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.

[PHOG]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

He went in 8-3 with a 3.50 era. What do people want?

To start the game as if his mind is really into it, would be refreshing, to not start out in a deficit right off the bat? would be nice.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

To not put us in deficits like the one today consistently.

I don't disagree to the fact that last season was way over Shields' career numbers. However, as a #1 he should be expected to give the Royals a chance and not force the offense to play catch up.

His numbers have been the same here as his career numbers, a 1/2 starter. But yes to your point he didn't get it done tonight. Of course neither did Holland

[tk13]

Shields has not been as sharp lately. It's amazing how far this team has come though. Two seasons ago Bruce Chen was this team's opening day starter. Now we're worried about a guy with a 3.70 ERA.

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by tk13

Shields has not been as sharp lately. It's amazing how far this team has come though. Two seasons ago Bruce Chen was this team's opening day starter. Now we're worried about a guy with a 3.70 ERA.

We've gotten spoiled, but that comes with expectations. Going into the season, I was hoping for Shields go give us between a 3.00 and 3.50 ERA. He's in the area, but he needs to get better. Even so, he's miles better than what we had years ago. Hell, our whole rotation is miles better.

[Prison Bitch]

Shields is a good player. Our team era is still fantastic. We lose games because our power spots at 1B, DH, and RF can't hit the ball with any power

[Don Corlemahomes]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Shields is a good player. Our team era is still fantastic. We lose games because our power spots at 1B, DH, and RF can't hit the ball with any power

At least you took your lithium, and your manic episode is over. Baby steps

[Don Corlemahomes]

Originally Posted by Three7s

We've gotten spoiled, but that comes with expectations. Going into the season, I was hoping for Shields go give us between a 3.00 and 3.50 ERA. He's in the area, but he needs to get better. Even so, he's miles better than what we had years ago. Hell, our whole rotation is miles better.

What makes it so frustrating is we've seen what happens when the offense and pitching are both clicking, and it's ****ing awesome.

[SPchief]

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/spt...cle592637.html

[C3HIEF3S]

Let's just all take a deep breath and come back tomorrow and kick some ass.
This loss ****ing sucked, but there is still a lot of baseball to be played. For as bad as this loss was, I guarantee there will be wins that will make us forget all about losses like these.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

Is that a prediction?

(Please say it is.)

SEA up 1 game to 0

2 to go.

[Don Corlemahomes]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

SEA up 1 game to 0

2 to go.

So you would rather be right than see us win?

Yeah, you can go **** yourself.

[ChiTown]

Aoki to the 15-Day DL. Maxwell back up

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Cunning Linguist

At least you took your lithium, and your manic episode is over. Baby steps

I don't get it. I love the pitching, and several regulars (Escobar Cain Gordon) are having all star caliber years. My rage is focused on a limited few and the data completely backs me on it.

[cabletech94]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Aoki to the 15-Day DL. Maxwell back up

i know we DFA ol maxy, glad he's back with the team. brings more pop that ah-oh-kee-doh-kee.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Aoki to the 15-Day DL. Maxwell back up

Dyson should be playing more, Aoki def has been a disappointment

His #'s keep falling year after year.

2012 he hit 38 doubles and had 10 HR's

last year 20 doubles and 8 HR's...

the OBP was .356 and .355 atleast those 2 years. Everything down 20-30 points more