Mark Maloney on Kentucky sports

South Atlantic League baseball

Lexington Legends
at Asheville Tourists

What: Four-game series

When: Thursday through Sunday (7:05 Thursday and Friday nights, 6:05 Saturday, 2:05 Sunday)

Where: McCormick Field (Asheville, N.C.)

Major League affiliates: Kansas City Royals (Legends), Colorado Rockies (Tourists)

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, RH Miguel Almonte (3-4, 3.83) vs. RH Ben Hughes (5-5, 6.00); Friday, RH Christian Binford (4-2, 2.67) vs. RH Shane Broyles (1-8, 6.67); Saturday, LH Daniel Stumpf (4-4, 2.78) vs. RH Ryan Arrowood (3-0, 3.43); Sunday, LH Crawford Simmons (0-1, 9.00) vs. RH Matt Carasiti (1-2, 8.16).

Miguel Almonte

Legend to watch: Thursday starter Miguel Almonte (6-foot-2, 180 pounds, age 20, from Santiago, Dominican Republic) has made 11 starts, going 3-4 with a 3.83 ERA over 56 1/3 innings. Almonte has struck out 53, walked 21, holding opponents to a .246 batting average. His last five starts have resulted in two wins and three no-decisions. In two June starts, he is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA. Signed for $25,000 on Nov. 20, 2010, he made five appearances (one start) with the Dominican Summer League Royals in 2011, with no decisions and a 5.40 ERA. Last year, with the DSL Royals and Arizona League’s Surprise Royals, Almonte was a combined 8-2. He earned DSL all-star honors and was the Dominican Royals’ Pitcher of the Year, and even joined Burlington for the Appalachian League playoffs. Coming into this season, Baseball America rated Almonte as the 10th-best prospect in the Royals system.

Derek Jones

Tourist to watch: SAL all-star OF Derek Jones (6-0, 210, 23, bats and throws left, from Snohomish, Wash.) is hitting .254 with eight homers, 30 RBI and 26 runs over 55 games. After batting .325 in 20 games in April, he has slumped of late. Still, he’s hitting .309 with runners on base. He has 10 stolen bases and 93 total bases, and 15 of his 52 hits have been doubles. A 2012 eighth-round draft pick out of Washington State, Jones broke into pro ball last year with Tri-City of the Northwest League, hitting .191 with a homer, 22 RBI and 29 runs over 68 games.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

South Atlantic League baseball

Rome Braves
at Lexington Legends

What: Three-game series

When: Monday through Wednesday (7:05 Monday and Tuesday nights, 12:05 Wednesday afternoon)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Major League affiliates: Kansas City Royals (Legends), Atlanta Braves

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, LH Daniel Stumpf (3-4, 2.81) vs. RH Lucas Sims (2-2, 3.25); Tuesday, LH Crawford Simmons (0-0, 0.00) vs. RH Rafael Briceno (3-7, 6.83); Wednesday, RH Alec Mills (2-2, 1.32) vs. RH Mauricio Cabrera (1-4, 5.04).

Josh Elander

Brave to watch: OF Josh Elander (6-foot-1, 215 pounds, age 22, bats and throws right, from Round Rock, Texas) leads Rome in average (.332), homers (10), RBI (54), total bases (135), hits (78), doubles (21), runs (41), games (62), at-bats (235), slugging (.574) and OPS (.964) among players who have played more than 25 games. A sixth-round draft pick, Elander was rated by Baseball America as “best power hitter” in the Braves’ class of 2012. Signed as a catcher, he spent last season with Danville of the Appalachian League, batting .260 with four homers, 19 RBI and 19 runs over 36 games. This year, he’s hitting .365 at home, .294 on the road, and .358 with runners in scoring position.

Clayton Schulz

Legend to watch: LHP Clayton Schulz (6-2, 180, 23, from West Palm Beach, Fla.) has made 15 relief appearances, going 1-1 with four saves and a 2.08 ERA. Over 26 innings, Schulz has recorded 22 strikeouts to 10 walks, holding opponents to a .170 batting average. Signed Aug. 8, 2011 as a non-drafted free agent, he helped South Fork High School to a second-place finish in the 2008 Florida Class 5A state tourney, then attended the University of North Florida. An avid surfer, he required more than 400 stitches in his left leg after being bit by a shark in 2010. He recovered to post a 3.34 ERA over 35 innings in 2011, and went 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA in four games with the Arizona League Royals. Last year, with Idaho Falls of the Pioneer League, 13 of his 14 appearances were starts en route to going 5-7 with a 6.07 ERA. He ranked among the league leaders in wins (tied, seventh), innings (eighth) and strikeouts (tied, ninth).  A cousin, Henry Owens, pitched for the New York Mets and Florida Marlins.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

South Atlantic League baseball

Lexington Legends
at Augusta GreenJackets

What: Three-game series

When: Friday through Sunday (7:05 Friday and Saturday nights, 2:05 Sunday afternoon)

Where: Lake Olmstead Stadium (Augusta, Ga.)

Major League affiliates: Kansas City Royals (Legends), San Francisco Giants (GreenJackets)

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, RH Bryan Brickhouse (4-3, 2.25) vs. RH Martin Agosta (5-2, 2.47); Saturday, RH Miguel Almonte (2-4, 3.93) vs. RH Justin Schumer (2-4, 6.44); Sunday, RH Christian Binford (4-2, 2.67) vs. RH Chris Stratton (6-3, 3.77).

Cory Hall

Legend to watch: RHP Cory Hall (6-foot-2, 220 pounds, age 25, from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada) is 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA and a  hold over 16 relief appearances totaling 32 2/3 innings. While holding opponents to a .207 batting average, Hall has struck out 35 and walked 18. Signed June 28, 2011 as a non-drafted free agent, he is a 2006 graduate of Thom Collegiate High in Regina. He was a member of Canada’s bronze-medal team at the 2006 World Junior Baseball Championships. He attended Gonzaga University one season before moving to Taft Community College in California, where he was all-conference in 2008. He then played three seasons for Santa Clara University, where he posted a 3.26 ERA and 80 striketouts in 105 innings to earn all-West Coast Conference honors in 2011. He graduated from Santa Clara with a degree in marketing. Last year, with Idaho Falls, he recorded five saves to tie for 10th in the Pioneer League, while going 2-1 with a 2.15 ERA. Hall broke into pro ball in 2011, finishing 2-2 with a 5.55 ERA over 15 relief outings for Burlington of the Appalachian League.

Mitchell Delfino

GreenJacket to watch: 3B Mitchell Delfino (6-2, 210, 22, bats and throws right, from Cloverdale, Calif.) leads Augusta in home runs (7), RBI (38), total bases (88), games (58) and at-bats (228) through Wednesday. Batting .246, he has scored 29 times, and has nine doubles and a triple. Selected by the Giants in the 20th round of the 2012 draft, out of Cal-Berkeley, he split last season between the Arizona League Giants and Salem-Keizer of the Northwest League. Over 53 combined games, he hit .256 with 21 RBI, 22 runs and four stolen bases. Thus far this season, he’s batting .262 against left-handed pitching, .242 versus righties. For his first four games in June, Delfino is 6-for-16 (.375) with two homers and five RBI.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

South Atlantic League baseball

Lexington Legends
at Savannah
Sand Gnats

What: Three-game series

When: Tuesday through Thursday (7:05 each night)

Where: Grayson Stadium (Savannah, Ga.)

Major League affiliates: Kansas City Royals (Legends), New York Mets (Gnats)

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Tuesday, LH Daniel Stumpf (3-3, 1.90) vs. RH Logan Taylor (0-1, 4.15); Wednesday, RH Alec Mills (1-2, 1.59) vs. RH Robert Gsellman (2-2, 3.52); Thursday, RH Bryan Brickhouse (4-3, 2.25) vs. RH Matthew Koch (3-2, 4.91).

Daniel Hernandez

Legend to watch: RHP Daniel Hernandez (6-foot-1, 185 pounds, age 24, from Union City, N.J.) has no decisions, five saves and a 1.35 ERA over 13 relief appearances spanning 24 2/3 innings. Hernandez has struck out 27 and walked eight, holding opponents to a .176 batting average. He also appeared in one game for Wilmington of the Carolina League, giving up one run in three innings. Selected in the 12th round of the 2010 draft, he graduated in 2007 from Coral Gables (Fla.) High School and in 2010 from Miami Dade College, where he was Southern Conference Pitcher of the Year. Hernandez missed the 2011 season due to surgery on his right elbow. Last year, with Burlington, he finished in the Appalachian League’s top 10 in wins (5), strikeouts (61), innings (65) and ERA (4.15).

Kevin Plawecki

Sand Gnat to watch: C Kevin Plawecki (6-2, 205, 22, bats and throws right, from Carmel, Ind.) leads Savannah in at-bats (201), doubles (22), RBI (39) and total bases (111), and shares the lead in homers (6). Batting .343 with 30 runs in 53 games, Plawecki has a .416 on-base percentage, slugging .552. He’s batting .538 against left-handed pitching, .296 versus right-handers. A first-round supplemental draft pick (35th overall) out of Purdue University last year, he signed for $1.4 million. Assigned to Brooklyn of the New York-Penn League, he led the team with seven homers last summer and threw out 32 percent of would-be base-stealers. He hit .250 with 27 RBI and 26 runs over 61 games. Coming into this season, Baseball America rated him as the 21st-best prospect in the Mets system; MLB.com had him at No. 17.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

South Atlantic League baseball

Kannapolis Intimidators
at Lexington Legends

What: Three-game series

When: Monday through Wednesday (7:05 Monday and Tuesday nights, 12:05 Wednesday afternoon)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Kansas City Royals (Legends), Chicago White Sox (Intimidators)

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Christian Binford (3-2, 2.76) vs. RH Brandon Brennan (1-7, 7.74); Tuesday, LH Colin Rodgers (3-2, 2.48) vs. RH Kyle Hansen (0-1, 7.88); Wednesday, LH Daniel Stumpf (3-2, 1.96) vs. RH Jake Cose (3-3, 1.95).

Micah Johnson

Intimidator to watch: 2B Micah Johnson (6-foot, 190 pounds, age 22, bats left, throws right, from Indianapolis) leads Kannapolis in hits (56), runs (45), triples (5), games (44), at-bats (175), total bases (80), walks (26) and stolen bases (45), while batting .320 with two homers and 22 RBI. Rated by Baseball America as the 26th-best propect in the White Sox system to begin the season, Johnson was a 2012 ninth-round draft pick out of Indiana University. Signed for $127,600, he switch-hit last year and batted .273 with four homers, 25 RBI and 19 stolen bases for Great Falls, earning Pioneer League all-star honors. This season, he’s batting .226 against left-handers, .340 versus righties, .286 at home and .343 on the road.

Colin Rodgers

Legend to watch: Tuesday starter Colin Rodgers (5-10, 181, 19, from Baton Rouge, La.) was selected in the third round of last June’s draft, out of Parkview Baptist School in Baton Rouge,. He led his team to a 3A state championship in 2009. Rodgers passed on a scholarship to Auburn in order to turn pro for $700,000 and was named Pitcher of the Year for the Burlington Royals of the Appalachian League, going 3-1 with a 2.05 ERA in 11 starts. Thus far with the Legends, he’s 3-2 with a 2.48 ERA over eight starts and 40 innings. He has struck out 32 and walked 17, holding opponents to a .236 batting average. Baseball America rates him the 25th-best prospect in the Royals system.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

South Atlantic League baseball

Lexington Legends
at Hagerstown Suns

What: Four-game series

When: Thursday through Sunday (7:05 Thursday through Saturday nights, 1:05 Sunday afternoon)

Where: Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown, Md.)

Major League affiliates: Kansas City Royals (Legends), Washington Nationals (Suns)

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday, LH Daniel Stumpf (3-1, 1.49) vs. RH Ivan Pineyro (3-2, 3.96); Friday, RH Aroni Nina (1-2, 4.55) vs. RH Pedro Encarnacion (3-3, 2.48); Saturday, RH Bryan Brickhouse (2-3, 2.47) vs. RH Dixon Anderson (4-1, 2.12); Sunday, RH Miguel Almonte (2-4, 2.91) vs. RH Ronald Pena (2-2, 3.47).

Jin-Ho Shin

Legend to watch: C Jin-Ho Shin (6-foot-1, 212 pounds, age 21, bats and throws right, from Hwasun-gun, South Korea) shares the team lead in doubles (8) and is batting .226 through 29 games, with a homer, nine RBI and 12 runs. Signed as a non-drafted free agent Feb. 14, 2009, he is the first Korean-born player in Royals franchise history. Shin broke in with the Arizona League Royals in 2010, going .152-1-11 over 39 games. In 2011, with Burlington of the Appalachian League, his production improved to .219-3-15 over 46 games. Last year, over 60 games with Idaho Falls of the Pioneer League and 27 contests with Kane County of the Midwest League, Shin batted .247 with eight homers, 41 RBI and 46 runs.

Brandon Miller

Sun to watch: RF Brandon Miller (6-2, 215, 23, right/right, from Atlanta) leads Hagerstown in homers (9), RBI (27), doubles (12), total bases (76) and slugging percentage (.503), while batting .245. A fourth-round draft pick last year out of Samford, he led the NCAA with 23 homers and ranked 15th nationally with a school-record 65 RBI as a senior. He also set Samford’s career record for homers (39). He began his collegiate career as a catcher at Georgia Tech, transferred to Northwest Florida Community College and then to Samford. Last summer, he played 29 games for Auburn of the New York-Penn League, batting .292 with four homers, 21 RBI and 20 runs. Coming into this season, Baseball America rated him the 22nd-best prospect in the Nationals system

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

South Atlantic League baseball

Kannapolis Intimidators
at Lexington Legends

What: Three-game series

When: Monday through Wednesday (7:05 Monday and Tuesday nights, 10:05 Wednesday morning)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Kansas City Royals (Legends), Chicago White Sox (Intimidators)

UPDATED Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Monday, RH Bryan Brickhouse (1-3, 2.41) vs. RH Jake Cose (2-3, 2.14);  Tuesday, RH Miguel Almonte (1-4, 3.52) vs. LH Jefferson Olacio (1-4, 7.13); Wednesday, RH Christian Binford (2-2, 3.21) vs. RH Myles Jaye (4-1, 2.20).

Zach Isler

Intimidator to watch: RHP Zach Isler (6-foot-5, 230 pounds, age 22, from Union) is 2-1 with three saves and a 2.21 ERA over 10 relief appearances spanning 20 1/3 innings. He has recorded 21 strikeouts to five walks, while holding left-handed batters to a .179 average and has not given up an earned run in his four home appearances. Out of Covington Catholic High School and the University of Cincinnati, Isler was an eighth-round draft pick last June. Assigned to Great Falls of the Pioneer League last season, he went 1-0 with a 4.50 over 18 games, including one start. He struck out 33 and walked 12 over 44 innings.

Christian Binford

Legend to watch: Wednesday starter Christian Binford (6-6, 217, 20, from Boynton Beach, Fla.) was selected in the 30th round of the 2011 draft out of Mercersburg (Pa.) Academy. He fired a no-hitter in his first high school start as a freshman in 2008, then underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in 2009. As a senior, he compiled a 0.64 ERA in 55 innings, then bypassed a chance to play collegiate ball for Virginia by signing for $575,000. Assigned to Burlington of the Appalachian League last season, Binford went 2-3 with a 2.03 over eight starts and 40 innings, striking out 31 while walking four. With the Legends, his 2-2, 3.21 marks come over six starts and 33 2/3 innings, with 34 strikeouts and nine walks. Coming into the season, Baseball America rated him the No. 26 prospect in the Royals system.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

South Atlantic League baseball

West Virginia Power
at Lexington Legends

What: Four-game series

When: Thursday through Sunday (7:05 Thursday through Saturday nights, 1:35 Sunday afternoon)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Kansas City Royals (Legends), Pittsburgh Pirates (Power)

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Thursday,RH Christian Binford (1-2, 3.71) vs. LH Orlando Castro (3-2, 1.36); Friday, LH Colin Rodgers (2-1, 2.84) vs. RH John Kuchno (1-1, 4.33); Saturday, LH Daniel Stumpf (3-0, 1.03) vs. TBA; Sunday, RH Aroni Nina (0-1, 5.03) vs. TBA.

Josh Bell

Power to watch: RF Josh Bell (6-foot-3, 213 pounds, age 20, bats both, throws right, from Irving, Texas) leads West Virginia in runs (25), doubles (12) and RBI (league-leading 32). Bell is batting .295 with five homers, a .343 on-base percentage and slugging .516. He’s batting .409 against left-handers, .270 versus righties. Over his last four games, Bell is 6-for-16 with eight runs. A 2011 second-round draft pick out of Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas, Bell hit .556 with 14 homers, 55 RBI and 57 runs as a senior. He received a $5 million signing bonus. He broke into pro ball with the Power last season, batting .274 with a homer, 11 RBI and six runs over 15 games.

Humberto Arteaga

Legend to watch: 2B/SS Humberto Arteaga (6-3, 183, 19, bats and throws right, from Valencia, Carabobo, Venezuela) is 11-for-38 (.289) over his last nine games, raising his batting average 49 points to .177, with nine RBI and five runs. Signed as a non-drafted free agent in July 2010, Arteaga has been rated by Baseball America as the Royals’ best defensive infielder entering each of the last three seasons. He broke in with the Arizona League Royals in 2011, batting .254 with 28 RBI and 30 runs over 47 games. Last year, with Burlington of the Appalachian League, Arteaga hit .274 with two homers, 29 RBI and 40 runs over 58 games.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

South Atlantic League baseball

Augusta GreenJackets
at Lexington Legends

What: Four-game series

When: Friday through Monday (7:05 Friday and Saturday nights, 1:35 Sunday afternoon, 10:05 Monday morning)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Kansas City Royals (Legends), San Francisco Giants (GreenJackets)

Probable pitchers (Legends listed first): Friday, LH Colin Rodgers (1-0, 1.72) vs. RH Kendry Flores (1-0, 2.04); Saturday, LH Daniel Stumpf (2-0, 0.00) vs. RH Joe Biagini (1-0, 3.45); Sunday, RH Aroni Nina (0-1, 3.75) vs. RH Jose Reyes (1-2, 7.71); Monday, RH Bryan Brickhouse (0-3, 3.15) vs. RH Martin Agosta (3-1, 1.71).

Matthew Duffy

GreenJacket to watch: SS Matthew Duffy (6-foot-2, 170 pounds, age 22, from Long Beach, Calif., bats and throws right) is hitting a solid .319, with 13 RBI, nine runs and five stolen bases. He has hit safely in his last four games and 11 of his last 12 contests. Duffy is batting .455 against left-handers, .295 versus righties and .467 with runners on base. In seven games against the Legends, Duffy is 8-for-25 (.320), with a double, triple, three RBI and four runs. A 2012 18th-round draft pick out of Long Beach State University, Duffy batted .247 with a homer, 16 RBI, 31 runs and 10 stolen bases over 47 games with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes of the Northwest League last summer.

Daniel Stumpf

Legend to watch: Saturday starter Daniel Stumpf (6-1, 209, 22, from Humble, Texas, bats and throws left) has given up only three unearned runs over three starts, winning his two decisions. Over 15 1/3 innings, Stumpf has struck out 14 and walked six while holding opponents to a .154 batting average. A ninth-round draft pick last June out of San Jacinto (Texas) Community College, he went 8-2 with a 2.27 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 111 innings. He helped the Gators to a runner-up finish in the JUCO World Series, where he was named Most Outstanding Pitcher. Assigned to Burlington last summer, he tied for sixth in the Appalachian League with five saves. Over 19 relief outings and 29 innings, he went 2-1 with a 1.55 ERA, with 34 strikeouts and eight walks.

Cam Gallagher

Notes: The Legends placed C Cam Gallagher on placed on the disabled list Thursday and activated C Alex Marquez. Gallagher suffered a broken left hand when hit by a pitch in the first inning of Wednesday night’s game.  He was batting .268 with five RBI in 16 games.  He had thrown out 11 of 23 would-be base stealers, the third-best percentage in the SAL. … Gallagher is the second Legends regular to be lost for an extended period after being hit by a pitch.  1B Mark Threlkeld suffered a broken left forearm April 5 when he was hit by a pitch during his first at-bat of the season. … In addition, RHP Daniel Hernandez was transferred to Lexington from Wilmington (Carolina League).   Hernandez left the Legends in Asheville on Wednesday morning and pitched two innings for Wilmington in their game at Salem (Va.) before returning to the Legends at Asheville.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

South Atlantic League baseball

Lexington Legends
vs. Greenville Drive

What: Four-game series

When: Thursday through Sunday (7:05 Thursday through Saturday nights, 1:35 Sunday afternoon)

Where: Whitaker Bank Ballpark

Tickets: Call (859) 422-7867

Major League affiliates: Kansas City Royals (Legends), Boston Red Sox (Drive)

Legends probable pitchers: Thursday, RH Christian Binford (0-1, 5.00); Friday, LH Colin Rodgers (0-0, 3.12); Saturday, LH Daniel Stumpf (1-0, 0.00); Sunday, RH Aroni Nina (0-1, 5.63).

Mike Miller

Drive to watch: 2B/SS/3B Mike Miller (5-foot-9, 170 pounds, age 23, bats and throws right, from Concord, Calif.) is 14-for-30 (.467) over his first nine games through Tuesday. That includes five doubles and a stolen base, with two RBI and seven runs. He has a .500 on-base percentage, slugging .633. Selected by the Red Sox in the ninth round of last June’s draft, Miller led Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo in batting (.354 over 56 games) while earning All-Big West Conference honors. Last summer, he played for the Lowell Spinners of the New York-Penn League, batting .261 over 66 games. He finished with a .337 on-base percentage, a homer, 15 RBI and 21 stolen bases in 24 attempts.

Terrance Gore

Legend to watch: LF Terrance Gore (5-7, 159, 21, bats and throws right, from Macon, Ga.) leads the Legends with seven stolen bases in eight attempts, a triple and nine runs. He is 11-for-42 (.262), with three doubles and two RBI. Selected by the Royals in the 20th round of the 2011 draft, he has stolen 60 bases in 63 career attempts as a pro, including a 17-for-17 start with the Surprise Royals of the Arizona League in 2011. A 2010 graduate of Jones County (Ga.) High School, he batted .474 with 49 stolen bases as a senior, and 145 thefts in his high school career. Gore attended Gulf Coast (Fla.) Community College one season, batting .330 with 51 steals in 54 attempts. Last year, with Burlington of the Appalachian League, he hit .256 while leading the league in runs (50) and steals (36-for-38), tied for fourth in walks (36) and ninth in on-base percentage (.379). Rated by Baseball America as “Fastest Baserunner” in the Royals system in 2012 and 2013.

Radio: WLXG-AM 1300

Promotions — Thirsty Thursday ($1 beers, soft drinks). … Friday includes a “meet and greet” event with the Cat in the Hat (tickets $12 advance, $14 at gate for kids; includes admission to the event and game, plus a meal voucher. Adult tickets, $7, include the event and game). Legends players will read stories at the meet and greet. … Saturday includes a post-game fireworks show and a Girls Scouts overnight campout. … Kids Club Sunday includes a post-game opportunity for kids to run the bases.