Posted on Sun, Jun. 16, 2002
Royals Report: Roster shakeup continues with additions of Gomez, Sedlacek
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
ST. LOUIS - The Royals took a look toward the future Saturday by summoning outfielder Alexis Gomez from Class AA Wichita to fill the roster vacancy created by Donnie Sadler's injury.
The club also called up right-hander Shawn Sedlacek from Class AAA Omaha, Neb., for a post-game workout in the bullpen. He should be added to the roster in time to start Tuesday's series opener in Montreal.
In selecting Gomez, the Royals chose a 21-year-old with enormous potential ahead of several older outfield candidates playing in Omaha, including Aaron Guiel, Dee Brown and Rontrez Johnson.
"When they threw the names at me," manager Tony Pena said, "I wanted to go with the kid. Let's give him a chance to face pitchers in the big leagues. Then if we have to send him back, we send him back."
Gomez was batting .332 at Wichita with 11 doubles, four triples, seven homers and 40 RBIs. Even so, he was stunned when learning of the news late Friday from Wranglers manager Keith Bodie.
"I was in the weight room when he told me," Gomez said. "I thought he was kidding. It was a big surprise."
Gomez arrived just before Saturday's game and didn't play in the 5-3 loss to the Cardinals. But Pena said Gomez will see regular duty.
"You know me," Pena said. "I like to play everybody. He will play. Will he play every day? I don't know. But I want to see this kid play."
Gomez has played center field for most of his six-year professional career but will likely shift to either left or right.
The decision to call up Gomez came one week after Donzell McDonald's promotion from Omaha. Both moves were major disappointments for Guiel, who is undergoing a career renaissance this season at age 29.
Guiel is batting .345 with seven homers and 41 RBIs in 55 games, but circumstances worked against him in each of the last two roster moves.
The Royals chose McDonald because they needed a leadoff hitter to fill in for injured Chuck Knoblauch. They picked Gomez, in part, because he is already on the 40-man organizational roster and didn't require anyone to be designated for assignment. Guiel isn't on the 40-man roster.
The Royals are still smarting from their lost gamble when they promoted McDonald. To do so, they designated reliever Nate Field for assignment and lost him to the Yankees.
They didn't want to risk losing another player.
Brown is on the 40-man roster but is batting just .238 with four homers and 25 RBIs in 57 games. Johnson is not on the 40-man. He is batting .336 with five homers and 16 RBIs in 39 games.
The Royals also bypassed shortstop Angel Berroa, who is generally regarded as their top non-pitching prospect. But Berroa has only been playing a week since missing more than six weeks because of knee surgery.
"We don't think he's ready at this point to come to the big leagues," Pena said. "He just got back from an injury."
Sedlacek to get his chance
Injuries to Paul Byrd and Jeremy Affeldt necessitated the call for Sedlacek, a fifth-year pro who pitched collegiately at Iowa State.
Sedlacek, 24, began this season at Wichita but joined Omaha after going 2-1 with a 1.47 ERA in three starts.
He is 6-5 with a 3.70 ERA overall for the O-Royals but 5-2 with a 2.47 ERA in his last seven starts.
"He's been pitching great," Pena said. "Seven or eight innings every time. Hopefully, he can carry that over. He'll pitch Tuesday."
The Royals are likely to put Affeldt on the disabled list to create space on the major-league roster for Sedlacek.
Affeldt is scheduled to pitch on the side today to test the middle finger of his pitching hand. That finger developed a blister in his June 8 start.
"The nail still has to grow out a little longer," he said. "Right now, it's still pinching when I throw."
By making Affeldt's DL time retroactive to June 9, he would be eligible to return June 24. Pena said it might take that long before Affeldt is ready for game action.
"His finger is still tender," Pena said. "We need to have him throw two more times on the side. Then we can have a simulated game."
Byrd experienced soreness in his elbow last Wednesday against Florida. He is only expected to miss one start but wouldn't be eligible to return until June 28 if placed on the DL.
Etc.
? Reliever Brian Shouse cleared waivers Friday and reported Saturday to Class AAA Omaha. They Royals designated Shouse for assignment Tuesday when they promoted reliever Scott Mullen from Omaha.
On deck
The Royals and Cardinals conclude the 2002 Show-Me Series at 1:10 this afternoon at Busch Stadium. Left-hander Darrell May, 2-3, 4.65 ERA, is scheduled to start against St. Louis right-hander Woody Williams, 3-2, 2.48.
The Royals have an open date Monday before starting a three-game series Tuesday in Montreal. The nine-game trip ends next weekend with three games against the New York Mets.
Royals Report: Roster shakeup continues with additions of Gomez, Sedlacek
By BOB DUTTON
The Kansas City Star
ST. LOUIS - The Royals took a look toward the future Saturday by summoning outfielder Alexis Gomez from Class AA Wichita to fill the roster vacancy created by Donnie Sadler's injury.
The club also called up right-hander Shawn Sedlacek from Class AAA Omaha, Neb., for a post-game workout in the bullpen. He should be added to the roster in time to start Tuesday's series opener in Montreal.
In selecting Gomez, the Royals chose a 21-year-old with enormous potential ahead of several older outfield candidates playing in Omaha, including Aaron Guiel, Dee Brown and Rontrez Johnson.
"When they threw the names at me," manager Tony Pena said, "I wanted to go with the kid. Let's give him a chance to face pitchers in the big leagues. Then if we have to send him back, we send him back."
Gomez was batting .332 at Wichita with 11 doubles, four triples, seven homers and 40 RBIs. Even so, he was stunned when learning of the news late Friday from Wranglers manager Keith Bodie.
"I was in the weight room when he told me," Gomez said. "I thought he was kidding. It was a big surprise."
Gomez arrived just before Saturday's game and didn't play in the 5-3 loss to the Cardinals. But Pena said Gomez will see regular duty.
"You know me," Pena said. "I like to play everybody. He will play. Will he play every day? I don't know. But I want to see this kid play."
Gomez has played center field for most of his six-year professional career but will likely shift to either left or right.
The decision to call up Gomez came one week after Donzell McDonald's promotion from Omaha. Both moves were major disappointments for Guiel, who is undergoing a career renaissance this season at age 29.
Guiel is batting .345 with seven homers and 41 RBIs in 55 games, but circumstances worked against him in each of the last two roster moves.
The Royals chose McDonald because they needed a leadoff hitter to fill in for injured Chuck Knoblauch. They picked Gomez, in part, because he is already on the 40-man organizational roster and didn't require anyone to be designated for assignment. Guiel isn't on the 40-man roster.
The Royals are still smarting from their lost gamble when they promoted McDonald. To do so, they designated reliever Nate Field for assignment and lost him to the Yankees.
They didn't want to risk losing another player.
Brown is on the 40-man roster but is batting just .238 with four homers and 25 RBIs in 57 games. Johnson is not on the 40-man. He is batting .336 with five homers and 16 RBIs in 39 games.
The Royals also bypassed shortstop Angel Berroa, who is generally regarded as their top non-pitching prospect. But Berroa has only been playing a week since missing more than six weeks because of knee surgery.
"We don't think he's ready at this point to come to the big leagues," Pena said. "He just got back from an injury."
Sedlacek to get his chance
Injuries to Paul Byrd and Jeremy Affeldt necessitated the call for Sedlacek, a fifth-year pro who pitched collegiately at Iowa State.
Sedlacek, 24, began this season at Wichita but joined Omaha after going 2-1 with a 1.47 ERA in three starts.
He is 6-5 with a 3.70 ERA overall for the O-Royals but 5-2 with a 2.47 ERA in his last seven starts.
"He's been pitching great," Pena said. "Seven or eight innings every time. Hopefully, he can carry that over. He'll pitch Tuesday."
The Royals are likely to put Affeldt on the disabled list to create space on the major-league roster for Sedlacek.
Affeldt is scheduled to pitch on the side today to test the middle finger of his pitching hand. That finger developed a blister in his June 8 start.
"The nail still has to grow out a little longer," he said. "Right now, it's still pinching when I throw."
By making Affeldt's DL time retroactive to June 9, he would be eligible to return June 24. Pena said it might take that long before Affeldt is ready for game action.
"His finger is still tender," Pena said. "We need to have him throw two more times on the side. Then we can have a simulated game."
Byrd experienced soreness in his elbow last Wednesday against Florida. He is only expected to miss one start but wouldn't be eligible to return until June 28 if placed on the DL.
Etc.
? Reliever Brian Shouse cleared waivers Friday and reported Saturday to Class AAA Omaha. They Royals designated Shouse for assignment Tuesday when they promoted reliever Scott Mullen from Omaha.
On deck
The Royals and Cardinals conclude the 2002 Show-Me Series at 1:10 this afternoon at Busch Stadium. Left-hander Darrell May, 2-3, 4.65 ERA, is scheduled to start against St. Louis right-hander Woody Williams, 3-2, 2.48.
The Royals have an open date Monday before starting a three-game series Tuesday in Montreal. The nine-game trip ends next weekend with three games against the New York Mets.
