Fukofuka Was Royals’ Most Improved
SURPRISE, Ariz.—Outfielder Amalani Fukofuka was the most improved player in the Royals’ minor league system last season.
In 2014 in the Rookie-level Appalachian League, Fukofuka hit .183/.266/.289, while striking out 66 times in 180 at-bats. In 2015, he ranked among the Rookie-level Pioneer League leaders with a .339 average, .401 on-base percentage and a .901 OPS. A 2013 fifth-round pick out of Union City (Cal.) Logan High, Fukofuka ranked 13th on the Pioneer League prospect list.
“Amalani Fukofuka had a great year,” assistant general manager J.J. Picollo said “He was kind of a typical projection high school kid, a little ways away, going to go slow in the beginning, but he had a breakout year.
“He was the steadying force all year long, very consistent from start to finish. Physically he’s got a lot stronger. Fundamentally, he’s much sounder than he was a couple of years ago, understanding hitting and how to approach at-bats is night and day (difference). So it’s good to see him have the type of year he did.”
Fukofuka worked with hitting instructor Matt Brown after his abysmal 2014 season. At the suggestion of Royals minor league hitting coach Andre David, he shed his batting gloves.
While he is solid defensively with above-average speed, his future will likely be as a corner outfielder.
“We still play him in center from time to time, but down the road, he’s going to be a strong kid and I think he’s going to end up in the corner,” Picollo said. “He’s going to be an above-average corner outfielder.
“He’s got some strength. It hasn’t showed up as far as home runs numbers (five in 616 at-bats), but his hard-hit percentage is very high. There are predictors there that think power is going to come. His plate discipline is good. He’s not a guy that chases a lot of pitches. So I think that will turn into some power down the road for him.”
Fukofuka, 20, is penciled to begin this year with low Class A Lexington.
ROYALTIES
• The Royals extended their player-development contract with Rookie-level Burlington through the 2020 season.
• Righty Bruce Kern, who was 9-6, 3.51 for Long Island in the independent Atlantic League, signed with the Royals.
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