This Week in the Minors is our weekly look at notable performances from all over the system, from big-name prospects and less-heralded guys alike. The mission is to answer this simple question: “Who had a good week?”
Triple-A Omaha Storm Chasers (7-7, 3.5 games back)
The Storm Chasers took 3 of 5 from the Iowa Cubs, with the Sunday finale being rained out. In the first game of the series, Ryan Bergert went 2.1 innings, giving up just a solo homer before exiting the game with an injury. He was placed on the injured list, with right elbow discomfort,
the Royals #10 prospect, Ben Kudrna is on the AAA IL with the same injury. Right-handed pitcher Ben Sears got called up from AA to replace Bergert.
John Rave and Kameron Misner each had a good week, both mashing a couple of homers. Eric Cerantola, who was the spotlight in last week’s report, was great again. He threw two innings, in game one of a Friday doubleheader, striking out five batters. Cerantola is on the 40-man roster, and with some guys in the Royals bullpen struggling currently, looking at you Alex Lange and John Schreiber, he could get the call to help out.
Stephen Kolek was supposed to make his first rehab start on Sunday, so that was unfortunately wiped away due to the rain out. I assume that he’ll now start on Tuesday against the Indianapolis Indians at Werner Park. The Storm Chasers play them Tuesday through Sunday in Omaha.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals (6-3, 1 game back)
The Naturals took 4 of 6 from the Amarillo Sod Poodles this past week. Drew Beam started the first game of the series, after getting promoted from Quad Cities, where I mentioned he was someone to keep an eye on. He went 5 innings, allowing 4 hits, 1 run, and walking 1 while striking out 2. He also started the last game of the series, and the Sod Poodles saw him better this time around. Beam only went 3.1 innings, allowing 3 hits, 4 runs, walking 3 and striking out 2. He allowed 3 homers in the game as well.
Henry Williams went 5.2 innings, allowing 7 hits, 1 run and striking out 4 in a Naturals 4-1 victory. At the plate, outfielder Carson Roccaforte had a good series. The 24-year-old was 8-for-22 with three doubles, three homers, while walking six times and striking out eight times.
Dustin Dickerson hit a walk off single as well. The Naturals hit the road and will take on the Corpus Christi Hooks this week. The series runs Tuesday through Sunday.
Quad Cities River Bandits (2-4, 2 games back)
After having their whole opening weekend rained out, the River Bandits lost 4 of 6 at home to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. 19-year-old lefty David Shields struggled in both his starts. The Royals 2nd round pick in 2024 gave up 10 hits and 6 runs in the 6 innings he pitched. He did strike out seven batters though. In general, it was a tough series for the pitching staff overall.
At the plate, catcher Blake Mitchell was 4-19 with a pair of homers. Other fellow catcher, Ramon Ramirez went 5-for-19 with a homer. Ramirez did get the walkoff single to win the final game of the series as well. But overall, it was a tough series at the plate as well for the River Bandit hitters.
Quad Cities hits the road for a Tuesday-Sunday sereis against the Cedar Rapids Kernels.
Columbia Fireflies (5-4, 2 games back)
The Columbia Fireflies took 4 of 6 from the Myrtle Beach Pelicans at home this past week. 18-year-old Kendry Chourio has been a hot prospect name, in his start this week, he went 4.2 perfect innings, striking out six batters. A game the Fireflies threw a combined one-hitter, winning 1-0. Josh Hammond went 4-for-4 in Friday’s contest, with two doubles, a triple and a home run.
Outfielder Roni Cabrera also smashed a grand slam during the series. Sean Gamble was 3-19 in the series against the Pelicans. The Royals first overall pick last draft is off to a rough start in A ball.
The Fireflies are back in action, traveling to take on the Charleston RiverDogs, Tuesday through Sunday.
