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.

[Kidd Lex]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Does Butler realize he's killing his career? Does he know he's in a contract year? If he sucks in 2014, he's going to cost himself probably 20m bucks. If not more. A .290-25-90 season would've (1) had his 12m option picked up and (2) likely have gotten him extended a few more years at that rate. Now? What's he going to get?


If he ends up .265-12-75 he is not going to return. He'll pocked the 1m buyout then what? Go sign with Seattle, for like $3m?

Thats not how it works in the MLB. A team will give him $8 mill a year gambling that he figures it out with the help of their instruction and coaching.

[Sure-Oz]

Butler hopefully will come around. Still the 2nd best DH last season.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Butler hopefully will come around. Still the 2nd best DH last season.

That's what is best for the team. Almost impossible to get where they want to go unless Butler is at least hitting to career average level.

[duncan_idaho]

Also:

Nice updates from Baseball pro today on prospects at Wilmington (ALmonte, Manaea, Dozier, Starling). Nothing on Mondesi...

Starling report is not flattering... puts a 30 grade (20-80 scale) on Bubba's hit tool. 40 would be MLB replacement level/average (.255ish).

Early reports are that's still a problem...

[Kidd Lex]

link duncan?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by The God Hypothesis

link duncan?

Must have Baseball Prospectus sub.

[KevB]

Good stuff on Twitter about a few Royals prospects:

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 14m
Nina rippin 98 with 89 CH with sink. CB is plus plus when he stays on it. #royals

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 30m
Nina toned it down to 93-95 with more control; arm-side life and plane; CB 78-80; hard snap and bite; 2 plane break. Potential to be ++

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 33m
#royals RHP Aroni Nina rippin 95-98 in his 2nd inning. Not much control/command.

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 39m
Nina throws front side through and has wicked fast arm. Creates downhill plane and arm-side life. Was only 90-92 first outing. #royals

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 41m
#royals RHP Aroni Nina 94-96 T98; arm-side life; CB 78-80; hard bite; 2 plane break. Potential plus pitch. Way different guy than I saw be4

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 45m
Still has tight spin and good bite at any velo. Effective pitch. #royals

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 46m
Like how Manaea will add and subtract to vary bite and depth of his SL. Will show a hard one at 84; big breaker at 80. Velo on SL up

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 49m
#royals Manaea sitting comfortably 90-92 range; hitting spots now. Getting swings and misses on FB, SL, CH. Going to CH for K pitch.

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 1h
#royals Mondesi stung one on a hop to Anderson; Anderson showed great hands to caress the ball and correctly field it. Threwout Mondesi 3.97

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 1h
I can't count how many times I've seen Dozier sting the ball just right at someone. Those will be hits eventually. Don't stat line scout.

CJ Wittmann ‏@CJWittJr 1h
#royals Manaea sitting 90-93; can reach back for more. Showing CT 89-91; SL 84; hard bite and tilt; sick move to 1B for pickoff.

[BWillie]

I tell you what, you guys must really do value managers more than I do. Always bitching about Ned this, Ned that, and that it's Ned's fault they are 4-7. I get it, Ned isn't very good. It's not even really a big deal, and he's certainly not the cause for the lack of production of guys that HAVE produced in previous seasons.

Baseball managers are the least important leadership position in all of sports. Baseball is the most individual game out of the major 5 sports (soccer, basketball, hockey, football, baseball). While team chemistry can account for a few wins here and there, it really isn't very important, just like the manager has very little effect on the grand scheme of things. You could make Duncan Idaho or even a reerun like PB the Detroit Tigers manager and they would barely skip a beat, would still win the Central.

[Sure-Oz]

I hate Ned and blame him like no other but these players are not producing and they are not getting much blame. Oh except the fat guy that is supposed to just hit and hit. This offense was constructed by GMDM...and Gordon, Butler, Hosmer are under producing so far and Moose is a complete bust at this point. Not a good sign of what is to come so far. Last years problems weren't the hitting coach, it's the ****ing hitters

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

I hate Ned and blame him like no other but these players are not producing and they are not getting much blame. Oh except the fat guy that is supposed to just hit and hit. This offense was constructed by GMDM...and Gordon, Butler, Hosmer are under producing so far and Moose is a complete bust at this point. Not a good sign of what is to come so far. Last years problems weren't the hitting coach, it's the ****ing hitters

My only problem is refusing to get rid of Moose. Moose ****ing blows. Go back 3 years ago. I said he sucked then, I'm saying he sucks now. He's a prime example of a guy that should be able to mash minor league pitching, but get totally exposed in the big leagues. I think the only reason he was such a high draft pick was because he was a shortstop in HS that had power. Because I don't get it. His swing and approach at the plate easily gets taken advantage of by big league pitching. Gio gets little at bats, but Moose gets 3-4 times as many and they still think he's going to be a staple to this team. I'm not saying Gio was the answer at 2b, but just the backwards ass thinking. Moose is a sunk cost, you need to get rid of him and put somebody of quality at 3b. Moose doesn't even look the part when he gets out, he just hits lazy fly balls. I've seen him hit like 4 line drives in my entire life I think.

[Al Bundy]

The @Pirates have hit back-to-back HRs 3 times tonight. @NeilWalker18 and @GabySanchez15 have done it twice: pic.twitter.com/shwlw8mqBU

— MLB (@MLB) April 15, 2014

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by BWillie

My only problem is refusing to get rid of Moose. Moose ****ing blows. Go back 3 years ago. I said he sucked then, I'm saying he sucks now. He's a prime example of a guy that should be able to mash minor league pitching, but get totally exposed in the big leagues. I think the only reason he was such a high draft pick was because he was a shortstop in HS that had power. Because I don't get it. His swing and approach at the plate easily gets taken advantage of by big league pitching. Gio gets little at bats, but Moose gets 3-4 times as many and they still think he's going to be a staple to this team. I'm not saying Gio was the answer at 2b, but just the backwards ass thinking. Moose is a sunk cost, you need to get rid of him and put somebody of quality at 3b. Moose doesn't even look the part when he gets out, he just hits lazy fly balls. I've seen him hit like 4 line drives in my entire life I think.

Moose is the Royals hottest hitter right now.

[lewdog]

I'm not reading all of this but if Butler doesn't get shit going by the first week of May, I'll stop defending him. If others start to figure it out and start hitting, and he doesn't, then clearly we might have to see what we could get for him (I'm not sure it's much). I think his track record of being a good contact hitter for average will come around. It's likely that his great 2012 season for power is definitely an outlier for what he is as a "slugger." He simply cannot drive the ball to that level.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

The @Pirates have hit back-to-back HRs 3 times tonight. @NeilWalker18 and @GabySanchez15 have done it twice: pic.twitter.com/shwlw8mqBU

— MLB (@MLB) April 15, 2014

Sigh...

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Big Smoke

Sigh...

HR's are for Big Market teams only..............

Small Markets bunt their way to the World Series..............