ANAHEIM, Calif. | Should we, for the moment, grade the upbeat optimism surging from Mike Moustakas, the Royals new third baseman, on an emotional curve? You decide.Friday was his first day in the big leagues. He had almost no sleep after learning of his promotion from Class AAA Omaha early Thursday evening prior to arriving for the series opener against the Angels.And the setting for Moustakas first major-league game, Angel Stadium, is roughly 50 miles from home. That meant the stands were loaded with family and friends. He left 30 tickets, which will take a bite from his first big-league check.Not that it mattered.Im just enjoying everything, said Moustakas, who made his debut by batting sixth in the series opener. Im taking it all in. Coming out here to this great weather in California. Its good to be back home. Im just having fun.This is what Ive dreamed about since I was a little kid. Im not going to let this experience slip past me.Moustakas said he called his father soon after learning the news to say, Im coming home, dad. That initially puzzled his father, so he elaborated.I said, `Kansas City is going to Anaheim, Moustakas gleamed, `and Im meeting them in Anaheim. Im coming home. He just started laughing and told me how proud he was of me. It was a special moment.The exuberance extended to Moustakas savoring the battery of pre-game interviews that accompanied his arrival.I love it, he insisted. I love it. I could be doing so many other things in life other than sitting here talking to you guys and getting ready to go play a baseball game later today.Its really a blessing to be able to come out here and put on this uniform and be able to go out and perform the game I love to play. Just being able to do that is really a blessing. I was dreaming this at 2, man.None of this is particularly unusual for a player arriving for the first time in the majors, but it didnt take long for Moustakas to hint at the leadership intangibles that so often elicited raves from club officials over the last four years.Example: He took a question regarding whether he and first baseman Eric Hosmer, a close friend, had a wager on who would arrive first to the big leagues and turned it into a manifesto promising a bright future.No, and Im happy we didnt (have a wager), Moustakas said, because I would have lost that one. This was never a race between me and him. The only race that we have is when do we win the World Series? Thats the race we have.When do we start bringing championships home to Kansas City? Thats the only race were concerned about. Thats how the Royals brought us up in this organization to win ballgames and to win championships. Thats what were out here to do. Ask him when that will be and Moustakas glows with the fervor of a true believer in insisting the Royals are on the verge of something special and he knows this because of everything hes watched occur since being drafted in 2007.Hopefully, this year, he declared. If not this year, then next year. And if not next year, then the year after. We go out on a daily basis to try to win games, and every year were trying to win a championship.This year is our year, and if its not this year, well get it next year. Today is the most important day. Were going to go out and win a ballgame today and see what happens tomorrow.This comes from the heart, of course, and its sure to stir a weary fan base that wants desperately to believe. Its possible, certainly, that Moustakas words reflect the sheer thrill of realizing a dream. Maybe its the lack of sleep.And maybe it isnt.Theres been a lot of special things building in that clubhouse, Moustakas said. It starts in rookie ball with the guys who Dayton (Moore) has drafted and the guys he gets via the trade. It starts with the farm. What hes done is amazing.What the guys who have been scouting for so long have done its amazing what theyve done to get this organization and this farm system to where it is right now. Hopefully, pretty soon well start seeing some benefits and reaping the rewards of this.The words are firm, strong and tinged with absolute certainty. Even Moustakas admits he could make a living as a motivational speaker.I could, he said, I really could. But hes got other goals.Im ready to win a championship, he said. Thats been my main motivation since day one. Ive wanted a World Series ring. Ive seen one before, and I want one bad. Were going to go out and do our best and bring home a championship to Kansas City.Pucetas designatedThe Royals cleared space for Moustakas on their 40-man roster by designating Omaha pitcher Kevin Pucetas for assignment.Pucetas, 26, was 4-2 with a 5.07 ERA in 13 games, including 10 starts for the Storm Chasers. He was hit hard in several recent starts in allowing 29 earned runs and 48 hits in his last 31 2/3 innings over six starts.The Royals acquired Pucetas, a right-hander, on Oct. 14, 2010, from San Francisco as the player to be named later in the Aug. 13 deal for outfielder José Guillen. Sixteen signingsSixteen of the Royals 50 draft picks have reached contract agreements, including ninth-round pick Aaron Brooks, a right-handed pitcher from Cal State-Bernardino, and 10th-round pick Matthew Murray, a right-handed pitcher from Georgia Southern.Truman State right-hander Christian Witt, selected in the 36th round, was also among the signings. The others:No. 14 center fielder DAndre Toney of Gulf Coast (Fla.) Community College; No. 17 shortstop Nicholas Cuckovich of Riverside (Calif.) Community College; No. 18 right-hander Andrew Ferguson of Arkansas State; No. 20 center fielder Terrance Gore of Gulf Coast Community College; No. 22 left-hander David Middendorf of Northern Kentucky.No. 23 catcher Lance Harper of Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College; No. 25 third baseman Mark Threldkeld of Louisiana Tech; No. 34 right-hander Ali Williams of Charleston Southern; No. 35 center fielder Gabriel Gray of Hazlehurst (Miss.) High School.No. 38 right-hander Andrew Durden of Nova Southeastern; No. 41 catcher Travis Lane of Central Arizona College; No. 43 outfielder Tyler Chism of Gonzaga; and No. 45 right-hander Julio Morales of Bethune Cookman.Rehab updatesPlans call for veteran lefty Bruce Chen to shift Monday to Omaha for his second, and possibly final, rehab start prior to rejoining the big-league rotation.Chen hasnt pitched since a strained lat muscle in his lower back surfaced after a May 5 victory over Baltimore. He worked two innings Wednesday for Class AA Northwest Arkansas in a loss at Arkansas.Kyle Davies is expected to make his second rehab appearance either Sunday or Monday for Omaha. He hasnt pitched in the big league since inflammation in his rotator cuff forced him to leave a May 16 start against Cleveland in the first inning.Club officials are still debating whether Davies should start Sunday or pitch Monday in a piggyback tandem with Chen. Davies also pitched two innings Wednesday in the second game of Northwest Arkansas double-header loss at Arkansas. Minor detailsShortstop Orlando Calixte, a Dominican native signed last year for $1 million, is off to a slow start since being assigned to Class A Kane County. He entered the weekend with a .195 average and a .214 on-base percentage in 12 games with 18 strikeouts in 41 at-bats.Calixte, 19, is regarded as a strong defensive player, but his offensive struggles follow a .227 average last year after signing Aug. 28 in limited action in the Dominican Summer League.The Royals are getting a better early return on third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert, a Nicaraguan who received a $1.4 million bonus as a 16-year-old in 2009. He is batting .313 with a .375 OBP through 17 games at Kane County with three homers and 12 RBIs. Looking backIt was 27 years ago today June 10, 1974 that Joe Burke became the second general manager in Royals history when he replaced Cedric Tallis. The Royals won four division titles and one pennant in Burkes tenure.There have been six general managers in franchise history, but Burke, who served until October 1981, is the only one in the clubs Hall of Fame. He served as club president from 1981 until 1992, when he lost his battle with cancer.

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Royals notebook | Moustakas relishes debut and promises better days ahead

By BOB DUTTON

The Kansas City Star

More News

ANAHEIM, Calif. | Should we, for the moment, grade the upbeat optimism surging from Mike Moustakas, the Royals’ new third baseman, on an emotional curve? You decide.

Friday was his first day in the big leagues. He had almost no sleep after learning of his promotion from Class AAA Omaha early Thursday evening prior to arriving for the series opener against the Angels.

And the setting for Moustakas’ first major-league game, Angel Stadium, is roughly 50 miles from home. That meant the stands were loaded with family and friends. He left 30 tickets, which will take a bite from his first big-league check.

Not that it mattered.

“I’m just enjoying everything,” said Moustakas, who made his debut by batting sixth in the series opener. “I’m taking it all in. Coming out here to this great weather in California. It’s good to be back home. I’m just having fun.

“This is what I’ve dreamed about since I was a little kid. I’m not going to let this experience slip past me.”

Moustakas said he called his father soon after learning the news to say, “I’m coming home, dad.” That initially puzzled his father, so he elaborated.

“I said, `Kansas City is going to Anaheim,’” Moustakas gleamed, “`and I’m meeting them in Anaheim. I’m coming home.’ He just started laughing and told me how proud he was of me. It was a special moment.”

The exuberance extended to Moustakas savoring the battery of pre-game interviews that accompanied his arrival.

“I love it,” he insisted. “I love it. I could be doing so many other things in life other than sitting here talking to you guys and getting ready to go play a baseball game later today.

“It’s really a blessing to be able to come out here and put on this uniform and be able to go out and perform the game I love to play. Just being able to do that is really a blessing. I was dreaming this at 2, man.”

None of this is particularly unusual for a player arriving for the first time in the majors, but it didn’t take long for Moustakas to hint at the leadership intangibles that so often elicited raves from club officials over the last four years.

Example: He took a question regarding whether he and first baseman Eric Hosmer, a close friend, had a wager on who would arrive first to the big leagues – and turned it into a manifesto promising a bright future.

“No, and I’m happy we didn’t (have a wager),” Moustakas said, “because I would have lost that one. This was never a race between me and him. The only race that we have is when do we win the World Series? That’s the race we have.

“When do we start bringing championships home to Kansas City? That’s the only race we’re concerned about. That’s how the Royals brought us up in this organization – to win ballgames and to win championships. That’s what we’re out here to do.”

Ask him when that will be and Moustakas glows with the fervor of a true believer in insisting the Royals are on the verge of something special – and he knows this because of everything he’s watched occur since being drafted in 2007.

“Hopefully, this year,” he declared. “If not this year, then next year. And if not next year, then the year after. We go out on a daily basis to try to win games, and every year we’re trying to win a championship.

“This year is our year, and if it’s not this year, we’ll get it next year. Today is the most important day. We’re going to go out and win a ballgame today and see what happens tomorrow.”

This comes from the heart, of course, and it’s sure to stir a weary fan base that wants desperately to believe. It’s possible, certainly, that Moustakas’ words reflect the sheer thrill of realizing a dream. Maybe it’s the lack of sleep.

And maybe it isn’t.

“There’s been a lot of special things building in that clubhouse,” Moustakas said. “It starts in rookie ball with the guys who Dayton (Moore) has drafted and the guys he gets via the trade. It starts with the farm. What he’s done is amazing.

“What the guys who have been scouting for so long have done – it’s amazing what they’ve done to get this organization and this farm system to where it is right now. Hopefully, pretty soon we’ll start seeing some benefits and reaping the rewards of this.”

The words are firm, strong and tinged with absolute certainty. Even Moustakas admits he could make a living as a motivational speaker.

“I could,” he said, “I really could.”

But he’s got other goals.

“I’m ready to win a championship,” he said. “That’s been my main motivation since day one. I’ve wanted a World Series ring. I’ve seen one before, and I want one bad. We’re going to go out and do our best and bring home a championship to Kansas City.”

Pucetas designated

The Royals cleared space for Moustakas on their 40-man roster by designating Omaha pitcher Kevin Pucetas for assignment.

Pucetas, 26, was 4-2 with a 5.07 ERA in 13 games, including 10 starts for the Storm Chasers. He was hit hard in several recent starts in allowing 29 earned runs and 48 hits in his last 31 2/3 innings over six starts.

The Royals acquired Pucetas, a right-hander, on Oct. 14, 2010, from San Francisco as the player to be named later in the Aug. 13 deal for outfielder José Guillen.

Sixteen signings

Sixteen of the Royals’ 50 draft picks have reached contract agreements, including ninth-round pick Aaron Brooks, a right-handed pitcher from Cal State-Bernardino, and 10th-round pick Matthew Murray, a right-handed pitcher from Georgia Southern.

Truman State right-hander Christian Witt, selected in the 36th round, was also among the signings. The others:

No. 14 center fielder D’Andre Toney of Gulf Coast (Fla.) Community College; No. 17 shortstop Nicholas Cuckovich of Riverside (Calif.) Community College; No. 18 right-hander Andrew Ferguson of Arkansas State; No. 20 center fielder Terrance Gore of Gulf Coast Community College; No. 22 left-hander David Middendorf of Northern Kentucky.

No. 23 catcher Lance Harper of Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College; No. 25 third baseman Mark Threldkeld of Louisiana Tech; No. 34 right-hander Ali Williams of Charleston Southern; No. 35 center fielder Gabriel Gray of Hazlehurst (Miss.) High School.

No. 38 right-hander Andrew Durden of Nova Southeastern; No. 41 catcher Travis Lane of Central Arizona College; No. 43 outfielder Tyler Chism of Gonzaga; and No. 45 right-hander Julio Morales of Bethune Cookman.

Rehab updates

Plans call for veteran lefty Bruce Chen to shift Monday to Omaha for his second, and possibly final, rehab start prior to rejoining the big-league rotation.

Chen hasn’t pitched since a strained lat muscle in his lower back surfaced after a May 5 victory over Baltimore. He worked two innings Wednesday for Class AA Northwest Arkansas in a loss at Arkansas.

Kyle Davies is expected to make his second rehab appearance either Sunday or Monday for Omaha. He hasn’t pitched in the big league since inflammation in his rotator cuff forced him to leave a May 16 start against Cleveland in the first inning.

Club officials are still debating whether Davies should start Sunday or pitch Monday in a piggyback tandem with Chen. Davies also pitched two innings Wednesday in the second game of Northwest Arkansas’ double-header loss at Arkansas.

Minor details

Shortstop Orlando Calixte, a Dominican native signed last year for $1 million, is off to a slow start since being assigned to Class A Kane County. He entered the weekend with a .195 average and a .214 on-base percentage in 12 games with 18 strikeouts in 41 at-bats.

Calixte, 19, is regarded as a strong defensive player, but his offensive struggles follow a .227 average last year after signing Aug. 28 in limited action in the Dominican Summer League.

The Royals are getting a better early return on third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert, a Nicaraguan who received a $1.4 million bonus as a 16-year-old in 2009. He is batting .313 with a .375 OBP through 17 games at Kane County with three homers and 12 RBIs.

Looking back

It was 27 years ago today – June 10, 1974 – that Joe Burke became the second general manager in Royals’ history when he replaced Cedric Tallis. The Royals won four division titles and one pennant in Burke’s tenure.

There have been six general managers in franchise history, but Burke, who served until October 1981, is the only one in the club’s Hall of Fame. He served as club president from 1981 until 1992, when he lost his battle with cancer.