Monarchs Offense Keeps Rolling In Win At Milwaukee

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FRANKLIN, Wis. — Micah Pries and John Nogowski each homered for the second straight game, Josh Hendrickson threw six solid innings and the Kansas City Monarchs topped the Milwaukee Milkmen 8-3 Tuesday night at Franklin Field.

Kansas City left the yard three times, including a three-run home run from Jorge Bonifacio in the seventh to take a 7-1 lead. It was the former Royal’s fifth home run in his last seven games.

The Monarchs have homered in each of their last eight games, blasting 21 home runs in total. Their previous 21 home runs came over a 30-game stretch.

“We’re getting it going at the right time,” Nogowski said. “It’s pretty fun coming to the ballpark every night. We’re starting to scratch the surface of how good we can be.”

Hendrickson earned the win with six innings of one-run baseball. He allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out seven.

The Monarchs (48-34) kept pace with first-place Sioux City and moved into second place outright in the American Association West.

“I don’t think we’ve played our best ball yet,” Nogowski said. “Some of the additions to our bullpen have been incredible, and defensively we’ve been getting better day in and day out.”

New Monarchs reliever Cruz Noriega got the final five outs, working out of an inherited bases-loaded jam in the eighth that brough the tying run to the plate for Milwaukee.

Blake Rutherford and Robbie Glendinning contributed RBI doubles for Kansas City, putting the Monarchs ahead for good in the first inning.

UP NEXT

Kansas City will send Blake Goldsberry to the mound against Milwaukee’s Chase Gearing for the second game of the teams’ three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

Julian Garcia

Garcia Sets Team Strikeout Record In Monarchs Win

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Julian Garcia

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — In 22 seasons of pro baseball in Kansas City, Kansas, Julian Garcia stands alone.

Garcia broke the Kansas City Monarchs single-season strikeout record in a 10-4 win over the Sioux Falls Canaries Sunday at Sioux Falls Stadium.

The right-hander struck out a season-high 14 batters, raising his season total to a league-best 141. The previous record was 140, set by Tommy Collier in 2018.

A right-hander known for his wipeout sweeper, Garcia has already entered the record books with the Monarchs. His 0.99 WHIP in 2024 was the best in club history, and his 2.54 ERA that same year was second-best all-time among Monarchs or T-Bones pitchers (minimum 80 innings pitched).

Garcia tossed eight strong innings, allowing three runs on five hits with two walks. His 14 Ks rank second-most in a single game by a Monarchs pitcher this season.

Five home runs powered the Monarchs offense in the series-clinching win.

Micah Pries homered twice for Kansas City. Yoyner Fajardo, Alvaro Gonzalez and John Nogowski also went yard. The five home runs matched a season high for Kansas City.

The Monarchs (47-34) gained a game on first-place Sioux City in the American Association standings. KC now sits five games back, tied for second with Fargo-Moorhead.

UP NEXT

The Monarchs have Monday off as they travel to Milwaukee to face the Milkmen Tuesday through Thursday. Josh Hendrickson will start the series opener Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. Monarchs fans can hear the game on The Bet KC 1660 AM and the Audacy app.

KANSAS CITY MONARCHS SINGLE SEASON STRIKEOUT RECORDS (2003-25)
1141Julian Garcia2025
2140Tommy Collier2018
3139Jon Krysa2004
4130Jon Krysa2005
5129Jon Krysa2006
6115Julian Garcia2024
7114Gabe Perez2017
8113Brian Grening2012
113Matt Hall2022
101093 Tied

Canaries Out-Slug Monarchs To Even Series

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Ryan Leitch went 4-for-4 and Robbie Glendinning notched five RBIs, but it wasn’t enough for the Kansas City Monarchs Saturday. The Sioux Falls Canaries topped Kansas City 15-10 from Sioux Falls Stadium to level the teams’ series at a game apiece.

Kansas City fell behind 12-3 after four innings. They cut the Canaries lead to two in the sixth but didn’t get closer than that.

Glendinning hit his team-leading 16th home run of the season in the fifth inning. Leitch and Blake Rutherford each drove in two runs in the losing effort.

The Monarchs (46-34) remain tied for second in the American Association West, six games back of first place Sioux City.

Jabari Henry led the way for Sioux Falls offensively. The American Association’s all-time home run king homered twice, launching a two-run shot in the first inning and a three-run blast in the fourth.

Henry’s second homer chased Monarchs starter Patrick Pridgen from the game. Pridgen allowed eight runs (seven earned) in 3.1 innings of work.

Sioux Falls added four more runs in a seven-run fourth inning to take a nine-run lead. Kansas City rallied for two in the fifth on Glendinning’s home run and plated five more in the sixth.

The Canaries scored the game’s final three runs on homers from Calvin Estrada and Matt Ruiz, who went 3-for-4 with four RBIs out of the nine spot in the Sioux Falls order.

Canaries starter Cade Torgerson got the win after throwing five innings with five runs allowed.

UP NEXT

The finale of the teams’ three-game set is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 4:05 p.m. Julian Garcia will pitch for Kansas City against Sioux Falls’ Cole LaLonde. Fans can hear the game on The Bet KC 1660 AM and the Audacy app.

Jorge Bonifacio

Bonifacio Stays Hot, Monarchs Win Extra-Inning Thriller

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Jorge Bonifacio

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Jorge Bonifacio hit his fourth home run in five games on a 3-for-5 night at the plate to push the Kansas City Monarchs to a 10-inning 4-2 win over the Sioux Falls Canaries Friday night from Sioux Falls Stadium

The former Kansas City Royal was a triple shy of the cycle in the effort. His solo home run in the top of the 10th provided key insurance for Kansas City in the series-opening win.

All three of the former major leaguers in Kansas City’s lineup had big nights. Blake Rutherford went 2-for-5 with an RBI out of the cleanup spot. John Nogowski finished the night 3-for-4 with an RBI of his own.

The win moves Kansas City (46-33) a game closer to Sioux City for first place in the American Association West Division. The Monarchs are tied with Fargo-Moorhead for second place, five games back of the Explorers.

Bonifacio sparked the Monarchs offense early, lining a double to left in the first inning. Rutherford singled him home one batter later.

The Monarchs doubled their lead in the fourth on a pair of doubles by Rutherford and Nogowski.

Monarchs starter Ashton Goudeau retired the first nine men he faced before Joe Vos homered to lead off the fourth. Vos’ second home run as a pro made it a 2-1 game.

Goudeau exited after five innings of work, allowing one run on two hits. He walked one and struck out five.

Canaries starter Ryan Zimmerman tossed seven innings of two-run baseball, allowing six hits and one walk with six strikeouts.

Cruz Noriega threw scoreless sixth and seventh innings in his second outing as a Monarch.

Sioux Falls tied the game in the eighth on an RBI single by Josh Rehwaldt off Kansas City relever Steffon Moore. Moore prevented further damage, striking out Peter Zimmerman with two men in scoring position to end the threat.

The game went to extras after a scoreless ninth. Jeff Hakanson retired three of the four men he faced in the inning for Kansas City.

Micah Pries drove in bonus runner Josh Bissonette with a sacrifice fly to give the Monarchs a 3-2 lead in the top of the 10th. Bonifacio’s two-out home run provided key insurance.

Hunter McMahon pitched a 1-2-3 10th inning to earn his 10th save.

UP NEXT

Kansas City and Sioux Falls meet Saturday evening at 5:35 p.m. for the middle game of their three-game series. Cade Torgerson will start for the Canaries against Kansas City’s Patrick Pridgen. Fans can watch the game on AABaseball.TV and Facebook Live.

Monarchs Grit Out Series Win Over Dogs

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Two stellar ninth-inning catches preserved a clutch rubber game win for the Kansas City Monarchs.

The Monarchs outlasted the Chicago Dogs 4-3 at Legends Field on Thursday night. Hunter McMahon retired the heart of Chicago’s lineup in the ninth to earn his ninth save of the season.

The Kansas City, Missouri native retired reigning league Player of the Year Jacob Teter on strikes. Yoyner Fajardo flashed the leather with a sliding catch in center field for the second out.

Left fielder Jorge Bonifacio crashed into the Home Run Patio wall to clamp the final out.

“I said ‘he’s still got it?’” said outfielder Micah Pries. “He’s great out there.”

Pries guided Kansas City (45-33) to an early lead after two innings. The powerful right fielder lifted a solo home run to right field to tie the ballgame at one in the first inning.

The round-tripper was Pries’ fourth with the Monarchs.

“I was looking for a pitch to drive. I put my best swing on it,” Pries said.

Bonifacio went on to score a go-ahead run later in the frame on a wild pitch to make it 2-1.

Pries boosted the lead to 3-1 with a two-out single in the second inning.

The Dogs (40-38) came back with a vengeance. Back-to-back home runs from Reggie Pruitt Jr. and Jacob Teter tied the game at 3 in the third inning.

Right-hander Blake Goldsberry (5-1) nailed the Dogs down from there. The Monarchs starter completed a quality start with three consecutive scoreless innings.

Goldsberry finished with six innings of three-run ball. The former Jayhawk struck out four in the win.

The Monarchs manufactured a go-ahead run in the fifth. Robbie Glendinning provided a sacrifice fly for his team-leading 52nd RBI of the season and a 4-3 KC lead.

“We have a great group of guys,” Pries said. “We’re working hard for each other every day.”

Kansas City’s bullpen dazzled again with three scoreless innings. Leam Mendez, Steffon Moore and McMahon combined to earn a gritty victory.

The win clinched a 4-2 home stand against two playoff contenders. The Monarchs won a rubber game over the Sioux Falls Canaries on Sunday.

“These wins are important to get the vibes high,” Pries said. “Everyone top-to-bottom did a great job tonight.”

UP NEXT

The Monarchs embark on a nine-game road trip on Friday night against the Sioux Falls Canaries from Sioux Falls Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 pm. Fans can listen live to all 50 road games on The Bet KC 1660 AM.



Fajardo’s Spirited Effort Not Enough Against Dogs

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. A furious late rally wasn’t enough for the Kansas City Monarchs on Wednesday night. The Chicago Dogs defeated the Monarchs in an offensive explosion, 10-8, at Legends Field.

Yoyner Fajardo had a breakout performance. The outfielder finished 3-for-4 with his first two Monarchs RBIs.

Fajardo started the comeback effort in the ninth inning with a 405-foot solo home run to make the game 10-6. Jorge Bonifacio and Robbie Glendinning each knocked in runs to bring the tying run to the plate, but Dogs closer Jacob DeLabio finished the game out. 

Windy conditions early turned the game into an early barn burner. The teams combined for eleven runs in the second, third and fourth innings.

Chicago (40-37) started the scoring with a two-run home run by Chance Sisco in the second inning. Ross Adolph cut into the lead in the bottom half, drilling an RBI single to center field. Adolph finished 2-for-4.

Both teams traded three runs in the third inning, highlighted by gargantuan home runs.

Chicago’s T.J. Hopkins demolished a three-run home run to make it 5-1. Glendinning launched a 421-foot two-run shot to hedge the Dogs’ lead to 5-4.

The Dogs added two more runs off a two-run double by Brantley Bell in the fourth inning.

Kansas City’s (44-33) bullpen quelled Chicago’s early scoring in the middle innings. Jeff Hakanson dealt two scoreless innings, debutant Cruz Noriega hung a zero in the eighth inning.

Chicago piled on three late runs in the ninth inning, which proved to be just enough.

UP NEXT

The Monarchs and Dogs finish their season series in an important rubber match on Thursday at 6:35 pm. Blake Goldsberry opens for Kansas City against Chicago’s John Baker.

Cruz Noriega

Monarchs Sign Former Royals Triple-A Prospect

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Cruz Noriega

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Cruz Noriega is going from the Royals organization to the Kansas City Monarchs. 

The 27-year-old right-hander has struck out close to a batter per inning in his professional career, which took him to Triple-A Omaha earlier this season. He’ll be available out of the bullpen for the Monarchs Wednesday night at home against Chicago. 

“We’re excited to welcome Cruz Noriega to the ball club,” Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra said. “He’s another high-velocity guy who could fit in in a couple different roles for us. He’s got some high-level experience, a good pedigree.”

Noriega features a mid-90s fastball and a plus changeup. Calfapietra said he could throw multiple innings out of the bullpen or serve as a spot starter down the road.

Born in Porlamar, Venezuela, Noriega is in his sixth professional season. His time with the Monarchs will be his first action outside of the Royals system.

Noriega made his pro debut in the Dominican Summer League in 2018 and moved to the Arizona League in 2019. After missing the 2020 season because of the Pandemic, he made his Single-A debut in 2021. Noriega posted a 3.97 ERA that year in 17 games (11 starts).

After missing the 2022 season with injury, Noriega returned at High-A Quad Cities and earned a 3.12 ERA over 20 games (6 starts). He moved up to Double-A Northwest Arkansas the following season. 

Noriega split 2025 between Double-A and Triple-A, striking out 9.5 batters per nine innings across 27 appearances, all but one in relief. 

The Monarchs (44-32) sit in second place in the American Association West. They host the Chicago Dogs Wednesday and Thursday at Legends Field before embarking on a nine-game road trip starting Friday.

Bonifacio’s Two Bombs Guide Monarchs Past Dogs

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Jorge Bonifacio’s power pushed the Kansas City Monarchs to a Tuesday night win at Legends Field. The Monarchs slugger launched two home runs in a 6-3 win over the Chicago Dogs.

The former Kansas City Royal now leads the team with 14 home runs this season, 11 of which have come at Legends Field. Bonifacio has reached in all 37 home games, which leads the American Association.

“I come everyday with a plan to have fun,” Bonifacio said. “Joe [Calfapietra and hitting coach Christian Colón] support me well and know how to get me ready.”

Bonifacio’s first came in a 2-0 game in the second inning. He launched a Dwayne Marshall (1-3) fastball out of Legends Field for a 385-foot two-run bomb.

“I got a breaking ball and put a good swing on it,” Bonifacio said. “It tends to go out [when I do that].”

His second blast came in the fifth inning. The 32-year-old crushed a solo shot into the left-field bullpen to make his second multi-home run game of the season.

The Monarchs (44-32) snatched the lead early. John Nogowski lifted a two-run single to right-center field in the first inning.

Chicago (39-36) fought back with three unanswered runs in the third and fourth frames. Reggie Pruitt Jr. drove in two, including a solo home run in the third.

Monarchs starter Julian Garcia found his composure from there. The All-Star delivered eight strikeouts in six innings. Garcia (7-2) now leads the American Association with 127 punchouts this season.

“When our pitchers give us a chance to score runs, it’s awesome,” Bonifacio said.

The Kansas City bullpen dominated to keep the lead afloat.

Steffon Moore hurled a pair of strikeouts in a scoreless inning. Debutant Austin Becker delivered a 1-2-3 eighth inning.

The scoreless frames allowed the Monarchs to add one more insurance inning for closer Hunter McMahon. Robbie Glendinning demolished his 14th home run to left-center field to make it 6-3 Monarchs in the eighth inning.

McMahon (8) struck out two, including reigning league MVP Jacob Teter, to close the win.

UP NEXT

The Monarchs look to wrap up a series victory on Wednesday night at 6:35 pm. Left-hander Josh Hendrickson starts for Kansas City.

Glendinning’s Walk-Off Clinches Series Win

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. – Robbie Glendinning gave a playoff-like contest the finish it deserved.

Glendinning’s walk-off single in the ninth inning clinched a 5-4 series-clinching victory for the Kansas City Monarchs over the Sioux Falls Canaries Sunday afternoon at Legends Field.

The win moves Kansas City (43-32) into second place in the West Division and five games back of first.

Glendinning came up with Micah Pries at second and two outs. The slugger ripped a 101-mph base hit to score the winning run, his team-leading 47th RBI of the season.

“It feels good to get the series,” Glendinning said. “We’ve been playing a lot of close games recently.”

The contest turned into a mini home run derby early.

Jorge Bonifacio launched his 12th round-tripper of the season to tie the game at one in the third inning. The bomb was Bonifacio’s ninth homer at Legends Field.

Blake Rutherford tagged a two-run blast to left field in the fifth inning. His fifth home run of the season lifted Kansas City to a 3-1 lead.

Right-hander Ashton Goudeau excelled on Sunday. The former major leaguer punched out 10, his most strikeouts as a Kansas City Monarch in his three seasons with the team.

Sioux Falls (42-32) flipped the script in the sixth inning. Back-to-back home runs on consecutive pitches by Calvin Estrada and Jordan Barth gave the Canaries a 4-3 advantage.

“They’re a good team with a great lineup,” Glendinning said. “We knew they were going to fire back and give our pitchers a chance.”

Bonifacio did just that in the bottom of the sixth. The former Kansas City Royal rifled an RBI single to right-center field to equalize at 4.

Bonifacio finished 2-for-5 with the two RBIs on Sunday.

The Monarchs bullpen dominated to keep the game tied. Patrick Pridgen worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning. Leam Mendez delivered a 1-2-3 eighth inning.

Hunter McMahon (2-1) set the Canaries down in the top of the ninth with two strikeouts.

Pries leveled a leadoff single in the ninth and advanced to second on a productive groundout by Bonifacio.

Glendinning smacked in the series-clinching run off Canaries’ closer Charlie Hasty (0-1).

UP NEXT

The Monarchs prepare for a 2023 Miles Wolff Cup rematch against the Chicago Dogs on Tuesday night. First pitch for a three-game series is 6:35 pm.

Hard-Throwing Reliver Becker Joins Monarchs

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KANSAS CITY, Kan. – A flamethrowing reliever is set to join the Kansas City Monarchs in a pivotal playoff push.

The Monarchs announced the signing of 25-year-old right-hander Austin Becker Sunday afternoon. Becker is eligible for his Kansas City debut against the Sioux Falls Canaries at 1:05 p.m.

Kansas City enters Sunday with a 42-32 record. The Monarchs are six games back of the best record in the American Association.

Becker joins the Monarchs from the Colorado Rockies organization. He delivered an impressive 32 strikeouts in 27.1 innings for the High-A Spokane Indians this season.

“He has high velocity with a good breaking ball,” said Monarchs eighth-year manager Joe Calfapietra. “That combination has given him a high strikeout rate. We think that combination can be effective here.”

Becker’s mid 90s fastball helped him rack up a career-best 46 strikeouts in the Rockies’ system this season.

A Westerville, Ohio native, Becker was drafted in the 16th round in 2022. He quickly showed how volatile his stuff was with an 11.4 K/9 in his first season within the organization for the Single-A Fresno Grizzlies.

Calfapietra compared the former Texas Tech Red Raider to a fellow Monarchs reliever: Jeff Hakanson. Hakanson joined the Monarchs from High-A Bowling Green in August 2024 and quickly emerged as the team’s closer. He’s now delivered an impressive 3.43 ERA in 2025.

“It’s around the same kind of time frame when we added Hakanson,” Calfapietra said.

“If Becker works out and gives us what Hakanson gave us last year, I’d be very happy.”
Becker was the No. 1 recruit in Ohio by Perfect Game’s Class of 2018. He spent time at Vanderbilt before transferring to Tech in 2020.

Injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic limited his time in the NCAA.