Tag: Kansas City Royals

Bobby Witt Jr. got agonizingly close to tying up the 2024 Home Run Derby final round

Close, but no Home Run Derby crown.

Kansas City Chiefs slugger Bobby Witt Jr. got incredibly close to forcing another round in the 2024 MLB Home Run Derby final.

Trying to match Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández’s 14 homers in the final round, Witt hit 13 home runs and nearly matched Hernández with his last swing.

However, the ball got agonizingly close to leaving the stadium before coming up just short, giving Hernández this year’s Home Run Derby crown.

We’re sure Witt will win a derby one of these days, as he got very, very close to matching Hernández before gravity had other plans.

You know, there’s always next year.

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Kansas City Royals draft Duke pitcher Nick Conte in the eighth round of 2024 MLB draft

The Kansas City Royals drafted Duke reliever Nick Conte in the eighth round of the 2024 MLB draft on Monday.

Three Duke Blue Devils have come off the board in the 2024 MLB draft, and all of them call the pitcher’s mound home.

One day after the New York Mets drafted southpaw Jonathan Santucci and hours after the Seattle Mariners took Charlie Beilenson, the Kansas City Royals took right-handed reliever Nick Conte in the eighth round.

Duke fans would be forgiven for not expecting Conte as the third Blue Devil off the board. The reliever offers promising upside with his velocity, but he only made 20 appearances across the last four seasons in Durham. He totaled 18.1 innings across his four-year career, 10.0 of which came in 2021.

He (presumably) leaves Durham with a career ERA of 5.89 and a 3-1 record. He trimmed his ERA down to a career-low 4.50 in 2024, striking out eight batters in six innings. He notched his only decision of the season, a win against Miami, back in April, and he only gave up five hits and three walks for the year.

Conte surrendered an opposing batting average of .209 in college, a beneficial addition for a Royals team already within the top 10 in team ERA for the 2024 season.

Kansas City Royals select Texas A&M junior RHP Tanner Jones in 6th round of 2024 MLB Draft

The junior right-hander pitched 48.1 innings with a 3-1 record, 47 strikeouts and 19 walks in 15 appearances and 12 starts for the Aggies.

As DJ Khaled likes to say, “Another one!” Six Texas A&M baseball players have been selected in the 2024 MLB Draft thus far.

Junior right-handed pitcher Tanner Jones joined the group on Monday as he was selected in the sixth round by the Kansas City Royals with the 167th overall pick. Two picks later his batterymate, senior catcher Jackson Appel, was chosen by the Chicago White Sox.

Jones and Appel join juniors, outfielder Braden Montgomery and RHP Chris Cortez, sophomore LHP Ryan Prager and 2024 shortstop commit Wyatt Sanford as fellow Aggies draftees. At 12th overall to the Boston Red Sox, Montgomery became the highest draft pick in Texas A&M program history.

Cortez was selected in the second round by the Los Angeles Angels at 45th overall. Two picks later, the Pittsburgh Pirates chose Sanford. In the third round at 81st overall, Prager joined his teammate in Anaheim.

Jones is listed at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds. He graduated from Thorsby High School in Alabama before attending Jacksonville State for his first two years of college.

The junior right-hander made 15 appearances and 12 starts in 2024 for the Aggies, tallying a 3-1 record. He pitched 48.1 innings and recorded a 6.33 ERA with 47 strikeouts and 19 walks.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Shaun on Twitter: @Shaun_Holkko.

LSU College World Series hero Nate Ackenhausen drafted by Royals in Round 10

Nate Ackenhausen is joining the Royals organization after two seasons in LSU’s bullpen.

With the 287th pick of the 2024 MLB draft, the [autotag]Kansas City Royals[/autotag] selected [autotag]Nate Ackenhausen,[/autotag] a left-handed pitcher from LSU.

“Nasty” Nate Ackenhausen has heard his name come off the board in the 10th round of the 2024 MLB Draft as Nate will be headed to join the Kansas City Royals organization.

Nate pitched for LSU for two seasons and finished with a career record of 5-5 and a 4.76 ERA. Ackenhausen struck out 95 hitters while only walking 36 in 73.2 total innings of work. He’s headed to Baton Rouge to a great organization in Kansas City that is looking to get back to their winning ways.

In his senior season at LSU, Ackenhausen did not have the best year with a 3-4 record and a 5.65 ERA. Although he did not have a great season, he still has great stuff. He will head to the minor leagues to continue mastering his craft and hopefully, we will see him in the MLB one day.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Royals select AJ Causey in 2024 MLB draft

Former Tennessee baseball pitcher AJ Causey drafted by the Kansas City Royals.

Day No. 2 of the 2024 Major League Baseball draft is taking place on Monday in Fort Worth, Texas. The draft is being held in conjunction with MLB’s All-Star Game on Tuesday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Former Tennessee pitcher AJ Causey was selected by Kansas City in the fifth-round (No. 138 overall).

Causey (13-3) played at Tennessee for one season in 2024 after transferring from Jacksonville State. He appeared in 19 games, including six starts, for the Vols last season. Causey recorded 125 strikeouts and a 4.43 ERA in 91.1 innings pitched.

The MLB draft will conclude on Tuesday with rounds 11-20.

PHOTOS: Tennessee baseball celebrates winning national championship

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Drew Beam selected by Royals in 2024 MLB draft

Former Tennessee baseball pitcher Drew Beam drafted by Kansas City.

The 2024 Major League Baseball draft is taking place Sunday-Tuesday in Fort Worth, Texas. The draft is being held in conjunction with MLB’s All-Star Game on Tuesday at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Former Tennessee pitcher Drew Beam was selected by Kansas City in the third-round (No. 76 overall) on Monday.

Beam (26-8) appeared in 52 games, including 51 starts for the Vols from 2022-24. He recorded 249 strikeouts and a 3.60 ERA last season.

Tennessee won its first national championship in program history during the 2024 campaign.

The Vols also won the Southeastern Conference East division, the SEC regular-season championship and SEC Tournament last season.

PHOTOS: Tennessee baseball celebrates winning national championship

Photo by Dan Harralson, Vols Wire

Royals’ Kyle Isbel made an improbable leaping catch against the back wall in the 9th inning

WHAT A CATCH.

Kansas City Royals center fielder Kyle Isbel made one of the best catches of the 2024 MLB season on Wednesday night.

With his team up 4-2 on the Tampa Bay Rays, Isbel had to go to the back of the diamond to have a chance on a deep Taylor Walls hit with a Tampa Bay runner on second base.

Rather than give up the error, Isbel leaped into the air with his back to the wall and snagged the ball for the second out for the top of the ninth inning.

That Isbel had the focus and athleticism to make a catch like this is absolutely unreal, as you can bet his Royals teammates were just as amazed as we were that he pulled this off in the clutch.

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Former Rutgers baseball star Chris Brito was promoted to High-A in the Royals organization

Former Rutgers infielder Chris Brito was promoted to the Kansas City Royals’ High-A team, the Quad Cities River Bandits

On Friday, former Rutgers baseball star Chris Brito was promoted to the Kansas City Royals’ High-A team, the Quad Cities River Bandits.

After hitting .306 with two homers, 37 hits, 18 RBIs, 31 walks, and 18 strikeouts with the Columbia Fireflies (Single-A Team), Brito got promoted. Brito was a multiple selection to the All-Big Ten team while at Rutgers.

Brito signed with the Royals this past December, performing at a high level for the Royals Single-A team. The former Rutgers infielder has eaten up right-handed pitching throughout the season, logging a .311 batting average with 32 hits in 103 at-bats.

Before signing with the Royals organization, Brito earned the MLB Draft League Hitter of the Month for June while playing for the Trenton Thunder, showcasing hit talents leading up to the 2023 MLB Draft.

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Brito had one of the most accomplished hitters in Rutgers baseball history, wrapping up his career as the all-time leader in career home runs (46) and RBIs (200). Also, Brito set the program single-season record with 74 RBIs in 2022. During his college career, Brito showed that he can conquer any challenge, and so far, he has been locked in at the plate in the minors.

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As the 2024 campaign continues, Brito will be a prospect to watch.

 

Former Rutgers baseball star Chris Brito is performing well in the Kansas City Royals’ system

Former Rutgers baseball star Chris Brito has performed at a high level for the Columbia Fireflies, recording a .333 batting average in May.

Former Rutgers baseball player Chris Brito has performed at a high level in the last five games for the Kansas City Royals Single-A Team, the Columbia Fireflies.

In May, Brito has so far recorded 12 at-bats in five games, logging four hits, two doubles, one home run, and two RBIs. He has walked four times and struck out twice, registering a .333 batting average.

On Thursday, Brito blasted a two-run home run to left field in a losing effort to the Salem Red Sox.

The former Scarlet Knight is coming off a strong start to the season, recording ten hits, four doubles, one home run, six RBIs, 11 walks, and five strikeouts in 11 games during April. In 33 at-bats, Brito logged a .303 batting average and a .467 on-base percentage.

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In 16 games this season, Columbia’s first baseman registered 14 hits, six doubles, and eight RBIs, recording a .311 batting average in his first season in the MiLB.

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Brito had one of the most accomplished hitters in Rutgers baseball history, wrapping up his career as the all-time leader in career home runs (46) and RBIs (200). Also, Brito set the program single-season record with 74 RBIs in 2022.

 

 

Former Rutgers baseball star Chris Brito continues his strong play in the MiLB

Since signing with Kansas City in December, former Rutgers baseball Chris Brito has performed at a high level for the Royals Single-A Team.

This past December, former Rutgers baseball player Chris Brito signed with the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has performed at a high level for the Royals Single-A Team, the Columbia Fireflies, to start the 2024 season.

In 49 plate appearances, the Fireflies’ first baseman has recorded 11 hits and six RBIs while logging a .306 batting average and a .469r on-base percentage. Brito has been outstanding while playing first baseman, recording zero errors throughout 96 innings.

Before signing with the Royals organization, Brito earned the MLB Draft League Hitter of the Month for June while playing for the Trenton Thunder. The MLB Draft League was established in 2021 for collegiate baseball players to showcase their talents leading up to the MLB Draft and Brito did just that.

Brito recorded a batting average of .367 (22-for-60) with three home runs, four doubles, and 16 RBIs in 22 games for the Thunder. He led the MLB Draft League in on-base percentage (.500) and ranked second in both slugging (.617) and OPS (1.117). His batting average, recorded hits (22), and runs scored were ranked third in the league. Also, he tied for second in total bases (37), home runs (3), and RBIs (16).

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Brito had one of the most accomplished hitters in Rutgers baseball history, wrapping up his career as the all-time leader in career home runs (46) and RBIs (200). Also, Brito set the program single-season record with 74 RBIs in 2022.