KC Monarchs Update: Series win over Sioux Falls Canaries and finding footing
Kansas City Monarchs catcher Herbert Iser hugs infielder Bryan Aguilar after Iser hit a walk-off single against the Sioux Falls Canaries on Monday, June 10 from Hoglund Ballpark in Lawrence, Kansas. Photo: Chad Cushing / Kansas City Monarchs
KC Monarchs Update is our weekly look at what’s happening with hometown baseball heroes, both at Legends Field and on the road. Check out their season schedule here.
The league playoffs are still a ways away, but the Kansas City Monarchs are in a crucial stretch of their 2024 season.
The reigning American Association champions pulled out a series win over the first-place Sioux Falls Canaries this week, improving to 16-14 on the campaign.
Though the season is still young, Kansas City is finding its identity, both on the mound and at the plate.
CATCHING FIRE
After Monarchs catcher Chris Herrmann won the American Association Player of the Year award in 2023, the team had big shoes to fill behind the plate. Herbert Iser is emerging as a star at that position.
Iser is batting .298 on the season and .353 over his last 10 games. He has reached base safely in all seven of his appearances since May 30.
The Jamaican-born player also has a .989 fielding percentage with 11 assists from behind the plate. He delivered a dramatic walk-off single to give the Monarchs a 4-3 victory over Sioux Falls Monday night.
RELOADING THE BULLPEN
The Monarchs’ bullpen has arguably been their biggest strength in 2022, helping the club to the third-best ERA in the American Association (3.97). Kansas City added two more pieces to strengthen that group this week, including a former major leaguer.
AJ Alexy, who played in The Show with the Texas Rangers debuted with the Monarchs Sunday. He’s collected four strikeouts in three hitless innings. The right-hander is the fifth former major leaguer to play with the Monarchs in 2024.
Gabriel Ponce, a former Blue Jays prospect who played in Triple-A last year, also made his Monarchs debut this week. The right-hander from Arizona threw three critical innings, striking out five, in the Monarchs’ eventual 10-5 win over the Sioux Falls Canaries.
CRITICAL ROAD TRIP
The Monarchs hit the road for nine games over the next week-and-a-half against East Division foes. All Monarchs games are free to watch live at AABaseball.tv.
They play the Milwaukee Milkmen Friday through Sunday. The Milkmen are 16-13 on the season and won the league title in 2020.
The Monarchs travel to Geneva, Illinois to play the Kane County Cougars Tuesday through Thursday. Kane County is tied with Milwaukee for second in the East Division standings.
The road trip concludes with a rematch of last year’s Wolff Cup Finals as the Monarchs take on Chicago for a three game series.
Kansas City’s next home game is Tuesday June 25 from Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas.
Nolan Brooks contributed to this report.
