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.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by Jive Ass

The more I think about it the more I realize that there is an essential trade that needs to be made:

So, we could offer up Shields, Moose, Colon and Crow plus a few farm pieces (since we have the best farm in the league) for Stanton.

Discuss.

Won't matter. This train is on a one way collision course with the 81-81 monster.

[Bufkin]

Originally Posted by Why Not?

Won't matter. This train is on a one way collision course with the 81-81 monster.

Which will lead to a huge 1st round splash during next year's draft when we're picking 18th. I'm looking at you 5'11" relief pitcher who will someday make a serviceable setup man!

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

0-7 at home vs Detroit.

This team is full of pussies - From the GM on down. I say Kill it with fire and do it again with different management. The only thing worse than absolute suckage is mediocrity, and this team is nothing if not mediocre. Our GM gets so ecstatic and wants a ****ing ticker tape parade for finishing over .500 in '13. Well, when you set the bar at mediocre, don't be surprised when that's what you get.

It's a long season, and overreacting is stupid. But, I've seen this circle jerk from the Royals before, and I know how it ends. I'm beyond irritated at this point.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

The only thing worse than absolute suckage is mediocrity

So true. The Dbacks this year are a total dumpster fire, but everyone here knows it and it's kinda fun. Everyone laughs about how their going to lose every night, so if they win it's a little treat. There is 0 emotionalism with loses. Just kick back, laugh at bad baseball and watch one of today's best players everyday. Mediocrity sucks because it allows for hope, which with this franchise(KC), is a losing proposition.

[Jerm]

Dayton Moore's seat should be nuclear but of course it's not and I can't figure out for the life of me why...

This team is toast, I'd blow it up now.

[cmh6476]

how soon before we can start the 2015 repository?

[hawkchief]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

This team is full of pussies - From the GM on down. I say Kill it with fire and do it again with different management. The only thing worse than absolute suckage is mediocrity, and this team is nothing if not mediocre. Our GM gets so ecstatic and wants a ****ing ticker tape parade for finishing over .500 in '13. Well, when you set the bar at mediocre, don't be surprised when that's what you get.

It's a long season, and overreacting is stupid. But, I've seen this circle jerk from the Royals before, and I know how it ends. I'm beyond irritated at this point.

The Royals are a MLB farm team and have been for 30 years. Once you understand that you can remove all the emotion and find another summer sport. Investing emotion in them is laughable.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

This team is full of pussies - From the GM on down. I say Kill it with fire and do it again with different management. The only thing worse than absolute suckage is mediocrity, and this team is nothing if not mediocre. Our GM gets so ecstatic and wants a ****ing ticker tape parade for finishing over .500 in '13. Well, when you set the bar at mediocre, don't be surprised when that's what you get.

It's a long season, and overreacting is stupid. But, I've seen this circle jerk from the Royals before, and I know how it ends. I'm beyond irritated at this point.

The Royals performance the last 2 weeks has murdered fan interest. Nobody gives a shit anymore about this hapless bunch of coward pussy losers. Billy Butler is the face of the Franchise and that's not a compliment. Just like last year when we were swept by Cleveland right before the AS Break to go 44-49. Just killing ourselves.


DM should be fired. It's time to give someone else a chance. He asked for patience to rebuild the farm system and his farm produced a bunch of weeds.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by hawkchief

The Royals are a MLB farm team and have been for 30 years. Once you understand that you can remove all the emotion and find another summer sport. Investing emotion in them is laughable.

You are 100% correct, but I still fall trap to it every year. My emotions block the reality

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

The Royals performance the last 2 weeks has murdered fan interest. Nobody gives a shit anymore about this hapless bunch of coward pussy losers. Billy Butler is the face of the Franchise and that's not a compliment. Just like last year when we were swept by Cleveland right before the AS Break to go 44-49. Just killing ourselves.


DM should be fired. It's time to give someone else a chance. He asked for patience to rebuild the farm system and his farm produced a bunch of weeds.

The Royals have been pissing on their fans for decades. The fans are used to it unfortunately


Agreed that DM should be gone if they miss the playoffs. How much time does he need? I'm certain the goalposts will be moved again.

But he won't be. And this is why I'm pretty much done with this franchise until they actually prove they can accomplish something.

Are they better than when DM took them over? Sure. But that's not the goal. We should have been at this "mediocre to above average" point 2 or 3 years ago in the rebuild process. Not year 8.

[hawkchief]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

You are 100% correct, but I still fall trap to it every year. My emotions block the reality

I suppose if the Cerner guys bought the Royals and threw stupid money at making them a contender I might re-invest in the team, but it's gone in so long that my live for the sport has dwindled to a point that I may not. My problem us more with MLB and its stupid revenue plan than it is with our team.

[Bowser]

If we don't make the post season, GMDM should unequivocally be gone. He traded our best prospect in years for a pitcher that could help us get over the hump. If we don't make the playoffs, that trade is a failure, and we will have given up that prospect for nothing because the pitcher isn't sticking around here after 2014. Epic fail for a general manager.

[cmh6476]

we'll get a draft pick for shield departing I think

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by cmh6476

we'll get a draft pick for shield departing I think

Yay

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by cmh6476

we'll get a draft pick for shield departing I think

Awesome. Because DM has the magic touch for developing Stars for sure!