SURPRISE, Ariz. Aaron Crow’s spring audition for a spot in the Royals’ rotation comes with an asterisk. Even manager Ned Yost concedes it would be “tough” for Crow to handle a season-long workload as a starting pitcher.The problem is that Crow pitched just 62 innings last season as a rookie while serving as a reliever in an acclimation step to big-league duty. The general rule is not to push pitchers beyond a 40-inning increase in any subsequent season.“Realistically, it would be tough for him to make 32 starts,” Yost said. “But he could make 10 starts and go to the pen. He could make five starts and go to the pen. He could open in the pen and make 10 starts later or 15 starts. I don’t know.”The Royals projected Crow, now 25, as a cornerstone of future rotations in selecting him with the 12th overall pick in the 2009 draft. He pitched 1631/3 innings as a starter in the minors in 2010 before shifting last season to bullpen duty.“That plays into it, too,” Yost said. “It’s not like you have to drop him back to 100. So that 100 innings isn’t a hard line.“We want to give him an opportunity to compete (this spring) as a starter and see where he’s at and how he looks — and then evaluate him from there in terms of the big picture.”Guiel returnsOutfielder Aaron Guiel is returning to the Royals with tentative plans to serve as a player/coach in the minor leagues after concluding his full-time playing career by spending the last five years in Japan.“Aaron is a very intelligent, aggressive player,” general manager Dayton Moore said, “who always had a reputation of being a good teammate. He has, perhaps, a very bright future as a coach.”Guiel, 39, reached the big leagues with the Royals in 2002 and spent parts of five years with the club before going to the Yankees midway through 2006 in a waiver claim. He went to the Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Central League in 2007.“I’m looking forward to it as a transition possibly to a coaching job,” he said. “I had a really good conversation with Dayton, and he presented the idea that I could come down in this role.“I think most of my time will be on transitioning to a coach. This gives them an opportunity to see where I might fit.”The Royals eased the transition into coaching for several players in recent years through a similar procedure. Examples include Vance Wilson, Damon Hollins and Devon Lowery.Guiel batted .246 with a .322 on-base percentage in 307 big-league games with 35 homers and 128 RBIs. He batted .234 with 90 homers and a .357 OBP over five Japanese seasons. Two more signingsThe club’s projected starting middle infielders, shortstop Alcides Escobar and second baseman Johnny Giavotella, reached agreements on one-year contracts.Escobar, 25, got $519,500 after batting .254 last season with a .290 on-base percentage, four homers and 46 RBIs in 158 games. He made $428,000 in 2011.Giavotella, 24, received $483,600 after reaching the big leagues last season in August and batting .247 with a .273 OBP, two homers and 21 RBIs in 46 games. He batted .338 with a .390 OBP, nine homers and 72 RBIs in 110 games at Class AAA Omaha.The Royals have three unsigned players on their 40-man roster: catcher Sal Perez and pitchers Danny Duffy and Vin Mazzaro. All three can have their contracts renewed at the club’s discretion.Betancourt arrivesProdigal infielder Yuniesky Betancourt took part in Friday’s workout, which means everyone is now in camp except for left-handed reliever Joœe Mijares. The first official full-squad workout is Saturday.The Royals signed Betancourt, 30, in December as a free agent to be their utility infielder. He served as the club’s starting shortstop from July 10, 2009, through the 2010 season before going to Milwaukee in a trade.Betancourt batted .252 last season for the Brewers with a .271 on-base percentage, 13 homers and 68 RBIs in 152 games. Full-squad workoutMeetings and physical exams for infielders and outfielders mean the Royals won’t likely hit the field before 12:30 p.m. Saturday Mountain time for their first full-squad workout.The only anticipated absentees from the 57-player camp roster are Mijares and injured catcher Manny Piña, who is scheduled to undergo surgery next week to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.Piña suffered the injury earlier this week when his cleats caught in the dirt as he shifted his body in an effort to block a foul tip. He is expected to miss at least three weeks, but his absence could be longer depending on the severity of the tear.Mijares is still en route from Venezuela, where he was delayed by a family issue and difficulty in obtaining his visa.“We expect him any day,” Moore said. “He’s just trying to iron out some personal things.”Minor detailsRoughly 70 minor-league players underwent physical exams Friday in preparation for their early camp, which starts Monday. Those involved are generally those expected to play on one of the organization’s four full-season squads.The remainder of the club’s minor-league personnel, about 110 players, will begin workouts March 5.The total of 180 players is about 20 more than usual. Club officials say they wanted to ensure they didn’t get caught short in staffing the seven domestic affiliates because of the new signing regulations under the just-negotiated labor agreement.

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Royals notes | Crow’s 2011 workload a factor in quest for a starting job

By BOB DUTTON

The Kansas City Star

More News

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Aaron Crow’s spring audition for a spot in the Royals’ rotation comes with an asterisk. Even manager Ned Yost concedes it would be “tough” for Crow to handle a season-long workload as a starting pitcher.

The problem is that Crow pitched just 62 innings last season as a rookie while serving as a reliever in an acclimation step to big-league duty. The general rule is not to push pitchers beyond a 40-inning increase in any subsequent season.

“Realistically, it would be tough for him to make 32 starts,” Yost said. “But he could make 10 starts and go to the pen. He could make five starts and go to the pen. He could open in the pen and make 10 starts later or 15 starts. I don’t know.”

The Royals projected Crow, now 25, as a cornerstone of future rotations in selecting him with the 12th overall pick in the 2009 draft. He pitched 1631/3 innings as a starter in the minors in 2010 before shifting last season to bullpen duty.

“That plays into it, too,” Yost said. “It’s not like you have to drop him back to 100. So that 100 innings isn’t a hard line.

“We want to give him an opportunity to compete (this spring) as a starter and see where he’s at and how he looks — and then evaluate him from there in terms of the big picture.”

Guiel returns

Outfielder Aaron Guiel is returning to the Royals with tentative plans to serve as a player/coach in the minor leagues after concluding his full-time playing career by spending the last five years in Japan.

“Aaron is a very intelligent, aggressive player,” general manager Dayton Moore said, “who always had a reputation of being a good teammate. He has, perhaps, a very bright future as a coach.”

Guiel, 39, reached the big leagues with the Royals in 2002 and spent parts of five years with the club before going to the Yankees midway through 2006 in a waiver claim. He went to the Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Central League in 2007.

“I’m looking forward to it as a transition possibly to a coaching job,” he said. “I had a really good conversation with Dayton, and he presented the idea that I could come down in this role.

“I think most of my time will be on transitioning to a coach. This gives them an opportunity to see where I might fit.”

The Royals eased the transition into coaching for several players in recent years through a similar procedure. Examples include Vance Wilson, Damon Hollins and Devon Lowery.

Guiel batted .246 with a .322 on-base percentage in 307 big-league games with 35 homers and 128 RBIs. He batted .234 with 90 homers and a .357 OBP over five Japanese seasons.

Two more signings

The club’s projected starting middle infielders, shortstop Alcides Escobar and second baseman Johnny Giavotella, reached agreements on one-year contracts.

Escobar, 25, got $519,500 after batting .254 last season with a .290 on-base percentage, four homers and 46 RBIs in 158 games. He made $428,000 in 2011.

Giavotella, 24, received $483,600 after reaching the big leagues last season in August and batting .247 with a .273 OBP, two homers and 21 RBIs in 46 games. He batted .338 with a .390 OBP, nine homers and 72 RBIs in 110 games at Class AAA Omaha.

The Royals have three unsigned players on their 40-man roster: catcher Sal Perez and pitchers Danny Duffy and Vin Mazzaro. All three can have their contracts renewed at the club’s discretion.

Betancourt arrives

Prodigal infielder Yuniesky Betancourt took part in Friday’s workout, which means everyone is now in camp except for left-handed reliever Joœe Mijares. The first official full-squad workout is Saturday.

The Royals signed Betancourt, 30, in December as a free agent to be their utility infielder. He served as the club’s starting shortstop from July 10, 2009, through the 2010 season before going to Milwaukee in a trade.

Betancourt batted .252 last season for the Brewers with a .271 on-base percentage, 13 homers and 68 RBIs in 152 games.

Full-squad workout

Meetings and physical exams for infielders and outfielders mean the Royals won’t likely hit the field before 12:30 p.m. Saturday Mountain time for their first full-squad workout.

The only anticipated absentees from the 57-player camp roster are Mijares and injured catcher Manny Piña, who is scheduled to undergo surgery next week to repair torn cartilage in his right knee.

Piña suffered the injury earlier this week when his cleats caught in the dirt as he shifted his body in an effort to block a foul tip. He is expected to miss at least three weeks, but his absence could be longer depending on the severity of the tear.

Mijares is still en route from Venezuela, where he was delayed by a family issue and difficulty in obtaining his visa.

“We expect him any day,” Moore said. “He’s just trying to iron out some personal things.”

Minor details

Roughly 70 minor-league players underwent physical exams Friday in preparation for their early camp, which starts Monday. Those involved are generally those expected to play on one of the organization’s four full-season squads.

The remainder of the club’s minor-league personnel, about 110 players, will begin workouts March 5.

The total of 180 players is about 20 more than usual. Club officials say they wanted to ensure they didn’t get caught short in staffing the seven domestic affiliates because of the new signing regulations under the just-negotiated labor agreement.