*** 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.

[MrGiggity]

Thanks for doing this. Been using this website to track our minor leaguers. Matias hit another homer tonight.

http://www.milb.com/scoreboard/index...e&ymd=20180406

[ChiefsCountry]

Pratto and Lee are 3 years away at the earliest I would assume.

[Titty Meat]

Tough pill to swallow but unlike the past few years they are doing the right thing. It's too bad DM had to sign guys like Jay, Duda, and Moose though. Totally pointless

[CaliforniaChief]

I would think that if those guys produce at all, their contracts make them easy deadline deals.

[BigCatDaddy]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaChief

I would think that if those guys produce at all, their contracts make them easy deadline deals.

For Jack Shit

[Canofbier]

Thanks for starting the new thread, duncan!

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Pratto and Lee are 3 years away at the earliest I would assume.

Yes. Probably the two highest upside position players outside of Seuly Matias.

They spent huge money on Matias and got put in the penalty box for signing LA players as a result. Would be cool if one of their big money international signings lived up to the hype

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Tough pill to swallow but unlike the past few years they are doing the right thing. It's too bad DM had to sign guys like Jay, Duda, and Moose though. Totally pointless

I’ll never have a problem with them going for it before 2016 (and no one should, ever. You don’t dismantle a WS winner two years before you have to) or before 2017. After so many decades of having no chance to win, it was RIGHT for them to try to maximize that group of players and go for it.

Considering the garbage returns available for position players in 2017 at the deadline, there’s also no problem with keeping guys (not to mention the fact they were in the driver’s seat for a playoff spot at that point).

Jay, Moustakas, and Duda are no-risk propositions. Short deals that don’t block anyone this year who deserves a shot and major Pt.

Even though none is likely to bring a major return at the deadline (though needs could be different and shift that market this year, who knows?) it’s also not a bad thing to have some trade capitol.

The Braves, particularly, if they stay in it could be a good match for Moustakas. They have a deep farm system and could move an interesting pitching prospect for him if they decide to go for it. Their 3B stud prospect, Austin Riley, probably isn’t ready to help this year, but an upgrade at that spot could help them a ton if they’re trying to make a push in 2018.

[duncan_idaho]

I’ll say this, too:

The Royals farm system ranking currently is not great, but I got excited looking at Lexington and Wilmington and imagining how those could take shape on the major league roster down the road.

Lee, Matias, Emmanuel Rivera, Gigliotti, Lopez (though he’s at AA), Pratto, Melendez, ever Gasparini offer an intriguing blend of ceiling and floor. Samir Duenez is also at AA, but I have a feeling he’s going to have a big season with the bat.

[ChiTown]

As always, a BIG thank you to Duncan for originating these threads. You’re the best, Dude!

[TLO]

[dallaschiefsfan]

Not sure if it made it into the other thread before this one was made, but Royals re-signed Zimmer to a minor league deal.

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Tough pill to swallow but unlike the past few years they are doing the right thing. It's too bad DM had to sign guys like Jay, Duda, and Moose though. Totally pointless

For someone who hates baseball, you sure post a lot here.

[cmh6476]

So maybe better than the Tigers but worse than the Indians and twins?

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I’ll say this, too:

The Royals farm system ranking currently is not great, but I got excited looking at Lexington and Wilmington and imagining how those could take shape on the major league roster down the road.

Lee, Matias, Emmanuel Rivera, Gigliotti, Lopez (though he’s at AA), Pratto, Melendez, ever Gasparini offer an intriguing blend of ceiling and floor. Samir Duenez is also at AA, but I have a feeling he’s going to have a big season with the bat.

Keep them all together & bring all up at the same time so they have chemistry.