KANSAS CITY, KS (KCTV/AP) -
The three Royals players were loose and jovial after playing before a sell-out audience at the K Sunday evening.
The three met with the media following their appearance in the All-Star Futures Game at Kauffman Stadium.
"It was definitely cool to be out there in front of the home crowd," said Wil Myers, a 21-year-old outfielder playing for the Royals in Triple A Omaha.
Myers and Jake Odorizzi dressed side-by-side Sunday afternoon in the corner of the Kansas City clubhouse, one they hope to inhabit soon on a more permanent basis.
The two prospects started for the U.S. team in the All-Star Futures Game, along with fellow prospect Yordano "Ace" Ventura, the starting pitcher for the World team.
"This is my second Futures Game, but this one is a little bit better, being in Kansas City," Myers said.
He hopes to get a bigger taste of it soon.
"I'd be lying if I said I didn't think about it every day, about coming up," Myers said, "but whatever the Royals want me to do is what I'll do."
Odorizzi said he was overwhelmed by the experience, but he said it will prepare him for his big-league debut. He said he was excited and thrilled to see such a large crowd pack the stands.
Odorizzi and Myers are both on the cusp of their shot at the big leagues, part of the latest in a wave of talent that has been advancing through one of baseball's best farm systems. The Royals have said they want them up this season, but nobody has been willing to divulge a timetable.
Odorizzi is 5-0 with a 2.83 ERA since a promotion from Double-A Northwest Arkansas to Triple-A Omaha. Myers is hitting .315 with 14 homers in only 48 games at Omaha.
"When they're down there in our league, in Triple-A, and you see them day-in and day-out going out and just crushing everyone, it's time to move on," Omaha manager Mike Jirschele said.
"There's nothing left to learn at that level," he said.
Myers admitted he had big butterflies before walking out on the field. The last time he was that nervous?
When he faced future Hall of Fame pitcher Roy Oswalt during a rehab assignment earlier this season. With prompting from the Royals staff, Myers told reporters about coming up to bat with the bases loaded.
"I was able to get good wood," Myers said.
That's an understatement. He hit a grand slam and garnered national headlines.
He will also treasure the memories from Sunday as he boards a bus later this week for a road trip.
"I definitely don't want to leave," Myers said.
As for expectations, Myers said he has none. He said he tries to avoid putting too much pressure on himself.
Royals Hall of Famer George Brett understands that the once-proud franchise has fallen on hard times, and that there have been few reasons to fill Kauffman Stadium over the years.
As the manager of the U.S. team, Brett did his best to change that.
That's why Odorizzi started the game - giving up a solo homer to Jurickson Profor in his one inning of work - and why Myers played all nine innings, going 2 for 4 and driving in three runs to help pace the U.S. team to a 17-5 victory over the World team.
"Since I'm the manager and the game is in Kansas City - Wil is Kansas City Royals property - he's going to get a chance to show off a little bit," Brett said with a smile.
Ventura also had big smiles when he was asked about hitting 100 mph on the K's radar gun. Ventura doesn't normally get to see the speed on his pitches, and he admitted he was paying attention.
Ventura praised Myers as a good hitter. Ventura is a string bean who hopes to add 10 to 20 pounds to his 170-pound, slender frame before coming up to the majors. He is still raw and working in Single A, but he too imagines one day coming to the big league.
He said he is focused on working hard. Ventura answered questions in a combination of English and his native Spanish.
Brett said he had a good time as the USA manager and how his players fought for him.
"It was a good game," he said. "I was really proud of the way they battled."
Copyright 2012 KCTV (Meredith Corp.) and Associated Press. All rights reserved.
