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.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Unsmooth-Moment

What could we get for him? Butler hasn't done much this year, but it would sort of be throwing in the towel on the year unless we went after another bat.

I'd be mildly surprised if they actually move Butler. The return on him is unlikely to be very large.

But if they do move him, I'd be SHOCKED if he wasn't moved as either step 1 or step 2 of a deal that brought in a player to replace his bat in the lineup.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by Unsmooth-Moment

What could we get for him? Butler hasn't done much this year, but it would sort of be throwing in the towel on the year unless we went after another bat.

I think that's what would happen. Dumping Billy's salary and opening up the DH spot allows them to be aggressive in getting another bat -- let's say Zobrist -- who they can play all around the diamond and slot other guys into DH.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Toadkiller

Tweet from ‪#‎MLB‬ Insider Jerry Crasnick
‪#‎Mariners‬ casting a wide net in search of a bat. They've even talked to ‪#‎royals‬ about Billy Butler (he of the .355 SLG%)

If we could move him for really anything decent from a prospect standpoint, I'd jump on it in a blink of an eye, and happily start shopping around to acquire at least 1 REAL power / ^ OBP bat before the deadline. Preferably, someone who can play OF, and get away from this GD full time DH ****ry Fatass has been occupying year after year with insufferable diminishing returns to show for from the previous year.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Unsmooth-Moment

What could we get for him? Butler hasn't done much this year, but it would sort of be throwing in the towel on the year unless we went after another bat.

Mariners get Butler and they promise that DM gets to throw a fish at the market when he visits next time.

[RockChalk]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Mariners get Butler and they promise that DM gets to throw a fish at the market when he visits next time.

Done

[ChiefsCountry]

Former Royals Equipment Manager Al Zych died in a car wreck Monday at the Lake of the Ozarks.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Former Royals Equipment Manager Al Zych died in a car wreck Monday at the Lake of the Ozarks.

Wow, he had to have been ancient anyway. He goes back to my childhood in the 70s. Sad way to go.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Wow, he had to have been ancient anyway. He goes back to my childhood in the 70s. Sad way to go.

Sad deal all around.
http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article730236.html

[TLO]

Glass spoke today;

Said if we have a good second half, we'll be in a good place to make the playoffs.

Gave Ned and Dayton a vote of confidence.

When asked about making a trade at the deadline, he said we're a small market team, and that limits us some. Sounds like he'd be willing to take on more payroll if there was a good deal out there.

probably more, but those were the highlights I heard on 610 just now.

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Sad deal all around.
http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article730236.html

Thanks for the link. 87 years old.

Brett's told lots of Al Zych stories over the years. RIP.

[cmh6476]

That would be funny if we trade Billy to Seattle, he turns it around and helps the mariners secure the second wild card with his performance.

[Bowser]

I seriously want to punt kittens every time I hear our owner bring up the small market horseshit as an excuse to why this team won't sign someone..

[gblowfish]

Originally Posted by Bowser

I seriously want to punt kittens every time I hear our owner bring up the small market horseshit as an excuse to why this team won't sign someone..

Don't you dare hurt those kitties....

You can punt Billay in the nads if you like.

[Unsmooth-Moment]

Originally Posted by Bowser

I seriously want to punt kittens every time I hear our owner bring up the small market horseshit as an excuse to why this team won't sign someone..

We are middle of the pack this year in spending and 2nd in the AL Central. I know that doesn't make up for the last several years, but they are spending this year.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Thanks for the link. 87 years old.

Brett's told lots of Al Zych stories over the years. RIP.

Speaking of stories, remember Mickey Cobb - Hobbled Royals Trainer from the 77-90? Good dude, and still lives in KC