Tag Archives: Yordano Ventura

Pujols Moves Up On the All-Time Home Run List with 522nd Homer

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Albert Pujols is slamming his way up the career home run list…

The 35-year-old Dominican baseball star hit his 522nd home run, breaking a tie with Ted Williams, Willie McCovey and Frank Thomas for 18th place on the all-time homer list.

Albert Pujols

The Los Angeles Angels first baseman connected in the first inning of his team’s 9-2 loss to the Kansas City Royals.

“Obviously, it’s a great accomplishment, man, but it’s really disappointing,” Pujols said. “We got swept by a great ballclub. I’ve told you guys my whole career, that at the end of my career I’m going to enjoy it a little bit more. But when I’m playing baseball, my goal is to try to help this ballclub to win.”

Pujols’ second homer of the season came off Yordano Ventura. The young Royals ace became the 334th different pitcher the three-time National League MVP and nine-time Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star has homered against during his 15-year career.

Pujols’ next target on the home run list is Jimmie Foxx at 534.

Volquez Agrees to Two-Year Deal with the Kansas City Royals

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Edinson Volquez has landed a royal deal…

The 31-year-old Dominican professional baseball pitcher has finalized a $20 million, two-year contract with the Kansas City Royals.

Edinson Volquez

Volquez’s deal includes a mutual option for the 2017 season and was announced this week during a brief news conference at Kauffman Stadium.

The right-handed Volquez, coming off one of the best seasons of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, will make $7.5 million this season and $9.5 million next season. The option year would be worth $10 million and carries with it a $3 million buyout.

“I want to be here and help the team win some games, the way they did last year,” Volquez told reporters. “We did in Pittsburgh, too, but Kansas City went a little bit farther. They almost won the World Series. Why not do it here?”

The Royals have already signed designated hitter Kendrys Morales and outfielder Alex Rios to fill two of their most pressing needs. They also signed pitcher Kris Medlen, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery and could help contribute midway through the season.

Volquez fills the last big hole by taking James Shields‘ place in the rotation. Shields became a free agent and it was unlikely the Royals would be able to keep him.

“We know full-well we’ll have to continue to make adjustments on our roster. It’s not a push-button club, it never was,” Royals general manager Dayton Moore said recently. “But right now we feel like we’re in a good position to start spring training and to start the season.”

Volquez was an All-Star for the Cincinnati Reds in 2008, going 17-6 with a 3.21 ERA. But he struggled with injuries and inconsistency the next few seasons, and started bouncing around the league.

He spent 2012 and part of the 2013 season with the San Diego Padres, finished up that season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and then joined Pittsburgh last season, where he seemed to resurrect his career.

Volquez went 13-7 with a career-best 3.04 ERA, and his 2-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio was among the best of his career. Volquez also ended the season with a career-best 18 straight scoreless innings, and had a 1.08 ERA in September.

Volquez was 9-1 with a 1.85 ERA after June 23, spanning his final 17 starts.

Volquez should slot into a starting rotation that includes young fireballer Yordano Ventura, left-handers Danny Duffy and Jason Vargas and veteran right-hander Jeremy Guthrie.