Wil Myers ended his 2011 campaign with Double-A Northwest Arkansas in a 5-for-29 (.172) funk that dropped his season average to .254. Sure, the 20-year-old was young for the Texas League, but the Royals expected more from the talented right fielder who had breezed through two Class A stops in 2010, hitting .315/.429/.506 with 14 homers in a pair of pitcher-friendly leagues.

Myers restored some of his prospect luster in the Arizona Fall League, and the early returns this season have been equally encouraging. He and his Naturals teammates did not play Sunday as Northwest Arkansas' game against San Antonio got postponed, but on Saturday Myers went 4-for-5 with a homer, a double, five RBIs and two runs scored. He struck both extra-base hits, including a three-run home run, against Corpus Christi prospect lefthander Brett Oberholtzer.

Through nine games this season, Myers has gone 13-for-39 (.333) with three homers and three doubles. He hit eight homers all of last season as he dealt with a banged-up knee and a position switch from catcher.