Grant Gavin continues to turn heads in the Royals organization with a career ERA of 2.22, a WHIP of 1.06 and 177 K’s in 158.1 innings. Selected by the Royals in 2016 out of Central Missouri (29th round), the 6-1 righty currently pitches with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals and has put himself in prime position to make the KC bullpen in 2019. Gavin recently joined Dave O to talk about growing up a diehard Royals fan, his thoughts on the 2018 Chiefs, a WILD 2016 MLB Draft Day and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Clinton Riddle)
Andrew Beckwith enters August of 2018 with the Wilmington Blue Rocks after 25 appearances at Lexington, where the (mostly) side arming right hander featured an ERA of 1.84 in 25 games. The former “Most Outstanding Player” of the 2016 College World Series, Beckwith helped lead Coastal Carolina to a National Championship with two complete games and just 2 runs allowed in 23.2 IP. Andrew recently joined Dave O to talk about the Chanticleer Cinderella run through the CWS, how he developed his pitching motion, how in the world he lasted until the 32rd round of the 2017 draft and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Dave O)
Cal Jones heads into mid-July of 2018 sizzling at the plate, as the 20 year old Lexington outfielder has slashed .353/.489/.842 over his last 30 games. A 6th round selection of the Royals in the 2016 draft, Jones chose Kansas City over a full ride to Alabama. He recently joined Dave O to talk about being a part of Kansas City’s most exciting affiliate, including in-depth scouting reports on many of his teammates, how a town of 3,000 in Alabama LOVES the Royals, the best Southern accent in the Royals system, his thoughts on the GOAT Bo Jackson and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Cali Jones)
Donnie Dewees heads into July of 2018 as one of the Royals top offensive prospects and fresh off of a recent promotion to AAA Omaha. Acquired from the Chicago Cubs for pitcher Alec Mills prior to the 2017 season, the lefty hitting outfielder and former second round draft pick (2015) possesses both elite speed and defensive ability. Dewees recently joined Dave O to talk about hitting .422 as a junior in college, the shock of being traded from the Cubs to the Royals, living on a chicken farm and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Minda Haas Kuhlmann)
Tyler Zuber was selected by the Royals in the 6th round of the 2017 draft out of Arkansas State and has become the dream pitcher for those who love the strikeout! In fact, the 5-11 reliever has fanned a ridiculous 69 hitters in his first 45 professional innings, to go along 12 saves and a 3.40 ERA. The current Lexington Legends right hander recently joined Dave O to talk about the strikeouts but also, on comparisons to Greg Holland, a full scouting report, the beauty of an occasional Holiday Inn and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Tyler Zuber)
Kevin Lenik signed with the Royals in late June of 2017 after a brief stint with the Windy City ThunderBolts of the Frontier League. A 6-5 hard throwing right hander, Lenik turned heads upon joining the KC organization, finishing 2017 with 39 K’s in 37.1 innings, a 0.96 WHIP and a 1.69 ERA in 19 combined appearances with Burlington (R), Lexington (A) and Omaha (AAA). Originally signed as a non-drafted free agent by Texas, Lenik begins 2018 pitching out of the Omaha bullpen. He recently joined Dave O to talk about his past life as an Uber driver (with one of the funniest stories you’ll ever hear), the VERY against the odds journey that God has helped him travel, the scare of getting hit by a line drive in the face this past winter and lots more! A MUST LISTEN for EVERY Royals fan! (Photo Courtesy Minda Haas Kuhlmann)
Richard Lovelady begins 2018 as a Top 10 Royals minor league prospect and pitching out of the Omaha Storm Chasers bullpen. Drafted in the 10th round of the 2016 draft, the hard throwing lefty has combined minor league marks of 119 K’s in 108.2 IP to go along with a 1.90 ERA and 1.00 WHIP. Lovelady recently joined Dave O to talk about a life changing trip to the Dominican Republic, his first Big League Camp, his amazement that Omaha has a zoo(!!!), love advice for the fellas and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Minda Haas Kuhlmann)
Matt Winters played for the Royals during the 1989 season, appearing in 42 games (31 of which came while spelling Danny Tartabull in RF). Originally a first round selection of the Yankees in 1978, it took Winters eleven minor league seasons to get to the Big Leagues. Following his times with the Royals, Matt went on to star in Japan, where he crushed at least 30 HR’s a season from 1990-1993 for the Nippon Ham Fighters. The 6-3 lefty and current Ham Fighter scout recently joined Dave O for a VERY colorful chat about playing with Rex Hudler in Rookie Ball, batting behind Don Mattingly in multiple minor league seasons, playing in Japan and of course, loads of terrific stories about his days with the Royals organization! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Nicky Lopez heads into 2018 as the Royals’ 7th-best prospect according to Baseball America. A fifth round pick in 2016, the current Northwest Arkansas shortstop turned heads last October in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, where he featured a line of .383/.433/1.001. The Creighton University product recently joined Dave O to talk about his experience in the Arizona Fall League, going to Big League camp for the first time, the controversies of Chicago Style Pizza and the Runza, the best NBA player of all-time and loads more! (Photo Courtesy John Owen/NWA Naturals)
Rick Luecken pitched out of the Royals bullpen during the 1989 season with a 3.42 ERA in 19 appearances. Following the season, Kansas City traded him to the Atlanta Braves with Charlie Leibrandt in exchange for Gerald Perry, and he would finish out the 1990 season with both the Braves and Blue Jays. A 6-6 righty, Luecken was originally drafted by the Mariners and acquired by KC from Seattle with Danny Tartabull (for Scott Bankhead, Mike Kingery and Steve Shields). The Texas A&M graduate recently joined Dave O to talk about Baseball City memories, his love for Rosenblatt Stadium, Bo Jackson stories, what it was like playing with the young Braves nucleus before they turned the corner and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)