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.

[C3HIEF3S]

I'm just trying to fill my head with any Kansas City sports talk I can find. Not much of it where I come from.

Also CP brings some exclusive entertainment value that you won't find elsewhere on the internet.

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

I'm just trying to fill my head with any Kansas City sports talk I can find. Not much of it where I come from.

Same... I'm surrounded by Vikings and Twins talk. and they are just a bunch of homers so not even good Vikings/Twins talk.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

lol, I'm used to it around here by now anyways... some people on here like to forget that they were once a 17 year old. Or they just want to revisit their high school/College years and are envious.

Why is your rep in the red, son?

Originally Posted by stonedstooge

Lew you better change that record in your sig

That was last year's record but I was thinking about keeping it going, so after all the years on here I can see how much worthless shit I've accomplished.

Thoughts?

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Same... I'm surrounded by Vikings and Twins talk. and they are just a bunch of homers so not even good Vikings/Twins talk.

My best friend is Vikes/Twins fan. He said he's never been this unexcited for an MLB season, especially with Sano out. And he's loathed Viking football for years.

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Why is your rep in the red, son?



That was last year's record but I was thinking about keeping it going, so after all the years on here I can see how much worthless shit I've accomplished.

Thoughts?

Bearcat couldn't come back with anything better then to neg rep me in a argument in the NCAA Tourny thread.

edit: it was in 184+ positive range until he brought it all the way down... Pretty childish in his part but it really doesn't mean much.

[stonedstooge]

Originally Posted by lewdog

Why is your rep in the red, son?



That was last year's record but I was thinking about keeping it going, so after all the years on here I can see how much worthless shit I've accomplished.

Thoughts?

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Bearcat couldn't come back with anything better then to neg rep me in a argument in the NCAA Tourny thread.

well thats dumb. I hit you with the green rep stick.

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by alnorth

well thats dumb. I hit you with the green rep stick.

Thanks, al!

[BlackHelicopters]

Rep

[Simplicity]

Originally Posted by theelusiveeightrop

Rep

Thanks! makes me wonder how far in the neg rep he put me, if there's a limit on it.

[dmahurin]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Bearcat couldn't come back with anything better then to neg rep me in a argument in the NCAA Tourny thread.

edit: it was in 184+ positive range until he brought it all the way down... Pretty childish in his part but it really doesn't mean much.

Just wait, 162 royals victory rep threads are about to happen.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Bearcat couldn't come back with anything better then to neg rep me in a argument in the NCAA Tourny thread.

edit: it was in 184+ positive range until he brought it all the way down... Pretty childish in his part but it really doesn't mean much.

You were talking stupidly about how good Iowa was at basketball weren't you?

[stonedstooge]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Bearcat couldn't come back with anything better then to neg rep me in a argument in the NCAA Tourny thread.

edit: it was in 184+ positive range until he brought it all the way down... Pretty childish in his part but it really doesn't mean much.

Good thing you weren't a Mizzou fan, he'd of banned you

[mr. tegu]

The signature and avatar have been updated! I don't expect them to fall off a cliff this season so I suspect I will keep the next five games all season. Hopefully I can add a countdown to clinching the division.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Thanks! makes me wonder how far in the neg rep he put me, if there's a limit on it.

You are probably pretty far down there. You may just have to wear your red as some badge of pride, as long as you don't act like you deserved it.