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Post by RoyalsGM on Nov 16, 2013 16:22:22 GMT -6
Prospects Acquired: Zeke DeVoss | 2B | CHC Prospect Ben Wells | RHP | CHC Prospect Wallace Gonzalez | OF | HOU Prospect Cody Buckel, RHP Jorge Alfaro, C Ronald Guzman, OF OF Kyle Parker (prospect) 1B Harold Riggins (prospect) SS Josh Rutledge (prospect) RHP Joel Payamps (prospect) Bryan Shaw (prospect) Kevin Gausman | RHP | LSU (BAL) Anthony Alford l OF l Petal HS (Blue Jays) Andrew Aplin OF HOU SS Trevor Story (COL) Phil Ervin | OF | Samford (CIN) Cord Sandberg l OF l Manatee HS (PHI) Rowdy Tellez l 1B l Elk Grove HS (TOR) Gleyber Torres | SS | ChC Jeffrey Baez | LF | CHC Casey Gillaspie | 1B | Wichita State (TB) Sam Travis | 1B | Indiana (BOS) Marcus Wilson | OF | Junipero Serra HS (BOS) Alex Bregman l SS l LSU (HOU) Demi Orimoloye | RF | St. Matthew Catholic SS (MIL) Paul DeJong | 3B | Illinois State (STL) OF Raimel Tapia (COL) SS Pedro Gonzalez (TX) C Dom Nunez (COL) Tyler White | 1B | HOU Blake Rutherford | OF l Chaminade College Prep HS (Canoga Park, CA) (CWS) Kyle Muller | LHP | Dallas Jesuit Prep (Dallas, TX) (ATL) Ben Rortvedt | C | Verona HS (Verona, WI) (MIN) Sam Carlson | RHP | Burnsville (Minn.) HS (SEA) Cole Brannen | OF | The Westfield School, Perry, Ga. (BOS) Riley Adams | C | San Diego (TOR) Matthew Liberatore | LHP | Mountain Ridge HS (STL) Alek Thomas | OF | Mt. Carmel HS (ARI) Raynel Delgado l SS l Calvary Christian Academy, Fort Lauderdale HS (CLE) Colt Keith | 3B | Biloxi HS (DET) Anthony VLope C NYY 3B Deyvison De Los Santos 3B (ARI) RHP Ryne Nelson (ARI) J.C. Correa SS/C HOU Sal Frelick | SS | Boston College (MIL) Lonnie White Jr. | OF| Malvern Prep School (PIT)
Others of note: CF/LF Esteury Ruiz - not listed on board; Royals (20xx)
RP Fernando Cruz - not listed on board; Royals (20xx)
RP Joel Payamps - Royals via 2012 trade (2026)
RP Yunior Marte - not listed on board; Royals (20xx)
Players Lost: RHP Jeremy Jeffress (prospect) Yordano Ventura (prospect) Jason Adam, RHP (prospect) Cam Gallagher, C (prospect) Jake Odorizzi, RHP Michael Montgomery, LHP Bubba Starling Kyle Zimmer | SP | USF (Royals) Sam Selman | LHP | Vanderbilt (Royals) Kenny Diekroger | SS | Stanford Hunter Dozier | SS | Stephen F. Austin (KC) Sean Manaea | LHP | Indiana State (KC) Cody Reed | LHP | Northwest Mississippi CC (KC) Brandon Finnegan | LHP | TCU (KC) Foster Griffin | LHP | First Academy HS (KC) Scott Blewett | RHP | Baker HS (KC) Chase Vallot | C | St. Thomas More Catholic HS (KC) Ashe Russell | RHP | Cathedral HS (KC) Nolan Watson | RHP | Lawrence North HS (KC) Josh Staumont | RHP | Azusa Pacific (KC) AJ Puckett | RHP | Pepperdine (KC) Nick Pratto 1B Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS M.J. Melendez C Westminster Christian School, Palmetto Bay, Fla Brady Singer | RHP | University of Florida (KC) Jackson Kowar P Florida Daniel Lynch P Virginia Kris Bubic P Stanford Kyle Isbel OF Nevada-Las Vegas Brady McConnell | SS | Florida (KC) Bobby Witt Jr | SS | Colleyville HS (KC) Asa Lacy | P | Texas AM (KC) Nick Loftin | SS | Baylor (KC) Ben Hernandez | P | De La Salle Institute (KC) Frank Mozzicato | P | East Catholic HS TX (KC) Ben Kudrna | P | Blue Valley SW HS (KC) Peyton Wilson | 2B | Alabama (KC) Carter Jensen | C | Park Hill Senior HS (KC)
Sickles 2013:
1) Kevin Gausman, RHP, Grade A-: LSU product has excellent fastball/changeup combination and strong makeup. Development of breaking ball is key but I'm optimistic about that. Like Bundy, he can be an ace.
1) Trevor Story, SS, Grade B+: Borderline A-: I want to see how his contact issues look against better pitching, but overall there are a lot of things to like here. . .power, speed, walks, defense, a complete package if the strikeouts don't eat him up. I don't expect they will. Ranks a bit ahead of Dahl due to defensive premium.
4) Kyle Parker, OF, Grade B: Made very good progress cutting down on his strikeouts and improving plate discipline, and I don't think his power was a Cal League illusion. Not a .300 hitter in a neutral environment, but should be a 20+ homer guy.
4) Cody Buckel RHP, Grade B: He might not rank as highly on other lists, but the more I study him, the fewer reasons I find NOT to rank him this high. Strike-thrower with excellent makeup, best friends with Trevor Bauer, handled the Texas League just fine at age 20 which is not easy.
4) Kyle Smith, RHP, Grade B: Athleticism, stuff, and command trump his small size for me. Another guy who can be a mid-rotation starter.
5) Adalberto Mondesi, SS, Grade B: I buy into this one. This may seem like an aggressive grade, but the tools are terrific and he was extremely young for the Pioneer League. This is one tools guy I'll take a chance with.
7) John Lamb, LHP, Grade B-: I'm always careful with Tommy John grades, since the recovery is not as automatic as people think. Retains mid-rotation upside if health allows.
8) Orlando Calixte, SS, Grade B-: Another high risk/reward guy. I rank him ahead of Bonifacio and Cuthbert due to positional scarcity.
9) Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, Grade B-: Stock is unavoidably down due to a slump that lasted almost a year. Defensive reports are good and he was the youngest regular in the Carolina League, so it is way too soon to give up.
10) Jorge Bonifacio, OF, Grade B-: Starting to tap into his power but isn't all the way there yet. You could rank him as high as eight due to youth, or at least ahead of Calixte and Cuthbert due to performance, but positional scarcity comes into play.
10) Jorge Alfaro, C, Grade B-: Grade A tools, Grade C- current skills. Great arm but threw out just 15% of runners. Lots of raw power, but poor contact and plate discipline (16/84 BB/K in 272 at-bats). Turns 20 in June so he is young enough to figure things out, but a perfect example of the high risk/high reward player who could become a star or a Double-A washout.
13) Ronald Guzman, 1B, Grade B-: Another bonus baby, also held his own in AZL. A tick behind Mazara on this chart since he has less defensive value, hasn't fully tapped his power yet, and is six months older. Like Mazara, he could vault forward in '13.
13) Bryan Brickhouse, RHP Grade C+: B- was his original grade but I decided it was too high. Another ground ball generator who might be a workhorse, if his mechanics come into line.
14) Elier Hernandez, OF, Grade C+: Big bonus guy from the Dominican was terrible in the Pioneer League, but was just 17 years old. Hit zero homers despite bat speed/raw power. Way too soon to give up.
15) Robinson Yambati, RHP, Grade C+: Good strikeout/grounder combination in A-ball, erasing bad taste from awful 2011. Could help in the bullpen by 2014.
16) Miguel Almonte, RHP, Grade C+: Rookie ball sensation shows strong command of fastball and changeup. Need to see how it transitions to higher levels, but could rank much higher next year.
17) Donnie Joseph, LHP, Grade C+: Ground ball and strikeout tendencies are pronounced, should make a good LOOGY at least.
18) Alexis Rivera, OF, Grade C+: Outfielder from Puerto Rico put a charge in the ball in the Arizona Rookie League, hitting .341/.413/.477 at age 18. Good plate discipline and bat speed, drafted in the 10th round.
19) Colin Rodgers, LHP, Grade C+: Polished strike-throwing high school pitcher from Louisiana posted 2.05 ERA with 25/16 K/BB in 48 innings in the Appalachian League. Third round pick, best pitch is power curveball.
20) Christian Colon, 2B, Grade C: Borderline C+. Contact hitter with decent glove, won't live up to draft status but should be a workable utility player.
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Post by RoyalsGM on Jan 6, 2014 9:11:59 GMT -6
1) Kevin Gausman, RHP, Grade A: Borderline A-. He was rushed to the majors, but his fastball and changeup are outstanding pitches, the makeup is excellent, and I am optimistic that the breaking stuff will come along just fine.
3) Phillip Ervin, OF, Grade B+: A more balanced, complete player than Hamilton with 20/20 potential to go with on-base ability. I’d like to see him at higher levels but he should be a valuable investment in a long-term fantasy league and a solid regular outfielder.
3) Raul Mondesi, SS, Grade B+: Borderline B. .261/.311/.361 line in Low-A wasn't great, but he was extremely young for the level at age 17 and observers praise his tools on both offense and defense. Glove ahead of bat at this point but could develop into a high batting average/moderate power guy, very valuable from shortstop. It will be interesting to see how quickly they push him.
4) Miguel Almonte, RHP, Grade B+: Borderline B: Impressive fastball/change-up combo and good command resulted in fine performance in Low-A, 3.10 ERA with a 132/36 K/BB. Needs to tighten breaking ball but have to like entire package. Future number three starter with the standard caveats about staying healthy.
3) Jorge Alfaro, C, Grade B: Good progress on defense, has the tools to be an All-Star. Bat remains a serious concern for me: he showed only slight improvement while repeating Low-A and his plate discipline remains disturbingly poor. Turns 21 in June so there is lots of time on the clock, but very much a high-risk/high-reward property. Alfaro does not resemble him physically, but statistically he could end up something like Miguel Olivo.
6) Jorge Bonifacio, OF, Grade B: Hit combined .298/.372/.429 at three levels with a good finish in Double-A. Hasn't developed his power yet but hits for average, makes decent contact, has a good arm, and is just 20 years old. I think he's a year away.
6) Kyle Parker, OF-1B, Grade B: I have never understood why so many people seem to be down on him. He’s always been productive and the times I have seen him he’s come across as more than just a masher, a decent athlete for his size with a good arm. He’s not Mike Trout but if he’s Ryan Ludwick that’s still a fine player.
7) Ronald Guzman, 1B, Grade B-: Season started late and ended early due to injuries, but one of the few Hickory players with a non-obnoxious strikeout rate. Hasn’t fully tapped his power but that’s not unexpected at age 19. Might develop into a David Ortiz-type, big upside.
9) Trevor Story, SS, Grade B-: Borderline C+: I have been a Story advocate so his struggles in the Cal League were disappointing. He still has intriguing power/speed potential and I still like his defensive tools, but his strikeout issues are alarming, even with his fast start in the Cal League this year it is still worrisome. This would be the equivalent of his junior year in college. How would he be viewed if he were heading into the ’13 draft?
9) Elier Hernandez, OF, Grade B-: Return engagement in Pioneer League resulted in .301/.350/.439 line at age 18. Another toolsy outfielder type to go with Bonifacio and Starling, and in the end he may be better than either of them. At least three years away though.
9) Cord Sandberg, OF, Grade C+: 2013 third round pick with first round tools. Hit poorly in rookie ball (.207/.313/.272) with mysterious lack of power despite projections to the contrary. Everyone knew he was raw when drafted so this was not unexpected. High ceiling but needs lots of time. Will they be aggressive with him?
12) Orlando Calixte, SS, Grade C+: Good gloveman at shortstop and will show some pop at times, but substandard plate discipline holds him back, resulting in .250/.312/368 line in Double-A. Young enough to improve considerably at age 21 and scouts still like his tools.
13) Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, Grade C+: Enigma from Nicaragua was decent in High-A (.280/.354/.418) but slumped after being promoted to Double-A (.215/.279/.359). Still young at age 21, but defense has deteriorated and age-relative-to-league only goes so far.
14) Brett Eibner, OF, Grade C+: Borderline C. I still respect his tools enough to give him a "+" but it is a close call. Fine athlete, good defender, strong arm, has power, made progress in the second half in Double-A (.262/.353/.498), hit .341/.442/.635 against lefties. But strikeout rate remains very high and he'll fight the Mendoza Line against advanced pitching without further adjustment.
15) Christian Binford, RHP, Grade C+:Excellent fastball command resulted in 2.67 ERA and 130/25 K/BB in 135 innings at age 20 in Low-A, which is very good. Doesn't burn radar and secondary pitches are inconsistent, but he's dominated the low levels well enough to get on the map.
16) Zane Evans, C, Grade C+: Fourth round pick from Georgia Tech hit .354 in the Pioneer League and has a strong throwing arm, although defense needs more polish after being a two-way player in college. Has the tools to make it though.
17) Alexis Rivera, OF, Grade C: I thought he was a huge sleeper entering '13 but he hit just .269/.349/.363 in Pioneer League. Still young at 19, still controls strike zone well, still mentioned as a sleeper by those who know the organization well. Too soon to give up.
18) Samir Duenez, 1B, Grade C: Age 17, from Venezuela, hit .294/.337/.380 in Arizona Rookie Ball but with positive scouting reports about power potential and overall approach. Long-term project but interesting, high ceiling offensive player.
19) Bryan Brickhouse, RHP, Grade C: Had Tommy John in June so don't expect him to do much before the second half. Features nasty power sinker resulting in 2.32 GO/AO and a 2.25 ERA in 60 Low-A innings before getting hurt. Age 21, could be ground ball-oriented workhorse or perhaps dominate out of bullpen, health and command allowing.
20) Christian Colon, 2B, Grade C: I am going to post the full 2014 Baseball Prospect Book comment for him later today.
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Post by RoyalsGM on Dec 21, 2014 11:15:26 GMT -6
2015 Prospects:
3) Raul Mondesi, SS, Grade B: Grade A tools but weak skills, especially on offense. Overmatched badly by Carolina League pitching (.211/.256/.354) but played much of the season at age 18, the Royals pushing him beyond what his skills could handle. Horrible pitch recognition and over-aggressive approach hold the bat back. He is, of course, extremely young and scouts see an All-Star shortstop in the tools. Would rank at number one or two on a pure tools list.
5) Miguel Almonte, RHP, Grade B: Borderline B-. Good fastball and change-up, just 21 years old, but High-A hitters exposed his mediocre curveball. Has good control in terms of avoiding walks (101/32 K/BB) but command within the strike zone still needs work. Still has mid-rotation upside, though some talk he could move to pen eventually.
8) Christian Colon, 2B, Grade C+: Age 25, does not have the same athletic tools as guys below him on this list, but a polished instinctive player whose reputation has actually been handicapped by being an early first round pick. If he’d been drafted in the fifth round, everyone would love him as a scrappy gamer-type sleeper. Won’t hit .333 in a full season but could hit .280 with some OBP, steals, doubles, steady glove at second base.
9) Jorge Bonifacio, OF, Grade C+: Age 21, classic right field tools with raw power, strong throwing arm, but hit a lifeless .230/.302/.309 in Double-A. Not hopeless with the strike zone, but swing doesn’t translate strength into power. Still young of course.
11) Gleyber Torres, SS, Grade B-: Age 17, big-budget signee out of Venezuela in 2013, hit .279/.372/.377 at age 17 in rookie ball then tore up short-season Boise for a week (.393/.469/.786). Tiny sample of seven games at Boise, but still. . .he was just 17 and was facing college players. Solid tools that play way above average due to instincts and work ethic. You can make a case as high as nine and he can be in Top Three a year from now.
12) Elier Hernandez, OF, Grade C+: Age 19, tool shed hit .264/.296/.393 in Low-A. Like Bonifacio and Starling, he has all the physical ability needed to be a strong regular if not a star, but his approach is quite raw in most phases of the game. Four or five-year project even if he pans out.
13) Trevor Story, SS, Grade C+: Age 22, strong in High-A (.332/.436/.582 in 184 at-bats) but overmatched badly in Double-A (.200/.302/.380 with 82 strikeouts in just 205 at-bats). Genuine power and runs well (14 homers, 23 steals), decent defender at shortstop but serious contact issues as a hitter.
13) Christian Binford, RHP, Grade C+: Age 21, pitchability right-hander doesn’t throw hard but wins due to stellar command, posted 2.88 ERA with 139/22 K/BB in 141 innings between High-A, Double-A, Triple-A. Many observers remain skeptical and would slot him lower than this, but you could rank him as high as ninth depending on if you want to emphasize the sabermetrics. This spot is a compromise.
14) Kyle Parker, OF-1B, Grade C+: Age 25, hit .289/.336/.450 with 15 homers, 33 walks, 102 strikeouts in 502 at-bats in Triple-A, .192/.192/.231 in 26 at-bats (14 strikeouts) in the majors. I have liked Parker as a power hitter but his season was not overly impressive by Colorado Springs/PCL standards and his brief major league exposure was difficult. Could still be a useful role player but less confidence now in ability to play regularly.
14) Phil Ervin, OF, Grade C+: Age 22, first round pick from 2013, extremely disappointing season in Midwest League, hit .237/.305/.376 with just seven homers, 46 walks, 110 strikeouts in 498 at-bats. He did steal 30 bases in 35 attempts. Was it still due to 2013 wrist problem? Speed and intriguing power potential combination still present but he was not as polished as expected. Too soon to give up of course.
14) Orlando Calixte, SS, Grade C+: Age 22, another toolsy type, hit .241/.288/.374 in his second year in Double-A. Good throwing arm and range stand out, always seems to make an impressive play in person but the stats have never been very good. Like some of these other guys, he has been pushed quickly and the skills have not caught up with the tools.
15) Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B-1B, Grade C+: Age 22, performed adequately in high minors (.274/.339/.413) and still draws notice for his offensive potential and youth. Defense has deteriorated and he may wind up at first base, which would dramatically increase pressure on the bat.
18) Glenn Sparkman, RHP, Grade C: Borderline C+ SLEEPER. A tentative grade that isn’t final. Like Binford, Sparkman puts up stellar numbers (1.56 ERA, 117/25 K/BB in 121 innings in High-A, 94 hits) without lighting up radar guns, impressing scouts, or showing up on prospect lists. Equally successful on road and at home last year, so this wasn’t all Wilmington park effects. Age 22. Could rank as high as 14.
19) Ryan O’Hearn, 1B-OF, Grade C: Borderline C+. Age 21, eighth round pick from Sam Houston State tore up Pioneer League (.361/.444/.590) with good scouting reports as well. I want to see him at higher levels before totally buying in; many advanced college hitters tear up the Pioneer but can’t replicate against better pitching.
20) Rowdy Tellez, 1B, Grade C+/Borderline C: Age 19, hit .305/.375/.438 with 26 walks, 37 strikeouts in 233 at-bats between Bluefield and Lansing. Massive difference of opinion about this guy: some observers love him for his power potential and solid sense of the strike zone, others hate his body (listed at 6-4, 220 but looks bulkier) and point to serious defensive limitations. Let’s see what he does with a full season.
20) Lane Adams, OF, Grade C: You could put most of the Grade C guys below in this spot but I’ll highlight Adams, who could have some sleeper fantasy value due to his speed (38 steals last year, 133 out of 158 in his career). Age 25, good athlete, won’t hit for a high average but has some pop to go with the wheels, hit .269/.352/.427 in Double-A and the Royals like him.
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Post by RoyalsGM on Mar 20, 2016 7:20:14 GMT -6
2016 Prospects:
1) Alex Bregman, SS, Grade A-: Age 21, 2015 first-rounder out of Louisiana State, hit .259/.368/.330 in 112 at-bats in Low-A then .319/.364/.475 in 160 at-bats in High-A. Combined for 13 steals. Pure hitter with strong strike zone judgment, moderate power, all-around instinctive play, capable of producing Dustin Pedroia-like offensive numbers. It is an obvious and common comparison but a valid one. Bregman is also a decent defensive shortstop who could stay at the position for some teams but will likely end up at second base long-term.
1) Gleyber Torres, SS, Grade B+: Age 19, hit .293/.353/.386 with three homers, 22 steals, 43 walks, 108 strikeouts in 464 at-bats in Low-A. Across the board tools with speed and perhaps more power potential than is commonly realized, still somewhat raw with running and defense, unsure if he will remain at shortstop. Hit well against older competition, high-ceiling talent clearly but uncertain in what direction skills will go. Could end up as a high-average hitter with doubles pop, or perhaps show more isolated power than expected but a lower average.
1) Anthony Alford, OF, Grade B/B+: Age 21, hit combined .298/.398/.421 with 27 steals, 67 walks, 109 strikeouts in 413 at-bats between Low-A and High-A. Former college football quarterback turned attention to baseball and thrived, works counts, shows gap power, uses speed well on bases and outfield. Main question is homer potential though he’s strong enough to develop it. This grade is admittedly a bit conservative, but I want to see how he slots on the Top 50 list before making a final determination. Better than 50/50 he winds up at a B+.
1) Raul Mondesi, SS, Grade B+/B: Age 20, hit .243/.279/.372 with 19 steals, 17 walks, 88 strikeouts in 304 at-bats in Double-A, made first MLB appearance in World Series. Excellent tools, skills remain spotty.
6) Dom Nunez, C, Grade B: Age 21, aggressive ranking and grade but I think he will be widely seen as one of the top catching prospects in baseball six months from now, hit .282/.373/.448 with 13 homers, 53 walks, 55 strikeouts in 373 at-bats in Low-A, power surge in second half with exceptional feel for the strike zone, solid defensive tools.
6) Sam Travis, 1B, Grade B/B- Age 22, hit .307/.381/.452 between High-A and Double-A, 19 steals, nine homers, 59 walks, 77 strikeouts in 489 at-bats. 2014 second round pick from Indiana is consistent producer with good feel for hitting, may or may not hit more home runs in time, limited defense and has to hit but has a decent chance to beat the difficult right/right first base profile.
7) Trevor Story, SS, Grade B/B-: Age 23, hit .279/.350/.514 with 40 doubles, 10 triples, 20 homers, 22 steals, 51 walks, 141 strikeouts in 512 at-bats in high minors, defense has turned out well, excellent power/speed combination as a hitter, can be streaky and will strike out a lot, likely to need adjustment time but across-the-board contributions are tantalizing.
9) Raimel Tapia, OF, Grade B/B-: Age 22, hit .305/.333/.467 with 34 doubles, 12 homers, 26 steals, 24 walks, 105 strikeouts in 444 at-bats in California League, no real change in profile or reports, line drive hitter with lots of bat speed but aggressive approach and (like many Rockies hitters) a lot of strikeouts on the resume, 6-2, 160 body may never develop much power beyond what he already has. If he keeps hitting .300+ that’s OK but if he drops down into the .270s against better pitching it becomes problematic.
2) Rowdy Tellez, 1B, Grade B-/B: Age 20, hit combined .289/.347/.454 between Low-A and High-A, 38 walks, 84 strikeouts in 401 at-bats. Big raw power with good pure hitting skills, defense limited but good reason to be increasingly confident about his bat. Probably won’t rank this highly on other Blue Jays prospect lists but you’ll see the logic if you keep reading, even if you disagree with it.
3) Miguel Almonte, RHP, Grade B-: Age 22, 4.51 ERA with 96/42 K/BB in 104 innings in high minors, can get up to 95-96 but secondary pitches, command remain inconsistent. I have liked his arm for a couple of years and still do, but needs more consistency to be a starter. May also wind up in bullpen.
8) Jorge Alfaro, C, Grade B-: Age 22, another component of Hamels trade, hit .253/.314/.432 with nine walks, 61 strikeouts in 190 at-bats in Double-A, missing much of season with ankle injury. Extremely frustrating to watch. All-Star caliber physical tools still stand out but his feel for the game remains very unimpressive to me; he is prone to sloppy play with both bat and glove with little signs of improvement. Could still be excellent but also a considerable risk of skill washout.
10) Paul DeJong, 3B, Grade B-: Age 22, fourth round pick out of Illinois State, hit .316/.394/.516 in pro debut between Appy and Midwest Leagues, not overmatched at all jumping from Missouri Valley Conference to full season ball. Typical college Cardinals draft: good hitting approach and zone judgment, good power, defense needs work, bat should follow in the Allen Craig/Matt Carpenter mold.
7) Jorge Bonifacio, OF, Grade B-/C+: Age 22, hit .240/.305/.416 with 17 homers, 42 walks, 126 strikeouts in 483 at-bats repeating Double-A. Power developing nicely, on-base skills remain weak, good throwing arm but doesn’t run well enough for center, would fit in right if hitting gets better.
14) Tyler White, 3B-1B, Grade B-/C+: Age 25, hit .325/.442/.496 with 14 homers, 84 walks, 73 strikeouts in 403 at-bats between Double-A and Triple-A. Older prospect with bad body (5-11, 225) but he can really hit and this is not a fluke, exceptional feel for the strike zone with solid average power. Main problem is finding a place to play him.
17) Demi Orimoloye, OF, Grade B-/Grade C+: Age 18, born in Nigeria, schooled in Canada, fourth round pick in 2015 draft. First round tools with 20/20 potential, hit .292/.319/.518 with 19 steals in rookie ball but with just three walks, 39 strikeouts in 137 at-bats. Star-caliber physicality but needs lots of refinement as a hitter. High risk, high reward.
10) Elier Hernandez, OF, Grade C+/B-: Age 20, excellent tools, hit .290/.331/.421 in 290 at-bats in Low-A but just .232/.281/.311 in 177 at-bats in High-A. Like many Royals prospects he looks good in uniform but has seen only slow skill development.
11) Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, Grade C+/B-: Age 23, hit .277/.339/.421 with 11 homers, 37 walks, 60 strikeouts in 397 at-bats in Triple-A, .217/.280/.370 in 46 at-bats in majors. Defense was improved this year and he looked in better shape, however hitting remains mediocre considering context.
13) Marten Gasparini, SS, Grade C+: Age 18, signed out of Italy in 2013 to largest bonus in European history, hit .259/.341/.411 in Pioneer League, 26 steals, 25 walks, 80 strikeouts in 197 at-bats. Superior athlete but extremely raw, particularly on defense, which is understandable given background, another high-risk high-reward option.
15) Anderson Miller, OF, Grade C+: Age 21, third round pick this year from Western Kentucky, hit .276/.326/.395 in pro debut with 14 walks, 35 strikeouts in 210 at-bats mostly in Low-A. Very good athlete with speed and power potential, a bit raw for a college guy but has physical upside to be a regular, low strikeout rate is a good marker.
16) Pedro Fernandez, RHP, Grade C+: Age 21, signed for just $45,000 as another bargain arm from the Dominican Republic. The Royals are good at finding those guys. Solid in Low-A (3.12, 89/27 K/BB in 78 innings) but hit hard late in High-A (0-6, 8.82, 56 hits in 33 innings) when breaking ball went backwards. Might fit best in pen.
17) Phillip Ervin, OF, Grade C+: Age 23, first round pick in 2013 hasn’t advanced as quickly as expected, hit .241/.346/.379 with 14 homers, 34 steals, 66 walks, 98 strikeouts in 456 at-bats between High-A and Double-A, uses speed well and will draw some walks but power hasn’t blossomed as hoped. Still possible he turns things around.
17) Alfredo Escalera-Maldonado, OF, Grade C+: Age 20, another tools guy who performed well in Low-A (.313/.356/.477) but was overmatched in High-A (.206/.285/.291), and another guy with strike zone and pitch recognition concerns. Stole 19 bases and among the more-rounded toolsets in the system. Will the skills come?
18) Amalani Fukofuka, OF, Grade C+: Age 20, fifth round pick in 2013 from high school in California, excellent overall athlete hit .339/.401/.500 with 26 walks, 70 strikeouts in 280 at-bats in Pioneer League. Still raw but observers note huge improvement compared to 2014 (when he hit .183/.266/.289 in the Appy League). Has some breakout potential if contact issues don’t interfere.
19) Alec Mills, RHP, Grade C+: Age 23, Tommy John recovery guy with solid year in High-A (111/14 K/BB in 113 innings, 3.02 ERA), secondaries inconsistent but he throws strikes and works in the low-90s. Less press than most Royals pitchers but interesting.
20) Eric Skoglund, LHP, Grade C+: Age 23, third round pick in 2014, posted 3.52 ERA with 66/11 K/BB in 84 innings in High-A, throws three pitches for strikes and could be sound number four starter.
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Post by RoyalsGM on Feb 6, 2017 8:19:32 GMT -6
2017 Sickles:
1) Gleyber Torres, SS, Grade A-: Age 19, acquired from Cubs in Aroldis Chapman deal, hit .270/.354/.421 with 29 doubles, 11 homers, 21 steals, 58 walks, 110 strikeouts in 478 at-bats in High-A between the two organizations; unanimously excellent in the Arizona Fall League against older competition; above-average defensive shortstop with arm strength, range, instincts according to many sources, although some fear he may lose range as he matures; at second base he would be excellent if necessary; tapping into his potential offensively, shows feel for the strike zone and power is developing; could end up as .280+ hitter with high OBP and at least moderate power. ETA 2018.
3) Blake Rutherford, OF, Grade B+: Age 19, first round pick in 2016; hit .351/.415/.570 in 114 at-bats in rookie ball, 13 walks, 30 strikeouts; was rumored as high as first-overall but dropped to 18th due to bonus demands and being a bit older than typical high schooler, plus there was some prospect fatigue since he had been on the radar for so long; pure hitter with a good eye, above-average power, polished for his age; arm grades vary between 45 and 55 depending on source, should be solid defensively due to instincts but hitting is the main draw; ETA: 2020.
4) Casey Gillaspie, 1B, Grade B/B+: Age 23, first round pick in 2014 from Wichita State; hit .284/.388/.479 between Double-A and Triple-A, 18 homers, 80 walks, 117 strikeouts in 472 at-bats; wRC+150; not as athletic as Bauer, two years older and strikes out more often but has more present power along with a good eye and high walk rate; limited to first base but switch-hitting power and patience are valuable assets; should be a productive slugger. ETA late 2017.
6) Raimel Tapia, OF, Grade B/B+: Age 22, signed out of Dominican Republic in 2010; hit .328/.361/.458 with 23 steals, 27 walks, 61 strikeouts in 528 at-bats in Double-A/Triple-A, then .263/.293/.263 in 38 major league at-bats; best tool is speed, 60-grade; has some wiry strength but home run power won’t be a huge factor in his game; can handle center short-term but power would be stretched at a corner; could also use more patience to boost OBP but should hit for average. ETA 2017.
3) Matt Strahm, LHP, Grade B: Age 25, out-of-nowhere success story posted 3.43 ERA with 107/23 K/BB in 102 innings in Double-A, then jumped to majors and posted 1.23 ERA in 22 innings in bullpen, 30/11 K/BB; 21st round pick in 2012 from Neosho County Community College in Kansas; career slowed by injuries but 90-96 MPH fastball and solid/average curve and change remain intact; has the arsenal and command to start but questions remain about his durability; there’s little doubt about his talent, just uncertainty regarding the role. ETA: 2017.
5) Anthony Alford, OF, Grade B: Age 22, third round pick in 2012, hit .236/.344/.378 with nine homers, 18 steals, 53 walks, 117 strikeouts in 339 at-bats in High-A; season hampered by significant injuries including a concussion and a dislocated knee cap; got 75 at-bats in Arizona Fall League and hit .253/.349/.440; big tools with 70-grade speed and significant physical strength, although swing doesn’t translate the power to game action consistently; will draw walks but can be prone to strikeouts; exciting player to watch on the field; more defensive value than Tellez and a broader athletic base to work with but also a higher risk of failure. ETA 2019.
6) Rowdy Tellez, 1B, Grade B: Age 21, 30th round pick in 2013; hit .297/.387/.530 with 23 homers, 63 walks, 92 strikeouts in 438 at-bats in Double-A; you will likely find him behind Anthony Alford on every other Blue Jays prospect list (including this one) but Tellez is actually younger and closer to the majors and I’m more confident in his bat; power, plate discipline, and under-rated pure hitting ability; lacks range at first but not a butcher and catches what he gets to, though may be a DH long-term; projects as .270-hitter with above-average OBP and SLG, could be consistent run producer. ETA 2018.
5) Sam Travis, 1B, Grade B-: Age 23, second round pick in 2014 from Indiana University; hit .272/.332/.434 with six homers in 173 at-bats in Triple-A until season ended early with knee injury; scouts love the bat and they aren’t easily impressed with right-handed hitting first baseman; projects as .280ish hitter with moderate power; defensively limited to first base due to lack of speed or plus arm strength; should be ready soon if healthy. ETA late 2017.
4) Eric Skoglund, LHP, Grade B-: Age 24, third round pick in 2014 from University of Central Florida; 3.45 ERA in 156 innings in Double-A with 134/38 K/BB; classic finesse lefty with 88-92 MPH fastball, curveball, change-up; throws strikes and can look intimidating at 6-7 despite lack of plus stuff; Texas League observers were impressed with his composure and pitching instincts; potential number four starter. ETA: late 2017.
5) Jorge Bonifacio, OF, Grade B-: Age 23, hit .277/.361/.466 with 19 homers, 51 walks, 130 strikeouts in 495 at-bats in Triple-A; has finally learned to tap his raw power more consistently but contact and batting average are going to be issues when he reaches the majors; right now looks like a .240-.250, 20 homersish hitter but still young enough to develop further; 60-grade outfield arm and average range make him a right fielder. ETA: 2017.
7) Ronald Guzman, 1B, Grade B-: Age 22, hit .274/.333/.449 between Double-A and Triple-A, combined for 16 homers, 39 walks, 105 strikeouts in 463 at-bats; signed for $3,450,000 in 2011 from Dominican Republic; stock has been up and down throughout his career; still learning to tap power in 6-5, 205 frame; strike zone judgment has shown some improvement and swing mechanics more consistent but a full year of Triple-A is still needed; mediocre at first base and doesn’t run well enough for the outfield so bat has to carry him; has made progress but not enough to guarantee a regular 1B job just yet. ETA late 2017.
19) Kyle Muller, LHP, Grade B-: Age 19, second round pick in 2016, 0.65 ERA with 38/12 K/BB in 28 innings in rookie ball, just 14 hits; 90-94 MPH fastball with a chance for more from 6-6, 225 build; command, curveball and change-up all need work but rookie ball hitters couldn’t square him up very often; high upside arm but needs innings. ETA: 2021.
6) Ryan O’Hearn, 1B, Grade B-/C+: Age 23, hit .275/.351/.478 with 22 homers, 56 walks, 158 strikeouts in 502 at-bats in High-A and Double-A; left-side power, 55 or 60-grade; can draw walks but a lot of swing-and-miss in his game right now; had more of a pure hitter reputation in past seasons and is not a strict pull hitter; has shown more power recently but batting average/OBP could be issues in majors; glove adequate but not great; ETA late 2017.
10) Paul DeJong, 3B, Grade B-: Age 23, fourth round pick in 2015 from Illinois State University; hit .260/.324/.460 with 22 homers, 40 walks, 144 strikeouts in 496 at-bats in Double-A; production was well above average for Texas League at 123 wRC+; cutting down strikeouts may be helpful for batting average but the power is real; defensive tools average in raw terms but he’s polished enough to be a good third baseman and he played well during brief look at shortstop; a typical Cardinals college hitting prospect whose instincts maximize physical ability. ETA 2018.
15) Pedro Gonzalez, OF, Grade C+/B-: Age 19, signed for $1,300,000 out of Dominican Republic in 2014; hit .230/.290/.394 in Pioneer League with 14 walks, 77 strikeouts in 226 at-bats; on pure tools he would be in the Top Five in this system but his skills are very raw, dropping him down the list; 6-5, 190 build, raw power, speed, and arm all draw 55 or 60 grades; will flash good hitting skills but he doesn’t control the zone consistently and swing mechanics get out of whack easily at this point; high bust risk, but could also develop into a star. ETA 2021.
11) Khalil Lee, OF, Grade C+: Age 18, third round pick in 2016 from high school in Virginia; hit .269/.396/.484 in rookie ball and drew 33 walks in 182 at-bats, albeit with 57 strikeouts; impressive tools with power, speed, throwing arm all positives; was one of the top pure athletes in the entire draft and showed enough in his debut to make us think he can tap those tools; he is a risk, but the payoff could be big. ETA: 2022.
12) Alec Mills, RHP, Grade C+: Age 24, 22nd round pick in 2012 from University of Tennessee-Martin, posted 3.22 ERA with 122/31 K/BB in 126 innings between Double-A and Triple-A; fastball steady at 90-94, mixes in curveball, slider, change-up; nothing is really plus but none of his pitches are weak, either; succeeded in minors due to aggressive strike-throwing but was more tentative in brief major league action; back-end starter or relief option. ETA: 2017.
13) Jake Junis, RHP, Grade C+: Age 24, 29th round pick in 2011 from high school in Illinois, posted 4.05 ERA with 143/34 K/BB in 149 innings between Double-A and Triple-A; like Mills he is generally in the low-90s and occasionally a touch higher; throws strikes with change-up and curveball, curve can flash plus; usually throws strikes; like Mills he could be a number four starter or a bullpen asset. ETA: 2017.
14) Meibrys Viloria, C, Grade C+: Age 19, hit .376/.436/.606 with 28 doubles, 20 walks, 36 strikeouts in 226 at-bats in Pioneer League; signed out of Colombia in 2013; left-handed batter with good pure hitting skills; contact approach with power to the gaps from 5-11, 175 pound frame; lacks running speed but has good defensive tools, though needs polish to cut down on mistakes; sleeper prospect to watch as he transitions to full-season ball in 2017. ETA: 2021.
15) Garrett Davila, LHP, Grade C+: Age 19, fourth round pick in 2015 from high school in North Carolina; posted 2.77 ERA with 55/27 K/BB in 65 innings in Appalachian League; lacks blistering stuff with 88-92 MPH fastball but has a very good change-up and a workable curve; another potential strike-throwing fourth starter down the line: ETA: 2021.
16) Samir Duenez, 1B, Grade C+: Age 20, from Venezuela, hit combined .284/.336/.438 with 33 doubles, 13 homers, 100 RBI, 39 walks, 86 strikeouts, 26 steals between Low-A/High-A/Double-A; was just placed on 40-man roster; limited to first base and is a mediocre defender at the position but he’s young and has shown some sock with the bat. ETA: 2019.
17) Seuly Matias, OF, Grade C+: Age 18, signed out of Dominican Republic for $2,250,000 in 2015; hit .250/.348/.477 with eight homers, 22 walks, 73 strikeouts in 172 at-bats in rookie ball; 60-grade power, 65 or 70 arm, runs well too but has significant contact issues he’ll need to address as he moves up; very high ceiling as a power hitter but risky. ETA: 2022.
17) Dom Nunez, C, Grade C+: Age 22, sixth round pick in 2013; hit .241/.321/.362 with 10 homers, 49 walks, 91 strikeouts in 390 at-bats in High-A; threw out 43% of runners with very low error rate; receiving skills are otherwise considered shaky and he gives up a lot of passed balls at this point, but ability to contain runners helps; good plate discipline and can flash some pop from left side but did not have anticipated breakout season despite playing in the Cal League; still interesting. ETA 2019.
17) Ben Rortvedt, C, Grade C+: Second round pick in 2016 from high school in Wisconsin, hit .222/.306/.253 in rookie ball with 10 walks, 10 strikeouts in 99 at-bats; lefty hitter with tools to be a superior defender as well as a good batting eye, plus bat speed, and a strong 5-10, 190 build. I think he’s going to be much better than the early numbers imply but he’ll need development time. Age 19, ETA 2021.
18) Pedro Fernandez, RHP, Grade C+: Age 22, posted 3.02 ERA with 50/21 K/BB in 63 innings between High-A and Double-A; from Dominican Republic; just 6-0 but can hit 95, also has a good change-up; breaking pitch remains inconsistent, varying between slider and cutter action with erratic definition; this showed up in lowish strikeout rate. Has plenty of arm strength though and could be fine reliever eventually. ETA: 2018.
15) Marcus Wilson, OF, Grade C+/C: Age 20, competitive balance pick in 2014 from high school in California; right-handed hitter batted .252/.394/.346 with 25 steals, 51 walks in 234 at-bats between Northwest and Midwest Leagues; best tool is 60-grade speed but there’s untapped power in the bat and he already controls the strike zone reasonably well despite an elevated strikeout rate; swing mechanics need work but he’s made progress since hitting just .206 in rookie ball when drafted; keep track of him. ETA: 2021.
19) Andrew Edwards, RHP, Grade C: Age 25, 19th round pick in 2013 from Western Kentucky, posted 3.96 ERA with 74/33 K/BB in 61 innings between Double-A and Triple-A; fastball at 94-99 MPH with movement; at least a plus pitch; slider isn’t as good as the heat and his control comes and goes; middle relief candidate. ETA: late 2017.
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Post by RoyalsGM on Jan 3, 2018 12:36:05 GMT -6
2018 Top Prospects
1) Gleyber Torres, INF, Grade A/A-: Age 20, hit combined .287/.383/.480 with 30 walks, 47 strikeouts in 202 at-bats between Double-A and Triple-A; was on verge of major league promotion when he blew out his non-throwing elbow and had Tommy John surgery; while there may be some rust to work off in the spring, this is unlikely to have any long-term impact on his career; good feel for the zone, projects to hit for both average and power; weakest tool is speed; defensive tools could fit at any of the infield positions; same grade as last year; ETA 2018.
2) Khalil Lee, OF, Grade B-: Age 19, third round pick in 2016 from high school in Virginia; hit .237/.344/.430 with 17 homers, 20 steals, 65 walks, 171 strikeouts in 451 at-bats in Low-A; all tools at least average with speed and arm strength probably best overall; shows some patience at the plate but contact concerns as well; could develop into strong secondary average production source; had serious problems against left-handed pitching but young enough to correct this; ETA 2021.
3) Sam Carlson, RHP, Grade B-: Age 19, second round pick in 2017 from high school in Minnesota; prototype pitcher’s body with athletic 6-4, 195 frame; fastball as high as 96-97 MPH, mixes in very good change-up and erratic but promising slider; makeup and mound presence also positives; threw three innings in rookie ball until being shut down with vaguely-described arm soreness, not supposed to be a big deal but he’s a pitcher so caution is advised until we see what kind of workload he can handle; not everyone likes his mechanics but Carlson is certainly the highest-ceiling arm in the system; personally I like him but I have a Midwestern bias; ETA 2022.
6) Garrett Hampson, INF, Grade B-: Age 23, third round pick in 2016 out of Long Beach State University; hit .326/.387/.462 with 24 doubles, 12 triples, eight homers, 56 walks, 77 strikeouts, and 51 stolen bases in High-A; most of his power came at Lancaster (.350/.406/.532) but he was still pretty good on the road (.300/.366/.383), maintaining his strike zone judgment very well; 70-runner combined with walks looks good at the top of the order; excellent at second base, can also handle shortstop without hurting you though tools are a bit marginal there; quite reliable at both positions; ETA late 2019.
6) Marcus Wilson, OF, Grade B-: Age 21, compensation round pick in 2014 from high school in California; hit .295/.383/.446 with nine homers, 15 steals, 55 walks, 90 strikeouts in 383 at-bats in Low-A; Midwest League observers praised 60-65 speed and noted improved ability to tap power; works counts well and draws walks, could be ideal leadoff guy with some power down the line; breakthrough candidate for 2018. ETA 2020.
9) Blake Rutherford, OF, Grade B-: Age 20, first round pick by the New York Yankees in 2016, traded to White Sox in Todd Frazier deal; hit .260/.326/.348 in the Low-A South Atlantic League with 25 doubles, two homers, 10 steals, 38 walks, 76 strikeouts in 396 at-bats; hasn’t lived up to high school press clippings yet, lack of power being the main problem despite positive reports on his bat speed and swing mechanics; certainly young enough to improve but he won’t advance as quickly as anticipated on draft day; ETA 2021.
13) Pedro Gonzalez, OF, Grade B-: Age 20, signed by the Colorado Rockies for $1,300,000 from the Dominican Republic in 2014, traded to Rangers in Jonathan Lucroy deal; hit .321/.388/.519 in the Pioneer League before the trade with 18 walks, 53 strikeouts, 11 steals; went 0-for-17 in the Northwest League after the trade; toolsy type with above-average raw power and some speed and arm strength, large size has caused some swing issues and his plate discipline remains a work in progress; high risk, but one of the best upsides in the system; ETA 2022.
16) Kyle Muller, LHP, Grade B-: Age 19, second round pick in 2016 from high school in Texas; 4.15 ERA with 49/18 K/BB in 48 innings in Appalachian League, 43 hits; a typical live-armed Braves pitching prospect from the South, fastball 90-94 with more possible, both breaking ball and change-up have plus potential but needs better control, another breakout candidate for ’18 and potential mid-rotation arm. ETA 2021.
6) Sam Travis, 1B, Grade B-/C+: Age 24, second round pick in 2014 from Indiana University; hit .270/.357/.375 in 304 Triple-A at-bats, then .263/.325/.342 in 76 major league at-bats; “professional hitter” type with good strike zone discipline and on-base skills but unclear how he fits into lineup; reliable at first base in terms of avoiding errors but range/mobility nothing special and he’ll need to show more power to have a future at that position; there’s been some talk of using him in the outfield; will fall into C+ range soon without more power. ETA 2018.
7) Eric Skoglund, LHP, Grade C+/B-: Age 25, third round pick in 2014 from University of Central Florida; I’ve liked him since college; posted 4.07 ERA with 103/32 K/BB in 104 innings between Double-A and Triple-A; hit hard in four of five major league starts, 9.50 ERA with 14/12 K/BB, 18 innings, 30 hits; finesse lefty who changes speeds and has to rely on his defense; this worked in the minors but command wasn’t sharp enough in the majors; will get more chances, 4/5 starter type. ETA 2018.
8) Michael Gigliotti, OF, Grade C+/B-: Age 21, fourth round pick in 2017 from Lipscomb University; hit .320/.420/.456 with 40 walks, 41 strikeouts, 22 steals in Appalachian and South Atlantic Leagues; was a first-round candidate until an erratic spring lowered his stock but hit very well in pro ball, could be a bargain; speedy, 65-70 speed, draws walks, doesn’t have big raw power however I wouldn’t under-estimate his pop, he could show more in time; want to see at higher levels but I like what he’s done so far. ETA 2020.
9) Seuly Matias, OF, Grade C+/B-: Age 19, signed for $2,250,000 out of Dominican Republic in 2015, hit .243/.297/.423 with seven homers, 16 walks, 72 strikeouts in 222 at-bats in Appy League; impresses with bat speed, raw power, minimum 60-grade thump but has holes in his approach that hurt his OBP and batting average; that may or may not improve in time but the upside potential is clear; 70-grade arm with average speed fit well in right field; lacks Gigliotti’s broad skill base and is further away but the bat has a lot more sock in it. ETA 2022.
10) Richard Lovelady, LHP, Grade C+/B-: Age 22, 10th round pick in 2016 from Kennesaw State; 1.62 ERA with 77/17 K/BB in 67 innings between High-A and Double-A; fastball up to 96, good slider, usually throws strikes, command and stuff good enough to avoid LOOGY work, might get to close games eventually if command holds; as usual, rating/grading relievers is problematic due to difficulties in valuation but he should be a good one. ETA late 2018.
11) Nicky Lopez, INF, Grade C+/B-: Age 22, fifth round pick in 2016 from Creighton University in Omaha; hit .279/.348/.356 between High-A and Double-A, 52 walks, 52 strikeouts in 517 at-bats, 21 steals; anyone who sees him play comes away impressed with his polish, hustle, and feel for the game; excellent defender at second base, range is a bit limited at shortstop but he’s reliable; could become Whit Merrifield but sooner than Merrifield did. ETA late 2018.
16) Sam Hilliard, OF, Grade C+: Age 23, 15th round pick in 2015 from Wichita State University, hit .300/.360/.487 with 21 homers, 37 steals, 50 walks, 154 strikeout in 536 at-bats in High-A; originally a pitcher, became full-time outfielder last year in college; legit power/speed combination and a strong throwing arm, too, all physical tools at least average or a notch above; sometimes patient but strikes out a lot; has to prove he can hit outside of Lancaster, batted .336/.399/.572 at home but just .261/.315/.391 on the road; the splits mean we must be grade-cautious, but there are real tools here; watch him closely in Double-A; ETA 2020
12) Cole Brannen, OF, Grade C+: Age 19, second round pick in 2017 from high school in Georgia, hit .224/.383/.252 with 34 walks, 41 strikeouts, 10 steals in 143 at-bats between rookie ball and NY-P; 70-grade speed and impressive strike zone judgment make him a potentially potent leadoff hitter; no power at this point; if the power doesn’t come he could be a four/five outfielder but if he develops sufficient pop he could be a regular. ETA 2022.
12) Miguel Almonte, RHP, Grade C+: Age 24, has been on prospect lists for years, missed part of season with shoulder problems but effective when healthy, posted 1.72 ERA in 47 innings between Double-A and Triple-A, 52/13 K/BB; erratic track record, brilliant at times but held back to this point by issues with durability and consistency; low-90s fastball gets higher on the right day, good changeup, breaking stuff comes and goes but was present more often in ’17; suspect he will fit best in bullpen eventually. ETA 2018.
13) Emmanuel Rivera, 3B, C+: Age 21, 19th round pick in 2015 from Interamerican University of Puerto Rico; hit .310/.364/.468 with 27 doubles, 12 homers, 31 walks, 87 strikeouts in 464 at-bats in Low-A; not well known outside Royals circles but I think there’s ability here, including average power and a strong throwing arm; has made good progress ironing out his swing after hitting just .174 in his pro debut in ’15; power could increase further. ETA 2021.
15) Samir Duenez, 1B, Grade C+: Age 21, signed out of Venezuela in 2013; hit .242/.304/.402 with 17 homers, 36 walks, 116 strikeouts in 523 at-bats in Double-A; scouting reports have always been ahead of his production; optimists see a polished, mechanically-sound swing with solid defensive skills; pessimists say his power is inadequate for a first baseman and that his polish as a hitter is over-rated and not supported by the numbers; optimists counter that he is very young and has time to improve and tap his power more often. I fall somewhere in the middle, having seen both good and bad in specific games from him; I’d be surprised if he becomes an impact player but he could last a long time as a role bat. ETA 2019.
17) Ryan O’Hearn, 1B, Grade C+: Age 24, eighth round pick in 2014 from Sam Houston State University; hit .253/.330/.455 with 22 homers, 55 walks, 139 strikeouts in 479 at-bats in Double-A/Triple-A; a solid enough year but as with Duenez it isn’t huge production for his position plus O’Hearn is older; could be a useful role bat along Clint Robinson lines. ETA 2018.
18) Meibrys Viloria, C, Grade C+: Age 20, signed out of Columbia in 2013; destroyed Pioneer League in 2016 (.376/.436/.606) but was more human in Low-A in ’17 (.259/.313/.394), gap power from the left side and makes contact reasonably well, more home run power should come eventually; former middle infielder is athletic for a catcher but still working on finer defensive points; has promise but a long way off. ETA 2022.
19) Daniel Tillo, LHP, Grade C+: Age 21, third round pick in 2017 from Iowa Western Community College; 4.42 ERA with 32/6 K/BB in 37 innings in rookie ball; got some first-round buzz until hit with minor injuries in weeks before draft; at his best can hit 96 MPH and has a plus slider, command can be inconsistent but he threw strikes in pro ball; very athletic; upside potential is intriguing. ETA 2021.
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Post by RoyalsGM on Jan 26, 2019 18:12:58 GMT -6
2019 Top Prospects:3) Khalil Lee, OF, Grade B: Age 20, third round pick in 2016 from high school in Virginia; hit .270/.402/.406 with 48 walks, 75 strikeouts, 14 steals in 244 at-bats in High-A then .245/.330/.353 in 102 at-bats in Double-A, very young for the Texas League; hitting just .175 in the Arizona Fall League with contact problems; at his best shows patience, speed, excellent arm, and above-average power potential but has been pushed quickly and can look raw when swing is out of whack; high ceiling player who could blossom; high risk, high reward type; ETA 2021. 11) Kyle Muller, LHP, Grade B: Age 21, second round pick in 2016 from high school in Texas; posted 3.03 ERA with 129/46 K/BB in 140 innings between Low-A, High-A, and Double-A; fastball velocity can be inconsistent but he throws strikes and has made good progress developing curveball and change-up; easy to overlook given the depth of pitching in this system; ETA late 2019. 7) Nicky Lopez, INF, Grade B-: Age 23, fifth round pick in 2016 from Creighton University in Omaha; hit .331/.397/.416 in 281 at-bats in Double-A then .278/.364/.417 in 223 at-bats in Triple-A; combined for 60 walks and just 52 strikeouts, stole 15; line drive hitter with sharp batting eye; good speed, extremely reliable with the glove, range may be a bit limited at short but he is terrific at second and makes few mistakes at either position; ETA 2019. 8) Carlos Hernandez, RHP, Grade B-: Age 21, from Venezuela, 3.29 ERA in 79 innings in 2018 with 82/23 K/BB, 71 hits; missed August with triceps injury but supposed to be OK; 94-97 MPH when healthy, very good change-up, curveball needs more work but flashes above-average; very solid overall prospect who deserves more attention on a national basis; grade could go much higher once he proves workload; ETA 2021. 10) Meibrys Viloria, C, Grade B-: Age 21, signed out of Colombia in 2013, hit .260/.342/.360 with six homers, 40 walks, 75 strikeouts in 358 at-bats in High-A; promoted to majors unexpectedly and hit .259/.286/.333 in 27 at-bats; impressive defensive catcher can stick on his glovework alone; bat is the question, controls zone reasonably and makes contact but hasn’t shown much power since leaving the Pioneer League, however he’s young and more pop may come; I’m optimistic on this one long-term. 11) Seuly Matias, OF, Grade B-: Age 20, signed out of Dominican Republic, hit .231/.303/.550 with 31 homers, 24 walks, 131 strikeouts in 338 at-bats in Low-A; 70-raw power with excellent bat speed but questions about his ability to make contact and control zone sufficiently at higher levels; has a case to go as high as number six on this list due to huge power upside but risks are also very high; ETA 2022. 15) Richard Lovelady, LHP, Grade B-: Age 23, 10th round pick in 2016 from Kennesaw State, 2.47 ERA with 71/21 K/BB in 73 innings in Triple-A with 53 hits allowed; low-angle arm slot with fastball into mid-90s and very good slider; could make a dynamic bullpen duo with Staumont; ready for a trial; ETA 2019. 16) Michael Gigliotti, OF, Grade B-: Age 22, fourth round pick in 2017 from Lipscomb, played just six games in Low-A until blowing out knee and missing rest of the season; line drive hitter with excellent eye and impressive running speed when healthy but with questions about power; lost season makes him difficult to rank but still has a shot at moving quickly once he works rust off; ETA 2021? 17) Austin Cox, LHP, Grade C+/B-: Age 21, fifth round pick in 2018 out of Mercer, posted 3.78 ERA in 33 innings in Appalachian League, 51/15 K/BB ratio, you have to love the Ks but we need to see him against better competition; fastball 90-95, good curveball, sleeper potential should not be overlooked; ETA 2021? 18) Brewer Hicklen, OF, Grade C+/B-: Age 22, seventh round pick in 2017 from University of Alabama-Birmingham; hit .307/.378/.552 with 17 homers, 29 steals, 24 walks, 98 strikeouts in 306 at-bats in Low-A but just .211/.263/.310 with one homer, six steals, four walks, 26 strikeouts in 71 at-bats in High-A; power/speed combo is intriguing and real but plate discipline and contact ability against advanced pitching remain questionable; ETA 2021. 12) Sam Carlson, RHP, Grade C+: Age 19, second round pick in 2017 from high school in Minnesota; hurt elbow in spring training, tried to rehab without surgery but eventually had Tommy John surgery in July, will miss 2019 so this will cost him two seasons of development; when healthy features 92-97 MPH heater with potentially plus slider and change-up; ETA 19) Janser Lara, RHP, Grade C+: Age 22, signed out of Dominican Republic in 2015, posted 3.41 ERA in 66 innings in Low-A, 75/28 K/BB; another live arm from the Low-A level, clocked as high as 100 MPH but secondary pitches need work and he has bullpen risk; ETA 2021. 20) Emmanuel Rivera, 3B, Grade C+: Age 22, 19th round pick in 2015 from Interamerican University of Puerto Rico; hit .274/.326/.416 with six homers, 30 walks, 65 strikeouts in 401 at-bats between High-A and brief rookie ball injury rehab; more power potential than the six homers indicates; batting eye better than the walk total; defense at third base is very good; breakthrough potential. ETA 2021.
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Post by RoyalsGM on Feb 8, 2020 14:25:24 GMT -6
3. Matthew Liberatore, LHP Age: 20 2019 Highest Level: Low-A Bowling Green (Tampa Bay Rays) Liberatore was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays for outfielders Jose Martinez and Randy Arozarena. This was a fantastic trade for the Cardinals as they added an elite left handed pitching prospect and gave up a couple players from a position they have a ton of players at. Liberatore, who just happens to be really good friends with Nolan Gorman, will join the Cardinals system and could wind up being in the MLB together one day. As for what Liberatore brings to the Cardinals, he’s 6-foot-5 with a fastball that touches 95mph. He can mix in a great curveball with a great spin rate and has been working on his slider. His diving changeup could potentially be his best secondary pitch. Last year in Bowling Green, Liberatore pitched in 78.1 innings, with a 3.10 ERA, and an 8.9 K/9. The future is looking a little brighter in St. Louis.
3. Erick Pena, OF Age: 16 Highest level in 2019: N/A Erick Pena finds himself here based on some ridiculously high reputation and potential. Perhaps no one outside of Bobby Witt Jr. in the Royals org has a higher ceiling than Erick Pena. Given that he’s still 16 years old, he’s no sure thing, but if he hits like seemingly everyone thinks he can, he’s a bonafide top 100 prospect heading into 2021. ETA: 2023
5. Alek Thomas, OF Age: 19 2019 Highest Level: A+ .300/.379/.450 10 HR 15 SB 447 AB Thomas’s bat is proving to be a very advanced for a high schooler drafted in 2018. He has present strength and walks at 10%. The Midwest League MVP and youngest player in the Futures Game has simply been better than his competition thus far in the minors. Thomas is a high riser on many prospect lists as he should be, but I think his ceiling is capped in the power department more than elite prospects.
6. Khalil Lee, OF Age: 21 Highest level in 2019: AA Here’s a quick list of players aged 21 or younger since 2013 to post a .360+ OBP and 110+ wRC+ in the Texas League (AA): Dylan Carlson Khalil Lee Josh Naylor Luis Urias Matt Olson That is a very short and rather impressive list that Khalil Lee is on. Ever since being drafted in 2016, Khalil Lee has shown a knack for getting on base. The only mediocre OBP he’s ever posted was .330 and that was during his first stint at AA as a newly turned 20-year old back in 2018. After finishing second in all of MiLB in stolen bases in 2019, Lee figures to be a fixture at the top of the Royals lineup when he reaches the big leagues, which could be as early as this summer. ETA: 2020
7. Sam Hilliard, RF (9) Age: 25 (DOB: 2/21/1994) Highest 2019 level: MLB Hilliard made his major-league debut in 2019, hitting 7 homers in 77 at-bats and getting well-deserved attention. Hilliard raked at AAA Albuquerque, with 35 HR, 101 RBI, 22 stolen bases and a .335 on-base percentage. This after a 2018 as an Eastern League all-star and Arizona Fall League standout. He should find a home in the Rockies’ outfield this summer and graduate from this list.
10. Blake Rutherford, OF Age: 22 Highest 2019 level: AA (Birmingham) To say Rutherford has not lived up to expectations would be an understatement. The once highly touted Yankees prospect was acquired by the White Sox in 2017 and since being acquired has shown flashes of brilliance, but unfortunately, flashes are not going to cut it. With a slash line of .265/.319/.365 for the entire 2019 season, Rutherford had a few hot summer months, but cooled off during some AZL action. Rutherford should see some time in Charlotte this year.
10. Austin Cox, LHP Age: 22 Highest level in 2019: A+ If you asked me today, “Which Royals prospect do you think has the chance to make the biggest jump in the rankings by year’s end?,” it would be Austin Cox. Cox has arguably the best fastball/curveball combination of any pitcher in the Royals minor league system, and definitely the best of any LHP. He was drafted in the 5th round out of Mercer in 2018 where he didn’t find a ton of success in terms of runs allowed, but he did strike out 124 batters in 87.2 IP. Despite being selected in the fifth round, the Royals had a grade on Cox that would suggest he was closer, talent wise, to a second round pick than a fifth. Needless to say they were thrilled to get him. If Cox’ command continues to sit below a 10% BB%, he’s a legitimate candidate to fill out a big league rotation with third starter potential. ETA: 2021
12. Kyle Muller LHP (2019 Midseason Rank #13) Age: 22 2019 Highest Level: Double-A 2019 Stats: 3.14 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 120 K, 68 BB Braves twitter loves themselves some Kyle Muller. I love the guy too, how could you not love a 6’6 lefty, but I just don’t love him as much as the typical Braves fan reading this does. I saw Muller pitch more than any other Braves farmhand in 2019 and I just can’t get how unbelievably wild he was in those showings out of my head. Muller has one of the biggest gaps between floor and ceiling among arms in this system and I tend to land right in the middle. I think he can be a number five starter if his stuff stays where it is today and he can find the zone a little more, maybe a number four if he can continue to develop the changeup. One thing is for sure, the Driveline participant works hard year round to continue to get better.
12. Carlos Hernandez, RHP Age: 22 Highest level in 2019: A There’s some risk involved with a guy like Carlos Hernandez, given that we’ve never seen him throw 80 innings in any season, but the stuff is legit. His fastball can approach triple digits and his curveball is an absolute hammer. The Royals added Hernandez to their 40-man roster this offseason, even though he’s never pitched in High-A, to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. If Hernandez puts it all together, he’s got front of the rotation potential. Even if he doesn’t stick in the rotation, as long as he can stay healthy (which has been problematic), he’s got the stuff to be a very good closer. ETA: 2022
14. Sam Carlson, RHP Age: 21 2019 Highest Level: Rookie The former second round pick missed the 2018 & 2019 seasons following Tommy John surgery. Prior to his injury he had a three pitch arsenal and his fastball hit the mid 90’s. If he can remain healthy, his stock has the potential to rise substantially.
15. Daniel Tillo, LHP Age: 23 Highest level in 2019: AA I have been waiting a long time for Tillo’s eventual move to the bullpen, and it seems that we may have finally arrived. Tillo uses a turbo sinker to generate a ton of ground balls and, since moving to the bullpen, has seen a bit of a jump in velo to his turbo sinker. Tillo’s off-speed stuff isn’t overly impressive, which is why I think a move to the bullpen was necessary, but at 6′ 5″, Tillo’s sinker is a real problem for hitters. I’d expect Tillo in the big league bullpen by midseason. ETA: 2020
16. Ray Delgado, IF (17) Opening Day Age: 19 2019 Highest Level: A Lake County 2019 Stats: 70 G, 291 PA, .242/.299/.337/.636, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 6 SB, 25.1 K%, 8.6 BB% Delgado had an underwhelming year in many aspects. His batting average wasn’t terrible, but his 25.1 K% kept his OBP under .300. It will be important for Delgado to improve his on base numbers and flash some more of the power the Indians saw when they drafted him in the sixth round in 2018. Considering he’s good at all three infield positions but not great at one, Delgado profiles as a utility infield at this stage of his development. ETA: 2023
16. Anthony Volpe, SS Age: 18 2019 Highest Level: Rookie Pulaski 2019 Stats: 34 G, 150 PA, .215/.349/.355/.704, 2 HR, 11 RBI, 6 SB The 30th overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, Volpe uses his compact swing with above average bat speed to spray line drives all over the field. Once he grows stronger he should hit double digit homers with ease. He possesses the natural instincts and impressive bat speed along with a great baseball IQ to improve quickly with additional at-bats. With his above average grades on everything expect power. He is an excellent defensive prospect at shortstop with quick reflexes and an advanced feel for the position. If he has to change positions he has enough arm to play second or third as well. ETA: 2023
16. Jonathan Bowlan, RHP Age: 23 Highest level in 2019: A+ Jonathan Bowlan was kind of an afterthought in 2018. Signed for a below-slot deal after the Royals drafted four other college pitchers in front of him, I think folks forget that the Royals still took Bowlan in the second round. Bowlan, standing 6′ 6″ 262′, uses an imposing frame to get a fair amount of downhill tilt on his fastball. His fastball and pinpoint control should be enough to carry him to the big leagues in some capacity, but it will be the development of his secondary offerings that determine whether Bowlan will be a starter or a reliever in the bigs. ETA: 2021
18. Marcus Wilson, OF (’19 Midseason #23) Age: 23 2019 Highest Level: AA Portland/AFL (BW) Wilson had a season that set things moving in the right direction after coming over from the Diamondbacks. A brief reset in Salem helped build confidence and he put together a good season in Portland before finishing strong in the AFL. Wilson showed over the fence power with 18 HR and also stole 13 bases, culminating with a .333/.412/.467 slash in 30 AFL at bats. Wilson may wind up as a second division regular; but to get there, he’s going to have to lower the nearly 35% K rate and boost his platoon split against lefties to help his chances in sticking even as a 4th OF.
18. Nick Heath, OF Age: 26 Highest level in 2019: AAA Heath has something that not many prospects have: an 80-grade tool. The kid can flat out fly. He lead all of MiLB in steals last year and missed two weeks of action in the process. He still strikes out way too much for a guy that doesn’t hit for much power, but he knows how to take a walk as well (.392 OBP at AAA). He could find some serious value as a platoon outfielder in Kansas City early on in 2020. ETA: 2020
20. Seuly Matias, OF Age: 21 Highest level in 2019: A+ I really wish Seuly Matias had never taken Justus Sheffield deep during the All-Star Futures Game a couple years ago. If he’d have just struck out on three pitches, it would be so much easier for me to write him off. I want to, but gosh darn it he hit 31 HR in 94 games just a season ago. Guys that hit for as much power as Matias can get away with striking out in 30% of their PA. In 2019, Matias struck out in 44.3% of his 221 PA and hit just 4 HR. That will not play at any level. Matias missed the entire second half of the season due to an injury, and should be back in the Carolina League (A+) to begin 2020. We should have a good idea of what Matias really is by July. ETA: 2022
21. Darryl Collins, OF Age: 18 Highest level in 2019: Rookie Collins came onto the prospect scene from seemingly nowhere in 2019. As a 17-year old in the Arizona League, Collins hit .320/.401/.436/.837 with a 0.73 BB/K ratio. Collins’ 132 wRC+ was good for 14th among all qualified AZL hitters and 5th among everyone with at least 200 PA. Standing 6′ 2″, Collins projects to grow a little more into his body and hit for more power as he develops. Showing a great eye at the plate, Collins’ line drive approach figures to allow him to keep the strike outs down as he grows into his power. I am really excited to get an extended look at him in A-ball this summer. ETA: 2022
22. Gabriel Cancel, 1B/2B Age: 23 Highest level in 2019: AA I’ve reached the point in the Royals prospect list where we’re going to start getting to prospects with some potential, but are a 50/50 gamble of sticking in the big leagues, if they ever make it. I was ecstatic to see what Cancel would do at AA in 2019. I was probably higher on Cancel than anyone not named Shaun Newkirk heading into the season. Cancel got off to a roaring start, posting a .925 OPS in the month of April, and then got very pedestrian through the end of July, and then was quite bad in August. In addition to slumping for most of the second half of the season, the Royals began experimenting with Cancel at first base, which would significantly hamper his overall value. I’ll be watching him very closely in 2020. ETA: 2021
23. Michael Gigliotti, CF Age: 23 Highest level in 2019: A+ I’m not exactly sure what I think about Gigliotti. In some respects, I can see him being a top 10 prospect in this system. He runs extremely well, he’s a potentially elite defender in CF, and he has a knack for being on base. On the other hand, he strikes out way too much for a guy that hits for very little power and he’ll probably begin the year as a 24-year old in A-ball. If everything pans out for him, I can see him being a little like Jarrod Dyson at the big league level. I’m just not sure how confident I am in everything panning out. ETA: 2021
24. Brewer Hicklen, OF Age: 23 Highest level in 2019: A+ Hicklen has all the tools to be a big league outfielder. He played on the football team at UAB as well as baseball, and is a bit raw, but he is a phenomenal athlete. Hicklen’s 131 wRC+ at High-A was by far the best mark on a woeful Wilmington Blue Rocks offense, and good for 4th among all qualified hitters in the Carolina League last year. He still strikes out too much, but his walk rate improved immensely in 2019, and Hicklen’s athleticism carried him to marks of 14 HR and 39 SB. If he improves the plate discipline, he could be a serviceable platoon option in a big league outfield. ETA: 2021
25. Dom Nunez, C (UR) Age: 24 (DOB: 1/17/1995) Highest 2019 level: MLB His 17 home runs, 42 RBI and a .362 OBP earned a promotion from Albuquerque to Denver. He’s bounced on and off this list but any catcher who plays in Coors Field might be fantasy relevant. The Rockies, however, are looking at other backup catchers so expect Nunez to start this spring in AAA.
25. Evan Steele, LHP Age: 23 Highest level in 2019: A Steele is a really difficult guy to peg in the list of Royals prospects. There is no question about the talent. The kid is one of the most talented pitchers in the entire organization. But after missing the entire 2018 season due to injury, Steele was shut down in 2019 after just 11 starts and 49 IP. In those 49 innings, Steele struck out 28.4% of the batters he faced and posted an ERA of 2.39 in the South Atlantic League. If Steele can stay even a little healthy, he’s a really good lefty in the back end of a big league bullpen. ETA: 2021
26. Jeison Guzman, SS Age: 21 Highest level in 2019: A You will never be able to accuse me of being the “high man” on Guzman, but the Royals thought enough of him to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft this offseason despite Guzman having never appeared in High-A. Guzman is a gifted athlete with the potential of hitting 20+ doubles and stealing 20+ bases some day, but he has not come close to putting it all together yet. Despite his lack of production, Guzman has all of the ability in the world and, should he put it all together, could be a legitimate every day guy up the middle in the big leagues some day. ETA: 2022
27. Zach Haake, RHP Age: 21 Highest level in 2019: A Haake has some sick-nasty stuff. He gets plenty of strike outs on the mound and posted an ERA of 2.85 in 75.2 IP in his first full professional season this year in the South Atlantic League (A). He did miss time due to an injury, and questions still remain on whether or not his command will allow him to start full time, but if he can stay healthy he’s every bit as capable of reaching the big leagues in a bullpen role as guys like Evan Steele and Tyler Zuber. ETA: 2022
28. Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B Age: 22 Highest level in 2019: Rookie Sometimes you just have to call your shot. I love Pasquantino’s profile. It was really hard for me to not have him a little bit higher on this list. Pasquantino was the Royals 11th round pick out of Old Dominion in 2019, and he did nothing but rake in his professional debut. Ignore the fact that Pasquantino never made it out of Rookie ball. The Royals as an organization put a premium on minor league championships and Pasquantino would have absolutely been promoted had he not been carrying the Burlington Royals (Appalachian League) to a championship run. Had it not been for an injury in his sophomore season, I legitimately believe that Pasquantino would’ve been selected closer to rounds 6-7. He walked more than he struck out in both his freshman and junior campaigns at Old Dominion. Then in his pro debut, he hit 14 HR and had a total of 33 XBH in 57 games. I know it was just rookie ball, but Pasquantino will be 22 years old for the entirety of the 2020 season and I am really excited to see him get into A-ball. ETA: 2022
29. Emmanuel Rivera, 3B Age: 23 Highest level in 2019: AA Rivera would probably be staring down a potential big league look in 2020 if the hot corner wasn’t already full in Kansas City. Hunter Dozier, Maikel Franco, and Kelvin Gutierrez all figure to get PA at 3B over Rivera this season, clouding his future a bit. Rivera handles the hot corner really well, but he is pretty tame offensively. He doesn’t hit for much power and he doesn’t walk hardly at all, though he does make consistent contact and shouldn’t be a total black hole in any lineup. Coming off a season in which Rivera posted a 79 wRC+ at AA, time is running out on the Royals third base prospect. ETA: 2021
29. Riley Adams, C (’19 Rank #30) Age: 23 (DOB: 06/26/96) 2019 Highest Level: AA Adams had a solid season moving quickly from High-A Dunedin to AA New Hampshire. He slashed .261/.366/.443 with 14 HR. He is a strong receiver with a lot of power potential. He should be the starting catcher at AAA Buffalo in 2020.
30. Ben Rortvedt, C Age: 22 2019 Highest Level: AA Pensacola Where Jeffers succeeds, ’tis where Rortvedt fails, and vice versa. Hitting at a .238/.334/.379 clip in the minors won’t get you noticed for your bat, however Rortvedt is a much better defender and framer than Jeffers. If he could somehow get his bat going in 2020, he could possibly leapfrog Jeffers in the minor league catcher rankings, but it’s not the likeliest of outcomes given that he’s never hit for power or contact.
30. Tyler Zuber, RHP Age: 24 Highest level in 2019: AA Zuber was a 6th round pick back in the 2017 MLB Draft even though he was always going to be a bullpen only guy. His stuff isn’t overly fantastic, but it’s good enough to compliment some next level command that helped Zuber post an ERA of 2.42 in 26 innings at AA in 2019. He likely will begin this season in the minors, but he’s on the shortlist of exciting names that Kansas City could call to the big league bullpen at any point in 2020. ETA: 2020
32. Pedro Gonzalez, OF Age: 22 (10/27/97) 2019 Highest Level: Low-A Hickory (Texas Rangers) Gonzalez is going to drop down a few lists simply due to the disappointing numbers he produced in 2019. Repeating a second year at Hickory, Gonzalez improved his average from .234 to .248, but did find a power stroke and nearly doubled his home run total from 12 to 23. I would have liked to see a little more from a guy who repeated the level, but the power he has unlocked is keeping him just out of the top 30.
32. Grant Gavin, RHP Age: 24 Highest level in 2019: AA Gavin’s prospect profile reminds me a bit of Tyler Zuber, even if they are not similar pitchers. Gavin’s fastball doesn’t usually get above 94, but he boasts some well above average spin rates, specifically on his fastball, that allow the pitch to play up. Gavin finished the season with the second best K/9 of any A-ball or better pitcher in the Royals org with 50+ IP (12.55), trailing only Josh Staumont. He still walks far too many hitters (4.30 BB/9 last year), but his fastball/curveball combo give Gavin a chance to be an effective reliever at the big league level. ETA: 2020
33. Rylan Kaufman, LHP Age: 20 Highest level in 2019: Rookie Kaufman has spin rates that you just can not teach. Someone has since deleted the video I’ve been looking for on Twitter, but Kaufman was filmed throwing a bullpen at San Jacinto CC in Texas and his curveball was approaching 3,000 RPMs. We’ve been robbed of watching Kaufman pitch professionally over the last two seasons, but it sounds like he’s getting healthier and should be ready to roll early on in 2020. Under the radar arm very much worthy of your attention this summer. ETA: 2023
35. Delvin Capellan, RHP Age: 21 Highest level in 2019: Rookie I’ve been waiting a long time for Capellan to finally pitch in A-ball. He’s slowly made his way from the DSL, to the AZL, to the Appalachian League, and now should finally get a full season go at the South Atlantic League in 2020. Capellan does a little bit of everything well and could very well see a significant jump in the rankings should he perform well in the SALLY this year. ETA: 2023
36. Michael Massey, 2B Age: 21 Highest level in 2019: Rookie Massey, a 2019 4th round pick, has a much better profile than he does resume to date. He moves well at 2B, projects to hit for more power as he continues to fill out, doesn’t strike out much, and his swing is so pretty. The results haven’t followed, but I remain optimistic about his future. ETA: 2022
37. Charlie Neuweiler, RHP Age: 20 Highest level in 2019: A Neuweiler may be one of the most slept on pitching prospects in the Royals system. He got off to a roaring start as a 20-year old in A-ball last spring, had an abysmal stretch in the middle of the year, and then ended the season on another scorching hot streak. I’m not 100% sure what happened to Neuweiler in the middle of last season, but he seemed to correct it just fine. Remove five bad starts between May and June and Neuweiler posted an ERA of 2.94 in 128.2 IP for the rest of the season with 130 K to just 50 BB. Obviously you can’t just remove bad starts in real life, and Neuweiler will need to make sure he’s ironed out what ever issues he had during that stretch, but his future is very bright for KC. ETA: 2022
38. Sebastian Rivero, C Age: 21 Highest level in 2019: AAA Rivero will more than likely never hit enough to escape a reserve role, but he also might be the best defender in the entire Royals organization. Even if he never carves out a significant role, he’s almost sure to be a backup at the big league level. ETA: 2022
39. Nathan Eaton, UTIL Age: 23 Highest level in 2019: A Eaton has a variety of tools that figure to keep him on prospect radars for the foreseeable future. He shows good awareness at the plate, has some pop in his bat, runs well, and can play a few different positions defensively. ETA: 2022
42. Wilmin Candelario, SS Age: 18 Highest level in 2019: Rookie This probably seems super hypocritical, given that I have Erick Pena in my top 5, but I hope that speaks more as to what I think of Pena than it sounds like a knock on Candelario. For the record, I think Candelario has a really good chance of becoming a legitimate prospect heading into 2021. There’s also a chance that he Jeison Guzman’s his way into more of a flier by the end of 2021. He’s just too young to tell, but he’s definitely worth keeping on radars until further notice. ETA: 2023
43. Luis De La Rosa, RHP Age: 17 Highest level in 2019: Rookie De La Rosa is getting some of the same treatment as Candelario here. Tons of potential, great performance in the DSL last year as a 17-year old, just not enough to go on yet. 100% worth keeping on your radar, could be a top 20 org guy by year’s end. ETA: 2024
44. Jon Heasley, RHP Age: 22 Highest level in 2019: A Drafted out of Oklahoma State in 2018, Heasley looked really sharp in his first full year of professional baseball. Great command but questionable secondary offerings. ETA: 2022
45. Alec Marsh, RHP Age: 21 Highest level in 2019: Rookie 2019 draftee reminds me a bit of current Royal Jakob Junis. Good fastball without a ton of velocity, but a great slider to compliment. Should know more after a couple of months in A-ball. ETA: 2023
46. Grant Gambrell, RHP Age: 22 Highest level in 2019: Rookie Another 2019 draftee, Gambrell possesses a pretty solid fastball/curveball combo that could allow him to pitch in a big league bullpen some day. ETA: 2023
47. John Rave, CF Age: 22 Highest level in 2019: A Rave is a toolsy outfielder with good range and a leadoff hitter’s profile. Probably didn’t earn his call-up the way Pasquantino deserved one, but there was a need in CF in Low-A and so Rave was promoted. He actually held his own a bit upon arrival to full-season ball and is definitely worth tracking for now. ETA: 2022
48. Omar Florentino, SS Age: 18 Highest level in 2019: Rookie Similar story as Candelario here. Lots of projection, good year in the DSL, too early to tell what we have here. While Candelario projects as the better defender, I think there may be more “oomph” in Florentino’s bat. ETA: 2024
49. Arnaldo Hernandez, RHP Age: 23 Highest level in 2019: AAA I have no idea what happened to Hernandez in 2019, but as a 22-year old in 2018 he saw a huge jump in velocity and made his way from A+ to AAA and looked great doing it. IF he can return to form, he’s deserving of a much higher ranking than this. ETA: 2021
50. D.J. Burt, UTIL Age: 24 Highest level in 2019: AA Burt could reach the big leagues in a reserve role, but I don’t think there’s any hope left for him to be an every day guy. With that said, a guy that can defend, and defend well, 4-5 positions on the field and run like crazy could have value on a 26-man roster. ETA: 2021
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Post by RoyalsGM on Jan 18, 2021 14:57:33 GMT -6
2021 Prospects:
3. Matthew Liberatore, LHP Age: 21 Highest Level: A The top ranked pitcher in the system, Liberatore will be a solid contributor in Cardinals lineup within the next couple years. I feel he has top of the rotation kind of stuff with his average to above average mix of 4 pitches. Liberatore is a fairly consistent pitcher that relies on his very good control. He’s only going to get better in the next couple years, and I see him being the 2nd or 3rd starter in the Cardinals rotation in the next 2-3 years.
3. Alek Thomas, OF Age: 20 Highest Level: A+ Selected in the 2nd round of the 2018 draft, Thomas has the best all-around tools in the Arizona system, with above average hitting, speed, and defensive ability. Like Robinson, Thomas moved quickly through Rookie and Low-A leagues, exciting scouts and coaches along the way. His hitting approach enables solid contact to all fields, with good gap power to pair with his plus speed. As Thomas develops, he needs to identify LHP better and be more patient into counts. In 2019, Thomas drew only 52 walks in 506 plate appearances, limiting his speed’s impact on the basepaths.
3. Erick Pena, OF Age: 17 Highest Level: Rookie Acquired: 2019 Amateur Free Agency Super high ceiling for Pena. The sweet-swinging OF is already turning heads. While some scouts compare him to another former Royal, Carlos Beltran, I see Pena getting a heavy dose of right field. It’ll be Pena’s power bat with solid contact skills that carries him to stardom.
9. Khalil Lee, OF Age: 22 Highest Level: Double A Acquired: 2016 Draft, Rd 3 , Pick 103 Lee has been gifted with tremendous speed, as he finished with the 2nd highest SB total in MiLB during the 2019 season. Should flash 20 HR power as well. Lee tends to see a lot of pitches in his at-bats, which I was able to witness in-person in 2019. At lower levels, he’s able to induce walks from those pitchers, but big league pitching will begin to turn those walks into more strikeouts unless he’s able to show more aggressive hunting strikes earlier in the count.
11. Austin Cox, LHP Age: 23 Highest Level: High A Acquired: 2018 Draft, Rd 5, Pick 152 Cox has mid-rotation upside with a very nice fastball/curveball combination. The college lefty could force his way into a late season call-up in 2021.
12. Carlos Hernandez, RHP Age: 23 Highest Level: MLB Acquired: 2016 Amateur Free Agency Premium velocity may force a role in the bullpen for Hernandez, but there’s still time to show the Royals he can take the ball every fifth day.
13. Yefri Del Rosario, RHP Age: 21 Highest Level: Low A Acquired: 2017 Free Agency A wide range of outcomes is still probable for Del Rosario, however the stuff is present. He needs to stay healthy and pitch a complete season to set his pathway.
15. Sam Carlson, RHP Age: 22 Highest Level: Rookie League Carlson pitched in a game for the first time since 2017 throwing in the Arizona Instructional League this fall when he had Tommy John surgery shortly after being drafted. The organization was excited to be draft him in the second round in 2017 when he was expected to go much earlier. It has been a long road back, but hopefully he will stay healthy and have a strong first full season of minor league ball.
16. Nick Heath, OF Age: 27 Highest Level: MLB Acquired: 2016 Draft, Rd 16 The Royals farm teams love to run. Heath led all of the minor leagues in 2019 in stolen bases. With a high OBP, he is a terror on the basepaths. Look for Heath to get some playing time as a platoon outfielder this year in Kansas City.
19. Daniel Tillo, LHP Age: 24 Highest Level: Double A Acquired: 2017 Draft, Rd 3, Pick 90 If the Royals need a late-inning, double play, this is the guy to call upon. Tillo led the minors with a 63.7% ground ball rate in 2019.
20. Jonathan Bowlan, RHP Age: 24 Highest Level: High A Acquired: 2018 Draft, Rd 2, Pick 58 Bowlan has answered concerns over development of secondary offering. He has excellent control , which will allow him to continue to develop as a starter.
23. Colt Keith, 3B/RHP (2020 Rank: Unranked) Age: 19 Highest Level: High School While Spencer Torkelson gets most of the Tigers discussion on the 2020 Draft, Keith might be the most interesting pick. A two-way player right of high school, Keith wanted the opportunity to play every day. His raw athleticism and 6’2” build allow him to hit for average and power naturally. It will be important to maintain arm strength and swing length during his body maturation. The risk is high, but the tools are there for development, even if it is a 3-4 year process.
23. Darryl Collins, OF Age: 19 Highest Level: Rookie Acquired: 2018 Amateur Free Agency Collins has a line-drive approach which allows him to minimize strikeouts and get on base at .400 clip. He’s still young enough to grow into more power and rise up to Royals’ Top 10 lists throughout the prospect world.
24. Wilmin Candelario, SS Age: 19 Highest Level: Rookie Acquired: 2018 Amateur Free Agency We have a limited sample on Candelario to this point, but the sample has been excellent. Power and speed is evident, with a plus hit tool. He is definitely one to watch.
25. Seuly Matias, OF Age: 22 Highest Level: High A Acquired: 2015 Amateur Free Agency This feels like a make or break year for Matias. Seuly continues to fall down prospect rankings, due to his inability to make enough contact.
25. Dom Nunez, C Age: 25 Highest Level: MLB Nunez hit 17 home runs with 42 RBI and a .362 OBP in Albuquerque in 2019 and that landed him at alternate camp and then in Denver. He didn’t show much offense in 2020 but any catcher who plays in Coors Field might be fantasy relevant. The Rockies have him penciled in as the backup catcher this summer.
26. Tyler Gentry, OF Age: 21 Highest Level: College Acquired: 2020 Draft, Rd 3, Pick 76 The Crimson Tide product has a nice blend of power, speed, and hit. Add in his good plate discipline and you’re looking at a solid big leaguer, if not more. Keep an eye on his transition.
27. Luis De La Rosa, RHP Age: 18 Highest Level: Rookie Acquired: 2018 Amateur Free Agency This ranking is aggressive for the young hurler, but so far the fastball command paired with an advanced changeup is paying off dividends.
28. Maikel Garcia, SS Age: 20 Highest Level: Rookie Acquired: 2016 Amateur Free Agency The cousin of Alcides Escobar, Garcia has a present solid hit tool, speed, and good defense. He has moved slowly through the system, and had a good showing recently in the Venezuelan Winter League.
29. Evan Steele, LHP Age: 24 Highest Level: Low A Acquired: 2017 Draft, Rd 2, Pick 73 Like a lot of pitchers, health stands in the way of progression. Since 2018, Steele only has 49 innings under his belt. The results have been good, but he’ll need to show durability moving forward.
30. Alec Marsh, RHP Age: 22 Highest Level: Rookie Acquired: 2019 Draft, Rd 2, Pick 70 The former Sun Devil (#ForksUp) had an impressive showing in Idaho Falls, the Royals’ Rookie league affiliate. He possesses excellent control, as evidenced by 4 BB in 33.1 IP.
31. Christian Chamberlain, LHP Age: 21 Highest Level: College Acquired: 2020 Draft, Rd 4, Pick 105 The Royals may give him a chance to start, but I think Chamberlain finds his role in the back end of the bullpen. Doing so should allow his fastball to reside in the mid-90’s, pairing it with a 12-6 curveball that tends to miss a lot of bats.
32. Tyler Zuber, RHP Age: 25 Highest Level: MLB Acquired: 2017 Draft, Rd 6 Chalk up 2020 as learning year for Zuber, as the Royals called him up for 23 appearances, with mediocre results. Strictly a bullpen arm, he displayed excellent strike-throwing ability in the minors.
33. Grant Gambrell, RHP Age: 23 Highest Level: Rookie Acquired: 2019 Draft, Rd 3, Pick 80 I have to cut Gambrell some slack as he made 10 starts after being drafted out of Oregon State. Most college pitchers shut down after being drafted, then pick it up the following season. The results were not good, with nearly 14 H/9 given up in those starts.
34. Brewer Hicklen, OF Age: 24 Highest Level: High A Acquired: 2017 Draft, Rd 7 Long on athleticism, the former football player, displayed good power and well above average speed in the Carolina League. He’ll need to improve plate discipline to be able to move up the ladder.
35. Gabriel Cancel, 1B Age: 24 Highest Level: Double A Acquired: 2015 Amateur Free Agency Cancel’s ceiling is a utility bench player, with an average hit tool and average power. It’s more likely he finds a role in the upper minors that gets the occasional call-up as an injury replacement.
36. Jeison Guzman, SS Age: 22 Highest Level: Low A Acquired: 2015 Amateur Free Agency The clock is ticking on Guzman, as he enters his 5th season in the Royals system. So far, the production hasn’t met the expectations when they signed him in 2015. He has some speed in his skillset, as many Royals’ prospects do, but he doesn’t hit enough or possess stellar defense to keep him on the field.
37. Zach Haake, RHP Age: 24 Highest Level: Low A Acquired: 2018 Draft, Rd 6 With lack of control being a problem, it’s more likely than not that Haake transitions to the bullpen. He has some nasty stuff, but being able to harness it eludes him.
37. Marcus Wilson, OF Age: 24 Highest Level: AA In Wilson’s whirlwind 2019 season which saw him traded from Arizona, the outfielder played in 4 different stops across 2 organizations, including the Arizona Fall League. Wilson has a solid foundation of raw power, speed, defensive prowess and a good throwing arm, but the hit tool hasn’t materialized to project him as more than a 4th outfielder at present.
38. Sebastian Rivero, C Age: 22 Highest Level: Triple A Acquired: 2015 Amateur Free Agency Catchers with superb defense have value. He’ll never be confused with fellow Royal, Salvador Perez, from a hitting standpoint, but he’ll play well enough behind the dish to be a big league backup.
40. Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B Age: 23 Highest Level: Rookie Acquired: 2019 Draft, Rd 11 Vinnie looks the part of, at minimum, a defensive-minded 1B with the ability to smack a pinch-hit HR. He possesses good power, good feel to hit, and plays stellar defense. He shouldn’t need much time to make it to a bench role, and possibly more.
41. Will Klein, RHP Age: 21 Highest Level: College Acquired: 2020 Draft, Rd 5, Pick 135 The flamethrower out of Eastern Illinois possesses a 4 pitch mix, with the changeup still in development. He has the look of a mid-rotation arm or possible late inning bullpen piece.
44. Grant Gavin, RHP Age: 25 Highest Level: Double A Acquired: 2016 Draft, Rd 29 He has a chance to be a reliever, due to high strikeout rates. With several others in the system with a similar skill set, he’ll have to be spectacular to get to that level.
44. Pedro Gonzalez, OF Age: 23 (10/27/97) Highest Level: Hickory Crawdads (A) Traded from the Rockies back in 2017, he made some improvements in 2019 compared to 2018. His batting averaged increased, as did his power potential. Doubling his HR output from 2018 (12) to 2019 (23), he showed more consistency at the plate. There was also more effort in attempting to be more aggressive between bases, thus making him more of a threat when he did reach base. Defensively he played in all 3 outfield positions in the last couple of seasons, showing versatility and adaptability with a solid fielding percentage (.964).
45. Rylan Kaufman, LHP Age: 21 Highest Level: Rookie Acquired: 2018 Draft, Rd 12 Organizational depth at this point. Youth is on his side, so he still has time to showcase his skill set.
46. Delvin Capellan, RHP Age: 22 Highest Level: Rookie Acquired: 2016 Amateur Free Agency Good control will give him an outside chance at viability. Otherwise mediocre results at age-appropriate levels are cause for concern.
47. Michael Massey, 2B Age: 22 Highest Level: Rookie Acquired: 2019 Draft, Rd 4, Pick 109 Average hit tool with decent ability to get on base suggest a possible pinch hit role, but likely will be a career minor leaguer.
48. Omar Florentino, SS Age: 19 Highest Level: Rookie Acquired: 2018 Amateur Free Agency Florentino is all about projection. Smaller frame may limit the upside, however his plate discipline will give him a long leash.
49. Jon Heasley, RHP Age: 23 Highest Level: Low A Acquired: 2018 Draft, Rd 13 The arsenal of pitches doesn’t possess a standout, at lower levels Heasley is able to mix his pitches to get effective results. This will be harder to do as he moves up levels, but if he can find success, he’ll rise up the rankings to one day have a shot at the big leagues.
50. Samuel Valerio, RHP Age: 19 Highest Level: Rookie Acquired: 2018 Amateur Free Agency Big-framed righthander that throws gas. 3 pitch mix with the ability to remain a starter. He’s a long ways away, so I can’t project him on the 40 man as of now, but that could change with continued growth in 2021.
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Post by RoyalsGM on Feb 20, 2022 17:14:49 GMT -6
2022 Top Prospects:
1. Anthony Volpe, SS, 20, High-A The 30th overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, Volpe uses his compact line-drive swing to spray line drives all over the field while making plenty of contact and hitting with power. He has added strength and is now a consistent threat to drive the ball more and looks like at least a 20 plus homer threat. On the bases he is a solid runner who will get some steals and take the extra base. Volpe checks all the boxes with a plus hit tool, advanced approach, plus power and plus speed having above average grades on all five tools a 20-20 plus player is in play here.
2. Alek Thomas, OF, 21, AAA Thomas built on his standout professional track record (he’s hit at or above .300 every year he’s played) in 2021, reaching AAA and new bests in power and home runs. Some of that power seems to have been a little lucky though, as an unsustainable 29% of his AAA flyballs went for homers, covering for his high groundball rates (+50% at both AA and AAA). He’s got plus raw speed to leg out extra-base hits but has yet to translate it into consistent stolen base success. Plus hitting ability and elite production at AAA as a 21-year-old spell a very bright future for Thomas, though he’ll likely need to loft the ball a bit more and shore up his base-stealing skills to get the most out of his considerable tools.
2. Matthew Liberatore, LHP, 22, AAA Liberatore pitched the entire season at Triple-A in 2021. While his stats weren’t great last season, he was really good the last two months in Memphis. He’s still a top of the rotation pitcher with ace potential, and a must-get in any fantasy league.
4. Sal Frelick, OF, 21, High-A Frelick hit the ground running after getting drafted 15th overall in 2021, demolishing pitching in the ACL and Low-A, hitting over .400 at each level before a promotion to High-A where he finally slowed down offensively. Frelick is a plus hitter with blazing speed and can be a top-of-the-order threat. He’ll likely start the season back in High-A and he’ll move up the ladder as quickly as his bat will take him.
6. Ryne Nelson, RHP, 23, AA Nelson had a similar 2021 season as Jameson, pitching deep into games all year and racking up strikeouts across High-A and AA. He spent his 2021 focusing on cleaning up his delivery and sequencing his four pitches better, to good results. While he currently doesn’t have quite the strikeout upside of Jameson, he still induces enough swing-and-miss to project as a useful #3 starter.
6. Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B, 24, AA Another fast riser in the system, Pasquantino, sported a strikeout rate of 12.4% and a 12.5% walk rate. He shows great plate discipline and is able to get on base with an average of .395 in 2021.
8. Deyvison De Los Santos, 3B, 18, Low-A De Los Santos is arguably the Diamondbacks’ hottest dynasty name in the low minors besides Lawlar. While he’s not quite a household name yet, he rose from Rookie-ball obscurity to dynasty hype thanks to excellent power and on-base abilities. Showing he can keep a lid on the strikeout rate is priority #1 for 2022, but he’ll still be 18 years old for the first couple months of the 2022 season, so he’s got time to work it out. Very high upside.
8. Jonathan Bowlan, RHP, 25, AA A second-round pick in 2018, Bowlan has dazzled over the past three seasons of pro ball. He has exceptional control of the strike zone and is able to strike out batters at a high rate. Unfortunately, his 2021 season ended with Tommy John Surgery and probably won’t see him until the 2023 season.
9. J.C. Correa, SS, 23, High-A The younger Correa showed a mature approach in his first pro season, combining for 9 HRs and a .368 OBP across A/A+ ball.
11. Erick Pena, OF, 18, Rookie He was one of the league’s top international signings in 2019. Pena’s 2021 season showed promise, but strikeouts were an issue. There is still plenty of time for Pena to right the ship.
12. Angel Zerpa, LHP, 22, MLB Zerpa jumped through four different levels in 2021, making strides at each stop, finishing with a solid MLB debut. He may not be a starter, but he does have potential as a reliever.
13. Kyle Muller, LHP, 24, MLB Currently a starter, I think Muller settles into a role as a late-inning reliever, designated to face the opposing team’s best left-handed hitters. He’s far from a soft-throwing lefty, though. The 6’7″ 250-pound frame adds some extension to his mid-nineties fastball with a slider and curveball as his secondaries. I’d like to see him implement the changeup more, which would allow the fastball to play up a bit, however, there is only a 5.4 MPH difference between the two.
13. Michael Massey, 2B, 23, High-A Another infielder and another guy that is pushing his way up the Royals’ minor leagues. Our Prospects1500 2B Prospect of the Year (as voted on Twitter), Massey pulled off 21 home runs and 12 stolen bases in High-A, posting strikeout rates under 16%. He gets on base and it pays off.
14. Colt Keith, 3B, 20, High-A Keith had a great start to 2021 in Lakeland, hitting .320 with 30 walks in 44 games. Those results earned him a promotion to West Michigan where he struggled to hit .162 with only 8 walks and 27 strikeouts. Colt continues to develop into his 6’3”/210 frame which will add more power.
14. Alec Marsh, RHP, 23, AA He is a hard-throwing righty who posted a strikeout rate of almost 15 strikeouts per nine innings. However, Marsh’s 2021 season ended with an undisclosed injury, cutting his development short. 2022 will be a key year for Marsh.
15. Darryl Collins, OF, 20, Low-A The 20-year old doesn’t have a lot of pop off his bat, but he does have some speed. Collins could eclipse the 20 stolen base level if his OBP stays level. He does put the ball into play, keeping the strikeouts
17. Lonnie White Jr., OF, 18, Rookie (FCL) White is a 2021 draftee who was signed away from a scholarship to play baseball and football (WR) at Penn State. He is a freak athlete with plus speed and power capable of playing CF. White played in the FCL and showed power hitting 2 HR in only 31 AB. Like most 18 year old’s entering professional baseball, he needs to cut down the Ks.
17. Riley Adams, C, 25, MLB Acquired from Toronto at the 2021 trade deadline for Brad Hand, Adams is going to be the backup catcher to Ruiz, but should be a fairly solid one. He has pop (110 mph max exit velocity) and can take a walk. There is a history of swing and miss, but in the second half, he posted a .887 OPS. Plus he had a 13.6% barrel rate all season. With Ruiz entrenched in the catcher spot, Adams is strictly a backup catcher, albeit one with some offensive potential. But if the NL adds a DH, there could be a path to additional at-bats if he continues to hit.
16. Austin Cox, LHP, 24, AAA 17. Yefri Del Rosario, RHP, 22, AA 18. Josh Dye, LHP, 25, AAA 20. Daniel Tillo, LHP, 25, AA 21. Drew Parrish, LHP, 24, AA 22. Daniel Vasquez, SS, 17, N/A 24. Maikel Garcia, SS, 21, High-A 25. Gabriel Cancel, 2B/3B, 25, AAA 26. Christian Chamberlain, LHP, 22, High-A 27. Shane Panzini, RHP, 19, High School 28. Blake Rutherford, OF, 24, AAA 29. Sam Carlson, RHP, 23, Low-A 29. Brewer Hicklen, OF, 25, AA 30. Emmanuel Rivera, 3B, 25, MLB 31. Zach Haake, RHP, 25, High-A 32. Jon Heasley, RHP, 24, MLB 33. Dylan Coleman, RHP, 25, MLB 35. Ronald Bolanos, RHP, 25, MLB 36. Eric Cerantola, RHP, 21, Rookie (ACL) 37. Junior Marin, OF, 17, Rookie (DOSL) 38. Tyler Gentry, OF, 22, High-A 39. Will Klein, RHP, 22, High-A 40. Dayton Dooney, 2B, 22, Rookie (ACL) 41. Clay Dungan, 2B/SS, 25, AA 43. Seuly Matias, OF, 23, AA 44. Yohanse Morel, RHP, 21, High-A 45. Noah Murdock, RHP, 23, High-A 46. Wilmin Candelario, SS, 20, Rookie (ACL) 47. Anthony Veneziano, LHP, 24, High-A 48. Emilio Marquez, LHP, 23, AAA 49. Brennon McNair, SS, 19, Rookie (ACL) 50. Darnel Collins, 1B, 17, Rookie (ACL) 51. Lizandro Rodriguez, 2B/3B, 19, Rookie (DOSL)
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Post by RoyalsGM on Feb 4, 2023 9:57:11 GMT -6
2023 Top Prospects:
1. Anthony Volpe, SS, 21, Triple-A Volpe checks all the boxes with a plus hit tool, advanced approach, plus power and plus speed having above-average grades on all five tools. He has the makings of a 20-20 plus player and a 2023 MLB debut isn’t out of the question. I believe he will be in the major leagues full time in 2024. He can play defense, but for me, he should be playing second base. I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t see his arm being strong enough on an everyday basis to stay at shortstop.
2. Sal Frelick, OF, 22, Triple-A Frelick has done nothing but hit since arriving in the Brewers organization as a first round pick in 2021. He has an advanced approach at the plate that is built for making contact and getting on base, and his .331/.403/.480 slash line in 2022 further proved that. Frelick also brings plenty of speed, racking up stolen bases and making him an ideal leadoff hitter of the future for Milwaukee. He doesn’t have much home run power, but he can turn singles into doubles with his wheels. He may start the season in Triple-A but it likely won’t be long until he’s called up to make his MLB debut.
2. Tyler Gentry, OF, 24, Double-A Another well-built, athletic outfielder, Gentry had maybe most impressive statistical season of any player in the org last year, hitting .326/.422/.542 with 21 home runs across High-A and Double-A. And after his mid-June promotion to AA, he had a .234 iso and 146 wRC+. He also cut his K rate by nearly 6 points and maintained a 12.1% BB rate. Similar to Cross, albeit from the right side, Gentry uses the whole field to spray the ball, and like many Royals prospects, he’s patient at the dish. He’s currently an average runner, and on the grass, he projects to be an average glove in a corner with enough arm for right field.
Gentry received a non-roster invite to Spring Training, and with the recent trade of Taylor, that’s one fewer OF blocking Gentry’s path to corner outfield thumping. ZiPS projects a 101 OPS+ for 2023. A mid-late season debut is a very real possibility.
3. Daniel Susac, C, 21, Single-A Susac, taken 19th overall in 2022, came to the A’s as a premier college bat after starring for Arizona. He was decent in his pro debut for Single-A Stockton slashing .286/.346/.388 but lacked much power output in the small 107 plate appearance sample. That lack of power doesn’t figure to last for long for the 6’4” catching prospect, he should rise quickly through Oakland’s ranks.
3. Maikel Garcia, SS, 22, MLB After signing with the Royals as an International Free Agent WAY back in 2016 as a 16-year-old, Garcia has progressed rather smoothly through the minors, ultimately earning a last summer call-up in 2022, where he appeared in 9 games.
Garcia is wiry (but not small) and will likely never hit for much power, but a plus runner and glove at the six, gives him a solid floor as a utility player. However, I think there’s more here. Defensively, he’s quick, fluid and has ample arm strength for the left side. Garcia has also shown an above average hit tool, excellent plate discipline and decent efficacy for stealing bases. Particularly from a fantasy standpoint, this package is more exciting than at first blush. A player that can hit, run and defend will get many chances to succeed. Throw in a bunch of doubles and a few home runs annually (8-10 at peak), and there’s your regular.
ZiPS is bullish on Garcia’s 2023, giving him the sixth-most value for a position player and comping him to mid-late aughts fantasy darling Brian Roberts! If Opening Day isn’t in the cards for Garcia, and an injury befalls one of the infielders, the call should go to the best defensive SS in the organization, who also happens to be Alcides Escobar’s cousin.
5. Colt Keith, 3B, 21, High-A There might be a prospect with more fans behind him than Keith. Keith is the leader of a busy 3B depth chart across the Tigers system. Power, average, and ability to use the entire field were on full display in 2022. Keith put these talents on display in the Arizona Fall League by hitting .344 with an OPS over one-thousand. At only 21 years old, the Tigers can take their time with Keith and wait for him to develop fully. Expect a big year for Colt Keith in Double-A Erie.
7. Jacob Melton, OF, 22, Single-A After going hitless with no walks in his first 17 professional at-bats, the Astros promoted Melton, their 2022 2nd round pick, to Single-A. He rewarded their confidence by hitting .324 over 19 games and went 9-for-21 with 6 walks in his last full series. The 2022 PAC-12 Player of the Year played most of his college games in centerfield and has the speed and athleticism to stay there.
7. Jonathan Aranda*, 1B/2B/3B, 24, MLB Aranda has hit his way through the minors since his professional debut in 2016 and into the Rays Major league plans moving forward. Aranda destroyed opposing AAA pitchers to the tune of a 142 wRC+ across 104 games, earning himself the distinction of International League’s Most Valuable Player last season. Aranda played 1B, 2B and 3B across his 32 game Major League debut with the Rays in 2022 and is currently projected by Fangraphs to be the club’s Opening Day 1B.
7. Ryne Nelson, RHP, 24, Triple-A Nelson is another good starter in the organization. He has the strikeout stuff to be a very good major league pitcher very soon.
9. Matthew Liberatore*, LHP, 23, MLB The more I see of Liberatore, the more I believe he profiles as a fourth starter in the big leagues. His curveball is a weapon, a true out pitch, but I question whether his fastball can get big league hitters out multiple trips through a lineup. I do think he could be a good fourth starter and there is value in that, but dynasty owners would be wise to adjust their expectations accordingly.
10. Lonnie White Jr., OF, 20, Rookie (FCL) White was the 64th overall pick in the 2021 draft but has only 38 at bats since being drafted. He was off to a solid start last season but tore his UCL after only 2 games. Prior to being drafted he was recruited by Penn State to play Wide Receiver but chose the baseball path instead. White has good speed and can play a solid centerfield but needs to get some at bats to continue his development. He may be a few years away from the big leagues but, with his talent, is a good gamble to pick up in dynasty leagues.
10. Angel Zerpa, LHP, 23, MLB Although he missed the final two months of the season with a small tear in his patellar tendon, Zerpa looked like he belonged with the big club after 3 appearances last year; He went 2-1 with a 1.64 ERA (5.75 FIP). A bulldog on the bump, Zerpa attacks righties and lefties differently with his two fastballs, a slider and changeup. He’s started throughout the minors, as well as in his brief stint in MLB, but Zerpa might better utilized as a multiple inning arm depending upon need and look. He’ll compete for an Opening Day roster spot.
11. Deyvison De Los Santos, 3B, 19, Double-A The hit tool is definitely there as Deyvison hit .300 across three minor-league levels, then went on to play in the Arizona Fall League. He will need to cut down his strikeouts (147) as he moves through the minors.
11. Alec Marsh, RHP, 24, Triple-A 156 Ks in 124 innings (yay!) but 6.88 ERA with 28 home runs allowed (ouch!), Marsh was one of many Royals pitchers with rough peripherals in 2022. His full slate of innings can be the positive takeaway here, after just 25 1/3 in 2021, and a pandemic zero in 2020. Obvious, but it bears remembering that hitters get better as you climb levels and mistakes in certain counts will get you into trouble. Marsh’s stuff is impressive but it needs to be better located. Marsh is a prime example of a player whose 2023 will highlight the potential success of their pitching development.
12. Diego Hernandez, OF, 22, Double-A Recently added to the 40-man, Hernandez reached AA as 21-year old last season despite playing only 79 games above rookie ball in 2021. Hernandez is a double plus runner, a plus glove in center and has significantly improved at the plate. He slashed .284/.347/.407 and swiped 40 bags in 115 games. He sprays the ball gap to gap and his high GB rates aren’t concerning just yet, because he’s such a speed threat. He’s only 6′ but has already added 40 pounds of strength since he signed. Perhaps by mid-season he’ll be the clear heir apparent in center field.
16. Lizandro Rodriguez, 2B, 19, Single-A A debut slash line of 309/.446/.567 over 34 games DSL games demands attention and switch-hitting Rodriguez has continued to produce rather eye-popping statistics. He came stateside in 2022 and through 25 games he had a 159 wRC+ with a realistic .339 BABIP. which earned Rodriguez a promotion to single-A Columbia. For the remaining 18 games, the 19-year-old had an 11/8 K/BB with a 130 wRC+. Most of his gap power comes from the left side, but the splits aren’t egregious either. Rodriguez is an above average runner, although is yet to have base stealing success, and has been given average defensive grades so far at the keystone. He is arguably the most exciting lower-level hitter in the system.
17. Luca Tresh, C, 23, Double-A A 17th-round pick in 2021. The 23-year-old right-handed backstop hit .269/.360/.468 and 19 home runs across High-A and Double-A in last year, good for a 125 wRC+ and a 2023 invitation to Spring Training. Other than Freddy Fermin, Tresh is next in line to backup Perez, likely in 2024.
18. Austin Charles, SS/RHP, 19, Rookie 21. Noah Cameron, LHP, 23, High-A 23. Tucker Bradley, OF, 24, Double-A 24. Patrick Bailey, C, 23, High-A 24. Ryan Cermak, OF, 21, Rookie (FCL) 24. Hayden Dunhurst, C, 22, Rookie (ACL) 27. J.C. Correa, SS/3B/C, 24, High-A/AZFL 27. River Town, OF, 23, High-A 28. Shane Panzini, RHP, 21, Single-A 29. Brennon McNair,3B, 20, Rookie (ACL) 30. David Sandlin, RHP, 22, Rookie (ACL) 32. Freddy Fermin, C, 27, Triple-A
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Post by RoyalsGM on Feb 23, 2024 13:35:37 GMT -6
2024 Top Prospects:
1. Colt Keith, 3B/2B, 22, Triple-A In 2023, Keith proved his bat can be something special. Across AA and AAA, he logged 126 games; more than 2021 and 2022 combined, and slashed .306/.380/.552 while hitting 27 homers and driving in 101 runs. Colt is no longer the unranked, unknown 5th round infieder/pitcher the Tigers selected in 2020. Instead, both the Tigers organization and their fanbase expect to see Keith in Comerica Park on Opening Day.
1. Jacob Melton, OF, 23, Double-A HOU Melton has all the tools to be a fantasy stud. There is no doubting the power-speed combination that he possesses, what will determine his ultimate ceiling will be his ability to make consistent contact. In 394 plate appearances with High-A last year, he hit 18 home runs and stole 41 bases with a 21% strikeout rate. A late season promotion to Double-A did come with an increase in the K rate, but the power-speed combo was still very real (5 home runs and 5 stolen bases in 56 PA’s). Likely headed back to Double-A to start the year, it will be interesting to see how he fares with a full season of facing advanced pitching.
4. Daniel Susac, C, 22, Double-A OAK Susac, the younger brother of former major leaguer Andrew, is no doubt the A’s catcher of the future. The University of Arizona product was their 1st round pick (9th overall) in 2022. Susac made it to Double-A Midland last year, played in 13 games, and should get a full season there in 2024, with a good chance of seeing AAA time. With no stand out catchers ahead of him in Triple-A, it’s not out of the question Oakland calls on him in September, but a 2025 MLB debut is more likely. He’s a career .300 hitter in the minors, and will look to improve on that this season.
6. Gavin Cross, OF, 22, Double-A It was always going to be tough to follow the scorching hot debut Cross had to pro ball in 2022, so 2023 served as a year for Cross to get his feet under himself. It was a struggle at the plate and his chase rates were much higher than his collegiate days, but he still showed good power upon contact. Cross also features above average speed, which makes him a threat on the basepaths and will keep him in centerfield rather than moving to one of the corners.
7. Javier Vaz, OF/2B, 23, Double-A The former 15th rounder from Vanderbilt has continued to hit at every level, ending his 2023 in Double-A. The 5’9 speedster might never have a season with double digit home runs, but this is a plus hit, plus run, and elite contact profile. He’s a very effective baserunner (90% success rate in ’23.). If Vaz is able to add strength and hit with more impact—focusing on line drives rather than fly balls—we could be looking at even higher batting averages. Vaz has spent most time oscillating between second base and left field, so a utility career is the most likely of outcomes. I wouldn’t put it past his talents to eclipse that projection.
8. Deyvison de los Santos, 3B/1B, 20, Double-A Here’s an interesting situation. The Guardians selected De Los Santos in the Rule 5 Draft, so he needs to be on Cleveland’s 26-man MLB roster for the duration of the season, or be offered back to Arizona. The Guardians will likely have Manzardo manning 1B for a large portion games moving forward. Does Deyvison excel in a back-up corner infield role? As a 19-year-old in 2022, he posted monster numbers across A/A+ before he got to AA Amarillo, launching 22 HR, knocking in 106, and tallying 256 TB on the season. There were struggles that fall in the AFL, which continued into 2023, but he still put up respectable numbers as a 20-year-old. He doesn’t turn 21 until June and could be with the Guardians on Opening Day.
8. Ramon Ramirez, C, 18, Rookie (DSL) What if I told you there’s another Royals teenage catcher to be excited about? This one is from Venezuela and signed in 2023 for only $57,500. Before laying waste to the DSL last summer, Ramon Ramirez was relatively unknown in stateside prospect circles. Here are some video game stats from the 17 year old over those 41 games: .344/.440/.614, eight HR, a 21:18 BB:K, and a 49% FB. The 90% EV numbers are elite for his age, and combined with the already advanced approach, the teenage catcher contingent has added a very promising talent. (@adamhalpin)
9. Tyler Gentry, OF, 24, Triple-A 12. Lonnie White Jr., OF, 21, Single-A PIT 12. David Sandlin, RHP, 22, High-A 13. Austin Charles, 3B/SS, 20, Single-A 15. Chandler Champlain, RHP, 24, Double-A 16. Trevor Werner, 3B, 23, Single-A 17. Noah Cameron, LHP, 24, Double-A 18. Carson Roccaforte, OF, 21, Single-A 19. Jared Dickey, OF, 21, Single-A 20. Hunter Owen, LHP, 21, College 21. Anthony Veneziano, LHP, 26, MLB 22. John McMillon, RHP, 25, MLB 24. River Town, OF, 24, Double-A 25. Luinder Avila, RHP, 22, High-A 26. Matt Sauer, RHP, 25, Double-A 27. Diego Hernandez, OF, 23, Double-A 28. Spencer Nivens, OF, 22, Single-A 29. Emmanuel Reyes, RHP, 19, Single-A 30. Henry Williams, RHP, 22, Single-A 31. Tyson Guerrero, LHP, 24, Double-A 32. Steven Zobac, RHP, 23, High-A 35. Asbel Gonzalez, OF, 18, Rookie (DSL) 36. Devin Mann, 2B/3B, 26, Triple-A 37. Roni Cabrera, OF, 18, Rookie (DSL) 38. Erick Peña, OF, 20, Single-A 39. Daniel Vazquez, SS, 20, Single-A 40. Lizandro Rodriguez, 2B, 21, Single-A 41. Andrew Hoffmann, RHP, 23, Triple-A 42. Felix Arronde, RHP, 20, Single-A 43. Tucker Bradley, OF, 25, Triple-A 44. Cam Devanney, SS, 26, Triple-A 45. Oscar Rayo, LHP, 22, Single-A 46. Christian Chamberlain, LHP, 24, Triple-A 47. Erick Torres, OF, 19, Rookie (ACL) 48. Beck Way, RHP, 24, Double-A 49. Ryan Ramsey, LHP, 23, High-A 50. Jean Ramirez, OF, 23, High-A
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