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.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I was watching Moneyball last night, a movie that discussed the run the Athletics had like two ****ing decades ago. Not only did they play the Royals, & beat the Royals to have the longest winning streak in baseball history, but Raul Ibanez was playing on it. He's that old. And thank the good lord we are lucky enough to have him batting .149

The movie was set around 2002-2003 i think?

[Sully]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Please stop spamming the board with stupid trade proposals. This is a place for knowledgable fans to post and you're cluttering it.

Signed,
The guy who was bitching about the trade that brought us Guthrie last year because it was too expensive.

[Chiefs Pantalones]

There's a ground out derby tonight and our whole roster is competing.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by Chiefs Pantalones

There's a ground out derby tonight and our whole roster is competing.

Butler has got that shit locked up tight.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Sully

Signed,
The guy who was bitching about the trade that brought us Guthrie last year because it was too expensive.

You're bragging about Jeremy Guthrie right now?

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Chiefs Pantalones

There's a ground out derby tonight and our whole roster is competing.

I like our odds in the pop up on the infield with a runner in scoring position derby as well.

[Sully]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

You're bragging about Jeremy Guthrie right now?

I see your confusion, because the name Guthrie was in that post, but no. There was literally zero bragging in that post.
There was, however, pointing and laughing at you for your act of superiority, when you continuously say unintelligent things.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Sully

I see your confusion, because the name Guthrie was in that post, but no. There was literally zero bragging in that post.
There was, however, pointing and laughing at you for your act of superiority, when you continuously say unintelligent things.

What was the reference to Guthrie then?

[Sully]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

What was the reference to Guthrie then?

If a poster argues that the trade that brought us Guthrie was terrible, they have absolutely no place to condescend to other posters about "intelligence."

You argued that the trade that brought us Guthrie was terrible.

Therefore you have absolutely no place to condescend to other posters about intelligence.


(Pro tip; sound out the bigger words slowly. Ask for adult assistance if stuck on word meanings)

[Pitt Gorilla]

If only the Royals had access to a young Jose Bautista...

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Jive Ass

Look, throw in Raúl Ibañez or Danny Valencia if we have to. We need to do whatever it takes to get Stanton...

It could lead us to our second World Series Championship in two years.

[New World Order]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

If only the Royals had access to a young Jose Bautista...

Royals just need a roid program.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Sully

If a poster argues that the trade that brought us Guthrie was terrible, they have absolutely no place to condescend to other posters about "intelligence."

You argued that the trade that brought us Guthrie was terrible.

Therefore you have absolutely no place to condescend to other posters about intelligence.


(Pro tip; sound out the bigger words slowly. Ask for adult assistance if stuck on word meanings)

Show me the post where I said the Guthrie trade was terrible. I don't recall saying that, or being too upset Jonathan Sanchez was sent packing.....but I'll believe you if you link it.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

If only the Royals had access to a young Jose Bautista...

Or picked a better player when they had the first pick.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by Pitt Gorilla

If only the Royals had access to a young Jose Bautista...

I knew he was going to be great in that two weeks he was a Royal!

Okay not really.