Two of the Royals’ top draft picks are hitting up a storm. First baseman Eric Hosmer, their No. 1 choice in 2008, was leading all Minor League hitters with a .409 average for Single-A Wilmington with 42-for-110 through 32 games. He had 14 extra-bases hits including one homer and 21 RBIs. Third baseman Mike Moustakas, the first-round in 2007, was right behind at .408 (29-for-71) for Double-A Northwest Arkansas after missing the first three weeks with an oblique injury. He had nine doubles, six homers and 20 RBIs in 18 games. Those stats were through Monday.

Moustakas went 4-for-5 in the Naturals’ 7-3 victory over Tulsa on Monday. Left-hander Mike Montgomery held the Drillers to four hits and two walks in six innings and is 2-0 since moving up to Double-A. Moustakas, though, went 0-for-3 in Tuesday’s 4-1 win and he slipped to .392. . . . Shortstop Rey Navarro hit his first home run for Wilmington, his first since being acquired from Arizona in the Carlos Rosa trade, in a 6-5 win over Lynchburg. Catcher Salvador Perez celebrated his 20th birthday with a homer as well, his second. . . . Hilton Richardson’s two steals for Single-A Burlington in a 6-4 loss at Cedar Rapids gave him 12 in 13 attempts. . . . Jean Hinman, who works community projects through the Church of the Ascension in Overland Park, Kan., was in the Buck O’Neil Legacy Seat on Tuesday night.

–Dick Kaegel