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.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by C3HIEF3S

I hope Duffy is ready to take over in the rotation for some starts this year when needed. I doubt Chen can go a whole year in the rotation.

If he's not, it's possible Zimmer is ready..

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Triple-digit heat

Hammer, two-plane 11-7 curve that he was spotting at willing (could throw it for strikes or to get a chase on 0-2).

Changeup looked good (good separation from heater and some fade).

Oh, and extremely pitch efficient.

Thanks.

I'm getting pumped.

[Shogun]

@JoshVernier · 29s

#Royals Shields on Ventura "Competitor...Electric stuff...He's definitely well on his way...Hard worker & it definitely shows out there."

[C3HIEF3S]

Ventura to start 3rd game in Detroit

[noa]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

If he's not, it's possible Zimmer is ready..

Going with Ventura to start the season is exciting, and I really don't even care about losing Santana at this point. We got a suitable replacement in Vargas, we have a good player to plug in for Chen if need be (Duffy), and we have Zimmer hopefully ready to go in the summer. I hate to be giddy about a team saving money, but here, it really seems like the Royals didn't need to spend that money on Santana considering our options. Fun times.

[duncan_idaho]

I just rewound and watchd Moustakas's swing in his second at-bat 3x.

His swing is noticeably shorter, and he's not hiding from who he is (a strong guy with great pull power).

[Shogun]

@McCulloughStar · 1m

Ron Washington on Yordano Ventura: "Where did they find that guy?"

[Discuss Thrower]

Originally Posted by Shogun

@McCulloughStar · 1m

Ron Washington on Yordano Ventura: "Where did they find that guy?"

Under a fine ass pile of Colombian sugar.

Quitters never win, bitch.

[penbrook]

#Royals Chen continued guilt tripping us for our translating need. He faked a call w/ wife concerning sick kids. "Ventura's more important!"

[Shogun]

@JoshVernier · 1m

#Royals Ned told Ventura he's in, but don't say anything. Kid's a pro. Prior to Ned's announcement, I asked Yordano: "It's not my decision."

[Strongside]

This was my first chance to see Ventura this year...all I can say is, "wow."

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

The only talk about trading him was during the 2012 season ... it stopped last year as I recall.

When he was a 5-10, 150 pound SP in A ball, he should not have been an untouchable. TINSTAAPP

Don't remember exactly why but I thought his name was thrown around here some last year since "the Royals pitching prospects never pan out" or "he projects out to a reliever with that build". I may have my years mixed up though. Regardless good on DM for hanging in to him.

Now that I think about it I think his name was floated when talking about kendricks.

[SPchief]

Originally Posted by Strongside

This was my first chance to see Ventura this year...all I can say is, "wow."

My 2nd favorite memory of last year was him walking off the mound in his debut. The K was absolutely rocking. I'm so ready for the season to start.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Pablo

Damn. That's great news.

Was funny watching Andrus shake his head going back to the dugout as if to say "damn... so its gonna be like that tonight, eh?"

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Don't remember exactly why but I thought his name was thrown around here some last year since "the Royals pitching prospects never pan out" or "he projects out to a reliever with that build". I may have my years mixed up though.

There was understandably some fatigue on Royals pitching prospects at this point last year. Then Ventura went out, dominated at AA and performed very well at AAA, especially for his age.

Ventura's success at AAA came about the time the light clicked on for Kyle Zimmer and he went on a tear at A+ and AA.

Each has succeeded at a higher level/more impressive level than any of the Royals top 5 guys in 2011.