***Official 2023 Royals Season Repository Thread***

[ChiefsCountry]

2023 – A new beginning for the Royals. Matt Quatraro era begins. A year to see which of our young players will make up the core going forward. Can Bobby Witt Jr become a superstar SS or will go to the hot corner? Will Brady Singer take the next step forward? Will Salvy be Salvy? Will Big Vin or Pratto take first base? Will they find a position for MJ? Who else emerges from the youth movement? Not to mention the development of the new downtown stadium.

Free Agents/Trades Acquisitions
Jordan Lyles, RHP
Ryan Yarbrough, LHP
Josh Taylor, LHP
Aroldis Chapman, LHP

Top 10 Prospects from Baseball America
1. Gavin Cross, OF
2. Cayden Wallace, 3B
3. Drew Waters, OF
4. Ben Kudrna, RHP
5. Frank Mozzicato, LHP
6. Maikel Garcia, SS
7. Tyler Gentry, OF
8. Nick Loftin, OF/3B
9. Angel Zerpa, LHP
10. Carter Jensen, C

[BWillie]

Gonna be out at the ballpark in my Bobby Witt Jr KCConnect jersey. First game in two years

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Bobby sucks /Meccs

Sucks is extreme... I'm just not sure he's a franchise level superstar. No shame there, it's just this team has a long history of turning prospects that were supposed to be superstars into just good players.

[poolboy]

franchise level superstar? he is def trending that way and he is only 23
What more could you ask for?

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by poolboy

franchise level superstar? he is def trending that way and he is only 23
What more could you ask for?

Even if he's a 30/30 guy his OBP mixed with his high K to walk ratio will always make him inconsistent.

He'll likely swing wildly from 240-280 in BA because of strike zone judgement.

That's a valuable player, it's not a superstar though.

[poolboy]

I guess you think he has peaked at 23? I believe he is only getting started...You can see it game by game...better plate discipline and confidence...He is the MVP for the royals this season

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by poolboy

I guess you think he has peaked at 23? I believe he is only getting started...You can see it game by game...better plate discipline and confidence...He is the MVP for the royals this season

Not saying it isn't fixable but usually strike zone management is what it is. Guys who walk and know the zone usually show that right away..like Vinnie and even Carter Jensen now in A ball.

It can be improved but it's a ton of work and simetoit just doesn't happen.

Personally I think he should go to center, playing an easier D position could help his offense.

[poolboy]

I get it but Bobby is not up there to walk with this lineup...He is there to produce...and he has been doing it
He is our best player by far this season

[ChiefsCountry]

Witt's 5th overall at shortstop for defense WAR on Fangraphs......

[WhawhaWhat]

I figured sending Salvy first to home on that Melendez double was going to be tough for such a big guy.

Salvador Perez has a left hamstring strain, and he's undergoing further tests to determine the grade (severity). More will be known tomorrow. #Royals

— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) July 16, 2023

[CasselGotPeedOn]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Witt's 5th overall at shortstop for defense WAR on Fangraphs......

LeTs MoVe HiM tO cEnTeR fIeLd

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by CasselGotPeedOn

LeTs MoVe HiM tO cEnTeR fIeLd

If Garcia is good, they probably should. Yes. He is the best defender on the team at that position. We've seen it countless times when a player is moved to outfield their offense gets a boost. I dont quite understand why but we've seen enough of a track record that its significant.

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by Mecca

Sucks is extreme... I'm just not sure he's a franchise level superstar. No shame there, it's just this team has a long history of turning prospects that were supposed to be superstars into just good players.

He might not be a Juan Soto, but he's a top 5 SS in the game as a 23 year old (just turned 23 too) and has only been in the majors for a year and a half. He's been on a tear for awhile now and is looking like that superstar he can be.

Over the last 7 games he's hitting .357 with a 1.329 OPS
Over his last 15 games he's hitting .345 with a 1.065 OPS
Over his last 30 games he's hitting .316 with a .951 OPS

He's gotten his OPS on the year to .764 and if he's a .800+ OPS guy with top 5 SS defense, then he is that superstar.

He's got a shot at 30 2Bs, 10 3Bs, 30 HRs, 50 SB. 30 HRs and 50 SBs has literally only been done 2 times in the history of the league. Before today he was on pace for 26 HRs/28 2Bs/9 3Bs/48 SBs. That's superstar level.

30/30/10/50 has never been done. 30/30/50 has been done once by Barry Bonds.

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by BWillie

If Garcia is good, they probably should. Yes. He is the best defender on the team at that position. We've seen it countless times when a player is moved to outfield their offense gets a boost. I dont quite understand why but we've seen enough of a track record that its significant.

There is no chance that BWJ is taken off SS. If he would have had a repeat of last year, then yeah maybe. Now that he's playing damn good D, then no.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by CasselGotPeedOn

LeTs MoVe HiM tO cEnTeR fIeLd

It has nothing to do with thinking he sucks at it. Garcia is an above MLB average SS its about getting the best team out there.

[CasselGotPeedOn]

If Witt gets moved to center, I'll buy everyone here a fish dinner from LJS.