*** 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.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Bowser

So we could have had Francisco Lindor OR George Springer instead of Starling? Haha, wow.

I used to say that about Hoch. We could've had Kershaw (7), Lincecum (10), or Sherzer (11).


Then he dominated the 2015 playoffs, won the deciding Game 5 in NY, and I forgot it all.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

I used to say that about Hoch. We could've had Kershaw (7), Lincecum (10), or Sherzer (11).


Then he dominated the 2015 playoffs, won the deciding Game 5 in NY, and I forgot it all.

It's funny, because many of the major writers were saying the main choice was between Hochevar and Andrew Miller.

Both were considered massive busts in their career as starting pitchers.

Both reinvented themselves and dominated the bullpen.

[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.

[Jerok]

Hoskins vs Schwarber was pretty great, Hoskins hit 20 in the second round, and no one else had hit 20 yet, so I thought Schwarber was done. Schwarber had a slow start but then got hot and cranked out the 21st to win in his bonus 30 seconds.

Now it's Muncy (Dodgers) vs Bryce Harper. Let's see if the home town favorite can beat the dark horse of the competition.

[KChiefs1]

Harper will take this.

[tk13]

That was pretty entertaining.

[Canofbier]

Harper and his dad cheated big time when it came to pitch timing; such a shame when it honestly seems like he could have won without it.

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by Canofbier

Harper and his dad cheated big time when it came to pitch timing; such a shame when it honestly seems like he could have won without it.

I didn't watch it. How did they cheat?

[jd1020]

Originally Posted by Canofbier

Harper and his dad cheated big time when it came to pitch timing; such a shame when it honestly seems like he could have won without it.

Ya when he got on that 2nd run they were rapid fire pitching when the other ball wasn't even at its peak yet, let alone down.

I still think its stupid how the HRs reset for the finals.

[tk13]

Yeah Twitter is pretty mad about that. Maybe it's because people don't like Harper.

[jd1020]

He probably still wins, but he probably should have gone into the extra time needing 3 maybe 4 HRs instead of just 1.

He still ended up with 8 less HRs overall than Schwarber.

[Canofbier]

Originally Posted by Dartgod

I didn't watch it. How did they cheat?

Originally Posted by jd1020

Ya when he got on that 2nd run they were rapid fire pitching when the other ball wasn't even at its peak yet, let alone down.

I still think its stupid how the HRs reset for the finals.

Originally Posted by jd1020

He probably still wins, but he probably should have gone into the extra time needing 3 maybe 4 HRs instead of just 1.

He still ended up with 8 less HRs overall than Schwarber.

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.

[BWillie]

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.

Its the HR Derby. Who gives a shit

[SAUTO]

It was awesome. And looked like they were waiting for someone to tell them when they could pitch

[jd1020]

They should probably just get rid of that rule of the ball having to land, but I'm assuming they have it to protect the kids out on the field trying to catch the balls.