***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.

[myselff77]

Well I guess it makes sense why Ryan O”Hearn kept getting playing time in right field. Royals knew he would be needed for a three game series.

[Sure-Oz]

Whit can **** off. Dude is a selfish dick with those comments. I hope he's traded. I think alot of people would be pissed off if this team was in a race. Having 40% of your guys out adds to just a shit show season.

Hopefully Witt will be the leader soon cause it's not Whit.

[srvy]

Originally Posted by jettio

Good thing that the World Cup 2026 Venue cities announcement was June 16, 2022, and not July 16, 2022.

I have not met anyone who gives 2 shits about the world cup except soccer moms and their children with no talent but running like fools kicking a ball to win a too long game 1-0.

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by srvy

I have not met anyone who gives 2 shits about the world cup except soccer moms and their children with no talent but running like fools kicking a ball to win a too long game 1-0.

The world cup is the biggest thing to happen in KC history. GMAFB you wrinkly old ****.

[srvy]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

The world cup is the biggest thing to happen in KC history. GMAFB you wrinkly old ****.

OK Spazz hit that crack pipe again.

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by srvy

OK Spazz hit that crack pipe again.

How many soccer mom's do you see at the nursing home?

[srvy]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

How many soccer mom's do you see at the nursing home?

More than you do after you come out of your meth and crack brain stupor to spazz an hour before night night again.

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by tk13

Eh this conversation could go a lot of ways, but this is one of the worst parts of it right here. This is a pretty terrible statement by Whit and I don't think there's really an argument otherwise. Basically saying if you trade me for I'll probably get it but I can't be bothered right now. Hard to build a winning culture when your leaders don't give a damn.

Here's Whit Merrifield on his decision: pic.twitter.com/XT0kYFFcZP

— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) July 13, 2022

Matheny and Moore should lose their jobs over this. 11 or >40% of the players on the active roster can't cross the border when 25 total players in other organizations have missed time due to similar circumstances.

FURTHER, and perhaps WORSE from a baseball perspective: Moore and Piccollo didn't trade Benintendi, Merrifield, and MAT before this news?


Finally, its no wonder there is strife in the locker room. If Whit' "I'd do it for a playoff team" represents the thoughts of these other gomers, it makes for a team with the wrong priorities. Whit, and everyone else mailing it in because they aren't on a playoff team represent a rotten clubhouse culture. A losing attitude - and not because they chose not to get the shot - but because they just didn't get it because they didn't care enough about the team's performance.

[MAHOMO 4 LIFE!]

Glass is rolling over in his grave rn at how bad Sherman is. Moore needs to be gone honestly. Why the **** is we’re still here? Matheny needs to be gone as well

[PHOG]

Still don't want to see an in-season firing? GTFO

[dlphg9]

Matheny is allowing a toxic clubhouse to fester. This ****ing reerun needs to be gone.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

Matheny is allowing a toxic clubhouse to fester. This ****ing reerun needs to be gone.

It’s the culture he built. And if you’re surprised, you didn’t pay attention to the culture he built in St. Louis, too.

He’s a fraud.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

It’s the culture he built. And if you’re surprised, you didn’t pay attention to the culture he built in St. Louis, too.

He’s a fraud.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not a bit surprised. I knew the minute that Dayton brought that mother****er into this organization that he would be the manager and would **** up any chance this team would have of being competitive. The fact that Eldred has been allowed to stay as pitching coach with negative development of every ****ing pitcher on this team is sickening.

Hell, it's not crazy to think that this team would be in the playoff hunt if we just had an average coaching staff. If we had a pitching coach that could get just some development from these young pitchers.

Dayton Moore cannot be allowed to hire another manager and needs to either be gone or in a position where he isnt involved with players and personnel. I actually like Picollo and would like to see him given an actual chance to be GM of this team without that Bible thumping moron having final say in regards to everything.

[dlphg9]

If Dayton does get his pick of another coach then you can bet it'll be some goober ass idiot that shares his love for the Bible. A real molder of young men that are just swell people.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

It’s the culture he built. And if you’re surprised, you didn’t pay attention to the culture he built in St. Louis, too.

He’s a fraud.

I think that's why Mozeliak was so fond of him now that I think about it.

It's HARD to be routinely exposed for piss poor decisions you make and still maintain a haughty air of smug superiority.

Mozeliak does better than anyone I've ever seen. But Matheny isn't too far behind him. Mozeliak is essentially Matheny's older brother. And when things keep heading south, both of them are just gonna double down on how great they are while putting more effort into dodging responsibility for the problems than they do into actually fixing them.

Matheny's continued employment in this sport is a complete mind-**** to me. I wouldn't even let him be a minor league instructor. Okay, maybe I'd let him do that - in small doses he may provide some bit of fortune cookie wisdom he read from the back of a menu or a jesus pamphlet someone stuck under his windshield wiper somewhere.

But you can't even let that guy be a full time assistant. He is Sisyphus's boulder. He's the water that formed the Grand Canyon. He's unrelentingly burdensome and in time he just breaks people down to where Whit Merrifield essentially answers an interview question with "Hey, I'd have gotten vaccinated if we didn't suck - so please trade for me; I promise I'll get the jab if you get me out of here..."

But guys - he went to a couple classes. He learned from his mistakes!

As I warned y'all at the time - the problem with Mike Matheny (at least early stage Mike Matheny) has nothing to do with his eagerness to be good. I absolutely believe he tried to improve. No - the problem with Mike Matheny is that he is just an unintelligent person. He's stupid. And you can send stupid people to as many classes as you want and they may listen intently. But ultimately they're still stupid - they're just going to learn the wrong lesson.

Duncan, you'll love this one:

"Education is no substitute for intelligence. That elusive quality is defined in part by puzzle-solving ability. It is in the creation of new puzzles reflecting what your senses report that you round out the definitions"

Frank Herbert; Chapterhouse: Dune

Finished that one up a month or so ago - probably my 2nd favorite book in the whole series. The difference between Frank and Brian isn't necessarily in the storytelling as Brian can tell a fascinating story. It's in the philosophy woven into Frank's novels. There are great little thought experiments littered throughout those books. That said, he got up his own ass in The God Emperor; I didn't even finish it. Made it about 2/3 of the way and quit. Read a Wiki on the ending and went onto Heretics.