***Official 2022 Royals Season Repository Thread***

[ChiefsCountry]

For all things Royals in 2022. #3 minor league system according to Baseball America. The Bobby Witt era should begin this year. Will Salvy still be the homerun king? How does the glut of infield players work out? Will the young pitchers take the next step?

Free Agents/Trades Acquisitions
Zack Greinke, P
Amir Garrett, P
Taylor Clarke, P

Top 10 Prospects from Baseball America
1. Bobby Witt, SS
2. Asa Lacy, P
3. MJ Melendez, C
4. Nick Pratto, 1B
5. Jackson Kowar, P
6. Kyle Isabel, OF
7. Frank Mozzicato, P
8. Ben Kudrna, P
9. Jonathan Bowlan, P
10. Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B

Duncan's Top Royals Prospects

Spoiler!

1. Bobby Witt, Jr., SS. MLB.
This status lasts about another 4 weeks, but let’s take a moment to appreciate having the top guy in the minor league prospects lists for at least a little while longer. Witt has prodigious ability and the question is really just IF he can meet it. They have not had a prospect like this in my lifetime, and really probably ever. Combine insane raw physical skills (right there with Adalberto Mondesi and Willie Wilson in the ranks right behind Bo Jackson) with unbelievable work ethic, a humble-but-confident nature, and already having shown he can struggle and overcome to achieve big success, and you have the tools for a show-stopping centerpiece. Oh, and throw in the former-player’s kid aspect on it on top of things, and there is every reason to believe he’s going to succeed and succeed big.
2. M.J. Melendez, C, AAA Omaha.
I was early on putting him in this slot last year, and I don’t regret it. The power, the ability to be a good defender behind the dish as well as having the athletic ability to play 3B or LF, too, and you have a really valuable overall piece and FANTASTIC understudy for Salvador Perez.
3. Asa Lacy, LHP. AA Northwest Arkansas
Whoa, let’s get crazy again. Lacy has outstanding stuff. Top of the system. He got hurt and lost his command during COVID times, but appears to be back on track so far this spring. If his command sticks, this is a guy who can move quickly. And his ceiling is really second to nobody in the minor league pitching ranks.
4. Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B. AA Northwest Arkansas
Vinnie starts the season back at AA due to the guy who follows him on the list here. He just hits, folks. I love his combination of contact, loud contact, plate discipline, and lack of strikeouts. The Billy Butler comparisons are annoying (in that I will NEVER refer to this man as Italian Breakfast except in the instance that just occurred), but the Billy Butler comparisons are also fairly apt… if you made Butler a lefthanded hitter, AND improved his body/athleticism from a 20 to a 40, AND if you added that little extra touch of power we all wished Butler could consistently find.
5. Nick Pratto, 1B, AAA Omaha.
Hey, let’s stay at 1B. Pratto has flashy power and I love his batting eye AND his hand-eye coordination. The hair he’s been rocking this spring is also pretty sweet. I slot him just behind Pasquantino simply because I think his bat profile is more volatile. The glove and arm are sweet/plus for 1B, though.
6. Jonathan Bowlan, RHP, AAA Omaha
Bowlan is coming back from Tommy John surgery, and this ranking is assuming that recovering is successful. If it his, you’re talking about a big, consistent SP who throws hard enough and has enough of a repertoire to really make things happen. If the recovery goes well, he may be shuttling to the majors in July to reinforce the rotation.
7. Nick Loftin, CF, AA Omaha.
Loftin is a guy who has really grown on me. I saw him as a quasi super-utility guy when the Royals drafted him, The full-time shift to CF (which means they think he has the speed and the overall defensive ability to handle CF in Kansas City) adds a lot of value here. The ultimate positive offensive upside is similar to peak Whit Merrifield, maybe with a touch more early power.
8. Michael Massey, 2B, AA Northwest Arkansas.
Massey was an absolute revelation last year, hitting for power and average and keeping his K rate down while playing a really strong 2B. He has a very sweet, short lefthanded stroke. This is another aggressive rating, but Massey has proven himself through a tough minor league assignment already, and the arrow is pointed up.
9. Ben Kudrna, RHP, Rookie Ball
Kudrna is a big, physical specimen with a lot of upside and potential. The fastball and slider are already nearly MLB-level in terms of velocity and movement (command needs work). Kudrna is a guy who, with luck, and health, and good development, could ascend to the top of a rotation.
10. Frank Mozzicato, LHP, Rookie Ball.
Mozzicato has a curveball that suggests he has a feel for spin. If you want to dream, you hope that the next 2-3 years turn the 175 he weighed when drafted into a rock-solid 220/225 and carries with it an increase in fastball velocity from 90-91, sitting 87-88, to 96-97, sitting 93-94. You pair his ability to spin the ball (which also suggests he should be able to easily master a sweeper slider) with that type of fastball velo and a changeup he already has a feel for, and it’s an exciting profile.

He has a little more to go in terms of growing into that projectability than Kudrna, which is why he slots right behind him.
11. Alec Marsh, RHP, AA Northwest Arkansas
Marsh missed a lot of 2021 to injury, but the hard-throwing righthander is another guy who could move quickly once the minor league season starts. He’s undeniably got the stuff of a quality major-league pitcher. The question is if he can master enough command to cash it in. This guy is a great example of TINSTAAPP.
12. Angel Zerpa, LHP, AAA Omaha
Zerpa might quickly outperform this slot. His stuff ticked up in 21 and he ended the season making a start in the majors. He’s nice depth to have, and honestly, I’m a big fan of just throwing numbers at pitching. Zerpa definitely helps create the depth you need to generate a top-notch and reliable home-grown rotation.
13. Maikel Garcia, SS, AA Northwest Arkansas
Garcia is a really intriguing hitter, a righthanded hitter who has a nice combination of contact skills and control of the strike zone (this cousin of Alcides Escobar is less savvy with the glove and more savvy at the plate). The Royals protected him for a reason (he’s on the 40-man).
14. Carter Jensen, C, A ??
Jensen is a local product whose bat will probably push him off C (as well as the Royals depth at that spot throughout the organization). This is a future 1B profile, and a nice one. He makes a lot of loud contact and shows an ability to lift the ball. Should be fun to watch this year.
15. Ben Hernandez, RHP, A+ Quad Rivers
Hernandez missed a good part of 2021 but still has that butterfly changeup and a classic pitcher’s profile. He’ll need to find a reliable swing-and-miss secondary to make it in the bigs, but if not, the fastball velocity and changeup should make him a quality high-leverage reliver.
16. Dylan Coleman, RHP, AAA Omaha
Speaking of relievers, Coleman is a hard-throwing righthander who probably spends most of 22 in the Royals’ pen. ½ of the compensation for the Rosenthal trade a few years back, Coleman has a big fastball and nasty breaking ball.
17. Will Klein, RHP, AA Northwest Arkansas
Speaking of relivers, everything I just said about Coleman? Yeah, you can say it about Klein, too. Klein regularly toyed with hitters at high A last year, striking out 121 hitters in just 70 1/3 innings pitched. For those counting at home, that’s a 15.5 K/9 rate. Yep. That’ll play.
18. Anthony Veneziano, LHP, AA Northwest Arkansas
Here’s another big, power arm. Veneziano hasn’t been relegated to bullpen only yet, though. His fastball bumped into the high 90s last year on a starter’s workload. He’s still looking for a changeup, but if he doesn’t find it, you’re looking at a really promising future bullpen fireballer.
19. Erick Pena, OF, A ?
Pena did… not have a strong 2021 full season debut. His struggles look a lot like those of Pratto and Melendez in 2019. Pena has the same type of raw toolkit to work from as those two, with great hands and natural power. He needs to fix a hitch in his swing and calm it down, but so did Melendez. Of this second ten grouping, Pena has the highest upside and could jump right into the top 5 of the org ranks.
20. Darryl Collins, OF, A+
Collins is an international signing out of Europe. I like the hitting package here – good eye and contact skills. He needs to make more loud contact, but if he can, really a nice guy.

Overall takeaways:
This is a system with a lot of depth. We could go another 10-12 deep and still be talking about guys with a good shot to make the majors. The changes to the organization’s approach are bearing fruit, as even less-heralded draftees are stepping forward.

The combination of upside (Witt, Melendez, Lacy), depth, and guys you can dream on is fun. It may not produce quite as much as the 2011 group did, but it does offer a more sustainable system, less reliant on a few big-ticket guys.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I don't really understand why. Do you expect a guy like Witt to get better when he has to be on the dirt vs sometimes on the grass (new rules). Playing him at 3B takes the pressure off of him and that is where we need to find out if he can play or if he needs to be in the OF. We already know he can't play SS. Click the link and to the bottom. Dead last in SS defense...by alot.

https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.as...12-31&sort=8,d

I know you're on this "he can't do it" kick. But Witt has the physical abilities and a track record of success at the position. He is way, way more valuable if he hits his defensive upside at SS than playing 3B. The Royals are not reasonably expected to contend this year. So there's really no downside to playing Witt a full season at SS and seeing if last year was an accurate read (or somewhat of a product of playing for a moron whose defenses always have underachieved, while also bouncing between a few different positions and not being positioned optimally by said moron and his crew of anti-analytics morons).

And beyond all that? Defensive stats typically need a 2-3 year sample size to really be definitive.

Originally Posted by ROYC75

I can relate to a lot of this. The real kicker here is Mondi! We just don't know, the kid has MVP potential and just can not stay healthy. We seen some GREAT defensive plays at SS when he was healthy.

Say we start this ( your view ) way, Mondi goes down and we are off to a GREAT start? Now what? Lopez at 3B? Dozier at 3B, for the remainder of the season. We do not have a solid pipeline of 3B's men in the minors or on the major roster for long term. In a perfect world
I got nothing against Massey. I just want to see more of him to say, he is a MLB starter. As for Lopez, I understand your concerns, but I also say this, what's to keep him from becoming a better hitter with hard work and coaching. The same with any player at the Major level, hard work, dedication and coaching. The kids have talent or they would not be at the major level to start with. I know this for a fact, Nicky Lopez was arguably robbed of a GG in 21! The kid can play defense!

As for Taylor? He is a solid defensive player that at times comes through with some clutch hits. Sure we would love to have them on a more consistent level and FTR, as long as MT has been in MLB, he should be. But I just don't see him being more than a back up, at best now. I'm not opposed to moving away from him as long as his replacement is very good at defense.

The issue with Taylor is he's not good enough to be a long-term piece, and he's blocking guys the Royals need to "find out" about.

Re: Lopez, what's blocking him from being a better hitter is physical limitations. The guy doesn't hit the ball hard enough to offer much upside at all as a hitter.

Yes, he has talent. But what we have seen so far is that his talent suggests he's a UTIL type at best. That still puts him in the top 1/2 of a percent of baseball players in the world, but it's not enough to make up for his light bat.

Re: 3B, if Mondesi starts the year there and gets injured quickly, my backup plan is not Dozier (I would have DFAed Dozier already if running the show). It is Nate Eaton (who can play everywhere, has good defensive numbers and experience at 3B, and showed some promising offensive upside in Omaha last year.

And if they don't want to roll with Eaton, there's also Maikel Garcia. Who honestly might be the same player as Nicky Lopez (good glove, good speed, good plate discipline, not a lot of punch).

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by nychief

Great. That really gets my dick hard. .

[Vladimir_Kyrilytch]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I know you're on this "he can't do it" kick. But Witt has the physical abilities and a track record of success at the position. He is way, way more valuable if he hits his defensive upside at SS than playing 3B. The Royals are not reasonably expected to contend this year. So there's really no downside to playing Witt a full season at SS and seeing if last year was an accurate read (or somewhat of a product of playing for a moron whose defenses always have underachieved, while also bouncing between a few different positions and not being positioned optimally by said moron and his crew of anti-analytics morons).

And beyond all that? Defensive stats typically need a 2-3 year sample size to really be definitive.

Another thing about BWJ's defense: the defensive shift is now banned. There will be a renewed emphasis on athletic ability, arm strength, range, and just raw defensive skill compared to the past decade or more. Bobby Witt Jr. is the type of player that checks those boxes (not many with a bat do), so therefore, his defensive potential value only increases with the new rules.

I've never seen it so much as suggested anywhere but this here thread that they won't give him every opportunity at shortstop. Moving him off short would be like taking the top starting pitching prospect in baseball and making him the set-up guy.

[Boxer_Chief]

I’m on the Soren Petro bandwagon with moving Mondesi to center or right field. Not quite the quick reaction of short stop might save his hamstrings and our infield seems decent enough. Fool me once and all that but I’d love to see him play at least one near full season to see what he could do.

[tk13]

Royals remain interested in rotation help. Zack Greinke for one still on radar.

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 20, 2022

[duncan_idaho]

Lyles makes a lot more sense if they’re still bringing back Greinke, to me.

[WhawhaWhat]

Sherman bought the Royals for $1 billion.

The going rate for an NBA franchise is now $4 billion. Worth keeping in mind as MLB considers expanding to 32 teams. https://t.co/h2op9XJxzr

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 20, 2022

[tk13]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Lyles makes a lot more sense if they’re still bringing back Greinke, to me.

Totally agree with that. I know we make jokes about innings eaters but a 5 ERA guy at the back of your rotation is a difference from running guys out pitching like 7 or 8 ERA pitchers. If we don't add more arms we're banking that Bubic or Keller will definitely bounce back with a new pitching coach. That's the hope in a perfect world, but if they don't we're in deep trouble without more depth.

[myselff77]

Originally Posted by ChiefsFan63

I think as far as injuries go, Mondesi is much more suited to the outfield than anywhere in the infield. With his speed and arm I could see him being a + defender with a better chance of staying in the lineup. He has proven too injury prone to believe he is a viable infielder. It is time to make a change and see if he can be of any value elsewhere.

Mondesi is capable of getting injured anywhere. It doesn't matter if he's an infielder or outfielder. Just play him wherever for the 4 to 18 games he'll get in and call it good.

[myselff77]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants

I am hearing more and more of an argument that we are embracing the tank.

I hope not. I am ok with the team not making any major moves this year to see if anyone currently on the roster is any good, but intentionally tanking isn't as valuable with the new draft lottery in place not guaranteeing you the #1 pick.

[myselff77]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Michael Massey was recognized as the best defensive 2B in the minor leagues (not the Royals' system, all of them) in 2021. He's plenty good in the new defensive landscape.

Lopez has given the Royals more than 1500 PAs, and the numbers say he is a .630 OPS guy. He's a nice utility player to have, but not someone to run out as an everyday player at this point.

Mondesi at 3B, Witt at SS, Massey at 2B is a good alignment to start the year with. At least until Mondesi gets hurt.

Give Witt a full year at SS and do a true evaluation of his glove there. If he struggles again, move him to 3B and move on.

Michael A. Taylor also needs to go. Like, immediately.

So Bobby Witt Jr needs a full year at SS so we can see what he is as a player; however, when Lopez was finally given that opportunity, he showed he was a near gold glove defensive shortstop and put up his best offensive numbers. Why wasn't that enough to keep him there? I get that BWJ has a way higher ceiling, but if we want to win now, the team is best with BWJ at third and Lopez at SS. If we don't want to win now, I'd still say to start Lopez at SS, hope his offensive numbers are closer to what they were when he was an everyday shortstop, and then trade him for some lottery tickets the first opportunity you get when another team suffers an injury with their shortstop. At that point, you can put BWJ at short without the logjam.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Sherman bought the Royals for $1 billion.

The going rate for an NBA franchise is now $4 billion. Worth keeping in mind as MLB considers expanding to 32 teams. https://t.co/h2op9XJxzr

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 20, 2022

The suns are worth nearly 3B, royals worth 1.1

Sherman didn’t get any discount

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by myselff77

So Bobby Witt Jr needs a full year at SS so we can see what he is as a player; however, when Lopez was finally given that opportunity, he showed he was a near gold glove defensive shortstop and put up his best offensive numbers. Why wasn't that enough to keep him there? I get that BWJ has a way higher ceiling, but if we want to win now, the team is best with BWJ at third and Lopez at SS. If we don't want to win now, I'd still say to start Lopez at SS, hope his offensive numbers are closer to what they were when he was an everyday shortstop, and then trade him for some lottery tickets the first opportunity you get when another team suffers an injury with their shortstop. At that point, you can put BWJ at short without the logjam.

You're talking about a few magnitudes of difference in potential and upside here. At no point in Lopez's career was he even a top 100 prospect, let alone a consensus top 3 guy.

AND Lopez has received the equivalent of a full seasons worth of at-bats and some change over the course of the other 3 years he has played in the majors, and shown his offensive level is far below that outlier 2021 season.
Maybe the team is marginally better with Lopez getting every day at bats and playing good defense vs. Mondesi/Nate Eaton getting every day at bats. But that really doesn't matter right now.

[poolboy]

We need an offensive outfielder...I love our young uns but we need a little veteran punch out there
this is the first year I have officially given up on Doz

[ChiefsCountry]

If Olivaries and Mondi wouldn't be broke dicks that would be a nice offensive boost.