Former KC Royals pitcher Brandon Finnegan and rest of KC Monarchs open season in Iowa
After winning another American Association championship in 2021, in 2022 the Kansas City Monarchs fell one game short of playing for their third league title in four seasons.
This year, they’re looking to reclaim the crown. And they appear to have a very talented roster with which to stake their claim.
The Monarchs, whose season begins Saturday on the road against the Sioux City Explorers, boast seven players with major-league experience.
That includes big names like former Royals and Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brandon Finnegan and veteran catcher Chris Herrmann, who spent parts of eight seasons in Major League Baseball.
Last season, the Monarchs’ team batting average of .293 during the regular season led the American Association. They also led the league in runs scored (696), home runs (165), on-base percentage (.384) and OPS (.889). KC’s pitching staff had the lowest regular-season ERA (4.40) and was tops in strikeouts (967) and WHIP (1.38).
Monarchs manager Joe Calfapietra likes how his club’s offseason roster additions are blending with the returning players.
“A lot of these guys were in the big leagues or in Triple-A just last year,” Calfapietra said. “The fans are going to be watching a high level of talent on an everyday basis, and it is exciting.”
The Monarchs, who finished the 2022 regular season with the best record (65-35) in the American Association, are also returning two familiar names in the outfield: Jacob Robson and Jan Hernandez.
Robson, who joined the Monarchs for the final month of the 2022 season, is a former Detroit Tiger who represented Canada in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Hernandez returns for his third year with Kansas City. He was a contender for the AAPB’s Player of the Year award before an injury sustained in the last month of the 2022 season. He finished with 71 RBIs in just 73 games.
Clubhouse chemistry figures to be a strength.
“Chemistry comes first. Once you have that, it will show on the field,” Hernandez said.
Robson agreed, noting, “Everyone’s story and route is different in indy (independent-league) ball, which makes it interesting. ... (Y)ou have to stay positive and rely on each other as a team.”
Hernandez said the team is excited to get the 2023 season underway. The team’s opener was to be Friday night in Iowa, but incoming weather forced a one-day postponement of festivities. The Monarchs and Explorers will play a doubleheader consisting of two seven-inning games starting at 5:05 p.m. Saturday.
“We are family and are excited because we get to play a game we love and are excited to play this year,” Hernandez said.
The Monarchs play three games in Sioux City. After Sunday’s series finale, it’s on to Indiana for a Tuesday-Thursday series against the Gary Southshore Railcats.
The Monarchs’ home opener is set for Friday, May 19 (7 p.m.) against the Sioux Falls Canaries at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kan. Call the Monarchs box office at (913) 328-5618 or visit monarchsbaseball.com for ticketing and other information.
