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.

[Simplicity]

We need to throw a deal at either Ubaldo or Ervin... One more pitcher away from a SOLID rotation...

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by alnorth

I think teams that would be scared off by medical records would generally have a lot more money than teams that would be scared off by the draft pick. I think he'll get at least 5/60, probably more.

Still very possible. I have been 100 percent in that boat previously but am less certain of it now.

[tyton75]

While I would love to add another solid pitcher, I just don't see it happening. I think they are content to rely on Duffy and Ventura to fill the last spots in the rotation unless someone jumps it up in Spring Training to keep Ventura in the minors.

[BlackHelicopters]

Wade Davies will jump up and take the final rotation spot. A lock.

[Great Expectations]

Originally Posted by theelusiveeightrop

Wade Davies will jump up and take the final rotation spot. A lock.

I agree and wish it wasn't true. They'll hold off on Ventura until they get an extra year of service from him. This will probably cost us 2 games.

[tmw4h5]

Royals To Sign Jon Rauch
By Jeff Todd [January 23 at 2:43pm CST]
The Royals have agreed to terms with reliever Jon Rauch, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.

[BlackHelicopters]

Originally Posted by tmw4h5

Royals To Sign Jon Rauch
By Jeff Todd [January 23 at 2:43pm CST]
The Royals have agreed to terms with reliever Jon Rauch, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.

Obligatory, Print 'em.

[tyton75]

Man, love us some relief pitchers.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by tmw4h5

Royals To Sign Jon Rauch
By Jeff Todd [January 23 at 2:43pm CST]
The Royals have agreed to terms with reliever Jon Rauch, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.

That must be a minor league contract, we have no room for him. He was garbage last season and underwhelming the 2 seasons before that. Last time he was good was 2010.

edit: Couple odd bits of trivia about this guy.

#1) He is the tallest player in MLB history. (6'11")

#2) He's one of the few pitchers who has struck out 4 batters in one inning.

[BlackHelicopters]

Originally Posted by Great Expectations

I agree and wish it wasn't true. They'll hold off on Ventura until they get an extra year of service from him. This will probably cost us 2 games.

Andy, I was being sarcastic. But there may be truth to this.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Looks like Chris Getz is going to be stealing money from the Blue Jays this year, though its just a minor league contract.

Only way they get good value out of paying Getz is if his wife attends each game topless, or at least in a bikini.

[BlackHelicopters]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Only way they get good value out of paying Getz is if his wife attends each game topless, or at least in a bikini.

True dat.

[BlackHelicopters]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Only way they get good value out of paying Getz is if his wife attends each game topless, or at least in a bikini.

I thought we non tendered Getz but took his wife to arbitration.

[Tytanium]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Sounds like same broadcast team will be back as well. Including that Robot Physioc

I'm actually neutral on Physioc. I don't love him, but I don't hate him either. However, the only thing worse than Rex Hudler is Hawk Harrelson.

[Shogun]

Thats insane. Rex Hudler is the man.