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.

[DeezNutz]

The Royals would improve their approach if they could hire a decent hitting coach. I hear the **** at Central Missouri State is available.

[Reaper16]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

The Royals would improve their approach if they could hire a decent hitting coach. I hear the **** at Central Missouri State is available.

You joke, but its a pretty damn good D2 baseball program. They always have multiple players drafted.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

You joke, but its a pretty damn good D2 baseball program. They always have multiple players drafted.

Yes, they are. But D-2 baseball is about as legitimate in terms of professional baseball as hiring Anderson to lead Mizzou hoops.

They get guys drafted, but it's typically in very late rounds, and such picks barely qualify as lottery tickets. I know this pretty well.

[Reaper16]

Originally Posted by DeezNutz

Yes, they are. But D-2 baseball is about as legitimate in terms of professional baseball as hiring Anderson to lead Mizzou hoops.

They get guys drafted, but it's typically in very late rounds, and such picks barely qualify as lottery tickets. I know this pretty well.

For sure. My point is: for as much as you just downplayed D2 baseball...D2 basketball is significantly worse than that.

The difference between D1 and D2 football? Negligible at best. Actually, at best, some D2 teams are better than many FCS teams. D2 football and to a lesser extent baseball are relevant to the pros. D2 basketball? NOPE.

[Discuss Thrower]

Cuthbert went yard at Hammons' Field a while ago.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Reaper16

For sure. My point is: for as much as you just downplayed D2 baseball...D2 basketball is significantly worse than that.

The difference between D2 and D2 football? Negligible at best. Actually, at best, some D2 teams are better than many FCS teams. D2 football and to a lesser extent baseball are relevant to the pros. D2 basketball? NOPE.

I agree with everything above.

[tmw4h5]

Royals Sign Mitch Maier
By Steve Adams [May 1, 2014 at 10:51am CDT]
Here are today’s minor moves from around the league…

The Royals have signed Mitch Maier to a minor league deal and assigned him to Double-A, reports Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter). The Royals originally drafted Maier with the 30th overall pick of the 2003 draft, and he batted .248/.327/.344 for them in 1117 plate appearances from 2006-12. Maier hasn’t appeared in the Majors since, though he hit well in 31 games for Boston’s Triple-A affiliate last season.

[tmw4h5]

He's Chen's replacement.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Nick Franklin available from Seattle since they acquired Cano:
http://metsblog.com/metsblog/mariner...nick-franklin/


I know it won't happen because DM is in love with Escobar's glove but I'd love to see it. I'd have a real short leash on Escobar since he's a total zero with the bat. Franklin is 22, hit 225-12-45 in only 300ab. OLIVER projections show him to be a 3.5 WAR guy the next 5 years while Escobar is projected to be a 0.0 WAR:
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx...10&position=SS

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Might be a good time to ask why nobody is talking about DM's role in Escobar batting 2nd, since Escobar isn't a guy who should probably even be on the team in the first place. If DM puts him on the roster, Yost can make these dumb decisions. No?

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

It was 3.9. And fell to 1.1 last year. But forget the past because as you probably know: it's irrelevant. OLIVER projects him to fall off the cliff and turn into a massive pumpkin. 0.1 WAR combined the next two seasons with horrendous wRC+ numbers.


http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx...10&position=SS

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

True, but it's very doubtful he'll produce that. He's become almost a carbon copy of Chris Getz in every way.

It is still early but...

[SPATCH]

It's May 1st...

[RockChalk]

Originally Posted by tmw4h5

Royals Sign Mitch Maier
By Steve Adams [May 1, 2014 at 10:51am CDT]
Here are today’s minor moves from around the league…

The Royals have signed Mitch Maier to a minor league deal and assigned him to Double-A, reports Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star (on Twitter). The Royals originally drafted Maier with the 30th overall pick of the 2003 draft, and he batted .248/.327/.344 for them in 1117 plate appearances from 2006-12. Maier hasn’t appeared in the Majors since, though he hit well in 31 games for Boston’s Triple-A affiliate last season.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

It is still early but...

Too early for Butler-Hos-Gordon but not too early for our middle infield. Uh, ok. That said I'll agree with you that both have been playing exceptional and are saving our ass offensively (defensively as well, Escobar is playing gold glove defense and Infante's range is much better than I expected).


We are entering May at 14-12 and the trio above have 1 home run. 1. As in, combined. That's stunning.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Too early for Butler-Hos-Gordon but not too early for our middle infield. Uh, ok. That said I'll agree with you that both have been playing exceptional and are saving our ass offensively (defensively as well, Escobar is playing gold glove defense and Infante's range is much better than I expected).


We are entering May at 14-12 and the trio above have 1 home run. 1. As in, combined. That's stunning.

We won't be competing for a playoff spot if that continues into May. That's just amazingly bad.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

We won't be competing for a playoff spot if that continues into May. That's just amazingly bad.

No question. But I'll continue to give DM credit for building such a good pitching staff and defensive team. Small markets can't have it all. He has allocated his funds in such a way that he's coming out of April with a winning record. By hook or by crook, we are 14-12.

[Great Expectations]

Clutchscobar is our MVP, right now he is leading the team in OPS. Right now we have 8 regulars over .700 in OPS, but nobody is special. We need Butler and Moose (showing signs) to get theirs over .700 and we can somewhat resemble the BoSox last year where there is potential to do damage all though the lineup.