Mauricio Ramos begins the 2016 season at Northwest Arkansas (AA) where he’s hitting an impressive .364/.457/.820 through May 5th. Signed by the Royals out of Colombia in August of 2010, Ramos helped lead his home country to a win in the qualifying rounds of the World Baseball Classic this spring, the first such time Colombia has become WBC eligible (2017). The third baseman recently joined Dave O to talk about baseball and life in Colombia, how much the WBC means to the country, how the Royals signed him after the Tampa Bay deal fell through, what he’s working on most and lots more! (Photo Courtesy John Owen/Northwest Arkansas Naturals)
Jonathan Dziedzic opens the 2016 season in the Omaha Storm Chasers starting rotation and looking to build upon a 2015 when he went 10-7 with a 3.56 ERA en route to being named the Northwest Arkansas Naturals “AA Pitcher of the Year” and a post-season Texas League All-Star. Selected by Kansas City in the 13th round of the 2013 draft out of Lamar, Dziedzic was a non-roster invitee to Big League camp this past spring. The 6-1 lefty recently joined Dave O to talk about how the heck to correctly pronounce his name, the nickname “Eye Chart,” being drafted twice, a full scouting report and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Alan Jamison/Northwest Arkansas Naturals)
Carlos Garcia begins the 2016 season with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals playing second, third and the outfield. Originally signed as a free agent from Venezuela, the switch-hitting Garcia led the Royals minor leagues in stolen bases last year (42) while slashing .346/.360/.707 at Lexington and Wilmington. He recently joined Dave O to talk about how KC discovered him (and talked his Dad into letting him sign!), the experience he had at the Royals Dominican Academy, how he’s learned English so well, adapting to American culture and lots more! (Photo Courtesy John Owen/Northwest Arkansas Naturals)
Andy Stewart played for the Royals during the 1997 season, appearing in 5 games and going 2-8 with a run. Signed as an amateur free agent from Canada, Stewart spent parts of nine seasons in the Royals organization, hitting over .300 with double digit home runs twice. He went on to play for Team Canada at the 2004 Olympics and also coached in the Phillies and Blue Jays organizations. Andy recently joined Dave O for a two hour chat in the FUNNIEST interview Dave’s ever done – literally, you’ll roll on the floor laughing the last hour – to reminisce about the completely randomness in Stewart’s life, discussing how he got signed at a tryout camp, the struggles of being a non-prospect at first, his bizarre “Rudy” like call to the Big Leagues, upsetting Billy and Cal Ripken, wearing #69, the legend of “Sunday Neck” and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Andy Stewart)
Kevin McCarthy begins the 2016 season in the Northwest Arkansas Naturals bullpen and is looking to build upon a highly successful 2015. To be exact, the 6-3 right hander combined for a 2.74 ERA with a K/BB ratio of 40/14 between Lexington, Wilmington and Northwest Arkansas. He followed that up with KC choosing to feature him in the Arizona Fall League. Originally a 16th round selection of the Royals in the 2013 draft, the former Marist University pitcher recently joined Dave O to talk about where he was the moment KC drafted him, overcoming two bad luck injuries, a scouting report and uptick in velocity, favorite baseball movie and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Alan Jamison/Northwest Arkansas Naturals)
Gary Thurman played for the Royals from 1987-1992, appearing in 325 KC contests. Known as one of the fastest men in the game, the outfielder once stole 70 bases at Fort Myers (1985) after being the Royals first round selection in 1983. Following his times with Kansas City, Thurman went on to play with the Tigers, Mariners and Mets, logging parts of nine seasons at the major league level. Since retiring in 1999, Gary has been a professional manager, coach or coordinator and as of 2016, serves as the outfield/baserunning coordinator for the Washington Nationals. He recently joined Dave O to talk about almost choosing to attend Purdue on a football scholarship, challenging times in the minor leagues, his favorite restaurant in KC (which will shock you) and tons more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Mike Brewer played for the Royals during the 1986 season, appearing in 12 games and collecting three Big League hits. Originally a first round selection of Kansas City in 1979, the 6-5 outfielder played parts of eight seasons at the minor league level in addition to his KC cup of coffee. He is the younger brother of Tony Brewer, who played MLB with the Dodgers during the 1984 season. Mike recently joined Dave O to talk about the funny way he found out he’d been drafted, each stop of his Royal minor league career, how he was once traded for himself and lots more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Glenn Ezell spent seven years as a coach in the Royals organization, including six in Kansas City (1989-1994) as both bullpen and bench coach. This followed nine years of managing in the minors (with three more coming after his KC days) and an eventual total of 12 seasons as an MLB coach. Originally a catcher signed by the New York Mets organization, Ezell also spent time with the Twins and Giants chains during a ten year minor league playing career. He recently joined Dave O to talk about the unlikely journey to the Big Leagues which began with semi pro ball in Tucson, to living with 19 year old Nolan Ryan, having Yogi Berra along for an entire month when he managed in the minor leagues, all of his coaching stops (including 30 minutes worth of time devoted to KC) and much, much more! *** NOTE *** EVERY ROYALS AND BASEBALL FAN SHOULD LISTEN TO THIS. (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Kevin Koslofski patrolled all three outfield posts in Kansas City from 1992-1994, appearing in 72 Royal games. Originally a 20th round selection of KC in the 1984 draft, the 5-8 left handed hitting defensive specialist also appeared at the MLB level as a Brewer (1996). Koslofski recently joined Dave O to talk about the nine seasons he spent in the minor leagues before his KC debut, hitting his first MLB home run off of Nolan Ryan, getting the game winning hit in George Brett’s final home game and loads more! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)
Angel Salazar played for the Royals from the 1986-1987, appearing in 233 games at shortstop. Known as a defensive specialist, Salazar played parts of five seasons at the MLB level, including stints with the Expos (1983-1984) and Cubs (1988). The Venezuelan native recently joined Dave O to talk about how he was discovered and signed, how he learned English and adapted to the United States culture, his love of Kansas City Barbecue, horrible luck from 1989-1990 and lots more! *** NOTE *** Interview took place over a phone call to Venezuela, so from time to time, there’s a few seconds of bad phone connection. Stick with it, though, as it’s short lived and there are tremendous stories throughout! (Photo Courtesy Kansas City Royals)