Gutierrez shows off glove and bat in debut
Fillmyer headed to Omaha as righty Lively gets called up
Jeffrey Flanagan
@FlannyMLBKANSAS CITY -- Royals rookie third baseman Kelvin Gutierrez made his Major League debut on Saturday night against the Angels after getting called up from Triple-A Omaha the night before, and it didn¡¯t take long for him to have an impact.
In the Royals' 9-4 victory, Gutierrez started a 5-4-3 double play on future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols in the first inning, then made a leaping catch off a 104-mph liner from future Hall of Famer Mike Trout in the third. At the plate, after walking in his first plate appearance in the second, Gutierrez got his first big league hit, a two-run single to left that put the Royals up, 6-1, during a six-run third. He finished 1-for-3.
Here are five things to know about Gutierrez, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the club's No. 14 prospect:
- Gutierrez, 24, was acquired by the Royals from the Nationals along with outfielder Blake Perkins and right-hander Yohanse Morel in the Kelvin Herrera trade last June.
- Gutierrez, at 6 feet, 3 inches tall, is known as a strong defender with an above-average arm and wing span. ¡°When I saw him in Spring Training,¡± manager Ned Yost said, ¡°he was very good defensively to the point that I knew if we ever had to call him up that I¡¯d have no problem with it.¡±
- Some scouts have wondered if Gutierrez has a limited offensive ceiling. But he had a respectable .746 OPS with six home runs at Double-A Northwest Arkansas last season. And he was off to a hot start at Omaha this season, slashing at .333/.443/.439 with 10 RBIs in 18 games. ¡°I just feel more comfortable because I am getting more experience,¡± he said. ¡°Just making better contact.¡±
- Yost said he will use Gutierrez primarily at third base while he¡¯s up with the Royals, which will allow Yost to use Hunter Dozier more as designated hitter while Dozier works through his back-spasm issues.
- When asked how he felt to get his first big league callup, Gutierrez laughed and said, ¡°Look at my smile!¡±
Royals option Fillmyer, call up Lively
Before Saturday¡¯s game with the Angels, the Royals called up right-hander Ben Lively from Omaha and optioned right-hander Heath Fillmyer there. Fillmyer pitched in Friday night¡¯s 5-1 loss and Yost said the Royals needed an extra bullpen arm.