Marlins, Maloof has also worked in the San Diego and Atlanta organizations. Maloof played eight minor leagues seasons and one more with the Seibu Lions in Japan in 1979 and was named Topps Minor League Player of the Year in 1971 after batting .402. He and his wife, Joan, make their home in Chandler, Ariz., and have two children, Justin and Jessica, and two grandchildren.
David will be in his 15th season in the Royals organization in 2013. David most recently has worked as the hitting coach with the Surprise Royals in the Arizona League for the past three seasons. He was the Royals Major League hitting coach from May 30, 2005 to May 1, 2006 and also served several seasons, beginning in 2001, as the club’s minor league hitting instructor. David played for parts of two seasons in the Major Leagues with the Minnesota Twins in 1984 and 1986. He resides in Surprise, Ariz., with his wife, Lisa, and their two daughters, Brittany and Tanner.
Under the coordination of both Maloof and David, the Royals have developed several of the top hitting prospects in the minor leagues including 2012 American League All-Star Billy Butler, 2006 Baseball America and Topps Minor League Player of the Year Alex Gordon, 2010 Baseball America Player of the Year finalist Eric Hosmer, 2010 minor league home run leader Mike Moustakas and 2012 USA Today, Baseball America and Topps Minor League Player of the Year Wil Myers.
— Royals Media Relations —
Royals prospect Wil Myers was announced today as the 53rd annual J.G. Taylor Spink Award winner as the Topps/Minor League Player of the Year. Myers becomes the third Royal to win the Spink Award, joining Johnny Damon (1995) and Alex Gordon (2006).
“I am honored to win this prestigious award from Topps and Minor League Baseball,” Wil Myers said. “To join a list with great players such as Johnny Damon and Alex Gordon is extremely humbling for me.”
This is the third national award for the 21-year old outfielder, who was named Minor League Player of the Year by both Baseball America and USA TODAY on September 4. He is the third player to earn all three honors in the same season, joining Andruw Jones (1996) and Josh Beckett (2001). Recent Spink winners include Tampa Bay Rays left-handed pitcher Matt Moore (2011); Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout (2010); and San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey (2009).
Myers, 21, opened the 2012 campaign at Double-A Northwest Arkansas and batted .343 with 13 home runs and 30 RBI in 35 games before a promotion to Omaha in mid-May. Myers hit .304 (118-for-388) with 15 doubles, five triples, 24 home runs and 79 RBI in 99 regular season games with the Storm Chasers. Overall, his 37 home runs were the second-most in minor league baseball, one shy of 26-year-old Darin Ruf who hit 38 for Reading (AA), while his 109 RBI ranked fourth overall and his 313 total bases led all minor leaguers.
The Royals’ third round selection in 2009 collected two hits and drove in three runs for the U.S. squad at the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game in Kansas City on July 8 and then three days later was selected the “Star of Stars” for the Pacific Coast League in the Triple-A All-Star Game after recording two hits, including a double, with an RBI and a run scored. He was named to the 12-member all Pacific Coast League squad on August 27.
— Royals Media Relations —
The Kansas City Royals announced Thursday that the club has re-signed five players to minor league contracts for the 2013 season. The club plans to announce Major League Spring Training invitations at a later date. The re-signed players are listed below.
– Right-handed pitcher Juan Gutierrez
– Right-handed pitcher Devon Lowery
– Catcher Max Ramirez
– Infielder Matt Fields
– Outfielder Nick Van Stratten
— Royals Media Relations —
The Kansas City Royals on Wednesday named Doug Henry the club’s bullpen coach for the 2013 season. Henry, who served as the Royals interim bullpen coach the final two weeks of the 2012 season, takes over for Steve Foster, who was named the club’s Special Assistant to GM/Minor League Pitching Coordinator on August 31. Henry has been with the Royals organization since 2008, spending the last three seasons as pitching coach of the Omaha Storm Chasers (AAA).
“Doug has worked as a pitching coach or coordinator at nearly every minor league level and brings a strong working relationship with a majority of our current Major League relief pitchers,” Royals’ General Manager Dayton Moore said. “His experience in the game will be invaluable to our coaching staff as well as the pitchers he’ll interact with on a daily basis.”
“I’m happy to have Doug join our Major League staff,” said Royals’ manager Ned Yost. “He’s a former big league pitcher with a ton of experience and has proven to be an excellent pitching coach in the minor leagues. He also has a familiarity with our young pitchers in the system which is a plus.”
The Royals plan to hire a hitting coach at a later date.
— Royals Media Relations —
The Kansas City Royals and Manager Ned Yost announced Thursday that the contract of hitting coach Kevin Seitzer will not be renewed for the 2013 season.
The remainder of the coaching staff will return next season: bench coach Chino Cadahia, pitching coach Dave Eiland, first base coach Rusty Kuntz and third base coach Eddie Rodriguez.
The Royals will also need to fill the bullpen coach position after naming Steve Foster the club’s Special Assistant to GM/Minor League Pitching Coordinator on August 31.
The Royals plan to hire a hitting coach and a bullpen coach at a later date.
— Royals Media Relations —
Miguel Cabrera became the first player in 45 years to achieve the Triple Crown in the AL Central-champion Detroit Tigers’ 1-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night.
Cabrera went 0 for 2 with a strikeout, then left in the fourth inning of the regular-season finale. He received a standing ovation from the opposing fans.
He finished with an American League-leading .330 average, 44 homers and 139 RBIs, becoming just the 15th player to achieve the milestone and the first since Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.
Max Scherzer pitched four innings for Detroit to test his sore right shoulder ahead of the playoffs, which the Tigers will open Saturday at home against Oakland. The bullpen took over from there, with Luis Marte (1-0) picking up the win and Luke Putkonen his first career save.
Austin Jackson drove in the only run off Royals starter Luis Mendoza (8-10).
The outcome of the game was secondary to Cabrera’s historic accomplishment.
Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig offered his congratulations, calling the Triple Crown ”a remarkable achievement that places him amongst an elite few in all of baseball history.”
”Miguel has long been one of the most accomplished hitters in the game,” Selig said, ”and this recognition is one that he will be able to cherish for the rest of his career.”
The crowd at Kauffman Stadium gave Cabrera a standing ovation before he flied out in the first inning. He struck out in the fourth inning but remained in the game, allowing Tigers manager Jim Leyland to remove him with two outs to another standing ovation.
Cabrera high-fived his teammates as he descended into the Detroit dugout, and then sheepishly walked to the top step and waved his helmet, almost as if he’d been playing at home.
”I would say without question he’s enjoyed it. How could you not enjoy what he’s done if you’re a baseball player?” Leyland said before the game. ”I would also add to that I doubt very much, knowing him, that he necessarily enjoys all the extra attention.
”It’s kind of out of his realm in personality, to be honest with you.”
Cabrera’s milestone wasn’t official until the Yankees pinch hit for Curtis Granderson in their game against the Boston Red Sox. Granderson had homered twice to reach 43 for the year, tied with the Rangers’ Josh Hamilton and one shy of Cabrera.
Cabrera finished four points better than the Angles’ Mike Trout, his biggest competition for MVP, to win his second straight batting title. Cabrera was the runaway leader with 139 RBIs.
”When he’s over the plate, he can do anything. He’s the best hitter in the game,” Trout said. ”I think his approach, the way he battles with two strikes – you leave one pitch over the plate that at-bat and he’s going to hit it. He had an unbelievable year.”
The year Yastrzemski won the Triple Crown, he was part of Boston’s ”Impossible Dream Team,” which won the AL title and reached the World Series for the first time in more than two decades.
The Hall of Fame outfielder said in a statement, ”I am glad that (Cabrera) accomplished this while leading his team to the American League Central title.”
Indeed, the Tigers had already wrapped up their division, allowing them to line up their pitchers and rest some of their regulars for their postseason opener on Saturday against AL West champion Oakland, which clinched its division by beating Texas earlier in the day.
Justin Verlander will start for Detroit in the first game of the series.
Scherzer was not expected to pitch after he twisted his right ankle in the celebratory scrum on Monday night. He threw from flat ground Tuesday and decided to pitch the regular-season finale, testing out a sore shoulder that caused him to miss his last start.
The right-hander, who is 16-7 on the season, ended up throwing 75 pitches in four innings, allowing three hits and walking two. Scherzer also struck out three.
He was gone by the time the Tigers finally coaxed a run across.
Omar Infante led off the fifth inning with a single, swiped a pair of bases and then trotted home from third when Jackson doubled in his final at-bat of the night.
The bullpens shepherded the game to its conclusion, allowing the Tigers to finally head into a joyous visiting clubhouse and celebrate Cabrera’s memorable night.
”A quality guy like he is, it couldn’t happen to a better guy,” said the Royals’ Mike Moustakas. ”It’s awesome to have a front seat and watch this. It’s great for the game.”
— Associated Press —
Miguel Cabrera had two hits and drove in two runs before leaving in the fifth inning, and the Kansas City Royals rallied to beat his AL Central champion Detroit Tigers 4-2 Tuesday night.
With one game remaining in the regular season, Cabrera leads the American League in average (.331), home runs (44) and RBIs (139), putting him on the brink of becoming the first Triple Crown winner since Boston’s Carl Yastrzemski in 1967.
Alcides Esocbar and Jeff Francoeur went deep for Kansas City, and Salvador Perez provided the go-ahead RBI in the fifth inning. Jeremy Guthrie (5-3) lasted six innings to improve to 5-0 with six no-decisions in his final 11 starts, the Royals winning 10 of them.
Doug Fister (10-10) allowed three runs on seven hits in 4 1/3 innings for Detroit.
— Associated Press —
