SURPRISE, Ariz. — As he enters his sixth year in the Kansas City Royals organization, Kailua native and 'Iolani product Kila Ka'aihue is hoping for few surprises and more success in the future.

Ka'aihue has grown accustomed to bizarre occurrences recently after suffering setbacks in the form of a torn patellar tendon in 2006, and a puzzling demotion last season.

"We'll see what happens," said the 23-year-old first baseman as he prepared for an afternoon workout at the Royals' spring training complex in Surprise, Ariz., roughly 25 miles northwest of downtown Phoenix.

After successfully rehabilitating his knee two seasons ago, Ka'aihue spent 103 games at Double-A Wichita, where he struggled, hitting .199, and posting 15 doubles, six home runs and 45 RBIs. When he reported for camp last season, all signs pointed to a return to Wichita. However, the Royals decided to send Ka'aihue to High-A Wilmington (Carolina).

"They sent me down, and it was kind of a shock; I wasn't ready for that," Ka'aihue said. "But I made the best of it there, and when I (started producing), they moved me back up. I just went off."

In 130 games split between High-A and Double-A in 2007, Ka'aihue hit .248 and pounded 21 doubles, 21 home runs and drove in 82 runs, finishing second among Royals minor leaguers in home runs and RBIs.

Baseball America honored him as the hitter having the "Best Strike-Zone Discipline" among Royals farmhands. His progression led Kansas City to assign Ka'aihue to the Arizona Fall League, basically a Triple-A-caliber league for prospects on the cusp of making the big leagues.

"Things went well," Ka'aihue said. "When they sent me down (to start the year), I kind of thought I fell out of their program. But, when they told me to come to the fall league, it was a real confidence boost, and a good lead into spring right now. Fall league was fun. I played about two or three games a week, and did well up until the last week."

As a member of the AFL's Surprise Rafters, Ka'aihue racked up three doubles, three home runs and drove in 15 through 69 at-bats against some of the majors top prospects. He spent the little time remaining in the offseason working out, and focusing on impressing the Royals' player development personnel.

Kansas City general manager Dayton Moore said that Ka'aihue is "doing very well," and added that the slugger has great potential.

"This offseason, they told me to get stronger, and tighter as far as my body," said the 6-foot-3 Ka'aihue, who is listed at 230 pounds. "I worked hard on that this offseason, got stronger and lost some weight. I just feel good, and we'll see what happens.

"I hope I start off hot, and carry it as long as I can. It's always been my goal to get to the big leagues, so I'm going to stick with that."

The goal started at a young age.

Kila's father, Kala, played professionally, working his way up to the Triple-A level (Hawaii Islanders) in the Pittsburgh organization.

"I saw it when I was 5; this is what I wanted to do," Ka'aihue said. "I told everyone (when asked) what I wanted to do when I grow up, and I was writing (about playing baseball), and all my teachers thought I was crazy. But my dad played and coached at Triple-A, and I was always around it, so it's something that, I'm not going to say I'm born to do, but wanted to do growing up."

Kila's younger brother, Kala, is currently in Orlando for spring training as a member of the Atlanta Braves organization.

"He's going good; he's done real well ... he's probably going to start off in Double-A, in Jackson, Mississippi," said Kila. Kala also attended 'Iolani, and represented Atlanta when he came back home in 2006 as a member of the Honolulu Sharks of Hawaii Winter Baseball.

"We don't really compete because we're kind of just rooting for each other...I hope he makes it, he hopes I make it," said Ka'aihue. "Hopefully, we can play against each other up there, or play with each other some day. It's not a competition, it's more of a 'go get 'em' kind of thing."

In his six-plus years of criss-crossing the country in pursuit of his major league dream, one might think Ka'aihue would be anxious for a relaxing "offseason" in Hawai'i.

"Not really," he said. "I was excited to get back (to Hawai'i and visit), but it's easy to get lazy over there and forget about everything. I've got a daily plan; I'm working out here, so I'm not even worried about what's going on at home."