Baseball: Veneziano (3 K's) makes High-A debut

Former Warren Hills star Anthony Veneziano is eager to get a jump on a new Minor League season -- his first at the Kansas City Royals' High-A level -- with an uptick on his fastball.

The lanky left-hander made his 2021 debut for the Quad Cities River Bandits on Friday, logging 1 2/3 innings (51 pitches) with three strikeouts in his first start against the South Bend Cubs at Coveleski Stadium in Indiana. It was the fourth of a six-game set between the Midwest League teams.

Anthony Veneziano is a Washington favorite.

"I'm pretty excited," the former Coastal Carolina star and 1,000-point scorer who helped lead Warren Hills to a North 2, Group 3 sectional title in basketball said prior to his outing.

Veneziano, 23, who was selected by the Royals in the 10th round (No. 289 overall) of the 2019 MLB Draft, which featured rising star Bobby Witt Jr. as the club's No. 1 pick, is coming off a successful Minor League spring training and minicamp. 

"We have eight starters in a piggyback setup. I'll start and then the next [time out] I will come in behind someone," said Veneziano, who logged 164 strikeouts and posted a 0.74 ERA as a senior over his final three high school seasons. "I'll be on a max of 75 pitches [for the first start], as we build up, so hopefully that will be four or five innings."

Working with coaches after the 2020 season was wiped out due to COVID-19, Veneziano, who went 3-4 with a 5.59 ERA and averaged nearly a strikeout per inning for Rookie level Idaho Falls in 2019, feels like a new pitcher -- with increased velo.

"Being in camp, my velocity jumped up to 94-97 [mph] with adjustments," said Veneziano, now 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds -- plus 40 pounds from his school days. "Staying on my back leg longer makes [my delivery] more repeatable and helps to throw all my pitches for strikes. My command has been good.

"When I was in college, I was 88-92 with all arm. This helps me keep everything more together."

Veneziano is keeping it together off the field as well. 

Life in the Minors isn't nearly as swank as the Major Leagues. There are bus rides instead of chartered flights and no five-star hotel accommodations. The club will follow COVID protocols when on the road as players will only be allowed to stay with their designated hotel roommate and there's no eating at restaurants no matter that state's indoor dining policy.

"We will have Mondays off and the travel won't be too bad," said Veneziano, who got a pay bump from $337 every two weeks to $500 a week and shares a downtown apartment with two teammates and 2019 Draft class members -- right-hander Jonah Dipoto and lefty Drew Parrish.

Also on the Quad Cities roster are three highly regarded Royals prospects in lefty Asa Lacy, ranked as the club's No. 3 prospect by MLB Pipeline, shortstop Nick Loftin (No. 7) and power-hitting outfielder Seuly Matias (No. 17). Right-handers Zach Haake (No. 19) and Will Klein (No. 27) are also on the staff. Former Royals third-base coach Mike Jirschele and Triple-A Omaha manager is the bench coach for manager Chris Widger, a former Major League catcher who played for six teams, including the Yankees.

Lacy, who was the club's top pick (No. 4 overall) in the 2020 MLB Draft, has already made a good impression on his fellow southpaw.

"He has electric stuff," Veneziano said. "I was surprised Matias [31 homers on the Class A level in 2018 before a broken thumb derailed his '19 season at High-A Wilmington] is here."

Veneziano is also eager to play in his home stadium -- Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa. He already loves the town. The River Bandits make their home debut against Cedar Rapids on May 11.

"It's a good Midwestern area and its' not far from home [like Idaho Falls]. My mom [Leslie] hasn't seen me pitch in three years. The field is pretty cool. There's a merry-go-round and a go-kart track. I feel like I fit right in."

Veneziano is aiming for a promotion to the Double-A club in Northwest Arkansas at some point this season. He feels there's a strong opportunity with only three lefties on the current Naturals roster.

The Royals have shown they won't hesitate to promote their pitchers quickly through the organizational ranks. Right-hander Brady Singer and lefties Kris Bubic (2020) and Daniel Lynch (2021) have already made their big league debuts over the last two seasons since being drafted among the top 40 picks in 2018. Right-hander Jackson Kowar, the club's No. 4 prospect, could soon be next.

"[The Royals] have told me they like my stuff," Veneziano said. "I just need to keep throwing well and be consistent and repeatable."

There's no doubt he's ready for the next challenge.