2014 Royals Repository

[duncan_idaho]

With my 6,000th post on ChiefsPlanet (it only took me 12 years to get here), I bring you: The 2014 Kansas City Royals Repository.

To be discussed here: All things Royals, as they attempt to post another winning season and make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 1985.

25-man RosterAvailable HERE

AL Central Standings:

Link

Duncan's Top 20 Royals Prospects

Spoiler!

1) 3B Hunter Dozier ETA: 2015
Dozier started slowly at A+ Wilmington but caught fire in May and June, earning a mid-season promotion to AA Northwest Arkansas. Big, strong kid with good plate discipline skills and solid power who projects to be an above-average glove at 3B with solid power.

2) SS Raul (Adalberto) Mondesi ETA: 2017
Mondesis is the opposite of Dozier…. Started red-hot at Wilmington before back spasms derailed him for a few weeks and hasn’t gotten it going since coming back. Scouting reports have been great – defense and speed both improved over the offseason. Still a chance to be an elite SS, with 40 SB speed, plus glove, .300 average and some pop.

3) LHP Sean Manaea | ETA: 2015
Scouting reports outperform the stat line so far. Missing a ton of bats at A+ but not preventing runs like you’d expect to see. Needs to work deeper into games (gradually working about an inning deeper/month so far this year) and improve control. Walks are biggest concern right now, but could be elevated due to work on extra off-speed offerings. Still has No. 2 starter potential, could be higher if the great control he exhibited before his hip surgery eventually comes back.

4) RHP Kyle Zimmer| ETA: 2015
Should be NO. 1 on the list and is probably the Royals most VALUABLE current prospect, but he hasn’t thrown a ball in 4-5 weeks and had only been throwing for 2-3 weeks when he was shut down then.

5) LHP Brandon Finnegan| ETA: 2015
Top 2014 draft choice is an undersized lefty who will start at A+ Wilmington after anchoring CWS run for TCU. Good fastball, better slider, change that needs work to stick as a starter, but if he sticks, No. 2/No. 3 starter upside. Likely a top 10 or even top 5 pick if he doesn’t miss 1 start in the middle of the college season as a precautionary move.

6) RHP Miguel Almonte| ETA: 2016
Have heard some say Almonte is more advanced as a pitcher at A+ than Yordano Ventura was (comparison because both were cheap signs out of Latin America). Really advanced changeup and a curve that is working out well (where the ‘more advanced’ comment comes from). Fastball velo is good but not great – 92-94. Like Manaea, working on his second-best offspeed pitch and leaning less on his bread-and butter (changeup), which has hurt his numbers a bit.

7) RHP Christian Binford 2017
Reverse case of “don’t just scout stat lines.” Based on his stats at A+, you’d think he was an elite prospect, but there are questions about Binford’s stuff playing up at higher levels. Tall righty with great command of fastball, slider and a good and still developing changeup. None of those pitches profiles as better than average, though, limiting his likely upside to back-end rotation guy.

8) SS Orlando Calixte| ETA: 2016
I still like him more than many. Good combination of SS/MI skills and power. Started hot at NWA but in a slump at moment.

9)LHP Foster Griffin | ETA: 2019
Tall, projectable lefty taken in 2014 draft. Viewed as a great value in the sandwich round and probably would have been KC’s pick at No. 17 if Finnegan hadn’t fallen. High school arm who is going to take a while to develop.

10) RF Jorge Bonifacio| ETA: 2016
Hasn’t hit as well as expected in his second go-round at AA NWA. Power still sapped, and average skills have dipped. Once looked like he might be an option in RF at some point in 2015, now looks like 2016 is optimistic. Still young for his level.

11) 3B/2B Cheslor Cuthbert| ETA: 2016
Cuthbert has had better luck at NWA than Boni and is also extremely young for level. HE’s been moved to 2B since Dozier was promoted, which could put a new spin on Cuthbert’s prospects. If he sticks at 2B, bat plays up much better. Good OBP/plate discipline and solid power, but needs to continue improving contact skills

12) C Chase Vallot| ETA: 2020
Young (just 17) C with tremendous power. One of the top prep bats and a great value for KC where it got him. If he sticks at C, expect him to move slowly, but the bat may force the issue (or force him to another position).

13) C Zane Evans| ETA: 2017
GA Tech product has handled Wilmington better than most RH bats and probably is in line for a promotion to NWA sometime soon. Decent pop, decent skills behind the plate. Could be a nice reserve catcher.

14) RHP Scott Blewett| ETA: 2020
Tall, projectable righty with a fresh arm but some injury concerns on his shoulder that slipped him out of Round 1 of MLB draft. Big time potential.

15) CF Bubba Starling | ETA:
Bubba Starling has great tools. Bubba Starling (still) can’t hit. That’s all I have to say about that.

16) 1B Samir Duenez| ETA:
I still like him, even though the attempt to run him through full season ball at 17 did not go well.

17)LF/RF Elier Hernandez| ETA:
Hernandez still pops up in scouting reports but still is very raw and toolsy.

18) RHP Pedro Fernandez| ETA:
Pop-up player on the same track as Ventura and Almonte. Similar signing, similar profile. One to watch over next few years.

19) SS Marten Gasparini| ETA:
Royals’ most expensive international signing likely moves to CF eventually, but his speed and athleticism are intriguing abilities. Early reports from complex ball are very positive on him.

20) RHP Niklas Stephenson| ETA:
Interesting pop-up candidate who found 10 more MPH on his fastball by using a weighted ball during workouts over the winter. Now sits mid-90s with fastball and is dominating at rookie ball (after having an ERA over 8 there a year ago). Likely promoted to a higher challenge soon.

[KCUnited]

I wasn't sure at the time if it was intentional, but when Petro interviewed Moore last week, Dayton went on about how he respects the job media members do and mentioned all the Star guys (McCullough/Mellinger) by name and left off all the radio guys. The butthurt trickles down from the top.

[OmahaChief]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

I wasn't sure at the time if it was intentional, but when Petro interviewed Moore last week, Dayton went on about how he respects the job media members do and mentioned all the Star guys (McCullough/Mellinger) by name and left off all the radio guys. The butthurt trickles down from the top.

Basically to the point where we have a GM who is so worried about HIS guys getting criticized he is becoming a Pioli clone. It does trickle down from the top. We need a total flushing of this organization from owner on down.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by OmahaChief

Basically to the point where we have a GM who is so worried about HIS guys getting criticized he is becoming a Pioli clone. It does trickle down from the top. We need a total flushing of this organization from owner on down.

It pains me to say this, but the only way I see this happening is if I become a fan of another team.

I'd rather just stop following them... However, it's like crack.

[DeezNutz]

Sounds like things a "professional" sports team would do.

Even in a year when the Royals are not embarrassing on the field, they find a way to fulfill this expectation.

[OmahaChief]

Originally Posted by Zeke

It pains me to say this, but the only way I see this happening is if I become a fan of another team.

I'd rather just stop following them... However, it's like crack.

I am with you on that Zeke. I have been invested in this team since my folks had tickets when I was a toddler. 40 years later and not much winning her I am still caring. It is getting much easier not to care now that I have my own kids but had hoped to pass down my love of baseball and the Royals to them. Sadly, they team as a whole is just not real likable.

[Sully]

Time to flush it.
I don't ant to root for these guys

[Reerun_KC]

Go back and read the first few pages of this thread...

Blue Kool-Aid for everyone!!!

[ChiefsCountry]

810 is still pissed off because they lost the Royals radio rights, which is a huge money maker for them. 810 wanted them on the cheap which was let the Royals sell a select amount of inventory themselves and then 810 takes care of the rest. The Royals wanted no part of that and 610 writes them the check instead. Keitzman bitches and moans about it all the time. 810 would not dare pull this shit with the Chiefs since they are an official partner.

[KCUnited]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

810 is still pissed off because they lost the Royals radio rights, which is a huge money maker for them. 810 wanted them on the cheap which was let the Royals sell a select amount of inventory themselves and then 810 takes care of the rest. The Royals wanted no part of that and 610 writes them the check instead. Keitzman bitches and moans about it all the time. 810 would not dare pull this shit with the Chiefs since they are an official partner.

Lol, pull what stuff? Not letting players into a restaurant that was at fire capacity? Asking a guy about his game winning hit?

There's rumbling about the Royals being dicks in the clubhouse to media other than 810 as well. They're sensitive bitches as an org.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by KCUnited

Lol, pull what stuff? Not letting players into a restaurant that was at fire capacity? Asking a guy about his game winning hit?

There's rumbling about the Royals being dicks in the clubhouse to media other than 810 as well. They're sensitive bitches as an org.

810 is pissed because didn't get the radio rights, thus they will take any stupid story about the Royals and turn into TMZ type drama. Not that ****ing hard to see.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

810 is still pissed off because they lost the Royals radio rights, which is a huge money maker for them. 810 wanted them on the cheap which was let the Royals sell a select amount of inventory themselves and then 810 takes care of the rest. The Royals wanted no part of that and 610 writes them the check instead. Keitzman bitches and moans about it all the time. 810 would not dare pull this shit with the Chiefs since they are an official partner.

While there might still be some lingering butt hurt, this is not driving the current issue at all.

The Royals are embarrassing, petulant children.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

810 is pissed because didn't get the radio rights, thus they will take any stupid story about the Royals and turn into TMZ type drama. Not that ****ing hard to see.

I think they are equal drama queens to this event, don't you? That said, the Royals should be above this. The fact that they aren't, just accentuates their suck factor. The whole Organization is one giant vag.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

While there might still be some lingering butt hurt, this is not driving the current issue at all.

The Royals are embarrassing, petulant children.

Might as well re-name them the Piolis at this point.

[CaliforniaChief]

Hai guyz, Bust-a Starling is on an 8 game hitting streak!

[Al Bundy]

Deez is a hundred percent correct. Besides wgat has this organization done to not be criticized?