Eric Stout was taken by the Royals in the 13th round of the 2014 Draft out of Butler University. As a junior this past spring, the 6-3 left hander finished 4th in the Big East in strikeouts and 7th in games started. Stout recently joined Dave O to talk about the struggles of being a lifelong Cubs fan, watching the Kane County Cougars, what it means to become a Royal, being a pretty good basketball player and much more. (Photo Courtesy Butler University Athletic Department)
Corey Toups was the 15th round selection of the Royals in the 2014 draft and a shortstop out of Sam Houston State. Toups, a college teammate of KC’s 8th round selection Ryan O’Hearn (also interviewed here on Clubhouse Conversation), is known for his spectacular defense and steady bat, hitting .300/.386/.494/.880 as a junior. Toups recently joined Dave O to talk about the amazing feeling of being drafted, what he knew about the Royals, info about Ryan O’Hearn and much more! (Photo Courtesy Sam Houston State Athletic Department)
Brennan Henry was taken by the Royals in the 17th round of the 2014 draft after previously being selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 25th round of 2012. Henry, a 6-4 left hander, earned 2nd team all-conference (MCAC) honors at Bellevue (Neb.) University in 2014 after going 9-2 with 101 strikeouts in 77.2 innings pitched. Henry joined Dave O the day after being drafted to talk about the first time he got taken by Philadelphia, the sheer excitement of becoming a Royal, where he spent this Draft Day and much more. (Photo Courtesy Bellevue University Athletic Department)
Spencer Patton might be a name that the casual Royals fan isn’t familiar with, but it probably won’t stay that way for long. That’s because Patton, who currently serves as Omaha’s closer, has eye popping numbers, including 10 saves, a 1.07 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 9.6 K/9. That follows up a 2013 season when the right hander had a combined 1.86 ERA between Wilmington and Northwest Arkansas, including a 1.02 WHIP to go along with 11.3 K/9. The former 24th round selection of the Royals out of SIU-Edwardsville recently joined Dave O to talk about his journey from repeating rookie ball twice in Idaho Falls to arguably becoming the top relief pitching prospect in the entire system. (Photo Courtesy Northwest Arkansas Naturals)
Justin Trapp was selected by the Royals in the 34th round of the 2009 draft out of Fairfield Central High School in Winnsboro, South Carolina and turned down a chance to play both football and baseball at Coastal Carolina to sign with Kansas City. Trapp, a 5’10” second baseman, currently plays for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals after spending last off-season playing winter ball in Australia. He is considered one of the biggest “sleeper prospects” in the Royals system, and recently took time out from his busy season to join Dave O and talk about his time “down under,” what it’s like being around MLB guys like Mitch Maier and Vance Wilson, his thoughts on several of his teammates and lots more! (Photo Courtesy John Owen/Northwest Arkansas Naturals)
Alex Gordon has won three straight Gold Gloves and barring voters being heavy into drugs, will make it four in a row later this year. Gordon, who was selected to his first All-Star Game last season, is signed with Kansas City through 2015 with a player option for 2016. He spoke with Dave O on his way to the ballpark prior to Wednesday’s series finale with Colorado and opened up on a variety of topics, including hecklers, life on the road and family. (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Matt Fields is quite the story – from 44th round draftee by the Tampa Bay Rays, to walking away from baseball in favor of loading luggage into airplanes, to returning to the Indy Leagues, to breaking the Northwest Arkansas Naturals home run record. Fields is currently with the Omaha Storm Chasers and recently joined Dave O to discuss the ‘Hollywood like’ journey that has led him to the highest level of the minor leagues. (Photo Courtesy John Owen/Northwest Arkansas Naturals)
Kyle Zimmer is regarded by most as the Royals Top Prospect, and was Kansas City’s #1 pick in the 2012 draft (5th overall) out of the University of San Francisco. Zimmer is currently training for the 2014 season in Arizona, so that he will have enough innings to pitch through September and (knock on wood), into the post-season. Kyle recently joined Dave O to talk about the timetable for his return, where his innings will be maxed at, what draft day was like and much, much more. (Photo Courtesy Mark Harrell/Springfield Cardinals)
The Royals selected Fred Ford in the 7th round of the 2012 draft out of Jefferson (Mo.) College, where the 6’5” outfielder helped lead his team to the NJCAA World Series (2011 & 2012). From there, Ford had planned to attend Western Kentucky before signing with KC. Fred recently joined Dave O to talk about growing up a Cardinals fan and his start to the 2014 season with the Lexington Legends. (Photo Courtesy Burlington Royals)
Baseball America calls Jason Adam the 9th ranked Royals prospect, and its easy to see why, as the Blue Valley Northwest graduate possesses a sturdy frame of 6’4 225, and “stuff” that profiles him into the middle of the KC rotation in the coming years. Jason is currently with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals and joined Dave O on Easter to talk Royals and life in the minor leagues. (Photo Courtesy John Owen/Northwest Arkansas Naturals)