Royals notes: Team signs seven to minor-league deals

By RUSTIN DODD

The Kansas City Star

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The Royals announced the signing of seven players to minor-league contracts on Thursday.

Among the notable moves: The club re-signed right-handed pitcher Zach Miner and infielder Jamie Romak, who played in the organization in 2011. The Royals also acquired utility infielder Tony Abreu, who spent time with the Dodgers and Diamondbacks during 2007-10.

The other additions: Left-handed pitchers Marlon Arias and Tommy Hottovy, a Kansas City native, and infielders Eric Duncan and Sharlon Schoop.

Miner, 29, showed some promise in the bullpen late last season after returning from Tommy John surgery in May 2010. He was 1-6 with a 7.16 ERA in 11 starts for Class AA Northwest Arkansas before transitioning to a relief role at Class AAA Omaha and finishing with 1.59 ERA in 12 appearances. Miner posted a 4.24 ERA in 157 games (35 starts) for Detroit during 2006-09.

Abreu, 27, batted .251 in 146 games while spending parts of three seasons with the Dodgers and Diamondbacks from 2007 to 2010. The Royals are still seeking a true utility guy for 2012, and Abreu has played second, short and third base in the big leagues. He spent 2011 at Class AAA Reno (Arizona).

Romak, 26, batted .251 with 23 homers in 123 games in 2011 while serving as a first baseman and designated hitter for Northwest Arkansas. Arias, 27, hasn’t pitched professionally since 2009, when he reached Class AAA in the Dodgers’ system. He is currently pitching for Estrellas de Oriente in the Dominican Winter League.

Hottovy, a graduate of Park Hill South, made his major-league debut for Boston in 2011 after eight seasons in the minors. He allowed three earned runs in four innings over eight appearances and is currently pitching for Aguilas in the Dominican Winter League.

Duncan, 27, batted .274 with 22 home runs last season at Class AA Springfield in the Cardinals organization. He logged time at first, second and third base and left field. Schoop, 24, batted .218 in 80 games in 2011 for Class AA Richmond in the San Francisco organization.

Organizational awards

Alex Gordon and Eric Hosmer will lead a long list of award recipients when the Royals honor 12 members of the organization at the Royals Awards Luncheon on Jan. 11 at the Overland Park Convention Center.

Gordon, the club’s Les Milgram Player of the Year, and Hosmer, the 2011 Joe Burke Special Achievement Award winner, were previously recognized, along with Bruce Chen, the Bruce Rice Pitcher of the Year.

The remaining award winners, including those announced Thursday, include:

•Second baseman Johnny Giavotella, who batted .338 at Class AAA Omaha, won the George Brett Hitter of the Year award, and right-handed reliever Kelvin Herrera won the Paul Splittorff Pitcher of the Year award after posting a combined 1.60 ERA at three different levels. Anthony Seratelli, who stole 35 of 40 bases at Class AA Northwest Arkansas, won the Willie Wilson Baserunner of the Year award.

•Outfielder Lorenzo Cain, who helped Omaha to the Pacific Coast League title, won the Frank White Defensive Player of the Year award.

•Right-hander Tim Melville, who pitched at Class A Wilmington, won the Mike Sweeney Award, which recognizes a player who best represents the organization on and off the field.

•Omaha manager Mike Jirschele, who led the club to a championship this season, was chosen the Dick Howser Player Development Person of the Year.

•Orlando Estevez, the Royals’ Latin America supervisor, was chosen the Art Stewart Scout of the Year.

•Eric Edelstein, general manager at Northwest Arkansas, won the Matt Minker Award, which recognizes an outstanding minor-league affiliate employee.

•The Royals will also honor Lois Lakey with the Dan Quisenberry Special Achievement award, which recognizes an outstanding member of the community. Lakey, 73, has spent the past 12 years as the only "full-time" volunteer at Children's Mercy Hospital.