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.

[alnorth]

Andy McCullough ‏@McCulloughStar 1m

Earlier in camp, Ned Yost said he was 50-50 on whether the team needed a long reliever. Now he said he was 65-20. I don't know, man.

More roster hijinx

[C3HIEF3S]

So far Ventura looks better than Duffy. If it stays like this for the rest of ST then Ventura should be in the rotation and Duffy in AAA. If we're in an "all in" year then Ventura's service time shouldn't mean anything.

[CaliforniaChief]

65-20 that's awesome.

[duncan_idaho]

General thoughts:

Service time concerns on Ventura are probably silly, anyway, since it's HIGHLY likely, IMO, that they are able to work out a contract extension for him quickly. Dayton mentioned Ventura specifically when talking about extending Salvy and Escobar and how it was easier with guys from Latin America who did not sign for huge amounts.

His service time issues are likely blown away when the Royals buy out 2-3 years of his free agency, anyway.

As for Duffy, working him out of the pen would not be an awful way to reduce his innings this season. Work him as the long man/6th/7th guy for the first few months of the season. Gradually increase his workload. Let him work on command and "put away" pitches.

Then, at some point, swap his role with Chen's (and piggy-back Chen on Danny while you stretch him out).

[duncan_idaho]

On the roster situation... I imagine they view Infante as a good enough option at SS to play him there for 5-7 games a year, or good enough to slide over there in place of Escobar if he's removed for a pinch hitter (with Moustakas or Valencia moving to 2B, I guess?).

That's the only way I can see them carrying 12 pitchers and keeping Jarrod Dyson, Maxwell and Valencia all on the MLB roster (Which they seem intent to do).

Of course, don't tell the Royals that the roster spot they're holding for Dyson - because he's SUCH a weapon as a pinch runner for that pathetic fat fuck Billy Butler (their thoughts, not mine) is actually less valuable than having a legitimate utilityman who can play SS and 2B capably.

[alnorth]

Andy McCullough ‏@McCulloughStar 1m

You know what, John Fogerty? I do not care where you want to play. You have 40 range, your arm is a 35 and I am sick of your insistence.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Man, you just beat me to posting that.

Andy is on FIAH.

[DeepSouth]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

General thoughts:

Service time concerns on Ventura are probably silly, anyway, since it's HIGHLY likely, IMO, that they are able to work out a contract extension for him quickly. Dayton mentioned Ventura specifically when talking about extending Salvy and Escobar and how it was easier with guys from Latin America who did not sign for huge amounts.

His service time issues are likely blown away when the Royals buy out 2-3 years of his free agency, anyway.

As for Duffy, working him out of the pen would not be an awful way to reduce his innings this season. Work him as the long man/6th/7th guy for the first few months of the season. Gradually increase his workload. Let him work on command and "put away" pitches.

Then, at some point, swap his role with Chen's (and piggy-back Chen on Danny while you stretch him out).

My only concern with putting Duffy in the pen is the Royals will probably loose another relief pitcher that is out of options.

[alnorth]

First inning: Duffy gave up 2 hits, hit a batter, and walked in a run. He got out of a jam with a 4-6-3 double play.

edit: 23 pitches

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by alnorth

First inning: Duffy gave up 2 hits, hit a batter, and walked in a run. He got out of a jam with a 4-6-3 double play.

edit: 23 pitches

Control issues.. I know it's still spring and he's recovering from tommy John surgery, but when is his control going to increase? Will it? Was it supposed to by now?

[alnorth]

Duffy just gave up a 3-run homer.

[alnorth]

Duffy is probably done after just 2 innings and 65 pitches. Royals down 5-0.

The Ventura/Duffy debate might be just about over unless they both look a lot different their next start.

[blake5676]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Duffy is probably done after just 2 innings and 65 pitches. Royals down 5-0.

The Ventura/Duffy debate might be just about over unless they both look a lot different their next start.

Ugh...that line is gross.


And I know that ST and stats are meaningless but I'd love for this kid to just go out and dominate every once in awhile. He's got the arm to be a complete stud and just doesn't seem to put it together between the ears.

[alnorth]

sounds like Duffy is conceding defeat.

Andy McCullough ‏@McCulloughStar 3m

Duffy on where he stands in the competition with Ventura: "I’m very aware. And he deserves it . . . He’s killing it right now."

Andy McCullough ‏@McCulloughStar 1m

More Duffy on Ventura: "He’s going to be a star. I’d be surprised if he didn’t win 15 games this year."

[Bowser]

woof