Royals explore signing Luke Heimlich, who pleaded guilty to molesting niece

Kansas City Royals general manager Dayton Moore revealed Saturday that his organization is considering signing star Oregon State pitcher Luke Heimlich, who pleaded guilty to molesting his 6-year-old niece in 2012.

"We continue to seek information that allows us to be comfortable in pursuing Luke," Moore told Vahe Gregorian of The Kansas City Star this week.

"You try to be open-minded," the GM continued. "We're an organization that has constantly given players second and third chances."

Moore said Oregon State trains at the Royals' spring facilities in Arizona. Perhaps because of that connection, he said: "We feel like we know the player well."

Heimlich pleaded guilty when he was 15, but has denied doing what he admitted to. "I always denied anything ever happened," he told The New York Times in May.

The senior wasn't selected in this year's MLB draft despite being one of the top pitchers in the NCAA over his collegiate career. This season, Heimlich helped the Beavers reach the College World Series by going 16-1 with a 2.32 ERA and 151 strikeouts over 120 innings pitched.

The Baltimore Orioles reportedly discussed a deal with Heimlich after he went undrafted in 2017 following the original revelation of his conviction.