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]

So, on the other board Ventura's amazing outing has sparked a fierce argument over service time. Some Royals fans are so beaten-down that it seems service time should always rule all.

I get it, yes you only need to keep Ventura in AAA for about 3 or 4 weeks to lock up that extra year (in 2020) and normally I'd be all for that, but not this year. If Ventura continues to look like an ace, then we need those extra 4 or 5 starts. That may the difference between having 1 or 2 extra wins, which could keep us in or out of the playoffs.

Our margin is too narrow, and the team could suck in 2020 for all we know. If Ventura continues to look great, then that 7th year be damned, we need him.

[Nightfyre]

I don't think service time rules all, but I certainly think duffy will suffice for a month. Especially to preserve a whole year of service.

[WhawhaWhat]

al scout says yordano ventura, the 101-mph throwing royals rhp, is a (very) early rookie of yr candidate. #VenturaHighway

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeymanCBS) March 14, 2014

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by alnorth

So, on the other board Ventura's amazing outing has sparked a fierce argument over service time. Some Royals fans are so beaten-down that it seems service time should always rule all.

I get it, yes you only need to keep Ventura in AAA for about 3 or 4 weeks to lock up that extra year (in 2020) and normally I'd be all for that, but not this year. If Ventura continues to look like an ace, then we need those extra 4 or 5 starts. That may the difference between having 1 or 2 extra wins, which could keep us in or out of the playoffs.

Our margin is too narrow, and the team could suck in 2020 for all we know. If Ventura continues to look great, then that 7th year be damned, we need him.

Wow... The kid has one start... ONE START that he's shown ace stuff... Sure, he's been effective in his few other starts dating to last year, but he labors... The guy still has to learn how to pitch past the 4th and 5th innings. We've been waiting for Duffy to make that turn for 2+ years now...

Some Royals fans need to temper expectations! lol

Sure I wanna see him pitching at KC like everyone else... we want to see him in a Royals uniform, but damn.. it was one start!

[alnorth]

I'm also annoyed that Chen is still seen as sort of a lock. He may have been a lock back when we were still thinking of keeping Ventura down a while, but now that he's obviously ready to fly out of the gate, I think Chen should go to the bullpen, and we should go with both Duffy and Ventura.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Wow... The kid has one start... ONE START that he's shown ace stuff... Sure, he's been effective in his few other starts dating to last year, but he labors... The guy still has to learn how to pitch past the 4th and 5th innings. We've been waiting for Duffy to make that turn for 2+ years now...

Some Royals fans need to temper expectations! lol

Sure I wanna see him pitching at KC like everyone else... we want to see him in a Royals uniform, but damn.. it was one start!

The scouts and people paid to judge these things are all convinced, thats good enough for me.

I'll also flip it on you: why is 2020 so valuable that we should be willing to do anything, anything at all, that might even slightly damage 2014? If we keep Ventura down a month, he looks awesome the rest of the year, and we miss the playoffs by one game, I'm going to be very unhappy. By the time 2020 rolls around the team might not be good and we may end up trading him off that July.

You have got to agree that if we ignore service time and focus only on baseball reasons, the right thing to do is to go with Ventura at #5, and that anybody else hurts the team at least a little bit.

Thats the beginning and end of it for me. If we were a lot better than the Tigers or if we had no chance at the playoffs then thats different, but we need every last fraction of WAR.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by alnorth

The scouts and people paid to judge these things are all convinced, thats good enough for me.

I'll also flip it on you: why is 2020 so valuable that we should be willing to do anything, anything at all, that might even slightly damage 2014? If we keep Ventura down a month, he looks awesome the rest of the year, and we miss the playoffs by one game, I'm going to be very unhappy. By the time 2020 rolls around the team might not be good and we may end up trading him off that July.

You have got to agree that if we ignore service time and focus only on baseball reasons, the right thing to do is to go with Ventura at #5, and that anybody else hurts the team at least a little bit.

Thats the beginning and end of it for me. If we were a lot better than the Tigers or if we had no chance at the playoffs then thats different, but we need every last fraction of WAR.

I'm not arguing about 2020 and that year, I'm just pointing out the guys on radio and the forums that are absolutely clamouring for Ventura to be in the rotation... based off one start in spring training. Not directing this at you, specifically, Al.

I don't give a flipping flip about service time. We haven't had a decent pitcher be successful from our own organization since Greinke... and before that it was Rosada (and only for a very short stint)... I ache for a pitcher to call our own... This town aches... which is why I think so many want to see him here so badly... whether he's ready or not.

Just temper the expectations of the kid is all, before throwing around "Ace" comments, etc...

[alnorth]

Also, if you start with Ventura and he "labors" as you fear or otherwise struggles, great send him down a month.

The risk is not that he might not be as good as we think or that he's not ready to go because you can just go ahead and get that year of service time back anyway, the risk is that he's on fire out of the gate and that he is so great over the next 5 years that you never get another chance again to send him down a few weeks to grab that extra year.

I'm willing to take that "risk".

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by alnorth

I'm also annoyed that Chen is still seen as sort of a lock. He may have been a lock back when we were still thinking of keeping Ventura down a while, but now that he's obviously ready to fly out of the gate, I think Chen should go to the bullpen, and we should go with both Duffy and Ventura.

The $$ paid to him guarantee'd he'd at least start out in the rotation... I'd rather go with Duffy\Ventura as well, but am Okay with Chen until he starts to falter. He's such a great dude, hard worker, and important piece of this team... I'm hoping he retires this year and stays on as a coach of some soft... that would be sweet.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Also, if you start with Ventura and he "labors" as you fear or otherwise struggles, great send him down a month.

The risk is not that he might not be as good as we think or that he's not ready to go because you can just go ahead and get that year of service time back anyway, the risk is that he's on fire out of the gate and that he is so great over the next 5 years that you never get another chance again to send him down a few weeks to grab that extra year.

I'm willing to take that "risk".

If the guy is ready, he's ready... eff the service time.

Temper it is all... temper it.

[alnorth]

Andy McCullough ‏@McCulloughStar 5m

The Royals still haven't closed the door on putting the loser of Ventura/Duffy in pen. Even if Moore/Yost say they want that guy in Omaha.

Apparently the Royals have not yet ruled out bringing them both but putting one of them into the bullpen.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Apparently the Royals have not yet ruled out bringing them both but putting one of them into the bullpen.

Here's my opening day staff:

Rotation
Shields
Vargas
Guthenator
Duffy
Chen

Pen
Ventura
Davis
Collins
Coleman
Crow
Herrera
Holland

June -> Ventura to rotation for Chen (or replacing any injuries prior)

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

To add to it, my other 13.

Salvy
Hoz
Infante
Al
Moose
Billy
Gordon
Cain
Aoki
Ciriaco
Velencia
Dyson
Hayes

Sorry Maxwell, you're the odd man out.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Maxwell will make the club, though... and Ventura or Duffy will start in AAA... going with only 6 in the pen.

I'm just one of those guys that likes to go through April and early May with 7 in the Pen... until the Starting pitchers get into form.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Maxwell will make the club, though... and Ventura or Duffy will start in AAA... going with only 6 in the pen.

I'm just one of those guys that likes to go through April and early May with 7 in the Pen... until the Starting pitchers get into form.

Yost is firm on wanting 12. I agree that we should start with 11 though.

Ciriaco is the odd man out, the Royals actually do plan to somehow go without a backup middle infielder at the moment.