Royals sport fashionable hats in batting practice

KANSAS CITY -- There was a new fashion touch to the Royals' uniforms during batting practice on Friday -- caps with the player's name across the crown and his number on the bill.

It was courtesy of Luis Mendoza's wife, Monica, who had a friend, Luis Esquer, make up the personalized caps in Mexico. She got similar caps for Mexico's players in the Caribbean Series last winter, and the team won the championship and her husband was the MVP.

Perhaps the gesture will bring luck to the Royals as well.

"It's good for the rhythm and the harmony of the team," Mendoza said.

Indeed, the players wore them happily during practice and had some fun with them, too.

Somehow catcher George Kottaras' cap wasn't in the shipment so he borrowed pitcher Ervin Santana's cap. Not only that, he wore Santana's jersey during BP as well.

Presumably the guy wearing the Santana jersey on the mound Friday night against the Red Sox would be the real Santana and Kottaras would be behind the plate.