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Myers, Montgomery among players invited to Royals’ major-league camp
Two of team’s top prospects will get chance to work with big-leaguers this spring.
By RUSTIN DODDThe Kansas City Star
In the spring of 2011, Eric Hosmer showed up to major-league spring training as a 21-year-old non-roster invitee. It was his first opportunity to go through a major-league camp, and Hosmer used those weeks as a springboard to a rookie season that began with a call-up in early May and finished with glittering numbers and numerous accolades.
On Wednesday, the Royals announced their non-roster invitees for this year’s big-league camp, offering the same spring-training audition to a group of 16 minor leaguers, including top prospects Wil Myers and Mike Montgomery. And the story of Hosmer’s path to Kansas City isn’t lost on Myers, a 21-year-old outfielder recently ranked as the club’s third-best prospect by Baseball America.
“To see those guys up in the big-league camp last year, now they’re already in the big leagues,” Myers said. “It’s cool to be able to go to big-league camp this year and know what’s ahead of me, and know what those guys did last year, and now that opportunity is there for me, too.”
On Wednesday night, Myers had just concluded a day-long bonding session with a group of Royals minor leaguers in Surprise, Ariz. The players had spent the day playing paintball (“Tiring,” Myers said) and it certainly fit in with the rest of his offseason.
After taking part in the Arizona Fall League, often viewed as finishing school for top prospects, Myers has spent the offseason hopscotching among Arizona, his home in North Carolina, and a workout facility in Tampa. Next stop: Major-league spring training.
“I wanna go up there and prove to those guys what I can do and what kind of skills I have,” Myers said, “and hopefully just try to impress some of those guys up there.”
Meanwhile, Montgomery, a 22-year-old left-handed starter listed as the Royals’ top prospect, will return to major-league camp for the second straight year. Although a spot on the 25-man roster is unlikely, both Myers and Montgomery will have the opportunity to rebuild their reputations against top competition after disappointing minor-league seasons in 2011.
Myers, whose stock soared after a strong 2010 campaign, battled injuries while hitting .253 with eight homers in 99 games at Class AA Northwest Arkansas. Likewise, Montgomery recorded a 5.32 ERA in 1502/3 innings at Class AAA Omaha — a setback for a pitcher often viewed as the Royals’ highest-ceiling arm.
Still, the group of non-roster invitees is not limited to young prospects.
Former Padres and A’s third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, who signed a minor-league deal on Jan. 18, could be an intriguing option as a backup infielder, while left-handed reliever Tommy Hottovy, a graduate of Park Hill South, will enter his first spring with Kansas City after signing a minor-league deal in the offseason.
Other notable invitees include right-handed pitching prospect Jake Odorizzi, who will make his first appearance at big-league camp, and left-handed pitching prospect Chris Dwyer, whose progress slowed at Class AA Northwest Arkansas in 2011. Odorizzi, 21, was 10-7 with a 3.73 ERA while splitting time at Class A Wilmington and Northwest Arkansas last season. Dwyer, 23, posted a 5.60 ERA in 27 starts for Northwest Arkansas. Left-hander Will Smith, a 22-year-old who spent last season at Northwest Arkansas, will also join the collection of young arms in camp.
The rest of the list: Left-handed pitcher Francisley Bueno; right-handed pitcher Zach Miner; catchers Cody Clark, Max Ramirez and Julio Rodriguez; outfielders Greg Golson and Paulo Orlando; and infielders Tony Abreu and Irving Falu.
Abreu, 27, is a switch-hitting utility infielder, while Falu, 28, possesses many of the same skills. Golson, 26, is a former first-round pick of the Phillies who has logged major-league time with the Yankees, Philadelphia and Texas. And Orlando, 26, enters his first big-league camp after splitting time at Northwest Arkansas and Omaha in 2011.
Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report to Surprise, Ariz., on Feb. 20, while the rest of the club will report on Feb. 24. The first full-squad workout is Feb. 25.
• COLON SIGNS MINOR-LEAGUE DEAL: The Royals also agreed to a minor-league deal with right-handed pitcher Roman Colon, who recorded a 5.33 ERA in 48 relief appearances in 2009 and ’10.