There’s good reason to think that Kansas City Royals shortstop Mike Aviles is for real. He has hit the ground running in Kansas City after tearing up minor league pitching for the last five and a half seasons. Through 12 games, Aviles is hitting .333 with 3 home runs, 6 RBIs, 12 runs, 9 extra-base hits and a 1.051 OPS.

On Tuesday night, he added to his resume with a game-winning home run in the eighth inning off Cardlinals lefty Ron Villone.

Aviles produced big numbers in four different minor league stops, quickly working from rookie ball in 2003 to being the Royals’ minor league player of the year at Triple-A Omaha last season. He was even better this season, hitting .336 and ranking fifth in the Pacific Coast League in slugging (.631) at the time of his May 29 callup. 

And, here’s where Aviles is unique. Among the top 50 sluggers in the PCL, Aviles posted by far the lowest strikeout rate (23 in 214 at-bats). He was the most productive middle infielder in the league, and he arguably produced a better stat line than San Diego’s hyped rookie Chase Headley. 

Aviles: .336, 21 2B, 10 HRs, 42 RBIs, 1.001 OPS in 214 at-bats
Headley: .305, 24 2B, 13 HRs, 40 RBIs, .939 OPS in 259 at-bats

Aviles has played second base, third base and shortstop for the Royals, and he has landed in the team’s No. 2 hole, in front of formidable power threats Alex Gordon and Jose Guillen. He is in good position to see pitches, and he is punishing them with regularity.

Trying to think back of rookies who debuted and hit in prominent spots in their teams’ lineup. Surely, I’m forgetting several people here, but the only names I can think of are Ryan Braun and Jay Bruce in the last few seasons. Aviles isn’t either one of those guys, but he’s producing like it in the early going.

The bottom line is, if Royals manager Trey Hillman thinks Aviles is good enough to throw right into the fire, we should take it as a great sign.

Fantasy Spin
I would highly recommend Aviles in fantasy leagues, if anything because the shortstop position is so thin. Any glimpse of a high average-good power combination there should be considered for an immediate addition. Besides, Aviles has all the makings of a “fantasy sensation,” you’d hate to miss out on that, wouldn’t you?

Dustin Hockensmith is editor of ImaginaryDiamond.com. He can be contacted at dhockensmith[at]fantasysports101.net.