DETROIT | Third baseman Mike Moustakas and first baseman Kila Kaaihue are among 16 minor-leaguers designated by the Royals as the players and pitchers of the year at the organization’s eight affiliates.</p><p> Moustakas, 19, overcame a slow start in his first full professional season by batting .319 since July 1. He leads the Class A Midwest League with 22 homers.</p><p> “It’s the first time in his career that he’s ever gone through some tough times,” said J.J. Picollo, the club’s assistant general manager for scouting and player development. “He came out of it great. He’s ending on a high note.</p><p> “The team made the playoffs. So he’s going to get that added piece of development. All in all, it was a very positive year.”</p><p> Kaaihue, 24, is enjoying a breakthrough summer in his seven professional seasons. He was recently chosen as the Class AA Texas League player of the year and is concluding a strong five weeks at Class AAA Omaha.</p><p> Overall, Kaaihue is batting .317 with 36 homers and 98 RBIs in 120 games.</p><p> The Royals appear to be leaning against a September call-up for Kaaihue, who isn’t on the organization’s 40-man roster. The club must place Kaaihue on the 40-man roster by the Nov. 20 deadline or risk losing him in the Rule 5 draft.</p><p> The organization will announce an overall minor-league player and pitcher of the year at a later date. Here are the 16 winners:</p><p>&#8226Class AAA Omaha: OF Mitch Maier (nine homers, 47 RBIs and a .316 batting average) and RHP Devon Lowery (1-1, five saves, 1.88 ERA).</p><p>&#8226Class AA Northwest Arkansas: Kaaihue (26-79-.314) and RHP Dan Cortes (9-4, 3.98).</p><p>&#8226Class A Advanced Wilmington: OF Derrick Robinson (0-32-.244 with 61 stolen bases) and RHP Matt Kniginyzky ((9-8, 3.57).</p><p>&#8226Class A Burlington (Iowa): Moustakas (22-71-.272) and LHP Danny Duffy (8-4 and 2.20).</p><p>&#8226Rookie Advanced Idaho Falls: C Sean McCauley (2-19-.278) and RHP Bryan Casey (3-4, 2.85).</p><p>&#8226Rookie Burlington (N.C.): INF Angel Franco (1-25-.257) and RHP Kelvin Herrera (2-2, 1.42).</p><p>&#8226Rookie Surprise: C José Bonilla (5-24-.357) and LHP Mike Montgomery (2-1, 2.11).</p><p>&#8226Rookie Dominican: C/1B Henry Moreno (2-41-.314) and RHP Willian Avinazar (8-2, 2.37).</p><p><b>Fall League participants</b></p><p> Cortes heads an 11-player contingent designated by the Royals for duty in the Arizona Fall League and the Hawaii Winter Baseball league.</p><p> Cortes, 21, is generally viewed as the organization’s top pitching prospect. He is 9-4 with a 3.98 ERA in 22 starts at Class AA Northwest Arkansas. Cortes also has 106 strikeouts in 110 2/3 innings.</p><p> Six other players will join Cortes on the Surprise Rafters in the AFL: shortstop Chris McConnell, outfielders Joe Dickerson and Brian McFall and pitchers Rowdy Hardy, Chris Hayes and Chris Nicoll.</p><p> Each of the AFL’s six teams consists of prospects from five big-league organizations. The schedule runs Oct. 7 through Nov. 22.</p><p> Four players are heading to the West Oahu Canefires of the HWB: infielders Kurt Mertins and Kyle Martin, and pitchers Jason Godin and Ben Swaggerty. The HWB runs from Sept. 27 to Nov. 16.</p><p> <b>Mayor Aviles</b></p><p> Fans in Omaha voted shortstop Mike Aviles as their favorite player _ a notable achievement since he played just 51 games for the O-Royals prior to his May 29 summons to the big leagues.</p><p> “That’s awesome,” he said. “I felt I was the mayor there for the last two years. ” Aviles did bat .336 this season at Omaha and spent the two previous seasons at Omaha. </p><p><b>Birthday wishes</b></p><p> Ryan Shealy turns 29 on Saturday. He was once viewed as the organization’s first baseman of the future, but he has spent the entire season at Class AAA Omaha, where he is batting .277 with 21 homers and 61 RBIs in 107 games.</p><p> Shealy remains on the 40-man roster and should be among those players recalled Tuesday when the rosters expand. He was chosen this week as the O-Royals’ hitter of the year in a media vote.</p><p> To reach Bob Dutton, Royals reporter for The Star, call (816) 234-4352 or send e-mail to <a href="mailto:jbdutton@kcstar.com">jbdutton@kcstar.com</a>.