The Royals have called up 27-year old lefty swinging outfielder Jarrod Dyson to replace Lorenzo Cain (D.L.) on the active roster. Dyson has played in 7 games in AAA-ball this year for the Royals and he is 12 for 33 (.364 avg, .885 OPS) with 7 runs scored, 0 homers, 2 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. Dyson played in 26 games for the Royals last year and he was 9 for 44 (.205 avg, .535 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 0 homers, 3 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. I don’t see Dyson getting much P.T. with the Royals this time around.

Last season, the Royals sent a lot of good rookie position players like Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas and Salvador Perez to the show in 2012. This is going to be the year that they bring their pitchers to the big leagues. Here’s a look at the six rookie pitchers who could make a splash for the Royals in 2012:

Mike Montgomery: 22-year old lefty Mike Montgomery comes into this season as the Royals’ #1 prospect. Montgomery pitched in 28 games (27 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 5-11 with a 5.32 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He has now pitched in 81 games (77 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 20-21 with a 3.43 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. Montgomery will pitch for the Royals at some point in 2012, if he gets his act back together after pitching poorly in 2011.

Jake Odorizzi: 22-year old righty starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi comes into this season as the Royals’ #4 prospect according to Baseball America. He was a key in the Zack Greinke deal two winters ago with the Brewers. Odorizzi pitched in 27 games (all starts) in A+AA-ball last year and he was 10-7 with a 3.73 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. He has now pitched in 73 games (61 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 19-16 with 1 save, a 3.70 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. Odorizzi could break into the Royals’ rotation at some point in 2012.

Kelvin Herrera: 22-year old righty reliever Kelvin Herrera comes into this season as the Royals’ #7 prospect according to Baseball America. Herrera pitched in 2 games (0 starts) for the Royals last year and he was 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He also pitched in 45 games (0 starts) in A+AA+AAA-ball last year in which he was 7-1 with 14 saves, a 1.60 ERA and a 0.84 WHIP. Herrera has now pitched in 79 games (23 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he is 18-7 with 15 saves, a 1.92 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. Herrera really has nothing left to prove in the minors, so I think he will be with the Royals at some point in 2012.

John Lamb: 21-year old lefty starting pitcher John Lamb comes into this season as the Royals’ #6 prospect according to Baseball America. He pitched in 8 games (all starts) last year and he was 1-2 with a 3.09 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. Lamb has now pitched in 50 games (all starts) in his first three years in the minors and he is 16-12 with a 2.86 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. Lamb had Tommy John Surgery last year, so he likely won’t pitch again until at least June. He could help the Royals late in 2012.

Jeremy Jeffress: 24-year old righty reliever Jeremy Jeffress comes into this season as the Royals’ #13 prospect according to Baseball America. He was also part of the bounty for Zack Greinke. Jeffress pitched in 14 games (0 starts) for the Royals last year and he was 1-1 with 1 save, a 4.70 ERA and a 1.50 WHIP. He has now pitched in 24 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 2-1 with 1 save, a 3.91 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. Jeffress also pitched in 25 games (11 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year in which he was 3-6 with 5 saves, a 5.50 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP. He has now pitched in 113 games (64 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 24-28 with 7 saves, a 4.22 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. Jeffress might be able to help the Royals’ pen in 2012, if he gets his act back together.

Everett Teaford: 27-year old lefty reliever/starter Everett Teaford comes into this season as the Royals’ #26 prospect according to Baseball America. Teaford pitched in 26 games (3 starts) for the Royals last year and he was 2-1 with 1 save, a 3.27 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP. He also pitched in 16 games (3 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 3-2 with a 3.34 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. Teaford has now pitched in 141 games (99 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 46-29 with 1 save, a 3.98 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Teaford could help the Royals as either a starter or reliever in 2012.

21-year old righty starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi came into this season as the Brewers’ #1 prospect. He was the key return in the Zack Greinke deal with Milwaukee over the winter. He has pitched in 23 games (all starts) in A+AA-ball so far this year and he is 9-6 with a 3.49 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. He has whiffed 135 batters already this season in 123 2/3 innings in the minors so far this year and he has only allowed 112 hits and 39 walks. Odorizzi has now pitched in 69 games (57 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 18-15 with 1 save, a 3.61 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP. He is likely on the fast track to Kansas City.

The Royals have called up 24-year old righty swinging 2B Johnny Giavotella. He came into this season as the Royals’ #18 prospect according to Baseball America. Giavotella played in 109 games in AAA-ball this year and he is 152 for 449 (.339 avg, .872 OPS) with 66 runs scored, 9 homers, 72 RBIs and 9 stolen bases. He has now played in 444 games in his first four years in the minors and he is 526 for 1,725 (.305 avg, .812 OPS) with 292 runs scored, 28 homers, 215 RBIs and 58 stolen bases. Giavotella will likely bump 27-year old lefty swinging 2B Chris Getz right out of the starting lineup. Getz has played in 97 games for the Royals so far this year and he is 90 for 351 (.256 avg, .600 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 0 homers, 24 RBIs and 19 stolen bases.

The Royals have recalled 30-year old righty swinging infielder Mike Aviles from AAA-ball to replace Wilson Betemit on the active roster. Aviles played in 47 games earlier this year for the Royals and he was 36 for 169 (.213 avg, .647 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 5 homers, 30 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. He was then sent to AAA and instead of moping down there, he played well. Aviles has played in 35 games in AAA-ball this year and he was 43 for 140 (.307 avg, .915 OPS) with 21 runs scored, 9 homers, 25 RBIs and 6 stolen bases. I have a feeling that the Royals will be showcasing Aviles for a trade to a team like the Pirates who could really use a player like him.