Power Carries Chris DeVito To a Quick Promotion

The Royals signed first baseman Chris DeVito as an eighth-round pick in 2016 out of New Mexico. He didn’t take long to make his mark in pro ball this season.

The 22-year-old DeVito, who bats lefthanded, began the season at low Class A Lexington but earned a quick promotion to high Class A Wilmington. He hit .347/.374/.702 with a South Atlantic League-leading 11 home runs in 30 games prior to the bump.

“He’s really had an unbelievable start,” assistant general manager J.J. Picollo said. “We knew he had power. For guys who have that tool, it’s all about trying to access that tool. But he did a great job.

“He did it with some guys around him who were struggling, and he still remained patient. He was waiting for his pitch, and when he got that pitch he wasn’t missing it.”

DeVito, who hails from the same Chatsworth (Calif.) High program as Mike Moustakas, slugged 16 home runs as a college junior and picked up the moniker “The Red Hercules.” A catcher at New Mexico, he shifted to first base only as a pro.

Wilmington’s Frawley Stadium will be more of a challenge for DeVito and his plus power. It’s one of the most extreme pitcher’s parks in the minors, but for whatever reason, it played more neutral last season.

“This is where a park like that will help us access his hitting ability,” Picollo said. “He’s going to hit some home runs there, but he’s going to have to be more of a complete hitter and hit the ball the other way.

“It’s a big ballpark and we don’t want him necessarily thinking about hitting home runs. We want him to learn more how to hit, so that park should help that development.”

DeVito, who is listed at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, is beginning to feel more comfortable at first base, but he needs to improve his agility and flexibility.

— Alan Eskew is a writer based in Missouri