If his first season of professional baseball is any indication, Rusty Begnaud has a productive career ahead of him.

Begnaud, who signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Royals organization this summer, was named the Royals' Arizona League Pitcher of the Year after going 4-3 with a 3.74 ERA and one save in 14 games for the Arizona Royals.

Begnaud is among the minor leaguers flown to Kansas City today to be honored by the organization before Thursday's Royals game with the Chicago White Sox.

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"It went really well," said Begnaud of his summer in Rookie League ball.

Begnaud also pitched one game for the Burlington (Iowa) Bees, a low Class A team in the Royals organization.

"I stayed there for a few days and had one chance (to pitch) when I got there, and I threw really well," said Begnaud.

The Royals will introduce the Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year for each of the club's seven minor league teams before Thursday's game. Begnaud and the others will be treated to lunch at George Brett's restaurant before the game.

Brett, a Hall of Famer who spent his entire 21-year career with the Royals, is slated to have lunch with the group.

"It's going to be pretty exciting to meet somebody of his caliber," said Begnaud.

He also will meet with some important people in the organization.

"We're going to have dinner with the G.M. and farm director and all those people, and get to know them a little bit," said Begnaud.

But he's already made a positive impression, as the award he was chosen for shows. In 10 starts and four other appearances, he showed good command of his pitches and a good head for the game, he was told.

"My pitching coach really liked the fact that I throw strikes and that I know how to pitch," said Begnaud. "I don't just go out every fifth day and throw the ball. He really likes the fat that I know how to mix speeds and control the game."

The move to Burlington was a positive sign, and maybe an indication that the former New Iberia Senior High and McNeese State pitcher could start next season there.

"I'll go to spring training in March, and when camp breaks in April, I'm not sure where I'll be," he said. "Maybe in low A, I hope high A, but I'm not sure. Probably low A because that's where they sent me (at the end of the rookie league season)."

Begnaud walked only 10 while striking out 75 and allowing 71 hits in 65 innings with Arizona. Still, it was a long summer, after playing all spring with the Cowboys, for whom he finished fifth all-time in wins, second in innings pitched, third in strikeouts and sixth in appearances.

"They just want me to rest," said Begnaud. "Including college I threw right at 170 innings. That's the most I've ever thrown. They told me to rest, and after about a month start hitting the weights."

Then it's back to spring training, and to whichever team he begins the year with. Whichever one, he appreciates the chance he's getting.

"Overall it was great," he said. "You're playing a kids' game, and making a living doing it.

"But the greatest thing I got out of it wasn't even on the field. I was playing with guys from all over the world - Panama, the Dominican Republic. I was learning about their culture, how they learned the game."