Orange County, CA - While our family continues to embrace the opportunity for John Lamb through eager eyes we must all take a deep breath and allow the time to expire
for proper strength and conditioning. Another trip to Arizona is still in the
immediate future to see spring training inside the Kansas City Royals complex. Meanwhile,
the wide varieties of emotion during these months leading up to the regular
season of baseball will simply take a back seat to the larger picture of my son’s
return to the game. The steps of recovery from last year’s season ending surgery
takes president right now to any mixed feeling. So be sure to look for the kid
roaming around the complex and say hi. I can assure you he does not bite and is
typically more than willing to sign items for baseball fans… especially kids. I can only hope for another picture with him
in Surprise, AZ to add with those from years past.
The video above was the fourth out recorded by John Lamb during a simulated game on March 24, 2011 in Surprise, AZ. The out was recorded against a future teammate Mike "Moose" Moustakas. Fairly certain that John and Mike have not played on any teams together during their Royals careers. All players in the video are deemed by many to be the Kansas City Royals top prospects in a talented farm system.
Laguna Hills, CA - The 2011 professional baseball Spring training days are dwindling down. Some teams have already left the Cactus of Grapefruit League facilities based on their schedules for their opening series. For example, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are scheduled to play at Dodgers Stadium tonight in the customary Freeway series here in Southern California. Some guys are continuing to compete for last minute roster spots on the 25 and 40 man rosters with only a few days left for the opening day of the 2011 Major League Baseball season. All teams are equal in the beginning throughout professional baseball. Just about everyone within the rookie level, class A, double A, triple A and the big leagues, whom are scratching and clawing their way up the ladder, is a bit on edge right now while they wait for their official assignments.
My son John Lamb is more than likely to be assigned to the Double A level, in the Texas League, with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals to further develop his professional baseball career. John got a taste of the big league camp this Spring as a non roster invitee for additional opportunity to learn and grow around the game. My son has made me smile throughout these early stages of his professional career path and we are looking forward to many more throughout this and coming seasons. So for now, nothing official, other than a current Naturals roster spot, can contradict my position on where John will begin the season for the Royals organization. Believe me when I say that there are plenty of things a 20 year-old could be doing other than playing at the Double A level in professional baseball and we are grateful for his opportunity and baseball development.
It was nice to get my first live action of my son playing in his third Spring training with the Royals since signing out of Laguna Hills High School following the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player draft. Life does not permit staying out in Arizona during his work but whenever the stars line-up to get a peek I make every effort possible to watch him throw. Travel has been a serious challenge for sometime now since my spinal injury back in 2009 and has drastically impacted my ability to see my son pitch during his professional baseball career so far.
John should be up again today following his last start in another minor league assignment, per his indication during our last visit. Despite the struggle of my painful spinal condition I managed to see him throw for the first time this year during game speed this past Thursday against and with other Royals prospects. I could not stop grinning with pride and excitement to see him work and throw against his fellow teammates. Good, bad or indifferent it was a good first for this Dad to see this year while his son continues living his dream around the game of professional baseball. Of course the recorded game where he pitched one inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a big league game gets an occasional replay on the home television for a smile, but nothing beats a live performance to fully appreciate his special experiences during his young career.
He physically looked great and said he feels good going into another full season assignment for the Kansas City Royals along side a large number of very talented prospects in the farm system. No mystery why there is a genuine buzz throughout the Royals camp with all the talent from top to bottom levels of development. With only a few days to conclude the 2011 Spring training work the Lamb family patiently waits for a call regarding work and the official announcement of John Lamb and his fourth year of assignments by the Kansas City Royals baseball club.
Laguna Hills, CA - The 2011 Spring training work for the Kansas City Royals took pause today to acknowledge their Double-A affiliate Northwest Arkansas Naturals. The Naturals captured the Texas League Championship last year by defeating the Midland Rockhounds, affiliate of the Oakland A’s organization, in the best of a five game series. Players and staff will celebrate during a ceremony at the Surprise complex this morning to collect their hardware for a successful professional baseball season. This special time for ring presentation should serve as proof to the Royals fan that winning ways are brewing though the farm system.
Photo credit - Dina Wathan Blevins
John Lamb continues his third Spring training assignment in the Cactus League, while having just recently been sent to the minor league portion of camp. Although we have had limited communication, I’m confident he is filled with excitement to collect another ring for his contributions on the baseball field. I share the joy from the West coast, during this celebration, as these young men take pause and continue to prepare for the next step in their professional baseball careers.
Unfortunately, my scouting schedule and ongoing health issues prevent me from being in the desert today to see my son and his fellow Naturals teammates receive their well deserved hardware. I’ll simply wait for the next ring ceremony with confidence that additional rings are in the future for the Kansas City Royals organization much sooner than most have predicted. Maybe it is parental optimism but only time will tell.
