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.

[MrGiggity]

Originally Posted by Brainiac

No they didn't. Gonzales was a true pro who always gave 100% effort on the field. Greinke didn't.

That's the difference.

Gonzalez also did a lot for the community. Grienke just ****ed his hot wife.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by MrGiggity

Grienke just ****ed his hot wife.

Nothing wrong with that. I cheered for Greinke last night at the game and will always keep cheering for him. His Cy Young year was some of the best times I've ever had at Kauffman.

I more question players that actually wanted to stay here to keep being losers vs Greinke that wanted to leave to go be a winner somewhere else.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Yeah, not many will agree, but a forward thinking GM would attempt to extend Hosmer right now.

That, is, horrible.


I wouldn't give the faux-hawk a spot in MLB right now. He'd be down in AAA so fast his slicked back head would spin.

[Kidd Lex]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

That, is, horrible.


I wouldn't give the faux-hawk a spot in MLB right now. He'd be down in AAA so fast his slicked back head would spin.

How horrible depends on price and structure of the deal. There are ways to make it work. The bigger question is do you believe he can be coached up to be at least an average mlb first basemen?

If so we may be able to get him on a relative bargain. No risk/no reward.

What's Kila ka'aihue doing these days?

[WhawhaWhat]

Over the past month Hosmer is hitting .195 with an OPS of .519. Moustakas got back to the bigs on June 1 from his 10 day Omaha vacation and he's hitting .214 with an OPS of .705.

[Mr. Arrowhead]

Making my first trip to the K this year as my Wife has been bugging to go cuz she is for some weird reason a Dodgers fan. I am excited to see Duffy vs Kershaw tonight

[Lex Luthor]

Originally Posted by The God Hypothesis

How horrible depends on price and structure of the deal. There are ways to make it work. The bigger question is do you believe he can be coached up to be at least an average mlb first basemen?

If so we may be able to get him on a relative bargain. No risk/no reward.

What's Kila ka'aihue doing these days?

You are apparently not aware that Hosmer's agent is Scott Boras. His contract will NOT be a bargain. It would be a franchise killer.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

Yeah, not many will agree, but a forward thinking GM would attempt to extend Hosmer right now.

I'd agree, assuming that he would sign a contract commensurate with his production (or lack thereof) - which I HIGHLY doubt. Therefore, the R's will most likely have to overpay for his potential. That is only a great idea if you believe he can actually produce at this sort of level on a go forward basis:
.290, .340, .475, 25HR's, 90 RBI - I think he can attain the first two, and highly doubt he will touch the last 3 very often, if at all.

IMO, I think he's going to be looking for a Nick Swisher type contract 4/$56MM (which the Indians were COMPLETELY raped). I would be good with an Edwin Encarnacion deal which is akin to maybe a 4/$36MM deal - but I would guess he'd pass on that.

[teedubya]

Originally Posted by MrGiggity

Gonzalez also did a lot for the community. Grienke just ****ed his hot wife.

Grienke also ate Chipotle.

[Demonpenz]

I have never seen a player sign an article of clothing during a game, but for some reason Grienke was out of the bullpen and out dugout and my mom...just sees a royals uniform asks him to sign the t-shirt for t-shirt tuesday. He gladly did it. My dad and I were freaked out how awesome that was.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

That, is, horrible.


I wouldn't give the faux-hawk a spot in MLB right now. He'd be down in AAA so fast his slicked back head would spin.

Come on man! You think MLB first basemen that hit 240 with minimal power grow on trees? Give him 200 mil!

[Archie F. Swin]

Before I went on vaca last week, I heard some chatter about the Royals scouting a pitcher with a funky last name. Can someone help with an update?

[gblowfish]

Right now Eric Hosmer = Ryan Shealy

[BWillie]

I don't know what Hosmer's deal is right now. He looks lost at the plate. He must be some crazy streaky hitter, and for long periods of time too. Which, wouldn't be surprising based on his swing. Hands high, lots of motion and hip movement, would require your timing to be perfect.

I say we package Moustakas & Hosmer in a trade package for Willie Bloomquist, or whoever has the rights to Chris Getz.

[OmahaChief]

Originally Posted by Archie F. Swin

Before I went on vaca last week, I heard some chatter about the Royals scouting a pitcher with a funky last name. Can someone help with an update?

jeff samardzija the Cubs ace. I don't think we have the prospects to pull him unless we gave up Ventura in the deal.