Ned Yost Media Session: June 4, 2010

Kanekoa in K.C.

The Royals acquired Kanekoa Texeira off waivers yesterday from Seattle.  Yost sees the reliever as a sixth or seventh inning guy and someone who the Royals will use for up to two innings.  He talked about Texeira’s sinker and slider (according to Baseball America, the righty had the best slider in the White Sox organization entering 2008).   Seattle’s coaching staff had good things to say about Texeira.  

Batting second

Yost was asked about the #2 position in the batting order and using Jason Kendall there vs. Mike Aviles.  Yost sees Kendall as a perfect number two hitter.  Kendall likes to take pitches and is a good situational hitter.  Aviles is more aggressive and Yost doesn’t want the second baseman to alter his game.  He believes that Aviles could eventually become a number two hitter in the Majors.

Injury updates

John Parrish threw well in live batting practice today.  Rick Ankiel took live batting practice and ran the bases.  Yost believes that they could both start rehab assignments next week.  Gil Meche is still going through treatments and has not begun to throw.