Lamb featured in Baseball America...

We all have routines we seem to follow and one way to open your eyes quicker than that 3rd cup of coffee is to see your son's picture on the front page of the Baseball America website. John Lamb has received a little attention from his recent string of scoreless innings in the Advanced Class A level Carolina League playing for the Wilmington Blue Rocks. As of adding this post, the article can be found on the "quick links" portion of the Baseball America site or by using the link below the picture of John.

Baseball America - Prospect Hot Sheet

This year has provided his family and friends plenty of opportunity to smile during Lamb's first full season of professional baseball competition. Sure, he played last year in his first professional season after the 2008 auto accident injury that prevented him from playing his senior season in high school, but it was a short Rookie level year. We have smiled ever since his phone call home earlier this year which indicated the Kansas City Royals were allowing him to "break spring training camp" and similar smiles continue today with his name sitting on top of the ERA leader board throughout Minor League Baseball.



Getting brutally honest though, it really doesn’t matter where he is on the statistic boards or what uniform he is wearing today because my smiles are generated from knowing that my son is living his childhood dream of playing professional baseball, thanks to the Royals selection in the 2008 MLB draft.




Next Wilmington Blue Rocks start for Lamb is set for this Wednesday in Myrtle Beach against the Pelicans at 7:05 ET. Go catch the radio broadcast on the Blue Rocks website.



GO BLUE ROCKS!

Rocks bats and Lamb arm spark win in Virginia...

Woodbridge, VA - John Lamb and the Wilmington Blue Rocks had a game full of bang and glitter as they squared off against the Potomac Nationals. The Blue Rocks set the pace early by scoring five runs in the top of the first inning, which proved to be more than enough runs support for the teenage lefty, Lamb.

Lamb matched a season high for the length of his performance last night while he allowed only 3 hits, 0 runs, 10 strike-outs and 0 walks. The 10 Ks also matched his professional baseball career high totals and seemed to put an exclamation point on his recent acknowledgement by Baseball America’s mid season All-Star “honorable mention” award. The Kansas City Royals were the only Major League Baseball team to have 4 players mentioned by the Baseball America honor.



All but a couple of Blue Rocks had hits on "Independence Day" as they pounded the Nationals pitching staff to win by the final score of 13-4. The standouts were Eric Hosmer with two home runs and Salvador Perez with a 4-for-5 effort and a game high 4 runs batted in. Jamie Romak also had 4 hits as the Rocks sent a total of four out of the ballpark. Colon, Francis and Myers all had multiple hits during the lopsided game which allowed for some extra players to get involved, as well.
 
 
The Advanced Class A Carolina League contest was seen by more than 9,000 minor league baseball fans and surely most were happy to see it end for the second phase of fireworks following the game. Tonight’s win has positioned the Rocks on top of the standings and with their amount of talent it should be a productive balance to the season.

Lamb will have his last scheduled start as a teenager on Friday, July 9 at the Lynchburg to conclude the recent seven day road trip by the Wilmington Blue Rocks.
 
 
- - - James Lamb

Royal seats for the baseball family...

Friday, July 2nd, we were blessed with the VIP treatment by my son’s agency that represents him in the business of professional baseball. Earlier in the week we were contacted by the West Coast Sports Management, Inc. side of the Gersch Agency and invited to the opening night game of the Kansas City Royals series in Anaheim against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.




We had no idea of the VIP suite involved until the confirmation phone call indicated our seating arrangements. My wife, Colleen, John Valek, III, the young man staying with us from Florida, his new friend, Brooke Nelson and myself were overwhelmed with the gracious accommodations offered by the recent merger of the two sports agencies. We were also blessed with the opportunity to spend the evening with Bret Saberhagen, his family and some friends during the game.

We really appreciated the “royal” treatment for our family and friends. Thanks again to the Gersch Agency and the West Coast Sports Management group for their graciousness.



During the game it was announced on the Major League Baseball site by Dick Kaegel that John Lamb and recently called up teammate Wil Myers were accorded as honorable mentions to the Baseball America’s midsummer Minor League all-star game. With Lamb, Myers, Hosmer and Moustakas representing the Royals this makes the Kansas City organization the only team with four honors.




As of Friday, Eric Hosmer was batting .351 with 43 RBIs and 36 extra-base hits for Class A Wilmington. Mike Moustakas was batting .343 with 19 homers and 67 RBIs for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. John Lamb was 3-2 with a 1.77 ERA for Wilmington after being 2-3 with a 1.58 ERA for Class A Burlington. Wil Myers had 10 homers and 45 RBIs with a .289 average for Burlington and was just promoted to Wilmington.



Great job Royals farm system…the future looks very bright for the Blue Crew!
 
 
 
- - - James Lamb
 
Baseball Prospect Guide