Notes: Gordon works out at mini-camp
01/19/2006
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Alex Gordon looked relaxed. Settled in the Royals' clubhouse next to veteran Mark Grudzielanek, the club's prize draft pick was ready for Thursday's final workout of the mini-camp.
Gordon will be back at Major League camp in a little over a month. He's already had a busy time since signing for $4 million on Sept. 29, after four months of negotiations.
While his agents and the Royals talked, Gordon stayed in shape by working out with his three ballplaying brothers at their home in Lincoln, Neb.
A third baseman, he played in the Arizona Fall League -- as a first baseman -- and batted .260 in 16 games.
"I started off really slow, then about the fourth game started hitting real well and went on a hot streak," he said. "Then I hit kind of a slump, but it was a good year for me."
Especially after helping put University of Nebraska in the College World Series. That notoriety carried over when he accompanied the Royals Caravan into Nebraska this winter. To hear John Buck tell it, he was banished to the van while Gordon made speeches and gave interviews.
"It wasn't quite that bad, but something like that," Gordon said. "He's still all over me about it."
With Mark Teahen making progress at third base, there have been many questions about what position Gordon will fill this year in his Minor League assignment. He professes not to care that much.
"I just want to be on the baseball field, playing," he said.
Gordon eventually might end up at first base, which he conquered with ease in Arizona, or at an outfield corner. He has average speed but a fine arm.
The Royals, though, plan to start him out at third base with Double-A Wichita or Class A High Desert.
Madritsch recovering: Left-hander Bobby Madritsch, claimed on waivers from the Seattle Mariners, had two throwing sessions in the three-day mini-camp. He underwent surgery Oct. 25 to repair his rotator cuff.
"I feel like I haven't skipped a beat," he said.
A starter, Madritsch figures to be game-ready by July.
But he said, "I'm not looking at the time frame, because I've been there before. I have to be patient."
Team Canada: Teahen, who is listed on Team Canada's provisional roster, isn't likely to play this time in the WBC.
"At this point, it's more important for me to be here now," he said. "But my father played on the Canadian team, so I'd like to do it at some point."
Australian connection: First baseman Justin Huber guided Royals officials on a recent Australian trip and they wound up signing his ex-coach as a scout.
Matthew Sheldon-Collins, who coached Huber at the Victorian Institute of Sport, will check out Aussie prospects for the Royals.
"Justin probably shortened the time to really establish ourselves by two years because of his contacts and notoriety," said general manager Allard Baird, accompanied on the trip by president Dan Glass and special assistant Louie Medina.
Huber, the 21st Australian to reach the Majors, said it's important to educate both young athletes and their parents in his homeland about the opportunities of baseball.
"Kids leave and they don't see [the players] unless they reach the top," Huber said. "They're not playing in front of family and friends, and so it's not a very desirable sport."
Davis returns: Mark Davis, who won the National League Cy Young Award in 1989 before signing with the Royals, has returned to the organization.
Davis will be the pitching coach for the Royals in the Rookie classification Arizona League. He had been the Major League pitching coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"We wanted to bring in some older guys with Major League experience," said Shaun McGinn, the Royals' senior director of Minor League operations. "He had some other good coaching offers but decided to come over here."
Davis, who won the Cy Young with the San Diego Padres, flopped after signing a free agent contract with the Royals. A Phoenix-area resident, he was with the Diamondbacks since 1999.
Manager hired: The only change among Minor League managers for the Royals came at High Desert where Jeff Carter replaced Billy Gardner Jr. Gardner resigned to take a job in the Cincinnati Reds organization.
Carter, an infielder-outfielder for 12 years in the Minors, had spent the last nine years in the Minnesota Twins system.
"I think he'll fit in well because of the similarities between their program and our program," McGinn said.
Mike Jirschele will return as manager of Triple-A Omaha and Frank White will be back at Wichita.
Among other changes: Former Royals pitcher Tom Burgmeier was promoted to Omaha pitching coach. Steve Renko, also an ex-Royal, was hired as High Desert's pitching coach. Former Toronto Blue Jays coach Mike Barnett was hired as Minor League hitting instructor.
There were no team location changes this year but, McGinn noted, all the contracts with affiliates expire after 2006.
Source: http://royals.mlb.com/
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Alex Gordon looked relaxed. Settled in the Royals' clubhouse next to veteran Mark Grudzielanek, the club's prize draft pick was ready for Thursday's final workout of the mini-camp.
Gordon will be back at Major League camp in a little over a month. He's already had a busy time since signing for $4 million on Sept. 29, after four months of negotiations.
While his agents and the Royals talked, Gordon stayed in shape by working out with his three ballplaying brothers at their home in Lincoln, Neb.
A third baseman, he played in the Arizona Fall League -- as a first baseman -- and batted .260 in 16 games.
"I started off really slow, then about the fourth game started hitting real well and went on a hot streak," he said. "Then I hit kind of a slump, but it was a good year for me."
Especially after helping put University of Nebraska in the College World Series. That notoriety carried over when he accompanied the Royals Caravan into Nebraska this winter. To hear John Buck tell it, he was banished to the van while Gordon made speeches and gave interviews.
"It wasn't quite that bad, but something like that," Gordon said. "He's still all over me about it."
With Mark Teahen making progress at third base, there have been many questions about what position Gordon will fill this year in his Minor League assignment. He professes not to care that much.
"I just want to be on the baseball field, playing," he said.
Gordon eventually might end up at first base, which he conquered with ease in Arizona, or at an outfield corner. He has average speed but a fine arm.
The Royals, though, plan to start him out at third base with Double-A Wichita or Class A High Desert.
Madritsch recovering: Left-hander Bobby Madritsch, claimed on waivers from the Seattle Mariners, had two throwing sessions in the three-day mini-camp. He underwent surgery Oct. 25 to repair his rotator cuff.
"I feel like I haven't skipped a beat," he said.
A starter, Madritsch figures to be game-ready by July.
But he said, "I'm not looking at the time frame, because I've been there before. I have to be patient."
Team Canada: Teahen, who is listed on Team Canada's provisional roster, isn't likely to play this time in the WBC.
"At this point, it's more important for me to be here now," he said. "But my father played on the Canadian team, so I'd like to do it at some point."
Australian connection: First baseman Justin Huber guided Royals officials on a recent Australian trip and they wound up signing his ex-coach as a scout.
Matthew Sheldon-Collins, who coached Huber at the Victorian Institute of Sport, will check out Aussie prospects for the Royals.
"Justin probably shortened the time to really establish ourselves by two years because of his contacts and notoriety," said general manager Allard Baird, accompanied on the trip by president Dan Glass and special assistant Louie Medina.
Huber, the 21st Australian to reach the Majors, said it's important to educate both young athletes and their parents in his homeland about the opportunities of baseball.
"Kids leave and they don't see [the players] unless they reach the top," Huber said. "They're not playing in front of family and friends, and so it's not a very desirable sport."
Davis returns: Mark Davis, who won the National League Cy Young Award in 1989 before signing with the Royals, has returned to the organization.
Davis will be the pitching coach for the Royals in the Rookie classification Arizona League. He had been the Major League pitching coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
"We wanted to bring in some older guys with Major League experience," said Shaun McGinn, the Royals' senior director of Minor League operations. "He had some other good coaching offers but decided to come over here."
Davis, who won the Cy Young with the San Diego Padres, flopped after signing a free agent contract with the Royals. A Phoenix-area resident, he was with the Diamondbacks since 1999.
Manager hired: The only change among Minor League managers for the Royals came at High Desert where Jeff Carter replaced Billy Gardner Jr. Gardner resigned to take a job in the Cincinnati Reds organization.
Carter, an infielder-outfielder for 12 years in the Minors, had spent the last nine years in the Minnesota Twins system.
"I think he'll fit in well because of the similarities between their program and our program," McGinn said.
Mike Jirschele will return as manager of Triple-A Omaha and Frank White will be back at Wichita.
Among other changes: Former Royals pitcher Tom Burgmeier was promoted to Omaha pitching coach. Steve Renko, also an ex-Royal, was hired as High Desert's pitching coach. Former Toronto Blue Jays coach Mike Barnett was hired as Minor League hitting instructor.
There were no team location changes this year but, McGinn noted, all the contracts with affiliates expire after 2006.
Source: http://royals.mlb.com/
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