Sleeper of the Week

The closer carousel keeps turning, and nowhere in the major leagues does it spin faster than in Kansas City, where we’re reminded of the climactic scene in the Alfred Hitcock classic, Strangers on a Train. In case you missed it, Mike MacDougal, named the team’s stopper only a few days ago, is out again, Jeremy Affeldt is still on the shelf, and the job now belongs to Ambiorix Burgos.

If you’ve never heard of Burgos, you can certainly be excused. The 21-year-old has just one big league inning under his belt (in which he gave up one hit against the White Sox, striking out one). Last year, the righthander spent the season at A-level Burlington, going 7-11 in 26 starts.

Yet while he lacks experience, Burgos certainly seems to have the right makeup to close … and the fastball. In 2004, he fanned 172 batters in 133.2 innings pitched, or 11.6 per 9 with a 2.29 K/BB ratio. This year, in his first eight innings of work at Wichita (AA), more than two thirds of the outs he recorded came via strikeout.

The Royals are highly impressed with Burgos’ potential, so much so that it’s not inconceivable that he’ll remain the closer even when Affeldt returns. If Burgos struggles, however, they certainly won’t hesitate to send him back down to the farm for seasoning. For now, pick him up if you have a roster spot available, particularly if you were hoping for saves from MacDougal.