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]

It doesn't help that he was replaced by another guy who shouldn't be an announcer, but White was pretty bad.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Are you sure?

No, i thought i read an article on here yesterday that stated GMDM approached him within the last couple of weeks and he said no... subsequently they made the moves they did.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by alnorth

It doesn't help that he was replaced by another guy who shouldn't be an announcer, but White was pretty bad.

I actually enjoyed White some... he was dry and not very entertaining... but he would be critical of players and coaching decisions, not sugar-coating stuff. He actually talked Baseball... not why he thinks Hosmer's so freaking awesome. And why Billy Butler is so freaking awesome. And why Salvador Perez is so freaking awesome. And why Mike Moustakas is so freaking awesome. And why Dayton Moore is so freaking awesome. And why Ned Yost is so freaking awesome. etc... etc... etc...

Hud is un-****ing-Bearable to listen to.

The only enjoyment i get from Hud doesn't come from Hud. It comes from Ryan Lefebvre as he openly mocks the dumbass on air.

[stonedstooge]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I actually enjoyed White some... he was dry and not very entertaining... but he would be critical of players and coaching decisions, not sugar-coating stuff. He actually talked Baseball... not why he thinks Hosmer's so freaking awesome. And why Billy Butler is so freaking awesome. And why Salvador Perez is so freaking awesome. And why Mike Moustakas is so freaking awesome. And why Dayton Moore is so freaking awesome. And why Ned Yost is so freaking awesome. etc... etc... etc...

Hud is un-****ing-Bearable to listen to.

White gave insight to the game and the individual positions that I just loved listening to. I think he was excellent for those who have some knowledge of the game, but I could see how he wouldn't be entertaining for the passing fan. And he did the Royals a FAVOR by taking over for Splitt while he was dying. Unappreciative bastards

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

Nothing against George Brett, but the only ex-Royals players worth a shit as coaches were both run out of town because they were either scapegoated (Seitzer) or had the balls to tell the truth (Frank White).

So let's keep flailing at guys, keep blaming others, and do everything except look in the mirror and see a systemic failure of scouting, drafting, development, management, and execution.

At this point, we should leverage the entire farm system for established talent because we already know they'll end up as shitty as Hosmer, Moose, and the rest.

What a joke.

... and BINGO was his name-o!

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I actually enjoyed White some... he was dry and not very entertaining... but he would be critical of players and coaching decisions, not sugar-coating stuff. He actually talked Baseball... not why he thinks Hosmer's so freaking awesome. And why Billy Butler is so freaking awesome. And why Salvador Perez is so freaking awesome. And why Mike Moustakas is so freaking awesome. And why Dayton Moore is so freaking awesome. And why Ned Yost is so freaking awesome. etc... etc... etc...

Hud is un-****ing-Bearable to listen to.

The only enjoyment i get from Hud doesn't come from Hud. It comes from Ryan Lefebvre as he openly mocks the dumbass on air.

If I absolutely had to take one or the other, I'd take White, but I'd still want to upgrade the booth.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

Oh, Jesus

Look who is driving the bus today-literally. #BeRoyalKC @FSKansasCity https://t.co/nfXUdXQbpA

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) June 5, 2014

Oh hell no would I get on that bus.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Letting go of Seitzer and keeping Ned Yost was a terrible decision. Just freaking awful. Moore chose wrongly there.

But let's not act like Frank White was some awesome coach (or announcer). If he was a good coach, he would have caught on during his stint in Boston, or landed with another team afterwards.

If he was a good announcer, he'd have work. He was not a good announcer.

And he couldn't handle Brett getting more attention and love than him.

Loved him as a player. He's a giant pain in the ass off the field, though.

I miss having Frank parole the 2B area at the K. Beyond that, he was NOT a great commentator.

[Demonpenz]

The problem with Frank White is he was coming in after Paul Spittorff who was always prepared and had honed his craft to mastery. After Splitt everything just seems like shit.

[gblowfish]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

I miss having Frank parole the 2B area at the K. Beyond that, he was NOT a great commentator.

The only second baseman for the Royals who was paroled was Chico Lind.

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

The only second baseman for the Royals who was paroled was Chico Lind.

holy shit. chico lind. haven't heard that name in a while.

[lewdog]

I don't mind Hud anymore actually. There are times where here is a huge homer but also times where he will call a guy out. He's been doing it to Hosmer for the past few weeks and rightly so. More than I can say for the other two bums he works with.

[KCUnited]

Yeah, Frank wasn't all that great, but he didn't just talk to be talking. My biggest problem with Hud is the sheer number of words he speaks per inning, it's a baseball game, he's acting like he's calling a hockey game.

[C3HIEF3S]

I asked #Royals Yost if the plan is to let Hosmer work through the slump in the 3-spot. "Absolutely," he said.

— Josh Vernier (@JoshVernier610) June 5, 2014

#Royals Yost says there are no limitations tonight on Ventura, but "we'll be watching him real close."

— Josh Vernier (@JoshVernier610) June 5, 2014

On prior lineup change vs. Astros: “I put Gordy in the three, and Hoz in the five, and we still got our asses kicked. So it didn’t work.”

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) June 5, 2014

[TambaBerry]

I've never payed attention to the draft what's the best way to find out who got picked and how long does each pick take?