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]

That's hilarious that we signed Ibanez. Still can't believe his old ass hit 29 dingers last year.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Maxwell is gone. Just signed Raul Ibanez, also Christian Colon was just called up.

Are you being serious right now?

[TLO]

I had started to think Christian Colon was just a myth. Wasn't convinced the guy even existed.

[C3HIEF3S]

Well then.

I am not expecting much from Ibanez.

[Strongside]

I'm more excited about the Colon call up than anything.

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by Strongside

I'm more excited about the Colon call up than anything.

This is the best chance he's ever going to get to prove himself, that's for sure

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Maxwell is gone. Just signed Raul Ibanez, also Christian Colon was just called up.

Link?

[C3HIEF3S]

Looks like he was hitting .296 down in Omaha

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

Link?

The Royals have signed Raul Ibanez to a big-league deal, and called up Christian Colon. Ciriaco and Maxwell were DFA'd.

— Andy McCullough (@McCulloughStar) June 30, 2014

[Toadkiller]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/kc/r...2&vkey=news_kc
KANSAS CITY -- The Royals signed free agent outfielder/designated hitter Raul Ibanez to a Major League contract on Monday. In addition, they recalled infielder Christian Colon from Triple-A Omaha and designated infielder Pedro Ciriaco and outfielder Justin Maxwell for assignment.

Ibanez, 42, signed with the Angels prior to this season but was given his outright release on June 21 and cleared waivers three days later. He played in 57 games for the Angels, batting .157 with five doubles, two triples, three homers and 21 RBIs. But Ibanez is one of two active players with 300 career home runs and 50 career triples, the other being Carlos Beltran of the Yankees.

The left-handed-hitting Ibanez spent three seasons with the Royals, from 2001-03, hitting .294 with 37 doubles, 24 homers and 103 RBIs during the 2002 season, helping him earn the Joe Burke Special Achievement Award from the Kansas City Chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Ibanez was also named an All-Star starter in 2009 while with Philadelphia and has participated in 44 postseason games with three different teams: the Mariners (2000), Phillies (2009-11) and Yankees (2012).

Colon, 25, was the Royals' first-round Draft pick (fourth overall) in 2010 and was hitting .296 in 74 games at Triple-A Omaha this season, with 14 doubles, four homers and a .360 on-base percentage. He ranks 12th in the Pacific Coast League with 48 runs scored, while his 14 steals are tied for 11th in the league. Colon was named the Omaha Player of the Year in 2013, hitting .273 with 12 doubles, 12 homers and a .335 on-base percentage.

[ChiefsCountry]

Welcome back Raul! The #Royals have signed Raul Ibanez to a Major League contract.

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) June 30, 2014

KC has also recalled infielder Christian Colon, who is in the Majors for the first time.

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) June 30, 2014

Justin Maxwell and Pedro Ciriaco have been designated for assignment. Ibanez will wear #18 and be in uniform tonight at Minnesota.

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) June 30, 2014

[siberian khatru]

FINALLY getting the Christian Colon era rolling.

[C3HIEF3S]

Look at the first round of the 2010 draft and look how many players haven't even reached the big leagues yet


http://www.baseball-reference.com/dr...1&year_ID=2010

Such a crapshoot

[siberian khatru]

Don't get how Ibanez fits. I hope they're not going to play him in the OF at all. And even if they did (shudder), he's not a platoon partner for Dyson. He's not going to platoon with Butler at DH (or he shouldn't). So he's just a PH?

[Bowser]

Lol, Ibanez. I like the signing for depth, but how many home runs did the guy hit from when we let him go until now?

Excited to see what Colon can do.