By Cal Friedman

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – A standout from the 2023 World Baseball Classic will be donning the Kansas City Monarchs’ red and black this weekend.

The Monarchs announced the signing of outfielder Chavez Young Friday. The 27-year-old joins Kansas City from the Triple-A Nashville Sounds.

Young represented Great Britain during the 2023 WBC and was a key piece for a historic team. The Freeport, Bahamas native recorded a game-tying double against Colombia, a game that GB would go on to record its first-ever victory at the World Baseball Classic.

His speed came into play later in the tournament, recording a steal of home against Canada.

Young has always been a threat on the basepaths, registering 158 stolen bases during eight seasons in the Minor Leagues.

He stole 44 bases in 2018 for Single-A Lansing, leading the Lugnuts to a MiLB-best 208 steals that season. Young has stolen 158 bags in his professional career.

The outfielder progressed to Triple-A for three separate franchises. Young first broke through for the Buffalo Bisons in 2022 after earning his way through five different Toronto Blue Jays MiLB squads.

He signed for the Pittsburgh Pirates last season, playing with fellow Monarch Josh Bissonette in Triple-A Indianapolis.

Young began this season with the Milwaukee Brewers in the Cactus League, then began the professional season in Triple-A Nashville. The Bahamian logged 18 RBI and 25 runs scored for the Sounds.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Ross Adolph hit his 10th home run of the season and Gabriel Ponce shined in relief, but the Kansas City Monarchs dropped a series finale to the Winnipeg Goldeyes Thursday from Blue Cross Park.

Winnipeg (29-26) jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning. Adolph blasted a two-run homer to left field to cut Winnipeg’s lead to 3-2.

That was as close as Kansas City (23-29) came to surmounting the deficit.

Goldeyes starter Travis Seabrooke impressed over seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits while walking two and striking out five.

Monarchs starter Kevin Milam took the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits in four innings of work. He walked two and struck out three.

Ponce bridged the gap well, allowing one unearned run and just one hit in three innings of work while walking one and striking out three.

UP NEXT

The Monarchs head to Lincoln to take on the Saltdogs for a three-game weekend series. First pitch of Friday’s game is at 7:05 p.m. Fans can watch every Monarchs game at AABaseball.TV.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba — Ross Adolph was perfect at the plate, but a parade of singles led the Winnipeg Goldeyes past the Kansas City Monarchs 7-3 Tuesday night at Blue Cross Park.

Adolph’s big night kicks off his campaign to make the 2024 American Association All-Star Game in Kansas City through the Last Man In fan vote. Fans can vote for Adolph here. Voting closes Thursday at noon Central time.

Winnipeg won Tuesday’s game with 10 hits, all of them singles in the sixth and seventh innings. The Goldeyes scored six runs on eight singles in the sixth inning to take control.

Kansas City took the early lead on a Joe Suozzi RBI single in the second. Monarchs starter Michael Watson didn’t allow a hit through his first five innings, though the rookie walked six during that span.

Watson allowed an infield hit to begin the sixth inning, prompting Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra to go to the bullpen for Zack Leban. Leban would be charged with five runs in the inning, including one that scored with Nate Tellier on the mound.

Goldeyes starter Zac Reininger earned the win, scattering 10 Monarchs hits without walking a batter in 7.1 innings. He was charged with three runs, two of which scored after he left the mound in the eighth.

Frankie Tostado contributed an RBI double in the two-run frame, which brought the Monarchs within four. They would get no closer.

UP NEXT

Kansas City will look to level the series against Winnipeg Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. Joey Matulovich will start for the Goldeyes against Monarchs right-hander Jackson Goddard. Fans can watch the game at AABaseball.TV and listen at 810WHB.com/Monarchs.

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – K was the letter of the day at Legends Field. Forwards, backwards, it came easy for Julian Garcia and the Kansas City Monarchs pitching staff.

Kansas City secured a series victory over the Gary SouthShore RailCats with a 10-1 win on Sunday afternoon at Legends Field. Kansas City posted 15 strikeouts in the rubber game win.

Garcia (2-0) threw a season-high 5.1 innings in the win and added a season-best 10 strikeouts. The right-hander became just the second Monarchs arm to post double-digit strikeouts in a game this season.

“It’s awesome when we can put up runs in the first inning, and Julian can come in and close the door,” said Monarchs outfielder Ross Adolph, who went 3-for-4. “It’s huge, it leads to games like this.”

Garcia dominated on the mound early, matching a season-high six strikeouts in just three innings.

The Monarchs’ bats responded to the strong start to give Garcia a comfortable cushion.

Ross Adolph and Josh Bissonette delivered RBI singles in the first, getting the Monarchs (23-26) going early against LHP Chris Erwin. Kansas City opened a 3-0 lead after the first inning.

“The last couple of days we’ve been talking about coming out fast,,” Adolph said. “We came out and set the tone early.”

Travis Swaggerty drilled a two-run single in the fourth to push the lead to five.

Garcia mowed through the Gary SouthShore (20-32) lineup, striking out five his second time through the order. 

J.C. Keys replaced Garcia in the sixth, then posted three strikeouts of his own.

Bissonette continued his good form, driving in Adolph with an RBI double in the seventh inning. 

Adolph delivered again in the 8th inning with a two-run single. The Monarchs outfielder finished 3-for-5 with 3 RBIs in the victory.

“Carrying some momentum going into a long road trip to Winnipeg is big. We can hit the bus ride with a good feeling,” Adolph said.

Kansas City posted 10 runs on 11 hits to clinch the series. New Monarchs Chris Lanzilli and Damon Jones made their debuts in the win.

UP NEXT

The Monarchs travel to The True North to face the Winnipeg Goldeyes at Blue Cross Park. Michael Watson will make the start on Tuesday night for Kansas City. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. 

By Cal Friedman and Carter Woodiel

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — In a fierce, fiery, atmosphere at Legends Field, Josh Bissonette stayed cool at the plate in the biggest moment.

Bissonette lifted the Kansas City Monarchs to their second walk-off win of the season, recording a game-winning sacrifice fly to defeat the Gary SouthShore RailCats 6-5 in 10 innings on Saturday night.  

The shortstop stepped in with a simple game plan, then executed it to perfection.

“I was going to try and jump the first pitch and try and get it into the outfield and try and win the game for us,” Bissonette said.

Bissonette launched a fly ball to right field to score the winning run from third base.

Nearly 2,000 Monarchs fans roared through a tightly-contested battle. The RailCats tied the game in the ninth inning.

Kansas City’s (22-26) dugout remained poised, snapping a three-game losing streak with a composed 10th inning.

“We have a very talented team,” Bissonette said. “Once we can fully figure it out as a group, we’re going to be pretty dangerous.”

Reliever A.J. Alexy (1-1) showed nerves of steel in the top half, leaving a RailCats (20-31) go-ahead run at third with back-to-back strikeouts.

A double steal from Travis Swaggerty and Frankie Tostado put two runners in scoring position. 

Bissonette’s dagger sent a ruckus Kansas City crowd into a frenzy.

The Monarchs’ shortstop sent a special shoutout to the fans following the win.

“That was so awesome to hear you guys. You are the best fans,” Bissonette said. 

The Monarchs jumped out to a four-run lead in the first inning, with a two-out two-run double from Herbert Iser making it 4-0. Kansas City starter Kevin Milam kept his club in the game, tossing five innings of three-run ball.

The RailCats plated three in the sixth to make it a one-run ballgame, and scored the tying run in the ninth on an unusual play.

With the bases loaded and two out, Jackson Valera nubbed a ground ball to the left side. Monarchs third baseman Channy Ortiz charged to field the ball, but was tripped up by Gio Diaz running from second to third. Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra argued with third base umpire Kenny Jackson that an interference call should have been made, but the play stood as a game-tying infield single.

Alexy stayed cool to get the last out of the ninth, setting the stage for the dramatic 10th inning.

UP NEXT

The Monarchs close their season series with the Railcats on Sunday afternoon. Julian Garcia starts for Kansas City against Gary SouthShore’s Chris Erwin. First pitch is slated for 1:05 p.m.