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.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

That's our Vegas number? I'm surprised it's that high. I was guessing 80 or so. Of course, that's the number of wins I'm predicting so I'm probably seeing it through my eyes. 82.5 seems high.

They opened at 79.5 in Vegas.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Chen - I'm amazed at how much blood we have squeezed from that turnip.

You got that right, this guy has been incredibly solid for this team for years now.

Can't help but love this guy. I hope he sticks with the Royals after his playing days (as a coach in the organization somehow).

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

I'll be working from home tomorrow afternoon

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by ChiTown

Chen - I'm amazed at how much blood we have squeezed from that turnip.

Bob McClure's greatest legacy in KC.

I still am confident Chen is replaced in the rotation by June/July, but even if he isn't ... still a major upgrade from Davis and Mendoza.

[dallaschiefsfan]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

The hope is that although the pitching might be overall weaker, they will get better run support because the lineup is better.

I think his point is that overall, our pitching is actually stronger. And I agree with him. There's a point when "anti-homerism" starts to cloud our judgment the other direction. As long as Chen only starts half the year and either Duffy or Zimmer supplement at some point, I think we're going to enjoy the results of this year's pitching staff. Next year, bring on Manaea....

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

They opened at 79.5 in Vegas.

That did not last very long. Its now at 82 in Vegas, and 82.5 on Bovada

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by dallaschiefsfan

I think his point is that overall, our pitching is actually stronger. And I agree with him. There's a point when "anti-homerism" starts to cloud our judgment the other direction. As long as Chen only starts half the year and either Duffy or Zimmer supplement at some point, I think we're going to enjoy the results of this year's pitching staff. Next year, bring on Manaea....

If the Royals make the playoffs even once, and for sure if they make it without Shields, that will probably counter decades of losing and we'll snap out of it to be the typical, delusionally-optimistic fan base.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

They opened at 79.5 in Vegas.

That's more sensible. If it really rose to 82.5, I guess I would find that surprising. What are the division predictions? I'd imagine:

Detroit 88
Cleveland 84
KC 80
White Sux 78
Minny 75?

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

That's more sensible. If it really rose to 82.5, I guess I would find that surprising. What are the division predictions? I'd imagine:

Detroit 88
Cleveland 84
KC 80
White Sux 78
Minny 75?

Team - Current - Opened
Det - 89.5 - 89.5
KC - 82.5 - 79.5
Cle - 80.5 - 80
Chi - 75.5 - 77
Min - 70.5 - 71.5

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Team - Current - Opened
Det - 89.5 - 89.5
KC - 82.5 - 79.5
Cle - 80.5 - 80
Chi - 75.5 - 77
Min - 70.5 - 71.5

I'm surprised Cleveland is so low... I expect them to be pretty damned good this year... I'd put them closer to 84 I think. KC has obviously been part of the betting strategy this year.

[Strongside]

I think Cleveland is going to underperform. They had a great year last year and exceeded expectations...I just don't see them repeating that this year.

[dallaschiefsfan]

Cleveland had an unbelievably great year and will be hard-pressed to repeat. Their record against cellar dwellers was ridiculous. Their 1 run victories was also high. But Francona DOES seem to make brownies out of horse$hit

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by dallaschiefsfan

I think his point is that overall, our pitching is actually stronger. And I agree with him. There's a point when "anti-homerism" starts to cloud our judgment the other direction. As long as Chen only starts half the year and either Duffy or Zimmer supplement at some point, I think we're going to enjoy the results of this year's pitching staff. Next year, bring on Manaea....

That's exactly my point.

The Royals are PROBABLY not as effective in the No. 2 spot in the rotation as in 2013. But they should be the same, basically, at the top, and better at 4 and 5.

There's also the potential to be MUCH better at the No. 3 spot than a year ago.

Bullpen likely takes a small step back but is still an elite unit.

[BlackHelicopters]

Tito is a good manager. Cleveland will be a contender for the division crown.

[C3HIEF3S]

Here are some pictures of the MLB's new replay center for reviewed plays.