Miguel Almonte Finds His Role

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—Miguel Almonte remains an enigma for the Royals.

The 23-year-old righthander from the Dominican Republic has an above-average fastball, a tantalizing changeup and an improving curveball. In a dozen starts last year at Triple-A Omaha, he averaged 9.5 strikeouts per nine innings.

But after making his major league debut as a September callup in 2015, Almonte took a step backward in 2016. He began the season in the Storm Chasers rotation but finished it in the Double-A Northwest Arkansas bullpen.

“He just struggled with the strike zone with us,” Omaha manager Brian Poldberg said. “He was pitching behind. It’s just one of those things you keep trying to figure out.”

Almonte’s final start was June 28, when he walked six in three innings. The Royals dispatched him to the bullpen, where he walked seven, struck out seven and yielded 16 hits in 12.1 innings in July.

Kansas City demoted Almonte to the Naturals on Aug. 1, but he did not improve. After recording a 6.45 ERA in 60 innings in Triple-A, Almonte ran up a 7.31 mark in 16 Double-A innings by giving up 13 runs on 24 hits, including four home runs.

So is Almonte better suited for the rotation or the bullpen?

“I’m sure we’re all going to get calls on what is the best fit for him and the best fit for us,” Poldberg said. “His velocity is still there, and his pitches are still all there. It’s just commanding them consistently.

“(From my perspective) it’s hard for him to keep everything together for five or six innings. I think if he’s only going to worry about going out there for one or two innings, his velocity is going to stay up there.

“It’s hard for him to hold his mechanics deeper in the game. I don’t know if he’s tired . . .
(but) his stuff profiles as a late-game guy. He’s in the upper 90s, and when his other pitches are working, its good stuff.”

ROYALTIES

• Scott Thorman, who managed Rookie-level Burlington the past two years, will manage low Class A Lexington this season. He switches places with Omar Ramirez, who managed the Legends the past two years.

• Righthanders Josh Staumont and A.J. Puckett, first baseman Ryan O’Hearn and catcher Chase Vallot are top prospects among 22 non-roster invites to spring training.

— Alan Eskew is a writer based in Kansas City