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.

[Strongside]

Originally Posted by Coach

Wait....

2 walks for Moose?

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Looks like another year of good pitching and no hitting-hope I am wrong.

Well though out points, good post.

[keg in kc]

I haven't been paying much attention, but I heard during a broadcast about a week ago that they were leading the majors in batting average for the spring, and were at or near the top of the AL in slugging. If that's actually the case, I'm not sure how that translates into "no hitting".

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Coach

Wait....

2 walks for Moose?

What do we always hear???

It's only preseason folks....

[Coach]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

What do we always hear???

It's only preseason folks....

Yes, I get that, but if you notice his approach right now, compare that to last season, it looks worlds better. I'm sure others have mentioned it as well on previous posts.

[SPATCH]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I haven't been paying much attention, but I heard during a broadcast about a week ago that they were leading the majors in batting average for the spring, and were at or near the top of the AL in slugging. If that's actually the case, I'm not sure how that translates into "no hitting".

Dawg, we shattered like every offensive record in Cactus League history last year. Didn't exactly translate to regular season success.

[SAUTO]

Originally Posted by Strongside

Based on what? The majority of our offense has been raking in ST.

He is a ****ing idiot. Don't mind him
Posted via Mobile Device

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Looks like another year of good pitching and no hitting-hope I am wrong.

Not really.

I expect the lineup to be better and more productive, and the No. 2 pitching spot to take a step back. Think the 4-5 pitchers even things out, though.

If Ventura can hold his spot in the rotarion, Guthrie becomes a good No. 4 and a huge upgrade from that spot a year ago. Same with Chen/Duffy/Zimmer over the Mendoza/Davis combo out of the 5 spot.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Not really.

I expect the lineup to be better and more productive, and the No. 2 pitching spot to take a step back. Think the 4-5 pitchers even things out, though.

If Ventura can hold his spot in the rotarion, Guthrie becomes a good No. 4 and a huge upgrade from that spot a year ago. Same with Chen/Duffy/Zimmer over the Mendoza/Davis combo out of the 5 spot.

I think the pitching will be as good as last year. The pen might be a bigger question. I think Shields is going to have a career year because he's going to pitch for a big big big contract. I would think Vargas might be as = as Santana, because career wise, they both are almost similar to their ERA+ and WHIP, and I think Vargas will benefit more from a excellent defense and the spacious Kauffman Stadium. But I think the 3-5 spots are a improvement, and Chen is a good #5 with Guthrie as a #4.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Coach

Yes, I get that, but if you notice his approach right now, compare that to last season, it looks worlds better. I'm sure others have mentioned it as well on previous posts.

This is great news. I've not seen any preseason games, I shall watch one now.

[Deberg_1990]

I'm proud of my Royals Cactus League titles
Posted via Mobile Device

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

I'm proud of my Royals Cactus League titles
Posted via Mobile Device

[C3HIEF3S]

Asked what Omar Infante's plans are for Saturday, Ned Yost suggested he would start his day with a bowl of cereal.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) March 21, 2014

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

I haven't been paying much attention, but I heard during a broadcast about a week ago that they were leading the majors in batting average for the spring, and were at or near the top of the AL in slugging. If that's actually the case, I'm not sure how that translates into "no hitting".

Its a curse of KC fandom, for the last 2 or 3 springs our hitters have beaten everyone into submission and come out of Arizona looking like a fearsome lineup, only to fall flat when it counts.

You can't pay attention to hitting stats because a lot of the pitchers aren't trying to get guys out. If you have a good scouting eye (I do not, I have to rely on experts), then you might be able to glean a little information on how the hitters look, but thats it. People who know more than I and who I rely on are saying Moose looks a hell of a lot different this year than 2013, which is encouraging.

Also, its better than having your hitters fail to hit in spring training. Since pitchers aren't always trying, everyone on every team should be hitting, so if your team is not hitting you can then go ahead and be very worried. A hitter can not "win" spring training, they can only lose. So far, our hitters look really good in Arizona, but that only means they have worked their way up to a zero, we won't know if they can hit until April.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Its a curse of KC fandom, for the last 2 or 3 springs our hitters have beaten everyone into submission and come out of Arizona looking like a fearsome lineup, only to fall flat when it counts.

You can't pay attention to hitting stats because a lot of the pitchers aren't trying to get guys out. If you have a good scouting eye (I do not, I have to rely on experts), then you might be able to glean a little information on how the hitters look, but thats it. People who know more than I and who I rely on are saying Moose looks a hell of a lot different this year than 2013, which is encouraging.

Also, its better than having your hitters fail to hit in spring training. Since pitchers aren't always trying, everyone on every team should be hitting, so if your team is not hitting you can then go ahead and be very worried. A hitter can not "win" spring training, they can only lose. So far, our hitters look really good in Arizona, but that only means they have worked their way up to a zero, we won't know if they can hit until April.

I'd read this.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/...ining-matters/

It's a good read. It talks a little bit about Moose as well.