Ponce Impresses In Monarchs Debut

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Another hard-throwing right-hander has joined a stacked Kansas City Monarchs bullpen.

Gabriel Ponce made his debut out of the Monarchs bullpen Wednesday afternoon. 

The 25-year-old has featured in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, featuring in Spring Training and reaching as high as Triple-A.

The Arizona native impressed in his first outing as a Monarch, striking out five batters in three innings of work out of the bullpen. He allowed two runs (one earned) in the Monarchs’ eventual 10-5 win over the Sioux Falls Canaries. 

Ponce made waves in Minor League Baseball, holding a career 11.1 K/9 during his time in the Jays’ system. He struck out a career-most 82 batters in 2023 in 61 innings of work.

The righty played for the Buffalo Bisons to kickstart the 2023 season, holding a strong 2.87 ERA in eight appearances. Ponce struck out 61 batters in 30 appearances to finish the campaign in Double-A New Hampshire.

Ponce began this season in New Hampshire before joining Toros de Tijuana in the Mexican League. He made just one appearance in LMB.

Ponce is a former 29th-round draft pick out from his home state of Arizona, finishing his collegiate career at Arizona Western College.

The Monarchs’ bullpen has been one of their biggest strengths in 2024. Kansas City ranks third in the AAPB with a 3.97 ERA. 

The Monarchs embark on a nine-game road trip starting with a three-game series at Milwaukee this weekend. Their next home game is Tuesday, June 25 from Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. 

Monarchs Pour On 10 Runs In Rubber-Game Win

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas City Monarchs brought the boom to their rubber game on Wednesday.

Ross Adolph, Danny Amaral, and Trent Giambrone homered at Hoglund Ballpark, lifting Kansas City to a 10-5 win over the Sioux Falls Canaries on Wednesday afternoon. KC clinches their second series of the year against the Canaries.

The Monarchs delivered double-digit runs on 12 hits. Wednesday marked the sixth time Kansas City has hit double-digits in 2024.

Kansas City overcame two different Sioux Falls (18-11) leads in the rubber game. Adolph’s homer made it 3-2 in the fifth, his team-leading seventh long ball of the year.

Josh Bissonette gave the hosts the lead with a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth. Amaral left the yard five pitches later, giving KC (16-14) a 7-4 lead.

The home run was Amaral’s first as a Monarch.

Giambrone put the game to bed in the seventh, demolishing a three-run homer to left-center field to make it 10-4.

The former major leaguer had his best game as a Monarch, finishing 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Giambrone extended his on-base streak to 13 games since arriving in KC.

Blake Rutherford and Hayden Jones also plated runs for the Monarchs earlier in the fixture.

Gabriel Ponce (1-0) impressed in his Kansas City debut, striking out five batters across three innings to earn his first win.

The Monarchs begin a nine-game road trip on Friday against the Milwaukee Milkmen. First pitch is slated for 6:35 pm from Franklin Field.

Monarchs Rally Late, Fall in Extras

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Kansas City Monarchs have proven they can be the comeback kids of the American Association.

The Monarchs rallied from another large deficit, but the Sioux Falls Canaries had the last laugh in a thrilling Tuesday night contest.

Sioux Falls edged Kansas City, 11-7, from Hoglund Ballpark despite a noble comeback effort from the Monarchs. Kansas City scored four unanswered runs to force extra innings.

The Canaries (18-10) struck for four runs in the top of the 10th inning, forcing a rubber match Wednesday afternoon at 4:00.

Kansas City’s (15-14) bats came to life in the third to take an early lead. Ross Adolph drilled an RBI single to score leadoff batter Danny Amaral from third base.

Three pitches later, three-hole hitter Travis Swaggerty lifted a two-run, opposite-field home run, giving the Monarchs a 3-1 advantage.

The blast was Swaggerty’s fourth home run of the year, his third against the Canaries.

Sioux Falls (17-10) responded with a pair in the top of the fourth to tie the game. The Canaries got to KC starter Kevin Milam his fourth time through, tacking on four runs to take a 7-3 lead in the fifth.

Milam pitched a season-high 4.1 innings in his first career start, including a pair of scoreless innings to begin the game.

The Monarchs stormed back with crooked numbers in the fifth and seventh innings. Herbert Iser knocked in the game’s tying run with a two-run double.

Iser has now driven in four RBI in this series after his walk-off single on Monday night.

Extra innings just proved too much for Kansas City. Dylan Chalmers (1-0) earned the win for the Canaries, whilst Jackson McClelland (3-3) took the loss for the Monarchs.

The rubber match between the Monarchs and the Canaries is set for tomorrow at 4:00 pm from Hoglund Ballpark. Admission is free for all fans, concessions will not be available.



Iser’s Walk-Off Lifts Monarchs Past Canaries

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LAWRENCE, Kan. – A star is being born for the Kansas City Monarchs.

Herbert Iser’s return to the Monarchs has been a complete renaissance, providing key defense and clutch hitting.

Iser recorded two caught steals and two RBI, including the walk-off RBI single, in a thrilling 4-3 win over the Sioux Falls Canaries at Hoglund Ballpark on Monday night. Iser drilled a single to left-center field to score Frankie Tostado from third base.

Iser’s single clinched a crucial win for KC. The catcher is now 10-for-28 since returning to the lineup and riding a six-game on-base streak.

Kansas City (15-13) delivered five consecutive base runners in the bottom of the ninth, tying the game on a bases-loaded walk by Josh Bissonette.

Monday night was a homecoming for Monarchs’ starter Jackson Goddard. The right-hander spent three seasons as a starter for the Kansas Jayhawks, delivering a vintage outing at The Hog.

Goddard recorded a quality start for the second outing, dicing up six strikeouts across six innings. His outing got even better as the game grew on.

Goddard struck out three Canaries (17-10) his second time through the lineup, then held Sioux Falls scoreless in his last inning.

His key pitching allowed Kansas City to manufacture a comeback. Iser and Trent Giambrone each recorded RBI groundouts in the fifth and sixth innings to tie the contest at two.

Jackson McClelland (3-2) earned the win for Kansas City with a shutout 1.2 innings.

The Monarchs continue their series with the Canaries tomorrow night at 6:30 pm. Admission is free for all fans, concessions are not available.

Monarchs Games Monday-Wednesday Moved To Lawrence, Team Returning To Legends Field For Next Homestand

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Monarchs’ next game at Legends Field scheduled for June 25

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Kansas City Monarchs’ games with the Sioux Falls Canaries on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday have been moved to Hoglund Ballpark in Lawrence, Kansas.

All remaining Monarchs home games in the 2024 season will be played at Legends Field.

The game times for the series in Lawrence are as follows:

Monday, June 10, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, June 11, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, June 12, 4 p.m.

All three games at Hoglund Ballpark will be free to attend.

Fans with tickets to any Monarchs games not played at Legends Field can exchange their tickets at the Monarchs box office for a ticket for any future regular season home game of equal or lesser value. Learn more at MonarchsBaseball.com/RainoutPolicy.

Monday’s game can be heard on Sports Radio 810 WHB. All three games can be heard at 810WHB.com/Monarchs. There will not be a video stream of the games.

The Monarchs’ next scheduled game at Legends Field is Tuesday, June 25 versus the Sioux City Explorers. The team will travel for a scheduled road trip June 14-23.

The Monarchs’ Kids Camp Day on Wednesday, June 12 will proceed as scheduled at Legends Field. The event will feature a Mad Science show, on-field activities, a movie on the stadium video board, and more.

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.

Monarchs Swept In Doubleheader

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By Cal Friedman

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The first series between the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks and Kansas City Monarchs was tightly-contested in North Dakota, just a two-game series in North Dakota.

The second series saw another pair of close games that the Monarchs just couldn’t grasp.

The Monarchs dropped both games against the RedHawks, 4-3 and 4-0, at Hoglund Ballpark in Lawrence. 

Fargo-Moorhead’s (17-9) starters proved lethal. Davis Feldman (4-0) and Tyler Grauer (3-2) combined to give the RedHawks 11 innings over the course of the doubleheader. 

Kansas City (14-12) worked just 11 hits over the two games.

The Monarchs take on the Sioux Falls Canaries tomorrow at 6:35 pm.

Game 1 – Fargo-Moorhead, 4-3

A strong start early was just enough for Fargo-Moorhead.

The RedHawks’ power proved too much for Monarchs starter Grant Gavin. Fargo-Moorhead blasted five extra-base hits off the right-hander, pulling into a 4-1 lead.

Dillon Thomas delivered three of the RedHawks’ four early RBI. He launched a solo home run to right-center field in the first before a two-run double in the fifth.

Former major leaguer A.J. Alexy got off to a strong start as a Monarch, working out of a bases-loaded jam in the same inning. 

Alexy hurled a shutout 1.2 innings, striking out one.

The Monarchs’ only run in the first five innings came off a Frankie Tostado sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, scoring Travis Swaggerty.

Tostado’s bat continued to pull the Monarchs back into it in the sixth. The first baseman ripped a run-scoring double to right field to bring in Swaggerty from first.

Tostado is now tied for the league lead with 10 two-baggers this season. He finished 1-for-2 with 2 RBI in game one.

The Monarchs had one last rally late, Danny Amaral drove in another run with a single to right field to score Herbert Iser.

Amaral would swipe second to get into scoring position, but Swaggerty lifted a fly ball caught by Evan Alexander to left field to close up the win.

Game 2 – Fargo-Moorhead, 4-0

Fargo-Moorhead came through in clutch situations, driving in their first four runs with two outs.

C.J. Valdez and Kona Quiggle each potted RBI singles, sandwiching a two-run Evan Alexander home run in the fifth inning.

All runs were surrendered by Connor Curlis, who started strong for KC. The southpaw threw three no-hit innings, allowing just one base runner.

J.C. Keys kept Fargo-Moorhead quiet for the rest, including some help from his defense.

Swaggerty hurled a picture-perfect dart from right field to catch Quiggle at home.

Keys recorded his seventh scoreless outing of the season, throwing a shutout 1.1 innings.

Kansas City’s bats failed to respond to the tough Fargo-Moorhead pitching. The Monarchs failed to record any extra base hits in game two. 

The Monarchs were held scoreless for just the second time this season in a home game.

Monarchs’ Saturday Doubleheader Postponed, Games Sunday Moved To Hoglund Ballpark

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Saturday’s doubleheader between the Kansas City Monarchs and the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks has been postponed. 

The games will be made up with a doubleheader Sunday at Hoglund Ballpark in Lawrence, Kansas, the home of Kansas Jayhawks baseball. First pitch of the first game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Admission to both games will be free. In accordance with American Association rules, both games of the doubleheader will be scheduled for seven innings.

Fans with tickets to games this weekend at Legends Field can exchange their tickets at the Monarchs box office for a ticket for any future regular season home game of equal or lesser value. Learn more at MonarchsBaseball.com/RainoutPolicy.

 

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.

Monarchs’ Game With Fargo-Moorhead Postponed

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Friday night’s Kansas City Monarchs game with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks has been postponed.

The game will be made up Saturday as part of a single-admission doubleheader. The first game of the doubleheader will start at 5:30 p.m. In accordance with American Association rules, both games of the doubleheader will be scheduled for seven innings.

Fans with tickets to Friday’s game can exchange their tickets at the Monarchs box office for a ticket for any future regular season home game of equal or lesser value. Learn more at MonarchsBaseball.com/RainoutPolicy.

Saturday night is Mizzou Night at Legends Field, featuring appearances from Truman the Tiger, the Golden Girls, and more. Tickets are available at MonarchsBaseball.com.

Monarchs Sign Big-League Pitcher Alexy

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By Cal Friedman

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – A former major leaguer has joined the Kansas City Monarchs’ pitching staff.

The Monarchs announced the signing of former Texas Rangers right-hander A.J. Alexy on Friday. Alexy was part of the 2021 and 2022 Rangers, making four starts under then-manager Chris Woodard.

Alexy becomes the fifth Monarch on the 2024 roster with major league experience, joining Yefry Ramirez, Trent Giambrone, Travis Swaggerty, and Blake Rutherford. 

The 26-year-old joins the Monarchs to begin a six-game home stretch at Legends Field, with his club taking on the top two teams in the American Association West Division.

In a corresponding move, the Monarchs traded infielder Cameron Cannon to the Cleburne Railroaders in exchange for a player to be named later.

Alexy, a former 11th-round draft pick by the Dodgers, made nine appearances with Texas. He holds a 4-2 record over 30 major league innings. Alexy made his MLB debut at just 23 years old, starting his professional career with 11 consecutive scoreless innings.

The Rangers initially acquired Alexy in the 2017 trade that sent Yu Darvish to the Dodgers.

Alexy delivered two shutout starts to begin his major league career, including his first career win against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He threw six scoreless innings against the Halos, giving up just one hit.

Alexy was acquired by Washington after the 2022 season, then swapped to the Minnesota Twins for right-hander Cristian Jimenez. The Chicago White Sox claimed Alexy off waivers in 2023, making 16 appearances for Triple-A Charlotte last season.

The right-hander started this season back with Minnesota, appearing with fellow Monarchs pitcher Hunter McMahon on the Double-A Wichita Wind Surge. Alexy made seven appearances with three starts for Wichita, striking out 16 batters.

Monarchs Score 17 Runs To Beat Canaries

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A day after a nail-biting win, the Kansas City Monarchs left no doubt.

Kansas City scored 10 runs in the first inning on their way to a 17-run performance, the most runs in a game by an American Association team this season. It added up to a 17-6 series-clinching win over the Sioux Falls Canaries from Sioux Falls Stadium.

Ross Adolph hit a grand slam in the first for Kansas City (14-10). Travis Swaggerty made it back-to-back home runs with a solo shot off the scoreboard. Eight of the Monarchs’ 10 runs in the frame scored with two out.

Adolph finished the game 4-for-5, a double short of the cycle, with six RBIs. Josh Bissonette, Frankie Tostado and newcomer Danny Amaral all drove in multiple runs for the Monarchs.

The Monarchs return home Friday night to face Fargo-Moorhead at 6:35 p.m.

Sioux Falls (14-9) cut the Kansas City lead to six after three innings but got no closer. The win gives the Monarchs a 2-1 series win over the first-place Canaries.

Monarchs starter Will McAffer went three innings, allowing five runs. Kevin Milam got the win, tossing three scoreless innings in relief of McAffer.

Julian Garcia, J.C. Keys and Zack Leban each threw an inning to take Kansas City to the finish line.

UP NEXT

The Monarchs return home for a six-game homestand starting Friday against Fargo-Moorhead. Grant Gavin will start the game for Kansas City. First pitch is at 6:35 p.m. on AABaseball.tv and 810WHB.com/Monarchs.