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.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by BWillie

You guys done bagging on my boy Billay?? The trek to .300 batting average is coming.

I've always defended Billy but it's hard to continue to do that on this board. It's the same argument over and over.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by BWillie

You guys done bagging on my boy Billay?? The trek to .300 batting average is coming.

Trust us, the Fatty ONLY reacts to taunting and name calling, so we're providing a service.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

Trust us, the Fatty ONLY reacts to taunting and name calling, so we're providing a service.

[cabletech94]

not to hate on aoki, but what RF's (power hitting) could GMDM be eyeing?


and we're not gonna end up with myers........

[tk13]

They were just talking about the Royals hitting turnaround on MLB Network. I only caught the end of it but they were talking about how one underrated benefit with Sveum is that he was a switch hitter. Harold Reynolds especially harped on it. Said it made a huge difference to have a hitting coach that could competently step into the cage and demonstrate the point he was trying to make for hitters on both sides of the plate.

I don't know if that makes a huge difference or not, but it was an interesting discussion.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by BWillie

You guys done bagging on my boy Billay?? The trek to .300 batting average is coming.

No, not done by a longshot. He's been awful this year and he's still in negative WAR territory. Hopefully he's turning back into what he's been his career, a solid 5-hitter, but we'll need more than a week.

[Shogun]

Trade the farm for Stanton pls

[KChiefs1]

CBS SPORTS:

CBSSports.com

KANSAS CITY AT DETROIT
Time: 07:08 P.M. EST
Venue: Comerica Park

The Kansas City Royals added to the woes of one Detroit Tigers star right-hander in their eighth straight win.

Now they face a daunting task against another one as they attempt to gain the AL Central lead.

The Tigers have won Max Scherzer's last 13 overall home starts heading into Tuesday night's matchup with first place on the line.

Kansas City (37-32) scored seven times against struggling Justin Verlander in Monday's 11-8 victory in the opener of this four-game series. The Royals, who had been 0-5 against Detroit this year, are enjoying their longest win streak since a nine-game run July 23-Aug. 1.

The Royals have won 11 of 13 since trailing the Tigers (36-30) by 6 1/2 games at the start of the month to pull within one-half game of the division lead.

"We got on a nice little run here and we've made up some ground," manager Ned Yost said.

Winning Tuesday doesn't figure to be easy since Scherzer (8-2, 3.05 ERA) is 10-0 with a 2.38 ERA in his last 13 home outings, including one in the postseason.

The Tigers have also won Scherzer's last nine starts against the Royals, with the University of Missouri product going 5-0 with a 2.53 ERA. Detroit has captured 28 of his last 31 regular-season outings at Comerica Park.

While Alex Gordon is 7 for 18 (.389) with four extra-base hits against Scherzer since the start of 2012, most Royals regulars have struggled against him in that span. Lorenzo Cain is hitless in 12 at-bats, Eric Hosmer is 3 for 20 and Mike Moustakas 3 for 18 as the three have combined for 19 strikeouts.

The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner finally notched the first complete game of his career by striking out eight in a three-hitter Thursday in a 4-0 win over the Chicago White Sox. He has 106 strikeouts to rank sixth in baseball.

"It's awesome," he said. "I finally got the monkey off my back."

Scherzer's opponent will be Yordano Ventura (4-5, 3.20), who has posted consecutive wins for the first time. Ventura yielded one run over seven innings with no walks last Wednesday in a 4-1 victory over Cleveland.

"He had probably one of his best games of the year, command-wise, with his fastball," Yost told the Royals' official website.

The 23-year-old right-hander is known for a fastball that has been clocked over 100 mph heading into his first matchup with Miguel Cabrera and the Tigers.

Billy Butler went 2 for 4 with three RBIs and former Detroit infielder Omar Infante drove in four runs Monday. Butler is 10 for 22 with 10 RBIs over his last six games.

Both teams lost a player to cramps Monday.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez was replaced in the seventh by Brett Hayes because of cramps in both calves but figures to be OK.

"He's fine," Yost said. "They made him drink a bunch of fluids and gave him an IV."

Tigers outfielder Torii Hunter left in the fourth with a cramp in his right hamstring. Hunter was replaced by J.D. Martinez, who hit his second career grand slam.

"It's not a strain," manager Brad Ausmus insisted.

Detroit slugger Victor Martinez is 14 for 32 during an eight-game hitting streak against Kansas City.


TV SCHEDULE
National: MLB Regional
Away: FOX Sports Kansas City
Home: FOX Sports Detroit

STANDINGS
TEAM STANDINGS W L PCT. GB L 10 STRK
Kansas City 2nd AL Central 37 32 .536 ½ 9-1 W 8
Detroit 1st AL Central 36 30 .545 - 5-5 L 1




INJURIES
KANSAS CITY
PLAYER INJURY
B. Chen Back
L. Hochevar Elbow
S. Perez Calf
D. Valencia Hand, wrist

DETROIT
PLAYER INJURY
A. Dirks Back
T. Hunter Hamstring
J. Iglesias Shin
I. Krol Shoulder
L. Putkonen Elbow
B. Rondon Elbow

SERIES GAME LOG
DATE AT RESULT/TIME WINNER LOSER
Mar 31 DET DET 4-3 Nathan Davis
Apr 2 DET DET 2-1 Alburquerque Collins
Apr 3 DET PPD
May 2 KC DET 8-2 Porcello Shields
May 3 KC DET 9-2 Smyly Duffy
May 4 KC DET 9-4 Verlander Vargas
Jun 16 DET KC 11-8 Vargas Verlander
Jun 17 DET 7:08 PM EDT
Jun 18 DET 1:08 PM EDT
Jun 19 DET 1:08 PM EDT
Jul 10 KC 8:10 PM EDT
Jul 11 KC 8:10 PM EDT
Jul 12 KC 7:10 PM EDT
Jul 13 KC 2:10 PM EDT
Sep 8 DET 4:08 PM EDT
Sep 9 DET 7:08 PM EDT
Sep 10 DET 7:08 PM EDT
Sep 19 KC 8:10 PM EDT
Sep 20 KC 7:10 PM EDT
Sep 21 KC 2:10 PM EDT

[Chiefspants]

It's possible he's still bouncing back from his offseason surgery, but you have to wonder how Leyland's habit of giving Verlander 120+ pitches a start is going to affect the latter part of the pitcher's career.

A latter part that, until 2019, belongs to the Tigers.

[TambaBerry]

Originally Posted by Shogun

Trade the farm for Stanton pls

This all day, I don't even care who we give up for him.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by dingleberry

This all day, I don't even care who we give up for him.

We didn't have enough to make that work in 2013 even if we threw in Yordano. Without Ventura we simply don't come close to the near ready ML talent to make the trade work now. Also, if Stanton were to come on the market, several teams could outbid us without any problem.

As Duncan suggested, Marlon Byrd is far more realistic, feasible and less sexy candidate for what we have to offer.

[TambaBerry]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

We didn't have enough to make that work in 2013 even if we threw in Yordano. Without Ventura we simply don't come close to the near ready ML talent to make the trade work now. Also, if Stanton were to come on the market, several teams could outbid us without any problem.

As Duncan suggested, Marlon Byrd is far more realistic, feasible and less sexy candidate for what we have to offer.

Oh I know it's a pipedream at best

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by dingleberry

Oh I know it's a pipedream at best

Yeah, it is.

I think the biggest thing is that the Marlins really have little incentive to trade him. He's not crazily expensive. They actually have quite a bit of young talent (Christian Yelich, Jose Fernandez, Nate Eovaldi, Jacob Turner, Marcell Ozuna, Andrew Heaney) and could make a run with it in the next year or two, if Fernandez comes back healthy.

[Archie F. Swin]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Yeah, it is.

I think the biggest thing is that the Marlins really have little incentive to trade him. He's not crazily expensive. They actually have quite a bit of young talent (Christian Yelich, Jose Fernandez, Nate Eovaldi, Jacob Turner, Marcell Ozuna, Andrew Heaney) and could make a run with it in the next year or two, if Fernandez comes back healthy.

So does GMDM shop for a bat or an arm at the deadline?

[seaofred]

Was Dozier promoted to AA?