*** Official 2018 Royals Repository ***

[duncan_idaho]

The season is upon us, even if spring is not.

2018 MLB Draft Picks
#18
#33 - Compensation (Eric Hosmer)
#34 - Compensation (Lorenzo Cain)
#40 (Competitive Balance Round A)

018 Draft Names to Watch

RHP Kumar Rocker, N Oconnee HS, Georgia.

Spoiler!

Possibly goes top 10 but is a big, physical SP with ace potential. Moore and co. will be all over him if he slips a bit and could offer top 10 money at No. 16

OF Jarred Kelenic, Waukasha West HS, WI

Spoiler!

Kelenic is the top prep bat, toolsy OF. Royals would be ecstatic to have shot at him.

1B Triston Casas, American Heritage HS (FL).

Spoiler!

Tremendous raw power, best in HS bats. Royals typically like HS arms or HS bats with "special" tools. He qualifies.

RHP Carter Stewart, Eau de Gallie HS (Ga).

Spoiler!

Another big, physical specimen with huge upside. More likely to be available mid-first than Rocker.

ANY Any, Any (Any). Any current top projected pick who slides for injury concerns. Includes current top prospect prospect SP Brady Singer, U of Florida.

Current Prospects to Watch:

OF Seuly Matias - Huge tools. Hit 2 HR in Lexington (A) season opener.

1B Nick Pratto - Top pick in 17 has advanced approach and good glove; needs to start tapping into power in first full year in minors. Also at Lexington.

OF Michael Gigliotti - Good defender in CF, good OBP skills, plus baserunner. Next mainstay in CF for KC, IMO. Advanced college bat also starting at Lexington.

OF Khalil Lee - Probably has highest upside in Royals' system. Could hit 30 HR in majors, could steal 30 bases. Plus defensive ability in RF. Nice test at Wilmington this year.

3B Emmanuel Rivera - Really nice approach and good contact skills. Power is still developing. Also getting a good test at Wilmington.

SP Foster Griffin - Made nice strides in 2017. Needs to continue to progress in 2018. Could be a lefty version of Jakob Junis (good breaking ball that he can really manipulate, OK fastball, good command).

1B Samir Duenez - Duenez still is intriguing, hoping for a step forward in his power production this year at Northwest Arkansas, which would turn him into a legit prospect.

Others to keep an eye on:
SP Gerson Garabito (Wilmington), OF Marten Gasparini (Lexington), C MJ Melendez (Lexington), RP Tyler Zuber (lexington), RP Richard Lovelady (Omaha), SP Dan Tillo (Lexington), SS Nicky Lopez (NWA), SP Scott Blewett (NWA), OF Brewer Hicklen (Idaho Falls),

In general, Lexington and Wilmington are the most interesting spots to watch. Nice depth and a lot of interesting pieces at both.

[Al Bundy]

BTW Kyle Isbel is having a night in Idaho Falls...

[Canofbier]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Its the HR Derby. Who gives a shit

Go bankrupt yourself in online poker. Again.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Canofbier

jd described it here - clear violations of the rules around when pitching is allowed. Harper's pitcher (his father) was throwing pitches well before the previous hits had landed. He'd have probably won regardless, but it cheapens the whole thing when it's SO clear that nobody bothers to enforce the rules.

Freddie Freeman was doing it in the first round too. It wasn't just one person.

[Al Bundy]

According to our sources, Kyle Isbel has been promoted to Lexington. The 2018 third rounder hit .381/.454/.610 in 25 games with Idaho Falls. Was slashing .439/.511/.683 over his past 10 games.

— Royals Farm Report (@RoyalsFarm) July 17, 2018

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

According to our sources, Kyle Isbel has been promoted to Lexington. The 2018 third rounder hit .381/.454/.610 in 25 games with Idaho Falls. Was slashing .439/.511/.683 over his past 10 games.

— Royals Farm Report (@RoyalsFarm) July 17, 2018

You have to wonder where they view his long term position since if it is in the OF they are already getting somewhat crowded there.

[OmahaChief]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

After doing a little more reading and getting through the excellent big board on Fangraphs https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/earl...s/#more-288781

I’m not sure Witt will hold up as a consensus top pick. Some questions about his hit tool and he’s old for his class.

The Catcher from Oregon State, Ruschmamnn, May end up being the top guy if he repeats his strong sophomore campaign with the bat.

Can't find the stats now but there was some site that had some really interesting things about the "old for his class" deal. Higher chance at busting seemed to be the thought. If I remember right that was one knocks on Starling.

I saw Adley Rutschman play in Omaha this CWS and that guy can rake. He didn't wow me behind the plate but looks like a good prospect overall.

[Sure-Oz]

@JonHeyman: Breaking; The Dodgers appear to be the leading contender for superstar Manny Machado as talks head toward the finish line. The situation is fluid and brewers and phillies may still have an outside chance. Barring turnabout, deal should be done this week. Story comin on @Fancred

Gotta think moose gets traded shortly after this.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by OmahaChief

I saw Adley Rutschman play in Omaha this CWS and that guy can rake. He didn't wow me behind the plate but looks like a good prospect overall.

JJ Cooper of Baseball America likes him over Bobby Witt Jr.

[DJ's left nut]

In an article about the Royals 2015 international signing class (where they got Matias) there was this little gem...

The Royals were hours away from a deal for Soto but could not secure the funds before he agreed to terms with Washington.

Yeah, that would be Juan Soto. Evidently they were also in the running on Vlad Jr. but were unwilling to match the $3.5 million he eventually signed for.

The Vlad thing happens but man - what does 'unable to secure the funds' even mean? The billionaire owner of a major league team need to call the bank and get his credit line extended or something? That's just odd...

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

In an article about the Royals 2015 international signing class (where they got Matias) there was this little gem...



Yeah, that would be Juan Soto. Evidently they were also in the running on Vlad Jr. but were unwilling to match the $3.5 million he eventually signed for.

The Vlad thing happens but man - what does 'unable to secure the funds' even mean? The billionaire owner of a major league team need to call the bank and get his credit line extended or something? That's just odd...

Soto and Vlad JR were literally 1 and 2 on the prospects list until Soto went up...that's crazy.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Soto and Vlad JR were literally 1 and 2 on the prospects list until Soto went up...that's crazy.

You sure?

Soto was in A ball to start the year and missed almost all of 2017. He was in the mid-20s in most pre-season lists and had been promoted off of them by the time the mid-season lists came out.

Acuna and Vlad were 1-2 on all pre-season lists with Freddie Tatis in 3rd on most of them, IIRC. Forrest Whitley was generally the top pitching prospect until his PED suspension.

I don't recall Soto being as much as a top 20 guy anywhere I looked.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

In an article about the Royals 2015 international signing class (where they got Matias) there was this little gem...



Yeah, that would be Juan Soto. Evidently they were also in the running on Vlad Jr. but were unwilling to match the $3.5 million he eventually signed for.

The Vlad thing happens but man - what does 'unable to secure the funds' even mean? The billionaire owner of a major league team need to call the bank and get his credit line extended or something? That's just odd...

My understanding is they would have had to go over 3.5 for Vladito due to his relationship with Toronto.

The Royals top 4 2015 prospects were Vladito, Soto, Acuna, and Matias.

Scouts were on point. Suspect they probably had less set aside for international signings that year than normal... and paying the tax for blowing it out.

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by OmahaChief

Can't find the stats now but there was some site that had some really interesting things about the "old for his class" deal. Higher chance at busting seemed to be the thought. If I remember right that was one knocks on Starling.

I saw Adley Rutschman play in Omaha this CWS and that guy can rake. He didn't wow me behind the plate but looks like a good prospect overall.

Rany wrote about it a while back


http://www.ranyontheroyals.com/2011/...f-age.html?m=1

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

You sure?

Soto was in A ball to start the year and missed almost all of 2017. He was in the mid-20s in most pre-season lists and had been promoted off of them by the time the mid-season lists came out.

Acuna and Vlad were 1-2 on all pre-season lists with Freddie Tatis in 3rd on most of them, IIRC. Forrest Whitley was generally the top pitching prospect until his PED suspension.

I don't recall Soto being as much as a top 20 guy anywhere I looked.

Ah ok, I just heard a baseball america guy in the radio and he implied that they were 1-2 until Soto went up.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

My understanding is they would have had to go over 3.5 for Vladito due to his relationship with Toronto.

The Royals top 4 2015 prospects were Vladito, Soto, Acuna, and Matias.

Scouts were on point. Suspect they probably had less set aside for international signings that year than normal... and paying the tax for blowing it out.

The article doesn't mention Acuna but says their top 4 that summer were Vlad, Soto, Matias and Jeison Guzman.