Goudeau, Monarchs Open Season With Win

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PHOTO CREDIT: Kathleen Brewer / Sioux City Explorers

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — Ashton Goudeau threw five scoreless innings, Hayden Jones delivered a clutch two-run double, and the Kansas City Monarchs began their American Association title defense with a 4-0 win over the Sioux City Explorers from Lewis and Clark Park Friday night.

BOX SCORE

Goudeau, Grant Gavin and Jackson McClelland combined to throw the shutout in the season opener for both teams. The Monarchs defense impressed behind them. Center fielder Travis Swaggerty and second baseman Channy Ortiz both making highlight-reel plays.

“[Sioux City’s] guys are aggressive, they swing early, they put a lot of balls in play tonight,” Goudeau said. “Being able to have a great defense behind you gives you so much more confidence as a pitcher.”

All the Kansas City runs scored in the fourth inning. Explorers starter Joey Murray allowed just one hit in his first three innings, but allowed five baserunners to begin the frame.

Swaggerty scored the game’s first run on a bases-loaded passed ball, and Cameron Cannon walked to load the bases again for Jones. His double down the right-field line made it 3-0 Monarchs. Herbert Iser added a sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.

That was all the Monarchs pitching staff needed. Goudeau allowed three hits in his five innings, walking two and striking out two. He threw 73 pitches.

“Just throw strikes, be aggressive,” Goudeau said of his game plan. “I think later on I was able to get breaking balls more consistent in the zone. I think it was a good foundation to start, and I’m excited for the next one.”

Gavin tossed three perfect innings in relief, striking out two batters. McClelland allowed a two-out single but nothing else in a scoreless ninth.

The win sets the tone for a Monarchs team aiming to repeat as American Association champions.

“It’s very encouraging,” Goudeau said. “Especially when the bats heat up too, it’s going to be really exciting to see what our games are like.”

UP NEXT

The Monarchs will look to improve to 2-0 in the second game of the series Saturday night at 6:05 p.m. Fans can watch the game live for free at AABaseball.tv and listen live at 810WHB.com.

Kansas City Monarchs Reveal ‘Los Monarchs’ Uniforms

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Kansas City Monarchs’ newest uniforms go beyond baseball.

The reigning American Association champions have revealed their 2024 Los Monarchs uniforms, honoring Kansas City’s Hispanic and Latino community.

The Monarchs will wear the new uniforms for four home games this season, part of Los Monarchs Days at Legends Field presented by Dairy Farmers of America. All the games are Sunday home games: May 19, June 9, July 29 and August 25. First pitch for all four games is at 1:05 p.m.

The games go beyond just the special uniforms. The Monarchs will honor the Hispanic and Latino community in Kansas City and beyond — including performances by traditional dancers.

Fans can purchase the uniforms at the Monarchs team store, open during all Monarchs home games. The club’s home opener is Thursday, May 16 from Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.

Kansas City Monarchs Roster

‘Confident In His Stuff’: Monarchs Sign Lefty Pitcher Curlis

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By Cal Friedman

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Kansas City Monarchs announced their fourth left-handed pitcher to their pitching staff on Tuesday afternoon.

Connor Curlis joins the Monarchs after three consecutive seasons with the Cincinnati Reds Double-A affiliate, the Chattanooga Lookouts. The southpaw accumulated over 217 innings for the Lookouts with a 2.53 strikeouts-to-walk ratio.

The Kansas City Monarchs open their season on May 10th against the Sioux City Explorers. The club’s home opener is Thursday, May 16 from Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. 

Curlis, 27, was teammates with fellow Kansas City pitcher, J.C. Keys, in Chattanooga. The two both spent the 2021 and 2022 MiLB seasons in Tennessee.

“It means a lot to have, especially with something that’s new, to someone who you’re close friends with,” Keys said. “He’s a great guy.”

The Findlay, Ohio, native has experience in many different roles. Curlis made 55 career starts in MiLB, while also making 38 appearances in relief.

The left-hander threw 326 innings in the minor leagues and also worked through rookie ball, low-A, and high-A. Curlis’ best individual stint came with the Daytona Tortugas, amassing an impressive 0.96 ERA.

“He’s very confident in his stuff,” Keys praised Curlis. “He throws his fastball at the top of the zone. He’s going to get a lot of strikeouts with.”

Curlis was drafted in the 24th round out of Ohio State University in the 2018 MLB Amateur Draft, one of three Buckeyes selected in that draft.

Curlis commanded a career 3.92 ERA in his three seasons with Ohio State. He struck out a career-best 66 batters as a Freshman, helping the Buckeyes to a Big 10 Tournament title and an NCAA Tournament berth.

He improved in his Sophomore season, leading Ohio State with five wins on the year.

His success carried into Summer Ball, where he was named a 2017 Prospect League All-Star with the Champion City Kings.

Curlis joins Jacob Cantleberry, Nicoló Pinazzi, and returning Monarch, Dalton Moats, as the southpaws for manager Joe Calfapietra’s pitching staff. Curlis is entering his sixth professional season in 2024.

Kansas City Monarchs Partner With Local McDonald’s

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Kansas City Monarchs have announced a new partnership with local McDonald’s organization, Alon Management, making the iconic chain the Official Quick Service Restaurant of the reigning American Association champions.

“McDonald’s is one of the most iconic brands in the world, and we’re thrilled to make them an official partner of the Monarchs,” team owner Mark Brandmeyer said. “We’re looking forward to a fruitful relationship between our two organizations.”

Alon Management is a family-owned business by Regev and Anne Alon, operating 23 McDonald’s restaurants across the Kansas City area.

“This partnership with the Monarchs team reflects our commitment to fostering community spirit and creating unforgettable experiences for fans both on and off the field,” said local McDonald’s owner-operator Regev Alon.

As part of the partnership, the Monarchs will collaborate with McDonald’s to enhance the digital experience for fans. With over 150 million users already enjoying MyMcDonald’s Rewards, which offers enticing benefits for loyal customers, the Monarchs will actively promote this program to enhance fan engagement. Moreover, fans can conveniently order their favorite McDonald’s meals through McDelivery, utilize the mobile order and pay feature for seamless transactions, and even
order ahead to skip the line and enjoy their meal hassle-free.

McDonald’s user-friendly mobile app also empowers fans to access exclusive deals, earn rewards, and enjoy the convenience of ordering their favorite meals anytime, anywhere. Through activations both at Legends Field and across various digital platforms, the Monarchs aim to amplify awareness and utilization of these digital offerings, fostering a deeper connection between fans and the iconic McDonald’s brand.

2024 is a special year for the Monarchs organization. It represents the 100th anniversary of the original Monarchs’ win in the first-ever Negro League World Series.

The Monarchs’ home opener is May 16 from Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.

Monarchs Announce New Home Uniforms For 2024

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Read more

Nathan’s Famous Becomes Official Hot Dog Of The Monarchs

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Monarchs fans can enjoy Nathan’s Famous hot dogs at Legends Field for every game of the 2024 season. The historic brand is the new Official Hot Dog of the Kansas City Monarchs.

Fans can enjoy Nathan’s Famous hot dogs throughout legends field at every Monarchs game in 2024.

“The Monarchs and Nathans both have history that dates back over a century,” Monarchs manager Mark Brandmeyer said. “There’s nothing like eating a delicious hot dog at the ballpark, and we look forward to offering our fans the very best with Nathan’s Famous.”

“Nathan’s Famous is excited to be working with the Kansas City Monarchs this year,” said Joseph Cerulli, regional sales manager of Nathan’s Famous. “We look forward to a successful season and serving Monarch fans the best hot dog all season, and beyond.”

Founded in Brooklyn, New York in 1916, Nathan’s Famous 100% beef hot dogs have expanded nationwide while maintaining the original recipe that has satisfied hot dog fans in the last 108 years.

The Monarchs’ home opener is May 16 at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. Monarchs fans can find schedule, ticket and roster information at MonarchsBaseball.com.

About the Kansas City Monarchs

The Kansas City Monarchs are a professional baseball team in the American Association, an MLB Partner League. 2024 will be their 21st season at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. In 2020, the team partnered with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and changed their name from the T-Bones to the Monarchs in honor of the legendary Negro League franchise that played from 1920 to 1965. This year, the Monarchs and the museum are celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first Negro League World Series, won by the Monarchs in 1924.

Kansas City Monarchs Roster

Another MLB Pitcher Joins Monarchs As Four Players Sign

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Kansas City Monarchs have added another former major leaguer as the 2024 season approaches.

The reigning American Association champions have signed four new players: Pitcher Yefry Ramírez, outfielder Ross Adolph and infielders Channy Ortiz and Bryan Aguilar. Ramirez was acquired via a trade with Gastonia in the Atlantic League.

The Monarchs open their season May 10 on the road. Their home opener is Thursday, May 16 from Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.

Ramírez has 31 career MLB appearances and 13 big-league starts for the Orioles, Pirates and Dodgers across the 2018, 2019 and 2021 seasons. He collected 91 strikeouts in “The Show,” good for an 8.9 K/9.

The right-hander was originally signed by the Diamondbacks out of the Dominican Republic, making his pro debut in 2012. The Yankees organization claimed him off waivers in 2015. He was traded to Baltimore at the 2017 trade deadline and made his MLB debut with the O’s the following season. Ramírez made 17 appearances and 12 starts for Baltimore in 2018.

The Orioles traded Ramírez to Pittsburgh in May 2019, he’d make his Pirates debut in June of that season.

Ramírez elected free agency after the 2019 campaign and signed with the Mets organization. He stayed with New York through 2020 but did not play due to the pandemic. He caught on with the Dodgers in 2021 and made one major-league appearance for the club in August of that year.

Ramírez’ last full season came in 2022. He started that season in Triple-A with the Dodgers and finished the year with the Hanwha Eagles of the Korea Baseball Organization.

He made one start Gastonia in the Atlantic League earlier this year, throwing five hitless innings.

Adolph joins the Monarchs from the Astros organization, where he played in MLB spring training in 2024.

A 12th-round draft pick by the Mets out of the University of Toledo in 2018, Adolph was named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star after a strong first pro season in Low-A.

The Mets traded Adolph to the Astros in January 2019 in a deal involving outfielder J.D. Davis.

Adolph quickly moved up Houston’s system, making his Double-A debut in 2021 and breaking into Triple-A in 2023. He was limited to 19 games in 2023 due to injury. Adolph owns a career MiLB slash line of .246/.369/.422/.790 across 325 games.

Ortiz comes to Kansas City from the Diamondbacks organization. Arizona drafted him in the 14th round in 2021 out of Grand Canyon University.

The switch hitter spent 2023 with High-A Hillsboro. He’s collected 133 hits and 15 steals in 181 MiLB games.

Ortiz played four games with Chihuahua in the Mexican League earlier in 2024 before signing with Kansas City.

Aguilar is a rookie infielder who played two years at Tarleton State University in Texas.

The righty hitter’s last action came in 2022 with Austin in the Pecos League. He batted .381 with six walks over six games.

Kansas City Monarchs Roster

Big Leaguer Swaggerty Among Three New Monarchs

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Kansas City Monarchs are welcoming three new players, including a major leaguer and a former Royals prospect, as they gear up for the 2024 season.

The reigning American Association champions have signed former Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Travis Swaggerty alongside former Royals prospect Tucker Bradley and pitcher Julian Garcia.

The Monarchs open their spring camp Thursday, with the team’s first regular-season game scheduled for May 10. The club’s home opener is Thursday, May 16 from Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.

Swaggerty is a top-10 draft pick who made his MLB debut with Pittsburgh in 2022. He played in MLB spring training with the Dodgers organization earlier this season.

The Pirates drafted Swaggerty 10th overall in 2018 out of the University of South Alabama, where he was named First-Team All-Sun Belt two years in a row.

The Louisiana native made his Triple-A debut in 2021 before making his first MLB appearance on June 7. He played five games with Pittsburgh, collecting one hit in nine at-bats.

Swaggerty was limited to 22 games in 2023 due to injury, all with the Pirates organization. He spent time with the White Sox late in the season before landing with the Dodgers in December.

Bradley, who turns 26 on May 6, comes to the Monarchs from the Kansas City Royals organization, where he played in 13 MLB spring training games in 2024. He owns a .286 batting average and .819 OPS in three minor-league seasons.

The Georgia native signed with the Royals as an undrafted free agent in 2020 after playing four seasons at the University of Georgia.

The lefty hitter made his Triple-A debut last season, posting a .277 batting average with seven home runs and 11 stolen bases in 96 games between Double-A and Triple-A.

Garcia, who turns 29 on May 13, was a star in college at Metropolitan State University of Denver, posting a 2.90 ERA as a sophomore starter in 2016. The Phillies drafted him in the 10th round later that year.

The Fort Collins, Colorado native made his Double-A debut in 2019 and cracked Triple-A in 2021. Garcia played in MLB spring training with the Phillies in both 2020 and 2021.

2024 will be Garcia’s first pro action since 2022, when he pitched with Double-A Reading in the Phillies’ system. It was his first season exclusively throwing out of the bullpen after being a starter for much of his career.

Fans can watch every Monarchs game live at AABaseball.tv.

Watch Every Live Monarchs Game FREE!

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kansas City Monarchs fans can now watch their team live from anywhere, for free!

Every Kansas City Monarchs game in 2024, home and away, will be streamed live for free on AABaseball.TV. This makes the American Association the only baseball league in North America to stream its games live without any type of paywall.

“Live viewership of broadcast games has increased year over year within the American Association and we felt like the timing was perfect to open our style of baseball to more fans across North America,” said American Association Commissioner Joshua Schaub. “As our teams continue to invest in their broadcast production and talent on the field, the broadcast experience we’re offering is going to be better than ever in 2024.”  

All replays, archived games, and bonus content will still be available on AABaseball.TV exclusively for AABaseball.TV+ subscribers at the same rate of $14.99 per month.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What do I do if I am a current subscriber?

As a current subscriber to AABaseball.TV your subscription will remain in place for all replays, archived games, and bonus content at the existing rate of $14.99 / month.

What do I do if I want to downgrade to only live games?

As a subscriber you will automatically be granted access to free live games. If you’d like to downgrade from your paid plan you can do this in the “Manage Subscription” section on AABaseball.TV.

What happens to all of the content from past seasons?

All content from past seasons “archived content” will remain on the platform and available to all AABaseball.TV+ subscribers.

Where can I find the app?

The app can be found on both Apple and iOS. It is also available on Roku and Amazon, among other channels.