Royals Rumblings - News for January 24, 2022

Pretty good weekend for Royals owner Patrick Mahomes!

Vahe Gregorian writes about the five-year anniversary of Yordano Ventura’s tragic death.

That’s why when Moore met with Ventura at the end of the 2016 season, he told him he loved him, that “we needed to help him” and encouraged him to stay in Kansas City that offseason. He even told Ventura he could live in his home.

Or with Rene Francisco, now the Royals’ vice president of international operations who had signed the 17-year-old Ventura for $28,000 in 2008. Ventura didn’t want to do either, though. And Moore now says with sadness that if he had it to do over again he would have demanded Ventura stay instead of offering it.

“He wasn’t ready to make good decisions for his personal life on a consistent basis,” he said.

Travis Ice at Perfect Game writes that local prospects are flourishing in the farm system.

Kudrna, who in his senior year at Blue Valley Southwest High School had one of the most projectable frames in the country - 6-foot-3, 195 pounds - was also sitting 91-93 mph with his fastball and would occasionally touch 96 mph. Most scouts who saw him projected future plus velocity on his heater (you can read Kudrna’s report from the 2020 PG National Showcase on his PG profile here), and according to the Royals official we spoke with, Kudrna has already put on 20-30 pounds of “good weight” and he’s regularly touching 99 mph with his fastball these days.

George Brett gave remarks in Reno at a benefit for the University of Nevada.

“When I was drafted, I gave myself five years to the major leagues or I was going to retire,” Brett said. “Thankfully for me, I was drafted by an expansion ball club. I moved up the ranks quickly. I got to the big leagues by 20 and was able to play for 20 (years). It was a lot of hard work, a lot of dedication. I went through that process and hopefully, they go through the same thing.”

Jordan Foote at Inside the Royals thinks Ben Hernandez is due for a breakout.

Mike Gillespie at Kings of Kauffman considers trading some Royals as DH candidates in the NL.

Kevin Gausman says the Giants never made him an offer before he signed with the Blue Jays.

Former Mariners outfielder and star in Japan Wladimir Balentien retires.

Baseball’s lockout could jeopardize spring training, writes Bob Nightengale.

Will David Ortiz’s Hall of Fame chances be hurt be a stigma around the DH?

Why did the Rays plan for Montreal get rejected by MLB?

Is baseball facing a period of decline or growth?

Predicting each team’s next Hall of Famer.

What are the best baseball movies based on a true story?

Top Arkansas pitcher and potential first-round pick Peyton Pallette will need Tommy John surgery.

New Era has another hat design for fans to rip on.

The Chiefs win the greatest football game in human history.

Grayson Allen gets a one-game suspension for a dirty foul on Alex Caruso the leads to an injury.

What exactly does the “metaverse” have to do with the Microsoft/Activision deal?

Is old music killing new music?

Why did Wordle go viral?

Your song of the day is The Hives with Hate to Say I Told You So.