See Also: Greinke Called Up [Article].

Jonathan Roybal
Minor League News

Omaha Royals pitching phenom Zack Greinke is the Royals’ brand-new shiny red Corvette.  He burned up the highways and byways of the Class-A Carolina League in 2003 with a combined 15-4 record and 1.93 ERA in 23 starts for Wilmington and Wichita. Now he's getting his big league tune-up at AAA Omaha.

Greinke was the MLN 2003 Carolina League Player of the Year, and named to the USA Today/Sports Weekly Minor League All-Star team. Baseball America tagged him as KC’s number one son in the minors.

He wants to break loose and tear down the road for Kansas City. Right now, he’s getting a more judicious break-in period. In fact, they are reducing his starts and restricting his time on the mound by keeping him on a limited pitch count.

As Kansas City’s early season woes continue, many fans agree with Zack.  They believe that it may be time to bring up their little red Corvette.

The wisdom of those with the keys to the majors, however, to keep him in the testing phase seems to be the correct path for now.  While Greinke has been impressive and has not struggled, he is 0-1 with Omaha in 22.2 innings of work with a 2.78 ERA, and 16 Ks to his name (He is seventh in strikeouts on the O-Royals staff.).

Building a High Performance Engine

In his brief career, the 20-year old Greinke has proven that he has enough horsepower to pull through any obstacle that has been in his path.

His speedy run for the top hurling hill is especially astonishing when you consider that this is only his third year pitching full-time.

Zack was primarily a position player before he moved to the mound during his senior year at Apopka (Orlando, FL) High School. He has shown remarkably rapid development ever since.

Kansas City selected Greinke with their 1st round pick [6th overall] in the 2002 draft, but felt the youngster needed more experience after pitching only 12 innings between Rookie and Single-A ball that summer,

Then club did the unexpected by taking the high-stakes gamble of sending Greinke to play in the Puerto Rican League after the season ended.

Zack was the first player ever to come out of high school to play in the island's winter league, one that features talent comparable to Double-A or Triple-A.

While learning to sharpen his skills against grown men, some twice his age, Greinke put up a 2.45 ERA, with 14 strikeouts and just two walks in 25.2 innings pitched in Puerto Rico.

The winter seasoning paid off handsomely for the Royals when Zack returned in the spring.  His minor league assignment was to the Class A Carolina League.

Greinke started the 2003 season throwing flames for the Single-A Wilmington Blue Rocks, going 4-0 with a superb 0.67 ERA through five starts in April. Zack was clearly in command of the overmatched hitters he was facing, evident by his 27 strikeouts against only 3 walks.

The 6-foot 2-inch right-hander was able to reel off nine consecutive victorious decisions before his lone Carolina League defeat at Frederick on June 10th.

Zack finished his Single-A jaunt sporting an 11-1 record with a 1.14 ERA in 14 starts, which earned him a promotion to Double-A Wichita in July.

Aside from his other outstanding numbers from 2003, he gave up only 18 walks in 140 innings pitched.

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