With their Triple-A team eliminated from the Pacific Coast League playoffs the Royals have called up pitching prospect Jake Odorizzi for his first taste of the big leagues.
Odorizzi was the Brewers’ first-round pick in 2007 and was traded to the Royals as part of the haul for Zack Greinke. He rated among Baseball America‘s top 100 prospects both this season and last season, and increased his stock this year with a very nice performance between Double-A and Triple-A.
In 145 total innings Odorizzi posted a 3.03 ERA and 135/50 K/BB ratio at age 22.
He’ll eventually be in the rotation, but Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star reports that the Royals will likely have Odorizzi get his feet wet with some bullpen work before potentially making a start or two.
Odorizzi is the last of the four players acquired for Greinke to arrive in Kansas City, joining Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain, and Jeremy Jeffress on the Royals’ roster.