Carolina League
Wilmington, DE - On Thursday, the Kansas City Royals - parent club of the Wilmington Blue Rocks - released their complete list of non-roster spring training invitees, which includes five former Blue Rocks players. Catchers Kiel Thibault and Damaso Espino along with infielders Mike Aviles, Angel Berroa and Mike Stodolka will have the opportunity to etch themselves onto the 40-man roster of the big league Royals this coming season.
Thibault, the most recent Blue Rock, hit .254 with four homers and 36 RBIs in 91 games with Wilmington last season. In addition, the Idaho native ranked third in the Carolina League in terms of throwing out would-be base stealers, posting a .373 efficiency rate. Espino was a fan favorite during his lone year on the Riverfront in 2004. The Panamanian backstop hit .256 and drove in 56 runs in 124 games, but is most remembered for clubbing the first and only postseason grand slam in Blue Rocks history during Game Two of the Mills Cup championship series.
Aviles spent 2004 with the Blue Rocks, posting an impressive .300 batting average to go along with six home runs and 69 RBIs in 126 games. Berroa, a former American League Rookie of the Year with the Royals, spent the first 51 games of the 2001 season in Wilmington before ascending to Double-A Wichita near season's end. He hit .317 with 25 RBIs as a Blue Rock. Stodolka, the longest tenured Rock of the group, spent 2003 and 2004 in the First State as a left-handed starting pitcher, tossing 19 games and compiling a record of 5-3 with a 4.00 ERA over his two seasons. He has since been converted to primarily a first baseman.
Spring Training 2008 officially kicks off when pitchers and catchers report on Wednesday, February 13. All other players are due to report on Monday, February 18.
The Royals spring training complex is located in Surprise, AZ.
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