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.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by SPATCH

I like the Carlos Quentin idea that was suggested earlier in the thread.

I do to but hes a San Diego native with a no trade clause. I doubt he wants to go anywhere.

[WilliamTheIrish]

Originally Posted by WilliamTheIrish

Of course we aren't going to make the post season. You cannot place all the pressure the pitchers to win every game 3-2 or 2-1.

There are 99 games left. In order to win 85 this team of #9 hitters has to go 54-45. To win 90, 58-41.

Originally Posted by thurman merman

It's way too early to be making that statement. They have a much better record right now than they did last year at this time, and they ended up winning 86 last year.

Thurman!

[alnorth]

There's something weird going on with this team. I think I'll go ahead and start game threads at least until the Royals lose.

[Don Corlemahomes]

Still want to see what it would take to get Luis Valbuena. 2b/3b, killing it right now.

[cabletech94]

Originally Posted by alnorth

There's something weird going on with this team. I think I'll go ahead and start game threads at least until the Royals lose.

#winning!

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by alnorth

There's something weird going on with this team. I think I'll go ahead and start game threads at least until the Royals lose.

Excellent

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by alnorth

There's something weird going on with this team. I think I'll go ahead and start game threads at least until the Royals lose.

Win or lose, I love the detail in the OP of your game threads. They are AWESOME! Keep going, please.

[Don Corlemahomes]

Danny Duffy is a guy you love to see do well. He seems like a genuine dude, and I thought it took a lot of class to praise Ventura after upstaging him in ST.

Now they're both killing it, and I could not be happier.

[Mother****erJones]

You've whooped our ass this series. Congrats.

[Anyong Bluth]

Originally Posted by Cunning Linguist

Danny Duffy is a guy you love to see do well. He seems like a genuine dude, and I thought it took a lot of class to praise Ventura after upstaging him in ST.

Now they're both killing it, and I could not be happier.

My personal favorite guy, and I have said it for a long time.

[Anyong Bluth]

Keep up the good work, alnorth. I'll 2nd that your threads are the best for Royals games with the updated info and all!

I'm eager and cautious about our series with Detroit.

Last year , it seemed like we had their number, and Cleveland was a thorn in our side.
I'd be happy with a split, ecstatic to take 3 out of 4, and off my rocker if they were to sweep a 4 game road series at "Day-twat".
Need to temper my expectations & enthusiasm!

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Mother****erJones

You've whooped our ass this series. Congrats.

Thanks. Can you post the updated division records now like you did a few days ago?


One cause for concern is our peripherals. Our expected production is actually better than our actual for both offense and pitching. I.e., today we won 6-3 but stranded 6 while they stranded 13. Long term that's a concern.

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Mother****erJones

Not with your no HR hitting asses.

HR hitting asses? We don't need no stinkin HR hitting ass!

[tmw4h5]

I can't help it, I'm super positive about this team right now.

We're above .500 and we have some real bright spots on this team. I'm stoked about seeing a rotation with Duffy and Ventura for years to come. Esky at short produces a web gem nightly. We have plenty of guys on this team who are performing well and even those that aren't (see Butler, Moose, Infante, Hosmer) seem to be trending up during this latest streak of ours.

We have a lot of these guys locked down for a decent time. I expect Butler to be gone next year, barring a new, cheaper contract. I also expect Aoki to be gone after this year. I think we are starting to see Shields come down from ace status a bit. He's still a workhorse, but I think he's no longer climbing the mountain, I think he's starting to come down from his peak.
Next year we can look forward to Dozier challenging for 3B in ST and Zimmer challenging for a rotation spot as well. I think if we actually make the playoffs this year, even if it's just the 2nd wildcard spot, you'll see Glass continue to put money into this team.

I could see us easily picking up a back-of-the-rotation guy in case Zimmer doesn't work out as well as a decent bat and a decent RF. This team, if ran correctly, could be fun to watch for the next few years.

[Paniero]

ESPN MLB front page article:

http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/po...n-weak-central