*** Official 2019 Kansas City Royals Repository ***

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Get the offseason thread out of here. It's on!

Opening day roster:

Catchers (2): Cam Gallagher, Martin Maldonado

Infielders (7): Hunter Dozier, Lucas Duda, Whit Merrifield, Adalberto Mondesi, Ryan O’Hearn, Chris Owings, Frank Schwindel

Outfielders (4): Alex Gordon, Terrance Gore, Billy Hamilton, Jorge Soler

Starting pitchers (3): Jakob Junis, Brad Keller, Jorge Lopez

Relief pitchers (9): Scott Barlow, Brad Boxberger, Jake Diekman, Chris Ellis, Tim Hill, Ian Kennedy, Kevin McCarthy, Wily Peralta, Kyle Zimmer

Injured list: Danny Duffy, Brian Flynn, Jesse Hahn, Salvador Perez

Suspended: Eric Skoglund

[duncan_idaho]

Here's my long-awaited (at least in my own mind) look at the Royals' rebuilding system. It still needs work - more depth and more position talent - but this is a far cry from writing up things that made me kind of want to cry. As usual, I've switched up my approach a bit this time, using a tiering system. Read on.

Tier 1: These are the guys who will make a lot of top 100 lists. Major improvement in this tier for KC from the past few seasons.

1. Bobby Witt, Jr. SS. Rookie – AZL. Top 50
Witt has the most upside of any player in the Royals’ system, and is the player who looks most likely to become truly elite prospect and eventually a superstar major leaguer. At his best, you’d see a guy who hits for a good average (.275+) with plus power (25+ HR) and speed (30+ SB) while playing elite defense. That’s a lineup anchor and perpetual all-star. His start at rookie ball has been fine, but nothing spectacular.

Click for 2-4

Spoiler!

2. Jackson Kowar, RH SP. AA Northwest Arkansas. Top 75
Kowar is a lanky righty with a plus mid-90s fastball, a plus-plus changeup, and a breaking ball that reports say have made big strides. He has handled the jump to AA more easily than his long-time teammate Brady Singer because of the swing and miss ability of the secondaries. Ultimate upside probably tops out as a solid #2/good #3 starter, but that’s a nice return.

3. Daniel Lynch, LH SP. A+ Wilmington*. Top 100
Lynch is working his way back from a forearm injury (apparently avoiding Tommy John surgery), but when healthy has some of the nastiest stuff in the system. Mid-90s fastball paired with a sharp, late-breaking slider, and a solid changeup. Like Kowar, could top out as a solid #2, good #3 starter. Might have a tick more upside than Kowar due to handedness and the wipeout breaking ball.

4. Brady Singer, RH SP. AA Northwest Arkansas. Top 100
Singer’s story is going to come down to what type of off-speed pitches he can bring together. His fastball is a plus pitch with great natural movement, and he is a bulldog on the mound who excels mentally. His breaking ball and changeup are both best as “third” pitches at the moment. One needs to take a step forward or he needs to find a new pitch to generate more swing and miss. Has been mostly good at AA, though he has been subjected to 2 beat-up starts (3.48 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 7.3 K/9 in 31 IP over 6 other starts). His floor and ceiling are similar - as a good 4/5 starter unless he finds a secondary that can be more of a weapon.

Tier 2: This is where the improvement in the system really starts to pop up. The Royals have a lot more players in this range than previously. Building up a log of guys in this range preps you for making big leaps forward.

5. Kris Bubic, LH SP. A+ Wilmington. Fringe 100 (100-200 range)
Bubic has great command and a dynamite changeup that he has ridden to dynamite results at A and A+. His deception and changeup have generated a ton of swings and misses. After a slow start in Wilmington, Bubic seems to have found a stride, with a sub 2 ERA and 40 Ks in his past 28 1/3 innings. The fastball velocity is probably too low to be a mid-rotation guy, but Bubic could end up as a Marco Gonzales-like back-end starter.

Click for 6-8

Spoiler!

6. Kyle Isbel, OF/2B. A+ Wilmington. Fringe 100 (100-200 range)
This is an aggressive ranking for Isbel, but I think the Royals found a real gem here. The offensive numbers he’s putting up in a nightmarish park and league for young hitters are eye-popping. David DeJesus comps have been thrown around, but Isbel has more defensive versatility and looks to have a touch more power. I can see a DeJesus-like profile, except with an extra grade of pop (50 vs. 40).

7. Khalil Lee, OF, AA Northwest Arkansas. Fringe 100 (100-200 range)
Lee is a potential 5-tool talent with the defense, speed, and on-base ability to be a solid starter at the major league level. He flashes 50 power at times and has more raw power than he has consistently translated to games. If he can find more of that in game action, Lee could be the type of all-around contributor prime Alex Gordon was (plus defender, .270/.360/.475 hitter, with 25+ SBs). If the power never shows up consistently, Lee’s profile might lack the power you’d want to see in a corner OF.

8. Jonathan Bowlan, RH SP. A+ Wilmington. Fringe 100 (100-200 range)
Bowlan has been hot at both A and A+. He’s a BIG pitcher (6-6, 260+) with a plus fastball, plus breaking ball, and solid changeup. He has overwhelmed most of his competition so far and probably needs to be moved on to the next challenge. With his pitch mix and polish, Bowlan’s upside is just a notch below Lynch and Kowar.

Tier 3+: This tier is for legit prospects who haven’t earned their way into top 100 consideration. All can be considered to be outside the top 200 or so prospects in baseball (though it doesn’t take much to move up).

9. Erick Pena, OF. TBD.
Pena’s placement is based entirely on his upside. He’s 16 and terribly far away from the majors, but guys who sign out of IFA for $2+ million dollars have star potential. If you look at the position player prospects in the Royals’ system and ask who is most likely to be a perennial all-star and lineup centerpiece, Pena probably ranks 2nd only to Witt.

Click for 10-25

Spoiler!

10. Brady McConnell, SS/CF.
Speaking of potential all-star players, McConnell definitely has the tools to be one. His early returns haven’t been mind-blowing, but they have been good. McConnell is so athletic and has so much upside, it’s easy to dream. In a system that doesn’t really have a CF prospect who projects to hit for much power at the major league level, I love the idea of moving McConnell to CF. He also might end up at 2B, though the concerns with his D at short are about his hands and consistency (which also would be problems at 2B). McConnell has the skills to be a similar player as Witt – a guy who hits for solid average (.275) with good pop (25+) and speed combos.

11. Evan Steele, LHP, Lexington. (Helium for 2020)
The Royals took Steele out of JUCO a few years ago, and he hasn’t pitched much. 2019 is his first consistent action on the mound for KC, and the early returns have been promising. Steele has just as much talent as Lynch or Kowar – at 6-5 with a plus fastball and potential plus breaking ball. He has been dominant at Lexington. He’ll be a top 10 guy in this system next year – even if no one currently in it graduates.

12. Gabe Cancel, 2B. AA Northwest Arkansas. 200+
Cancel is often overlooked in ranking Royals prospects, but the 2B is one of the league leaders in HR in the Texas League, which warrants watching. He might not stick at 2B long term, which would place a lot more pressure on his bat. If he can stick at 2B, Cancel could be kind of a Jon Schoop-lite player.

13. Jon Heasely, RH SP. A Lexington. 200+
The Okalahoma State product has been dominant at Lexington. He’s not gathering the same attention as his more advanced 2018 draftmates, but Heasely has been putting up impressive strikeout numbers. He’s a nice depth SP who might end up as more.

14. Zack Haake, RH SP. A Lexington. 200+
Like Heasly, Haake’s strikeout numbers at Lexington are impressive. He has better pure stuff than Heasely but is walking too many hitters. Haake is a good depth piece who may be best suited for the back end of the bullpen.

15. Yohanse Morel, RH SP. A Lexington. 200+ (Helium for 2020)
Morel was the big return in the trade of Kelvin Herrera last season. He has a lot of arm talent, a good slider, and is going to be fun to watch.
16. M.J. Melendez, C, A+ Wilmington. 200+
Melendez has had a disastrous campaign in Wilmington. His swing and miss issues have exploded onto him and are killing his production. He still has plus raw power and the skills to be a plus C, but Melendez HAS to make an adjustment to cut the K rate or he’s not going to remain in real prospect consideration.

Speculation: From pictures at the start of the season, it looked like Melendez put on a LOT of muscle mass in his upper body. Part of me wonders if he didn’t get too big and bulky and lose some of the flexibility in his core and arms needed to contact the baseball.

17. Nick Pratto, 1B, A+ Wilmington. 200+
Pratto, like Melendez, got off to an atrocious start to the season. Unlike Melendez, he seems to have adjusted and is continuing to have success with the adjustment. As a 1B, Pratto’s bat has to stick. If I were the Royals, I might repeat him at Wilmington next year to see if his second-half success can be sustained.

18. Carlos Hernandez, RH SP.
Hernandez is a big, physical righty who can hold his own against the best pitchers in the system on pure stuff. He has been hurt for much of 2019 and has struggled when healthy, but the big arm and plus pure stuff remain. Due to SP depth, Hernandez might end up in the pen.

19. Yefri del Rosario, RH SP, A Lexington. 200+
del Rosario was plucked from the FA ranks after the Braves got popped for cheating in Latin America, and has flashed solid potential at times. He has an advanced approach on the mound and could be a quality back-end rotation arm down the road.

20. Brewer Hicklen, CF, A+ Wilmington. 200+
Hicklen is one of those toolsy CF types the Royals just love, but his production at Wilmington this year might indicate he has a chance to be a solid major leaguer. Hicklen has the speed and glove to stick in CF and swipe 20+ bags in the show. He also has intriguing raw power. He’ll be worth watching at AA and beyond.

21. Seuly Matias, RF, A+ Wilmington. 200+
What a nightmare. Matias has been shelved for most of the season, and what he did before the season wasn’t good. The strikeout issues are hugely concerning. And injuries are now a concern, too, after they cut his 2018 short and look to be doing the same to 2019.

Matias’ raw power is still incredibly intriguing, but if his approach isn’t fixed soon, the highlight of his career is going to end up being hitting an opposite field HR in the 2018 futures game.

22. Michael Gigliotti, CF, A+ Wilmington. 200+
Gigs got off to a nice start at Lexington coming off 2018 ACL surgery, but he also has struggled with the bat at Wilmington. At his best, he’s the CF version of Nicky Lopez (though maybe with a touch more speed).

23. Austin Cox, LHP, A+ Wilmington. 200+
Cox is the least-heralded member of the 2-18 pitching group, but he has produced as well. I think he ends up as a lefty in the pen, where his stuff would play up a touch and he could be a 7th/8th inning weapon.

24. Wilmin Candelario, SS, Dominican RL. 200+
Candelario is a switch hitting SS with great tools who is putting up impressive offensive totals as a 17-year old in the Dominican rookie league. He has a rep as a strong defender, and his speed and power offer a bunch of potential. He’s worlds away from the major leagues right now, but the upside is exciting. Candelario has drawn some comps to Adalberto Mondesi in terms of physical ability… and they aren’t crazy.

25. Darryl Collins, OF, Arizona RL. 200+
Let’s round out my top 25 with another really young international signing. Collins is a Dutch signee who has crushed the ball in Arizona’s rookie league. He’s a good all-around athlete who is showing power and a good batting eye. Like Candelario, still a long ways off, but also someone who could POP UP in 2020.

Relievers Tier: These guys are legitimate prospects but are limited to relief upside.

Richard Lovelady, LHP.
Lovelady is in KC again. He should be the first of a few young relievers who can help rebuild the productivity of KC’s pen. Lovelady has a floor of solid middle-innings guy who is tough on same-side hitters. If he ramps up a bit against righties, he could be a real weapon in the pen.

Click for 2 more

Spoiler!

Tyler Zuber, RHP, A+ Wilmington.
Zuber was drafted as a reliever and has had success every step up the chain. Good breaking pitch makes him a potential back-end contributor.

Yunior Marte, RHP, AA Northwest Arkansas
Marte is a durable bullpen guy with some swing and miss ability. Could be a nice 7th inning guy as soon as 2020.

[siberian khatru]

Great stuff, Duncan. Thanks!

[Prison Bitch]

Who’s the homo in Ducans avi?

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Great stuff, Duncan. Thanks!

You’re welcome.

As a bonus, here are five guys from that list who are lesser known but worth paying extra attention to:

Evan Steele
Wilmin Candelario
Darryl Collins
Brady McConnell
Zack Haake

[Titty Meat]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Who’s the homo in Ducans avi?

Its him

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Who’s the homo in Ducans avi?

What do you mean? I got rid of the Alex Smith avatar ...

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

Its him

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

After 18+ years, I thought it was time for the avatar to match the username...

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

After 18+ years, I thought it was time for the avatar to match the username...

I have still never seen Dune, so I guess I'll have to see the Aquaman becomes Dune one.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I have still never seen Dune, so I guess I'll have to see the Aquaman becomes Dune one.

Heresy!

Sick the Fremen on him!

[Al Bundy]

Montgomery doing his part to help us in the draft position.

[Al Bundy]

Right-hander Trevor Bauer has been traded to the Cincinnati Reds, sources familiar with the deal tells ESPN. He will move as part of a three-team deal with the San Diego Padres, according to sources.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 31, 2019

[tk13]

Good luck with that. They literally sent him off to pitching purgatory. That place is a complete bandbox.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

After 18+ years, I thought it was time for the avatar to match the username...

[Al Bundy]

Taylor Trammell to Padres in the 3 team trade

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2019

Bauer goes to Reds

— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) July 31, 2019