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]

In other news, Detroit's public statement and frustration with Scherzer was really kinda stupid. There is nothing they could possibly gain from basically painting one of their star pitchers as greedy. At best its a non-issue that is forgotten by all sides. At worst, maybe they pissed off Scherzer and/or Boras and have made it a little harder to retain him.

[alnorth]

Jon Rauch is out of the running. The last bullpen slot will be filled by either Bueno or a waiver wire pickup.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Are we ready to just outright call the AL Central race even on paper, or is that a little too ambitious?

Maybe. Factors:

1) Do Butler and Gordon regress to their means? That would mean Butler is .300/.375/.450 with 15-20 HR and 40-50 2B, Gordon is .290/.360/.450 with 15-20 HR, 40-50 2B.

2) Does Hosmer do it for a whole season? If he does, you're talking about .300/25/100/100/15, .300/.350/.500 type production.

3) Is Moustakas really improved? Not saying he'll do what he is in ST, but if he can give them a full season at his first half 2012 level, that would work out to .275/28/80, .275/.320/.500. That's just enormous.

4) Is Ventura the real deal? To the point of 200 IP, 3.50 ERA, 1.20 WHIP 200 Ks?

5) Do the Royals bullpen and defense remain in the same general ballpark (not as good, but close and still elite)?

For the Tigers:

1) Do Sanchez and Scherzer perform at the same level or take small steps back?

2) How does the new-look offense perform? Jackson in the 5, Kinsler at the top?

3) Is their bullpen BETTER with Joe Nathan but without Smyly, Benoit and Rondon?

4) Speaking of Smyly, what does he give them in the rotation? Unlikely it is as much as Fister, but can he give them 80 percent? 90 percent?

5) Finally, is the D improved as much as some think? Without Iglesias linchpinning it, they're still below average at SS, 1B, C and 3B. Just OK in LF, pretty good in CF, pretty good in RF. Very good at 2B. Seems like the D will still be a step below average, especially on the infield.

[Mecca]

Royals defense honestly should improve, Aoki and Infante are upgrades to what was in those spots.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Royals defense honestly should improve, Aoki and Infante are upgrades to what was in those spots.

It's possible. It's just that what KC got at SS, C, LF, and CF (where great performances drove a big part of the run-prevention) is hard to count on at QUITE that level.

Lough also graded out exceptionally well as a defender in RF, though that was only 1/2 season.

[Mecca]

Well none of those guys are old and declining so that helps, and if Cain could manage to stay healthy all season even CF production could upgrade.

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Are we ready to just outright call the AL Central race even on paper, or is that a little too ambitious?

Please God!!! And let's hope they can stretch baseball all the way through football season next year too!

[alnorth]

Alex Colome of the Rays has been suspended 50 games for testing positive for PED's.

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Alex Colome of the Rays has been suspended 50 games for testing positive for PED's.

Never heard of him.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Three7s

Never heard of him.

He was going to be a rookie for them and possibly a promising young arm for their rotation.

[C3HIEF3S]

I saw a tweet that said 4 of the Rays top 10 prospects were suspended for drug use.

[tyton75]

Looks like Infante is staying in Surprise for our opening series. Who is going to take his place at 2B and doesn't this mean we HAVE to carry Ciriaco or someone on the bench to back up Infante and Escy?!

[BlackHelicopters]

Dude is already injured. Great.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by tyton75

Looks like Infante is staying in Surprise for our opening series. Who is going to take his place at 2B and doesn't this mean we HAVE to carry Ciriaco or someone on the bench to back up Infante and Escy?!

You may have confused the opening series with him not going up to Milwaukee. We're not playing real games in Milwaukee, those are still exhibition games.

The plan right now is still for Infante to be with the team and starting in Detroit.

[BlackHelicopters]

Originally Posted by alnorth

You may have confused the opening series with him not going up to Milwaukee. We're not playing real games in Milwaukee, those are still exhibition games.

The plan right now is still for Infante to be with the team and starting in Detroit.

Whew