behind the dugout

Earlier this year I noticed that Kila Kaaihue again was assigned to the Kansas City Royals Double-A affiliate. While the team had recently changed names from Wichita to North West Arkansas Kaaihue was still a member.

Remembering that I had seen Kaaihue the last two seasons the thought of just another guy who can’t get pass the Double-A level came to mind. After all what more is there to be said about a guy who was entering his third year at the Double-A level and had a brother in the Atlanta Braves organization that had people talking.

In 2006 Kala Kaaihue hit a stunning 28 home runs as a 21 year old in the Braves organization. Kala had a solid average, drew a ton of walks and plain mashed the ball. His older brother Kila was on the other hand struggling hitting just .199 and knocking just 6 balls over the fence.

I can even remember some autograph seekers commenting on how they wished Kala was the Kaaihue that was with the Royals.

Even last season Kala outperformed his older brother hitting more home runs, with a higher average, and a stronger OPS.

This year things are a little different. The older Kaaihue has amassed 26 home runs between the Double-A and Triple-A levels compiling a mind boggling 1.087 OPS from a guy that many saw as nothing more then a middle of the road Double-A player.

Those numbers have taken some of the spotlight off of the younger Kaaihue who is still having a solid season, now at the Double-A level. Kala has hit 13 home runs with a .855 OPS.

I suppose we shouldn’t be too surprised at what we have seen. Baseball is unpredictable and after all it’s not like Kila was ever advanced for the level he was in. At just turning 24 in March he was not far off the track of a typical minor league prospect. Go back a few years and at the age of 22 he would have been considered young to already be at the Double-A level.

There will be debate whether Kila will be able to put these numbers up next year and if so where he fits into the Royals long term plans. The Royals currently have more then a few players on the big league roster who could figure to rotate between corner outfield, first base and designated hitter. That’s before you even throw in the guys currently assigned to Omaha.