Baseball America recently updated their list of players with age changes, adding Angel Berroa among others. Berroa gained two years, so he will celebrate his 25th birthday in January. Oakland signed Berroa out of the Dominican Republic as a nondrafted free agent and traded him to Kansas City as their major contribution in the three-way Johnny Damon trade of 2001.

Berroa has been considered one of the top shortstop prospects in the game due to his speed and power potential, although he's yet to demonstrate good plate discipline. The Royals started him at A+ Wilmington in the Carolina League last season, then promoted him to AA Wichita in the Texas League before a September call-up.

He really needs a full season at AAA before he'll approach major league readiness, and this age adjustment means he's strapped for time. This season at AAA Omaha in the Pacific Coast League, Berroa's hitting .235 with a .276 OBP and .419 SLG in 136 AB on 32 H, 3 2B, 2 3B, and 6 HR with a 6:37 BB:K and 4/7 SB%. Unfortunately, he appears to need a lot of work on his strike zone judgment and has just lost the time he needed to spend developing his plate discipline. Berroa's upside just plummeted from potential star shortstop to journeyman middle infielder.

Kansas City placed Jeremy Affeldt on the disabled list in mid-June, retroactive to June 9th. Affeldt is suffering from blister problems like many pitchers this season. He had almost finished his rehab when he cracked the nail on the middle finger of his left hand. The Royals will consider activating him if he successfully makes another rehab start next week.

Shawn Sedlacek replaced Affeldt on the roster. Sedlacek has joined the rotation and pitched fairly well for the Royals. In 24.1 IP over three starts, he has a 13:7 K:BB with 18 H and 2 HR allowed. Kansas City drafted Sedlacek out of Iowa State University in the 14th round of the 1998 draft. He's moved steadily through the minors, working as a right-handed starter. The 25-year-old isn't overly dominant but his other skills are solid. He began this season at AA Witchita, but after a short time moved up to AAA Omaha where he posted a 66:15 K:BB in 80.1 IP with 67 H and 6 HR allowed. Another stint in AAA wouldn't hurt, though he should also be ready to learn his remaining lessons in the majors. If his strikeout rate remains relatively low, the Royals should consider moving him to the bullpen.

The Royals placed Donnie Sadler on the DL in mid-June with a strained left hamstring. He injured the leg running the bases in a June 12th game against the Marlins. He began a rehab assignment earlier this week and should rejoin Kansas City sometime in the week after the break depending on his progress.

Alexis Gomez replaced Sadler on the roster but was recently demoted to make room for Kris Wilson. Gomez went 2 for 10 with 2 K in his limited playing time. The 21-year-old has a little speed and seems to be developing some power, however his plate discipline has dropped through the floor the last two seasons. Gomez had no AAA at-bats prior to his major league debut. In 244 AB at AA Wichita this season, he's hitting .320 with a .360 OBP and .484 SLG on 78 H, 11 2B, 4 3B, and 7 HR with a 16:40 BB:K and 22/35 SB%. I'd recommend he finish this season in AA and then spend at least a year at AAA before he's ready to think about working in a big league outfield.

Injuries have troubled Wilson this season, preventing him from pitching much. However, he pitched very well in his brief minor league outings. The 25-year-old could still develop into a productive member of the Kansas City rotation or bullpen.

The Royals made two other changes to their pitching staff in the last month. Kansas City sent down Jeff Austin when they activated Jason Grimsley from the DL, and sent Mac Suzuki through waivers to the minors in order to promote Mike Caruso.

Austin's moved into full-time relief work this season and has pitched quite well at AAA, although he didn't have a very good run while replacing the injured Grimsley in the majors. Grimsley has recovered from his strained oblique and returned to his bullpen job. If he could reduce the number of walks he allows, he might be an asset to the club, but right now the Royals should look through AAA for alternatives. Austin would probably be a better choice over the rest of the season.

Suzuki has gone from bad to worse this season and will be a AAAA pitcher until he can develop some consistent control. Caruso's 0-for-1 since his call-up, leaving me uncertain as to why the Royals added another middle infielder to the roster when there was already limited playing time available. The 25-year-old's BB:K hovers around 1, complemented by some speed skills, but there's nowhere for him to play unless they move one of their other middle infielders. He also keeps that BB:K elevated with few strikeouts as opposed to frequent walks.

Kansas City sent Donzell McDonald through waivers to the minors in order to make room for Aaron Guiel on the roster. McDonald didn't receive much playing time during his latest stint in the majors. He possesses good plate discipline and is fairly quick, but unless he puts together a hot streak in the minors and brings that streak to the majors, he's unlikely to move beyond AAAA outfielder status.

Tim noticed Guiel's AAA performance in May, commenting upon it in his monthly look at FAAB-worthy prospects and recommending the Royals promote him quickly. A month later Kansas City decided maybe they could use a player with 76 H, 11 2B, 1 3B, 9 HR, a 29:34 BB:K and 8/9 SB% in 215 AB at AAA Omaha for a .353 BA, .443 OBP and .540 SGL. Guiel continued to excel after his promotion and has 14 H, 4 2B, and 1 HR with a 4:9 BB:K and 0/1 SB% in 32 AB for a .438 BA, .500 OBP, and .656 SLG. Those last three numbers will likely begin to fall back to more realistic levels as he gets more at-bats, but his skills support lasting production.

Guiel's already 29, so Kansas City is likely receiving the best of his prime this season. However, there's nothing wrong with taking advantage of peaking minor league talent to fill out your major league roster. He should be in line to receive any additional playing time that opens up in the Royals' outfield.

In an update on yesterday's article, the Diamondbacks placed Todd Stottlemyre on the DL yesterday retroactive to June 28th. Stottlemyre underwent surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow. He'll miss a minimum of six weeks, though he's likely to be out longer with his injury history. Stottlemyre may be reaching a point where his combined problems make it impossible for him to stage a comeback.