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 Three7s

I'm not high on any Royals minor league pitchers until they prove they can stay healthy.

Yordano Ventura has never had an injury problem despite having aggressive innings increases every year of his career (knocks on wood).

He also has succeeded at higher levels than any Royals pitching prospect since Zack Greinke.

[lewdog]

Got to see the boys in blue today! Spectacular day and great to have a chance to meet all of them.

Wife went with me yesterday when they weren't there. Today she said she didn't feel like going again so I didn't get any shots of me with the guys but I did get some action shots and some autographs. Large following of Japanese reporters and photographers for Aoki. Seriously, like 10 photographers just for him and maybe 4 general photographers for everything else and he easily signed the most autographs for people.


Infield Practice






Followed the starting infield over to watch BP. Hoz and Moose here.






Moose, Brett, Esky and Infante watching Hoz take BP







Now I know some of you think it's reeruned that adults collect autographs but I find it fun and enjoyable. I like to display them in my man cave and I like the interaction with the players. I'm not up there pushing and shoving, I let all kids go first and I'm ok with a player telling me no. The players are extremely accessible the weekend before games start so I took some balls and a bat today. I also wore my Moustakas jersey, as it is the only jersey I own (yes, I'm the Moose curse).

I know watching Moose has be frustrating but there isn't a nicer guy out there. During the end of the workout he was near the outfield wall and if a ball came near him, he'd look through the outfield wall hole, see if any kids were out there and tell them to come up to the fence. He'd then drop the ball to them. I was near the back outfield line where there is a gate opening for golf carts and what not to enter the field. Moose sees me over there and yells, "hey man, want a ball?!" I said yes and he chucked it over to me. Players wrap up around noon and Hoz is the first to leave the gate and I'm the only one there. I ask if he'll sign a bat and he says yes. He also says, "that's a weak jersey man," with a laugh looking back at Moose. I then ask Moose if he'll sign the ball he gave me and he says of course. He starts his signature on the wrong side of the ball and I say jokingly, "Come on man, you've gotta sign the sweetspot." He laughs and asks if it's ok if he switches to the sweetspot even though he's already made a line on the ball and I say ok. After he signs that he asks if I have any other balls and he'd sign another one to get it right this time. So I pull out a new ball I have and he signs it. I make the comment that I don't get these autographs to sell them like many do but that I actually keep all of them. He jokes, well if you can sell this ball for more that $1-5 bucks on ebay, I say take it!

Hoz and Moose are so easy going and really are great with fans. I also got Billy and Gordon to sign a ball. Gordon doing all his signing while walking and not saying a word. Billy thanked me for wishing me good luck.

Alex Gordon- He doesn't always sign the number so that was nice.


Billy Butler


Moose-Used and New


Hosmer Bat



It really is pretty neat to be able to see these guys up close. The pitchers always have less access as many of their workouts are done in the morning when things aren't open to the public and they seem to stay on the two fields that are roped off so they head straight to the locker room without having to go by the fans. It was only BP but Moose was crushing balls over the fence more than anyone. His bat speed looked improved but who knows how it'll fare against a curve ball.

It really is something special to see these guys in a relaxed atmosphere and very up close. I recommend any of you to hit me up if you come to the Phoenix area this time of year.

[dmahurin]

Those are awesome pics Lew. Makes me jealous.

[stonedstooge]

Nothing like some lewdog pictures and prose to get the Spring Fever boiling. Thanks man!

[BlackHelicopters]

So jealous . Thanks Lew. Keep the pics coming.

[PHOG]

Thank you, Mr. lewdog, for pics and insight

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by dmahurin

Those are awesome pics Lew. Makes me jealous.

Originally Posted by stonedstooge

Nothing like some lewdog pictures and prose to get the Spring Fever boiling. Thanks man!

Originally Posted by theelusiveeightrop

So jealous . Thanks Lew. Keep the pics coming.

Originally Posted by PHOG

Thank you, Mr. lewdog, for pics and insight

You're all welcome. I met some people who took a trip just for this and a chance to meet the players up close.

Sadly, this was probably the only workout I can get to and I might only get to a handful of games since they play most of them mid-day.

[C3HIEF3S]

Awesome pictures Lew! Sounds like you had a great time out there. Those autographs are too cool.

[alnorth]

Agents for three free agents, including Santana, are now threatening to hold out until after the draft in June if they do not get an acceptable offer. They figure at that point once draft pick compensation drops off, some teams may be desperate to pay good full-season money for just 2/3 of a season once playoffs are on the line.

[chefsos]

Originally Posted by alnorth

Agents for three free agents, including Santana, are now threatening to hold out until after the draft in June if they do not get an acceptable offer. They figure at that point once draft pick compensation drops off, some teams may be desperate to pay good full-season money for just 2/3 of a season once playoffs are on the line.

...and if the agents misjudge this scenario as well, what happens? I just can't wait for the collusion accusations.

[Three7s]

Originally Posted by chefsos

...and if the agents misjudge this scenario as well, what happens? I just can't wait for the collusion accusations.

Off with their heads, I'd imagine.

[Bowser]

Pitching for the Royals for one year and only making 14.1 million dollars is interpreted as an insult by Santana's agent. Got it. What Bean Stingfellow doesn't seem to understand about his client is his history in the majors. He also doesn't seem to understand that if Santana signs and plays with us the entire year and ends up looking much like he did in 2013 that they will essentially be able to make their own contract and have somebody pay it.

I'm not sure who the bigger dumbass in this equation is, Santana or the agent.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Pitching for the Royals for one year and only making 14.1 million dollars is interpreted as an insult by Santana's agent. Got it. What Bean Stingfellow doesn't seem to understand about his client is his history in the majors. He also doesn't seem to understand that if Santana signs and plays with us the entire year and ends up looking much like he did in 2013 that they will essentially be able to make their own contract and have somebody pay it.

I'm not sure who the bigger dumbass in this equation is, Santana or the agent.

It's clearly the agent.

He pays that guy to make decisions for him about contract and etc. It's like trusting your lawyer to defend you in court.

I don't think Stringfellow is really insulted by the QO, right? I think it's all the 2- and 3-year deals that have been offered that seem to be the issue.

[alnorth]

Originally Posted by Bowser

Pitching for the Royals for one year and only making 14.1 million dollars is interpreted as an insult by Santana's agent. Got it. What Bean Stingfellow doesn't seem to understand about his client is his history in the majors. He also doesn't seem to understand that if Santana signs and plays with us the entire year and ends up looking much like he did in 2013 that they will essentially be able to make their own contract and have somebody pay it.

I'm not sure who the bigger dumbass in this equation is, Santana or the agent.

If they had to do it all over again, they obviously would have taken the QO. We shouldn't get into revisionist history here, this *IS* a very big surprise. Perhaps the agents who are the real experts in this should know more than we do, but at the time everybody thought that he'd get a long-term deal for way more than we could afford, if not the 9-digit number they initially asked for.

[blake5676]

Originally Posted by alnorth

If they had to do it all over again, they obviously would have taken the QO. We shouldn't get into revisionist history here, this *IS* a very big surprise. Perhaps the agents who are the real experts in this should know more than we do, but at the time everybody thought that he'd get a long-term deal for way more than we could afford, if not the 9-digit number they initially asked for.

I'm not so sure they would've taken the QO if a do-over was possible, but I'd imagine some of the teams with interest had thrown out numbers similar to the Garza and Nolasco deals earlier in winter and they were told no. Which they would most definitely play ball with now if a second chance presented itself.