KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- When the Kansas City Royals host the Texas Rangers the night of Sept. 20, fans will get to watch a game that figures to have playoff implications. They'll also get a glimpse of the future.
The Royals named their minor league pitchers and players of the year for their respective affiliates today, and all of the honorees are expected to be at Kauffman Stadium for Futures Night. They will participate in an autograph session at Gate A from 5:30-6:15 p.m. before being introduced to the crowd before the game.
The 2013 honorees, by affiliate:
OMAHA (Triple A)
Pitcher of the Year: Chris Dwyer, LHP, Age: 25
* 3.55 ERA, .234 batting average against in 159 2/3 innings pitched (29 games, 28 starts)
* 112 strikeouts (10th in the Pacific Coast League)
* Represented Omaha at the 2013 Triple-A All-Star Game (1 1/3 scoreless innings)
* Fourth-round selection in 2009 June draft
Player of the Year: Christian Colon, IF, Age: 24
* .273, 12 home runs, 58 RBIs, 15 stolen bases in 131 games
* Impressive second half: .335 (56 for 167) with .406 on-base percentage
* Hit safely in 21 of his final 22 games
* First-round selection in 2010 draft
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS (Double A)
Pitcher of the Year: Aaron Brooks, RHP, Age: 23
* Opened 2013 at Wilmington; promoted to Northwest Arkansas in June
* Won three of first four starts at Northwest Arkansas; finished 7-7 with 4.17 ERA in 16 starts
* Threw complete game shutout July 24, one of only six nine-inning shutouts in Texas League in 2013
*Ninth-round selection in 2011 draft
Player of the Year: Matt Fields, 1B, Age: 28
* Led both Texas League and Royals minor league system with 31 home runs
* 87 RBIs (third in league), .469 slugging percentage
* Texas League All-Star and league's player of the month for June
* Free-agent signee out of Frontier League in 2012
WILMINGTON (A-Advanced)
Pitcher of the Year: Sam Selman, LHP, Age: 22
* 11-9, 3.38 ERA, 27 starts
* Had no-hitter through 8 innings (11 strikeouts) in Wilmington's 11-inning win August 24
* Second-round selection in 2012 draft from Vanderbilt
Player of the Year: Lane Adams, OF, Age: 23
* .276, seven home runs, 39 RBIs, 23 stolen bases for Blue Rocks before July promotion to Northwest Arkansas
* Set Northwest Arkansas record with seven RBIs and tied team mark with three home runs in August 13 game
* 13th-round selection in 2009 draft
LEXINGTON (Single A)
Pitcher of the Year: Christian Binford, RHP, Age: 20
* 8-7, 2.67 ERA (third in South Atlantic League), 130 strikeouts (sixth in league)
* Held right-handed batters to .218 average
* 30th-round selection in 2011 draft
Player of the Year: Raul Mondesi, SS, Age: 18
* .261, seven home runs, 47 RBIs, 24 stolen bases
* Went 2-for-2 in South Atlantic League All-Star Game
* Son of 1994 NL Rookie of the Year Raul Mondesi
* Signed as non-drafted free agent on 16th birthday (July 27, 2011)
IDAHO FALLS (ROOKIE-Advanced)
Pitcher of the Year: Patrick Conroy, LHP, Age: 21
* 6-2 (tied for third in league in wins), 3.30 ERA (second in league), 64 strikeouts (fourth in league) in 71 innings
* 32nd-round selection in 2012 draft
Player of the Year: Hunter Dozier, 3B, Age: 22
* .303, seven home runs, 43 RBIs, 24 doubles in 54 games
* Promoted in August to Lexington (.327 in 15 games)
* .308 with 30 doubles, seven homers, 52 RBIs in 69 games overall
* First-round selection in 2013 draft
BURLINGTON-NC (Rookie)
Pitcher of the Year: Luis Santos, RHP, Age: 22
* 4-1, 2.25 ERA, 35 strikeouts, .226 batting average against in 40 innings (seven starts)
* Three scoreless starts of at least 5 innings
* Promoted to Idaho Falls (3-0, 1.40 ERA)
* In first year with Royals after being acquired from Pittsburgh in November 2012
Player of the Year: Mauricio Ramos, 3B, Age: 21
* .322, 24 RBIs, 22 runs
* Promoted in August to Idaho Falls
* Non-drafted free-agent signee from Cartagena, Colombia, in 2010
SURPRISE (Rookie)
Pitcher of the Year: Pedro Fernandez, RHP, Age: 19
* 1.82 ERA, 38 strikeouts, .215 average against in 34 2/3 innings following July promotion
* Opened season with Dominican Royals (0.75 ERA, 12 innings)
* Non-drafted free-agent signee from Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, in 2011
Player of the Year: Samir Duenez, 1B/OF, Age: 18
* .294, 19 RBIs, 26 runs, 12 doubles
* Non-drafted free-agent signee from Catia La Mar, Venezuela, in 2012
DOMINICAN ROYALS (Rookie)
Pitcher of the Year: Yunior Marte, RHP, Age: 18
* 4-3, 1.71 ERA, 36 strikeouts, nine walks, two saves, .229 batting average against in 47 1/3 innings (11 games, eight starts)
* Lives in La Victoria, Dominican Republic
Player of the Year: Angelo Castellano, IF
* .265, 25 RBIs, 30 walks, nine stolen bases in 67 games
* Excelled with runners in scoring position: .379 (25 for 66), including .476 (10 for 21) with two outs
* Non-drafted free-agent signee from Venezuela in 2011
