It’s going to cost more next year to take in a game at Kauffman Stadium.

The Royals are instituting an increase in season-ticket prices for 2013 for virtually all seats except those in the ritzy Crown Club, which are actually dropping by $5 a ticket.

The hike for most season ticket-holders – approximately 85 percent – will be $1 per game for those who signed up prior to the just-completed season. The increase for those who had season packages prior to this year will range from $1-3 per ticket.

“For most season ticket-holders,” said Kevin Uhlich, the Royals’ senior vice president for business operations, “prices have been flat for two seasons, and the raises are necessary for us to keep up with rising costs both on the business and baseball side.”

The Royals did not raise prices for 2012 for returning season ticket-holders.

These increases apply only to season-ticket packages. The prices for individual-game tickets will be announced after the first of the year.

Club officials point out that nearly 5,000 of the 37,903 seats remain priced at $10 or less. Discounts are also available for multiple season-ticket packages.

TV ratings up

Fox Sports Kansas City reports its ratings for Royals telecasts jumped 13 percent over 2011 while registering a 3.8 rating in the Kansas City designated market area. The previous best rating was 3.4 in 2003.

FSKC reports ratings increased every month over last season, except for August, and that ratings in September soared 52 percent over 2011.

Minor details

Three Royals are among the Top 20 prospects in the Class A Carolina League in Baseball America’s annual rankings: right-handed pitcher Yordano Ventura at No. 8, shortstop Orlando Calixte at No. 10 and third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert at No. 20.

Ventura, 21, opened the season at Class A Wilmington prior to his promotion to Class AA Northwest Arkansas. He was a combined 4-7 with a 3.62 ERA in 23 starts with 130 strikeouts in 1091/3 innings. He also started for the World team in the All-Star Futures Game.

“Though he lacks size (5 feet 11 and 140 pounds),” Baseball America reported, “and scouts wonder if he can be effective as a long-term starter, Ventura carries his fastball velocity late into games.”

Calixte, 20, began the season at Class A Kane County prior to his promotion to Wilmington. He batted a combined .262 with 14 homers and 62 RBIs in 125 games.

“He has tremendous bat speed and more power potential than most infielders,” Baseball America reported, “but he’s also a free swinger who struggles to recognize off-speed offerings. He can make highlight-reel plays at shortstop but also mishandles routine ones.”

Cuthbert, at 19, was the youngest regular player in the Carolina League and struggled early before a closing kick boosted his numbers to seven homers, 59 RBIs and a .240 average for 124 games.

“He has a strong swing,” Baseball America reported, “and when he’s at his best, he drives the ball to all fields with plus power. However, he struggles to pick up curveballs and chases pitches out of the strike zone.”

Looking back

It was 34 years ago Saturday – Oct. 6, 1978 – that George Brett hit three homers against New York starter Catfish Hunter in the third game of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium.

The Royals still lost, 6-5, when reliever Doug Bird surrendered a two-run homer in the eighth inning to Thurman Munson after replacing Paul Splittorff with one out and a runner on first.

The Yankees won the best-of-five series the next day with a 2-1 victory behind Ron Guidry. Greg Nettles and Roy White hit homers against Dennis Leonard. It marked the third straight year that the Royals lost the ALCS to the Yankees.