Results tagged ‘ Esteban German ’

Cruz-ing into Kansas City


Cruz.jpgWhat a day to be a sports fan in Kansas City! Our neighbors at Arrowhead traded for a quarterback and linebacker, and the Royals just made an impact acquisition of their own by signing free agent right-hander Juan Cruz to a two-year deal with a club option for 2011. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Royals designated infielder Esteban German for assignment.
 
Cruz, 30, joins the Royals after three successful seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks.  The 6-foot-2 right-hander was 4-0 with a 2.61 ERA in 57 appearances in 2008.  In 51.2 innings, Cruz fanned 71 batters while allowing 34 hits and 31 walks.  He posted 12.37 strikeouts per nine innings, leading all N.L. relievers and ranking second in baseball to Tampa’s Grant Balfour (12.65 K’s/9).   
 
A veteran of eight Major League seasons after making his debut for the Cubs in 2001 as a 23-year old, Cruz has recorded a 29-31 career record with a 4.00 ERA in 297 outings, including 38 starts.  He has recorded 535 strikeouts in 515.0 career innings for the Cubs (2001-03), Braves (2004), Athletics (2005) and Diamondbacks (2006-08).  Since making his debut in 2001, the right-hander has struck out 9.35 batters per nine innings, the 10th-best ratio in all of baseball.  Teammate Kyle Farnsworth (10.13 K’s/9) ranks sixth. Cruz has pitched in the postseason with the Cubs (2003), Braves (2004), and Diamondbacks (2007).
 
Born in Bonao, Dominican Republic, Cruz still resides in his hometown with his wife, Leonarda. We welcome Juan and Leonarda to Kansas City!

Lineup for Spring Opener: Teahen at second

Trey Hillman has released a tentative lineup for Wednesday’s charity game against the Texas Rangers (the game will count in the Cactus League standings.)


Teahen 2.24.jpgCoco Crisp - CF
Mike Aviles – SS
David DeJesus – LF
Mike Jacobs – DH
Billy Butler – 1B
Alex Gordon – 3B
Mark Teahen – 2B
Miguel Olivo – C
Willie Bloomquist – RF
Horacio Ramirez – P

 

Note that Mark Teahen is scheduled to get the start at second, which is expected to be a position up for grabs this spring. Here are photos of Teahen, Bloomquist, Alberto Callaspo, and Esteban German, who are all vying for the position.
Bloomquist 2.24.jpg

 German 2.24.jpg

 Callaspo.jpg

 


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Brayan Pena, Esteban German continue to shine in winter ball

BrayanPena2.jpgThe Dominican Winter League slate has reached postseason play, and two Royals players are right in the middle of the action. Royals catcher Brayan Pena padded his regular season stats (.341 average, 8 home runs, 38 RBI) with a two-run walk off home run that gave Gigantes del Cibao a 9-7 win over Azucareros del Este in the round-robin format. Pena has had a December to remember – he hit three home runs on December 7.

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Esteban German went 3-for-5 with a RBI for the losing Azucareros squad. The utility player finished the regular season sixth in the circuit with a .344 average. Pena was right behind German with his .341 mark.

Pena will report to Spring Training with the rest of the pitchers and catchers on February 13 — that’s only six and a half weeks away!

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Winter League Notes — Brayan Pena smacks three home runs

BrayanPena.jpgSeveral Royals players are staying warm this winter in the Caribbean. The goal isn’t just to stay out of this current snowstorm that’s hitting Kansas City…these Royals are staying sharp by playing winter league baseball.

Last night, Royals catcher Brayan Pena belted three home runs for Cibao in the Dominican Republic. That’s half of his 2008 total with the Omaha Royals. Pena has 18 career minor league home runs in 2,003 at-bats and two Major League home runs in 127 at-bats with the Braves. He is batting .346 with 8 home runs and 33 RBI in 34 winter contests. Pena, claimed off waivers from the Braves on May 30, is currently on the Royals 40-man roster.

A few other notes from the Caribbean:

* Esteban German is third in the Dominican Winter League with a .355 average.

* Tony Pena, Jr. is batting .294 with a .373 on-base percentage for Cibaenas in the Dominican.

* Robinson Tejeda, teaming with German on Azucareros del Este, has 25 strikeouts in 23.2 innings.

* Minor leaguer Dusty Hughes is 2-1 with a 3.18 ERA over 34.0 IP for Escogido in the Dominican.

* Mike Aviles is batting .302 with Santurce in the Puerto Rican Winter League. Mike’s club is managed by his uncle, Ramon Aviles, who played in the Majors in 1977 and 1979-81 with Boston and Philadelphia.

Photo credit: Gregory Bull/AP

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