The Kansas City Monarchs signed one of the most valuable players from last season’s roster on Aug. 3. Ryan Grotjohn returns to the Monarchs after leaving his mark on the club’s first season a year ago by being one of the biggest contributors to the team both at the plate and in the field.
Grotjohn made the jump from one Kansas City club to another after being signed by the Kansas City Royals after the conclusion of the 2021 American Association Playoffs.
Before beginning his time with the Royals, Grotjohn spent the winter playing for the Gigantes de Carolina in Carolina, Puerto Rico.
For the current 2022 season, Ryan Grotjohn spent his time playing for Royals AA affiliate, the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Springdale, Arkansas). Grotjohn appeared in 34 games, and totaled 68 at-bats. In those at-bats, he had 11 hits, two homers, nine RBI, two doubles, and has stolen nine bases.
Grotjohn played in 97 total games a season ago and finished the regular season by ranking top five on the team in 10 different offensive stat categories.
Grotjohn led the Monarchs in runs scored (76), triples (6), and hit by pitches (10). The versatile standout hit .328 (116-354) the entire season with 23 doubles, 11 home runs, and 63 RBI.
Defensively, Grotjohn played many positions, including third base, center field, left field, and right field, but he played the better majority at second base. He finished the season with a .966 fielding percentage, tallying 78 putouts, 91 assists, and helped turn 21 double-plays.
He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 10th round of the 2017 June Amateur Draft out of California State University, Bakersfield. In 2019 Grotjohn saw time at both high-A Visalia in the California League and AA Jackson in the Southern League.
Grotjohn had a four-year college career at Cal State Bakersfield. In four seasons he played in 184 games, hitting .302 (.302/.394/.413). He finished his career with four home runs and 89 RBI. His senior season in 2017 he finished second on the Roadrunners with 42 RBI while leading the team in doubles with 15. He also hit a team-leading .390 (.390/.459/.512) and led the team in hits (83) and runs (51) in his final season.
Grotjohn is a 2013 graduate of Brophy College Prep in Phoenix, Arizona where he hit .391 with four home runs and 33 RBI as a senior on the way to being named honorable mention All-State. He had seven doubles and a .477 on-base percentage in 2013 on a team that finished second in the state in 2012. Grotjohn also lettered in soccer and was a member of the BCP soccer team, which won two state championships and where he earned first team All-State honors. He also played club soccer in Spain
The Monarchs continue their three-game series tonight, Aug. 3, against the Kane County Cougars at Legends Field in Kansas City, Kansas. The first pitch is set for 7 p.m. and the game can be heard on the Monarchs Broadcast Network with the pre-game beginning at 6:30 p.m. and the video stream airing on aabaseball.tv.
Tickets to Monarchs games can be purchased by calling 913-328-5618 or by visiting monarchsbaseball.com.
- Story from Monarchs