Finnegan Promoted as Royals Expand Rosters

Royals first round pick Brandon Finnegan. Photo Credit: John Sleezer/The Kansas City Star

The first player drafted in this June’s draft has been promoted to the majors. It is Brandon Finnegan, a left-handed pitcher out of Texas Christian University whom was drafted by the Royals with the seventeenth overall pick.

Finnegan was added to the roster as the Royals announced their September call ups after Sunday night’s suspended game against the Indians. The team also added outfielders Terrance Gore and Lane Adams to the roster.

Finnegan made five starts for Class A Wilmington and went 0-1 with a 0.60 ERA. He was then promoted to Class AA Northwest Arkansas to pitch out of the bullpen and was 0-3 with a 2.25 ERA in eight games. Finnegan combined to appear in 13 games and had a 1.33 ERA with 26 strikeouts and just four walks in 27 1/3 innings.

Gore was drafted in the 20th round of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft out of Gulf Coast Community College in Florida. He spent most of this season with Wilmington, hitting .218. But he did steal 36 stolen bases in 40 attempts. After his promotion to Class AAA Omaha, Gore added another 11 steals. He has a total of 168 stolen bases (compared to being caught only 17 times, good for a 91% success rate) in his professional career. With Jarrod Dyson seeing his playing time increase, the Royals plan to utilize Gore as a weapon off the bench late in the game as a pinch-runner.

Adams was a 13th round draft pick in 2009 out of Red Oak High School in Oklahoma. He hit .269 with 25 doubles, 11 homers, 36 RBI, 65 runs scored, and 38 stolen bases in 105 games this season for Class AA Northwest Arkansas. Adams is an exceptional athlete and could serve as an ideal fourth outfielder for the team going forward.

Other players that the Royals have promoted include: OF Carlos Peguero, 2B Johnny Giavotella, C Francisco Pena, RHP Casey Coleman, RHP Aaron Crow, RHP Liam Hendriks, and INF Christian Colon. First basemen Eric Hosmer was also added to the roster as he has been activated off the disabled list.

To make room for Finnegan and Peguero on the 40-man roster, pitchers Chris Dwyer and Blake Wood were designated for assignment.