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MINNEAPOLIS | The next opportunity for first baseman Kila Ka'aihue to replicate his minor-league success in the big leagues will come in Oakland.
The Royals traded Ka'aihue to the A’s prior to Tuesday’s game against Minnesota for minor-league pitcher Ethan Hollingsworth, a right-handed starter who split time this season at Class AA Midland and Class AAA Sacramento.
The move came six days after the Royals designated Ka'aihue for assignment in order to clear roster space for reliever Kelvin Herrera, their minor-league pitcher of the year.
The A’s had assigned Hollingsworth, 24, to Phoenix for the upcoming Arizona Fall League, but the Royals’ slots in that developmental league were previously allocated. They will shift Hollingsworth to the Instructional League, which is currently under way.
“He’s already in Arizona,” assistant general manager J.J. Picollo said. “We’re going to bring him over to our complex (in Surprise), and he’ll probably pitch in those advanced games for us. That way, we can be around him every day.”
The general view on Hollingsworth, 6 feet 2 and 200 pounds, is he projects as a possible back-of-the-rotation candidate. He was a combined 7-5 with a 3.76 ERA this season in 19 games at Midland and Sacramento.
Ka'aihue, 27, once projected a potential cornerstone in the Royals’ current rebuilding project after displaying a potent run-production bat in the minors – but he did little in parts of three seasons with the Royals.
He opened this season as the club’s regular first baseman but batted just .195 with two homers and six RBIs in 23 games before getting demoted to Class AAA Omaha.
Hollingsworth spent three years in the Colorado system following his selection in the fourth round of the 2008 draft. Oakland acquired him in a Jan. 24, 2011, trade for pitcher Clayton Mortensen.
The Royals assigned Hollingsworth to Omaha’s roster.
Butler nominated
Designated hitter Billy Butler is one of 10 nominees for the Hutch Award, which is given annually to the player who “best exemplifies the honor, courage and dedication” of former player and manager Fred Hutchinson, who died at age 45 in 1964 from cancer.
Former recipients include Mike Sweeney and Mark Teahen.
The award is sponsored by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, an independent, nonprofit research institution in Seattle dedicated to the understanding, treatment and prevention of cancer and related diseases.
The other nominees: Tony Campana (Cubs), Michael Cuddyer (Twins), Curtis Granderson (Yankees), Josh Hamilton (Rangers), Torii Hunter (Angels), Justin Masterson (Indians), Brian McCann (Braves), Jake Peavy (White Sox) and Josh Willingham (A’s).
The recipient will be determined through a vote of former winners.
Rotation on a roll
Bolstering the rotation remains the Royals’ top offseason priority, but the in-house candidates for next season are putting together a strong closing kick.
The Royals entered Tuesday’s game on an 11-3 run in large part because their starting pitchers are a combined 10-2 with a 2.76 ERA with 10 quality starts in that span while holding opposing batters to a .223 average.
Those numbers counter what transpired for most of the season.
The Royals’ starters, prior to the last 14 games, were 35-62 with a 5.05 ERA and had just 64 quality starts in 146 games while opposing teams batted .286. On the bump
Joakim Soria tested his strained right hamstring in a pre-game workout by throwing from a mound for the first time since suffering the injury Sept. 11 while closing out a 2-1 victory at Seattle.
Getting back on a mound was Soria’s one remaining goal prior to the end of the season.
Barring an unexpected appearance Wednesday, Soria will finish the season at 5-5 with 28 saves and a 4.03 ERA in 60 games. He is under contract next season for a guaranteed $6 million with the Royals holding options for $8 million in 2013 and $8.75 million in 2014.
Minor details
Class A Kane County third baseman Cheslor Cuthbert was picked as the No. 11 prospect in the Midwest League by Baseball America in its annual rankings.
Cuthbert, still just 18, is often viewed as the organization’s top lower-level prospect. He was a 16-year-old free agent from Nicaragua when he signed on July 2, 2009, for $1.4 million.
“He has impressive strength and bat speed, especially considering his age,” Baseball America reports. “With his advanced approach and willingness to use the whole field, he could develop into a plus hitter for both average and power.”
Cuthbert, 6 feet 1 and 190 pounds, was the youngest position player in the Midwest League and got off to a strong start following his late May promotion from extended spring training.
He carried a .328 average into August before fading in the closing weeks and finishing with eight homers, 51 RBIs and a .267 average in 81 games. Looking back
It was 24 years ago Wednesday – Sept. 28, 1987 – that third baseman Kevin Seitzer became the first rookie in 23 years to reach 200 hits when he grounded a single up the middle in the first inning against Seattle lefty Lee Guetterman at then-Royals Stadium.
No rookie had reached 200 hits since Minnesota outfielder Tony Oliva and Philadelphia first baseman Richie Allen in 1964. Seitzer had a triple later in the game, which the Royals lost 5-1, and finished the season with 207 hits.
