Moustakas among five players named to Arizona Fall League roster

By mlblogsroyals1

The Royals have announced that five minor leaguers have committed to play for the Surprise Rafters in the 2009 Arizona Fall League. Shortstop Jeff Bianchi, third baseman Mike Moustakas, outfielder David Lough, right-handed pitcher Danny Gutierrez and left-hander Ben Swaggerty will play for Surprise manager Brian Rupp, the current manager for the Royals’ Class A Advanced club in Wilmington. Kansas City will fill two additional spots on the roster by September 10.

Bianchi, 22, has split the 2009 season with Wilmington and Northwest Arkansas (AA), batting a combined .307 with 25 doubles, seven home runs, 59 RBI, 66 runs scored and 22 stolen bases. The 6-foot, 175-pounder from Lancaster, Pa. was the Royals’ second-round selection in the 2005 draft.

Moustakas, KC’s first-round pick (2nd overall) in the 2007 draft, has hit .252 with 27 doubles, 15 home runs and 79 RBI as a 20-year old for Wilmington. His RBI total places him tied for third in the Carolina League while his homers are tied for sixth.

The 23-year old Lough, like Bianchi, has split his time this season between Wilmington and NW Arkansas, and is currently batting .331 with 10 doubles, eight home runs, 28 RBI, 34 runs and 11 steals in 47 games for the Naturals. He was the Royals 11th round pick from the 2007 draft.

Gutierrez is 0–0 with a 2.11 ERA in seven games (three starts) for Wilmington, walking five and striking out 21 in 21.1 innings. The 22-year old right-hander was a 33rd round pick for the Royals in the 2005 draft.

Swaggerty is a left-handed reliever who was 3–1 with a 1.64 ERA in 16 appearances for Wilmington before posting a 3–1 mark with a 3.57 ERA in 22 outings at NW Arkansas. The 27-year old signed with Kansas City as an undrafted free agent in 2007.

The Arizona Fall League season begins on October 13.