PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

Aviles, Hochevar Return With KC Royals Caravan

Published on January 9, 2009 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


OMAHA, NE - Shortstop Mike Aviles and starting pitcher Luke Hochevar, who both opened the 2008 season with the Omaha Royals and were quickly promoted to Kansas City, will be part of the Kansas City Royals Caravan's annual stop in Omaha. The 2009 Royals Caravan is presented by Fox Sports Kansas City.

The Caravan will hit town on Wednesday, January 14th, for a meet-and-greet session with fans from 7:00-8:00 p.m. at Hy-Vee, 10808 Fort St., hosted by KXSP, Big Sports 590. The Omaha Royals will host a luncheon for the Caravan visit on Thursday, January 15th from 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at the Livestock Exchange Building, 4920 S. 30th St., which is open to the public. However, limited space is available and reservations will be taken on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Lunch reservations are $15 for adults and $10 for children age 12-and-under. Each order includes two tickets to the Omaha Royals 2009 home opener on Friday, April 17th. For reservations, contact Jason Kinney at (402) 738-5104, or via email at jason.kinney@oroyals.com. Payment in advance is requested. Royals Caravan participants are:

Mike Aviles - Aviles was the 2008 Kansas City Royals Player of the Year and tied for fourth in the A.L. Rookie of the Year voting. He was also named to the Topps Rookie All-Star Team. The 27-year old hit .325, best among Major League rookies, with ten home runs and 51 RBI in 102 games for KC after being promoted from Triple-A Omaha, where he spent two-plus seasons. Note: while Aviles will attend Thursday's lunch, outfielder Mitch Maier will take his place at the Hy-Vee appearance on Wednesday night. Maier opened the 2008 season with Omaha, hitting .316 with nine homers and 41 RBI in 85 games. He was called up by KC on July 24, hitting .286 with nine RBI in 34 big league contests.

Luke Hochevar - Hochevar, the first overall pick in the 2006 draft, made just three starts for Omaha in 2008 before being called up by Kansas City. He was 6-12 with a 5.51 ERA in 22 starts in his first extensive big league action. At the University of Tennessee, he was the winner of the 2005 Roger Clemens National Pitcher of the Year Award and a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award, won by Royals third baseman Alex Gordon.

Frank White - The Kansas City Royals Hall-of-Famer and five-time A.L. All-Star spent 18 seasons manning second base for KC. White, who won eight Gold Gloves and was a member of the Royals 1985 World Series Championship team, is now a Royals television analyst on Fox Sports Kansas City.

Joel Goldberg - He joined the Royals organization in 2008 as the host of the Royals Live pregame and postgame shows, also serving as a reporter during Royals game broadcasts on Fox Sports Kansas City.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from January 9, 2009


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