Frank Schwindel Powers His Way Into Royals’ Plans

With a hot finish at Triple-A Omaha, first baseman Frank Schwindel might have hit his way into the big league picture for 2018.

An 18th-round pick in 2013 out of St. John’s, Schwindel collected a hit in 47 of his final 50 games to finish with a .321 average that ranked ninth in the Pacific Coast League. The 25-year-old righthanded batter hit 17 home runs at Omaha and 23 overall at two levels.

Schwindel hit .350 at Double-A Northwest Arkansas to earn a May 18 promotion to Triple-A, where he hit just .228 at Omaha in June before taking off.

“I’ve hit at every level,” he said. “It’s just a matter of staying consistent and keeping it going.”

Schwindel, who hit 43 doubles and ranked fifth in the minors with 66 extra-base hits, said he slimmed down this season while gaining more strength overall.

“I always thought I was a doubles hitter with some power thrown in there,” he said. “I worked a more right field approach this year and hit a lot more extra-base hits to right field—even a couple of homers the other way.

“I’m just trying to become a complete hitter, and the power is going to come. That’s what the coaches have been telling me. You have to learn how to hit before you learn how to hit for power.”

While Schwindel was drafted as a catcher, he has not started a game behind the plate since 2014 at low Class A Lexington.

“I have started working on foot speed, getting a little more range,” Schwindel said. “My glove has always been good (at first base).”

Schwindel reported to the Dominican League in November and hopes to compete for a big league job in spring training. He has been to Kauffman Stadium twice before, when honored as the Lexington player of the year in 2014 and the Omaha player of the year in 2017.

“Hopefully, next time it will be when I’m suited up,” Schwindel said.