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.

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by Big Smoke

Is Gio ever going to do anything for this team?

Doubt it. He's had several chances already and blown all of them.

[alnorth]

A few minor league players have filed a class-action lawsuit against Major League Baseball, primarily complaining that, aside from the few who get large bonuses, they are getting paid a lot less than minimum wage.

They also complain about the draft and other MLB rules, but thats probably going to be covered by the antitrust exemption. They might have something on the pay, though. It doesn't matter if you sign a contract or not, you generally can not pay someone less than minimum wage even if they agree to it.

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by alnorth

A few minor league players have filed a class-action lawsuit against Major League Baseball, primarily complaining that, aside from the few who get large bonuses, they are getting paid a lot less than minimum wage.

They also complain about the draft and other MLB rules, but thats probably going to be covered by the antitrust exemption. They might have something on the pay, though. It doesn't matter if you sign a contract or not, you generally can not pay someone less than minimum wage even if they agree to it.

What a bunch of babies. They're getting paid to play a game they've loved since they were kids, whom any of us would gladly quit our jobs in a heart-beat for a chance to play pro baseball. Have a problem with the money? Get better!

[alnorth]

interestingly enough, aside from MLB, Selig, and the MLBPA, the Kansas City Royals are also a named defendant because one of the three players suing baseball is in our minor league system. The other two teams named are the Giants and Marlins.

edit: correction, he (Michael Liberto) used to be in our minor leagues. A current minor leaguer would never dare sue for obvious reasons.

[alnorth]

I did some rough math, 6 minor league teams in our system, probably about 150 players, I'm assuming we make them work about 60 hours a week for 7 months and about 20 for the other 5, and assuming we pay them roughly $6,000/year now...

I think we currently pay our minor leaguers about $1MM/year, and the cost to pay them minimum wage would be about $2.5MM/year. So there really isn't much at stake here.

If I was MLB, I'd just settle and make this bad PR nuisance go away. Just pay everyone 1 year of back wages, start paying $7.25 from now on, and move on.

[lewdog]

I'm heading up to the morning workout tomorrow.

Any chants/jabs I should yell at the guys? I'm thinking of asking Ned what it will be like to have a real second baseman this year and see what he says.

[stonedstooge]

Originally Posted by lewdog

I'm heading up to the morning workout tomorrow.

Any chants/jabs I should yell at the guys? I'm thinking of asking Ned what it will be like to have a real second baseman this year and see what he says.

Yell at Butler to run some extra laps

[alnorth]

Keep it good-natured. The 2B one is probably fine. I've never been a fan of heckling at a ballpark.

[C3HIEF3S]

Originally Posted by lewdog

I'm heading up to the morning workout tomorrow.

Any chants/jabs I should yell at the guys? I'm thinking of asking Ned what it will be like to have a real second baseman this year and see what he says.

Are you going to get any pictures like last year? Those were pretty awesome.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by stonedstooge

Yell at Butler to run some extra laps

Lol. Billy barely signed or took picture last year. I got one with him but he acted like it was a huge inconvenience....you know, me and the 10 other fans there.

Originally Posted by alnorth

Keep it good-natured. The 2B one is probably fine. I've never been a fan of heckling at a ballpark.

I agree. I'll ask Hoz if he knows if Dayton and Frenchy will be continuing a long distance relationship.

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

Are you going to get any pictures like last year? Those were pretty awesome.

Hopefully! Getting the wife to go with me tomorrow. Pictures and some balls/bat to get some autographs. I'm actually not sure they will be there but they were on Saturday last year so I'm hoping it's the same. They don't release the workout schedule so I'm just guessing.

[Demonpenz]

Hoz is young and cool still. Once you get to be a vet you become an asshole.

[mr. tegu]

I had no idea minor leaguers got paid basically nothing. When do they start making any money?

[MIAdragon]

Originally Posted by mr. tegu

I had no idea minor leaguers got paid basically nothing. When do they start making any money?

After their rookie contract is up in the bigs. Im sorry but I don't feel for these guys at all.

[mr. tegu]

Originally Posted by MIAdragon

After their rookie contract is up in the bigs. Im sorry but I don't feel for these guys at all.

Eric Hosmer's rookie contract wasn't for 6K a year. I'm talking about the guys making that amount and wondering if they get a raise for being promoted through the system without making the majors or if they just have to hope to be resigned for more.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by MIAdragon

After their rookie contract is up in the bigs. Im sorry but I don't feel for these guys at all.

Well, thats fine for them, but well over 90% never make it, and end up toiling away for years at less than 3 bucks an hour. Its not going to break the Royals or any other team to pay them minimum wage, I think they should just do it.