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.

[stonedstooge]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

So apparently the "Reins are off" of Duffy........but then they talk about him being in the bullpen or maybe even AAA. WTF??


http://www.kansascity.com/2014/02/14...her-danny.html



If Duffy doesn’t win the job, his next step will be compelling. The Royals have yet to decide on a subsequent path, general manager Dayton Moore explained on Friday morning. Duffy could operate as a dynamic left-handed weapon in manager Ned Yost’s bullpen. The other choices to pair with southpaw Tim Collins are Francisley Bueno, Donnie Joseph and Everett Teaford. Duffy possesses a momentary appeal in this role.

Yet Moore reiterated how Duffy is critical to the Royals’ long-term planning, and his success as a starting pitcher is paramount. The organization visualizes Duffy, Ventura and fellow top prospect Kyle Zimmer all part of the rotation in 2015. So a stint in Class AAA Omaha might be more conducive to Duffy’s advancement. There is concern a bullpen stint may heighten his struggles with location.

Didn't they test him enough last fall? Let's see what he's got

[tk13]

If this thing is going to work at least two of those guys are probably going to have to make it. They just have to. It's why I'm not heartbroken over the Santana thing. It's hard to win that way... even big market teams have to develop starters. We haven't done it yet.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by tk13

If this thing is going to work at least two of those guys are probably going to have to make it. They just have to. It's why I'm not heartbroken over the Santana thing. It's hard to win that way... even big market teams have to develop starters. We haven't done it yet.

Absolutely.
Posted via Mobile Device

[Brianfo]

Originally Posted by tk13

If this thing is going to work at least two of those guys are probably going to have to make it. They just have to. It's why I'm not heartbroken over the Santana thing. It's hard to win that way... even big market teams have to develop starters. We haven't done it yet.

Uh this. X11tinty billion. Some of the kids have to produce. Have to. Otherwise, we had fun. Be back in 2020. Chit or get off the pot.

[Brianfo]

We are poised. Stars are lining or so I think. I have convinced{or brainwashed} my whole family. Gonna be a fun year. We have tickets to opening day at the K. See you there.

[MeatRock]

I will say this, If the Royals can resign Shields in the next off-season, I would love to see a rotation of Shields, Vargas, Duffy, Ventura and Zimmer. I think that rotation has great potential with cheap good pitching in the bottom half.

[Brianfo]

Originally Posted by MeatRock

I will say this, If the Royals can resign Shields in the next off-season, I would love to see a rotation of Shields, Vargas, Duffy, Ventura and Zimmer. I think that rotation has great potential with cheap good pitching in the bottom half.

Let shields walk. Too much coin. Throw kitchen sink at Hosmer and see what happens.

[MeatRock]

Originally Posted by Brianfo

Let shields walk. Too much coin. Throw kitchen sink at Hosmer and see what happens.

We have to see what Shields is looking for. That rotation could be sick in 2015 though as long as our pitchers develop and pan out.

[MeatRock]

Not to mention we have Manea waiting in the wings. Hope i spelled his name right.

[alnorth]

Its different from about 5-10 years ago.

Right now, even if the Royals shit the bed in 2014, we've got a metric ton of young players who can step up and keep hope alive in 2015-2016. Back in the 2000's, when you looked at our roster and our minor leagues, we were staring at a river of putrid suck, and trying to convince ourselves that the talent sewer might not be bad.

[duncan_idaho]

The Royals need:

One of Duffy, Zimmer and Ventura to be a star, ToR type of pitcher.
One of Duffy, Zimmer and Ventura to be at least a good No. 3 starter

One of Manaea/Almonte to be a good No. 3 starter.

Success in 2015-17 is going to depend in large part on how those things work out. You like having the depth, but TINSTAAPP is still in play.

I like that most of these guys are more advanced than there counterparts in 2011, but there still is the potential to get burned.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

So apparently the "Reins are off" of Duffy........but then they talk about him being in the bullpen or maybe even AAA. WTF??

AAA makes sense if he's not in the rotation when the club breaks camp. There is simply no question that the prep and training needed to be an effective starter is different from the skill set demanded from an effective bullpen arm.

Putting him in the pen would be the type of move for an all-in, win-now season.

Thus, the lack of certainty at this point is pretty understandable. We are in a win-now mode, yet we do need to see the big picture, too.

Tough call.

[TLO]

Shields/Vargas/Guthrie/Duffy/Ventura would be my 5 man rotation. I doubt it plays out that way though.

[DeezNutz]

Originally Posted by Big Smoke

Shields/Vargas/Guthrie/Duffy/Ventura would be my 5 man rotation. I doubt it plays out that way though.

That's mine, too.

Chen provides an excellent option for long relief out of the pen to cover some learning pains from the back end.

[BlackHelicopters]

It is time to see if Duffy and Ventura can handle it.