Kansas City Monarchs update: Taylor Swift-themed night ahead & a big-league signing
A big-league signing and Taylor Swift ticket giveaway highlight the week ahead for the Kansas City Monarchs.
The Monarchs’ 13-game homestand began Monday night at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.
Former Gatorade Kansas High School Baseball Player of the Year Collin Wiles was set to make his Monarchs debut on Tuesday night against the Sioux City Explorers. The right-hander pitched in MLB with the Oakland Athletics in 2022 and began the 2024 season in Triple-A.
Here’s what you need to know about the Monarchs this week...
New era for the Monarchs
The Monarchs are changing their name to the “Kansas Swiftie Monarchs” on Saturday for their game against the Lincoln Saltdogs. One lucky fan in attendance will win two free concert tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour show in Indianapolis.
The tickets will be raffled off in the fifth inning of Saturday night’s game. The winner must be present to receive the tickets; lodging and transportation are not included.
The Monarchs are encouraging fans to wear Eras Tour-themed attire for an outfit parade during Saturday night’s game. All walk-up songs for KC will be changed to Taylor’s greatest hits.
‘A big acquisition’ for the Monarchs
Wiles becomes the sixth Kansas City-area pitcher to appear for the Monarchs this season. He was a first-round draft pick by the Texas Rangers out of Blue Valley West High School in 2012.
“We have an experienced staff. (Wiles) is going to bring another addition to that here in August,” Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra said. “It’s going to be a big acquisition.”
The right-hander joins Matt Hall as one of two former MLB players in the Monarchs’ rotation.
The Monarchs currently hold the final spot in the American Association’s West Division playoff race. KC is two games above Sioux City entering Tuesday.
Kansas City is only 6.5 games back of first place in the West. The Monarchs play 18 of their last 27 games at Legends Field.
This is the second straight season that the Monarchs brought in a former MLB pitcher in August. Kansas City signed former Colorado Rockies and Cincinnati Reds pitcher Ashton Goudeau in August 2023. The right-hander went 3-0 in the postseason to help guide the Monarchs to a 2023 Miles Wolff Cup.
Calfapietra hopes more of the same for Wiles.
“He has to come in and compete, and hopefully he does really well. Ashton was the same way,” Calfapietra said. “Collin is a similar-type guy with similar experience, so we’re hoping it all works out in the same fashion.”