'We think highly of him': Veneziano impresses Royals

(Open Mike caught up with Anthony Veneziano shortly before he left for Spring Training in late January. Excerpts from that conversation were used for this story)

It's been a whirlwind five days for Anthony Veneziano as the former Warren Hills and Coastal Carolina University star left-hander shuffled between Triple-A Omaha and the Kansas City Royals.

Veneziano, who was called up to the Majors for the second time in his career to serve as the Royals' 27th man for Wednesday's doubleheader vs. the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field, did not see action in either game, though he was warming up in the 'pen late in Game 1.

Veneziano owns a 2.08 career ERA in 4 MLB outings

After being sent down to Omaha, by Major League rules, following the twin bill, Veneziano was summoned back to Kansas City on Saturday. He pitched one inning in relief in each the final two games of a series against the reigning American League champion Orioles before being returned to Omaha on Monday.  

Veneziano, 26, who's been working in a hybrid role after beginning the season as a starter for Omaha, yielded two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk to go with two strikeouts in two frames (45 pitches, 18 strikes) against the O's. But the Royals' No. 13 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, left a good impression during his most recent stint in the bigs.

"I think Anthony did a good job," Royals manager Matt Quatraro told Ryan Lefebvre during a pregame radio interview prior to Monday night's game against the Blue Jays at Kauffman Stadium. "That was the first time in his life that he's pitched back-to-back days -- not just pro ball or the big leagues. That's a learning experience for a guy that's been a starter his whole life and now he's in the bullpen, and coming up to do it in the big leagues.

"He handled himself well. We think highly of him. We think he can be somebody that can get Major League hitters out consistently going forward."

Veneziano, following a successful debut in the Majors at the tail end of 2023, began this season at Triple-A, where he's 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA in five appearances (two starts for the Storm Chasers). Veneziano, who ranked among Kansas City's Minor League leaders in wins (10, T-2nd), ERA (3.55, 4th) and strikeouts (127, 5th) in 2023,, has yielded six runs on 13 hits and six walks to go with 10 strikeouts in 13 innings in '24.

Veneziano, who went 10-5 with a 3.55 ERA and 127 K's across 132 innings in 26 appearances (25 starts) between Omaha and Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2023, entered Major League Spring Training in '24 with the mindset of being a starter. 

But he was also ready to do whatever was asked of him at Triple-A or in the Majors.

"They said be ready for any role," Veneziano said in late January. "Could be starter, could be long relief, could be back-end bullpen. It all depends on the situation."

Veneziano was an organizational All-Star in '23

In the offseason, Veneziano throws at Total Arm Care in Wharton, where pitchers from the Cardinals, Cubs and Pirates also train during the winter. He met there with Royals pitching coach Brian Sweeney around last Thanksgiving to catch up. Sweeney also wanted to see Veneziano in action, particularly throwing his bread-and-butter pitch.

"He watched me throw a bullpen and gave me some good feedback," Veneziano said. "He wanted to see some of the stuff with the slider, just kind of dialing in with the analytical numbers matching with what I'm feeling, with the slider especially. They want the slider to move seven inches. If you can chase that seven in the bullpen, every time, that's what [the Royals] want to see. They want the changeup to be the same. 

"In the big leagues, you have to throw all three, four pitches, consistently."

Veneziano, who gives back tirelessly to the Warren Hills community and beyond, said he also worked with high school players at Total Arm Care. Former Major Leaguer and Rutgers star Pete Zoccolillo, now the head coach at Mount Olive High School, owns the building. A connection was made through Veneziano's uncle, Joe, to train there in the offseason.

Last year, Veneziano said he was not used to working out of the bullpen, and admittedly more tired after games, especially mentally. But it turned out to be the perfect primer when he did get to the Majors for the first time last September, because he was able to study other reliever and how they want about their business. He made his MLB debut on Sept. 26 in Detroit.

"I didn't pitch the first four games so I got to see the process of the true relievers and what they did to get ready for a game, pregame, during the game, when their name's called and what to do. I took a lot of good information and [Royals bullpen coach] Mitch Stetter, I've known him. He's been on the Minor League side for awhile, and he's been super helpful. 

"So, I think I made the transition pretty easy. Obviously, everyone wants to be a starter, but whatever gets me to the big leagues, I am happy."