*** 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.

[tk13]

Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy

Soler maybe not a bust?

He never was. Royals fans of all fans should know better, given what we saw with guys like Moose and Gordon over the years. 25 year old Moose got shipped to AAA and everyone thought he was a bust. Now he's looking like one of the top sluggers in baseball.

Doesn't mean that's what Soler will be, but he has the potential, and unlike a lot of prospects he's had a little success in the majors with the Cubs. Just got to keep running him out there and see if he figures it out.

[DeepSouth]

Clay Bushholz must be activated before May 1st. Who will be removed from the 25 / 40 man roster to make room for him, Grimm or Boyer ?

Gordon is also expected to be activated soon. Who's optioned to Omaha, Orlando or Almonte?

I assume when Perez is activated Gallagher will be optioned to Omaha since he has done nothing to justify keeping him on the 25 man roster.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by DeepSouth

Clay Bushholz must be activated before May 1st. Who will be removed from the 25 / 40 man roster to make room for him, Grimm or Boyer ?

Gordon is also expected to be activated soon. Who's optioned to Omaha, Orlando or Almonte?

I assume when Perez is activated Gallagher will be optioned to Omaha since he has done nothing to justify keeping him on the 25 man roster.

Feel like Boyer and Grimm are First on the chopping block, though they may let Grimm have some more rope because of the quality of his breaking ball.

They should option Orlando, as Almonte is better at everything except sprinting in a straight line.

Originally Posted by tk13

He never was. Royals fans of all fans should know better, given what we saw with guys like Moose and Gordon over the years. 25 year old Moose got shipped to AAA and everyone thought he was a bust. Now he's looking like one of the top sluggers in baseball.

Doesn't mean that's what Soler will be, but he has the potential, and unlike a lot of prospects he's had a little success in the majors with the Cubs. Just got to keep running him out there and see if he figures it out.

He was if you were inpatient or looking for another reason to pile on Moore.

[DeepSouth]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Feel like Boyer and Grimm are First on the chopping block, though they may let Grimm have some more rope because of the quality of his breaking ball.

They should option Orlando, as Almonte is better at everything except sprinting in a straight line.

They could remove Orlando from the 25 / 40 man roster and give his spot to Bushholz. Bushholz joins the rotation and Skoglund is optioned to Omaha. That way, the Royals would keep both Grimm and Boyer.

[WhawhaWhat]

Perez and Gordon are not in the lineup in Omaha, where the Storm Chasers are playing an early game. All signs point toward activation tomorrow. At any rate, we'll know before the series opener against the Brewers what is up https://t.co/pFvxev3r3i

— Maria Torres (@maria_torres3) April 23, 2018

[KCCHIEFS27]

Alright, everybody. Here is where the Royals go on that hot streak Ned has been talking about. 5-15? Pfft, they get Salvy back and they're right in the thick of things! Am I right?

[Molitoth]

Originally Posted by KCCHIEFS27

Alright, everybody. Here is where the Royals go on that hot streak Ned has been talking about. 5-15? Pfft, they get Salvy back and they're right in the thick of things! Am I right?

[DeepSouth]

Originally Posted by KCCHIEFS27

Alright, everybody. Here is where the Royals go on that hot streak Ned has been talking about. 5-15? Pfft, they get Salvy back and they're right in the thick of things! Am I right?

I would agree with this if Grimm nor Boyer ever get to pitch in a game where the score is close. Plus, replace Skoglund in the rotation with Buchholz.

[Chiefspants]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Perez and Gordon are not in the lineup in Omaha, where the Storm Chasers are playing an early game. All signs point toward activation tomorrow. At any rate, we'll know before the series opener against the Brewers what is up https://t.co/pFvxev3r3i

— Maria Torres (@maria_torres3) April 23, 2018

Wouldn't of felt right to have Cain in KC without Salvy.

[Sure-Oz]

Excited to see Cain and Salvy

[OKchiefs]

Apparently Ashe Russell (sp?) has found his way back to the Royals.

[Sure-Oz]

Originally Posted by OKchiefs

Apparently Ashe Russell (sp?) has found his way back to the Royals.

At this point they have nothing to lose. Hope this kid finds it. Apparently he'll do some throwing and the Rpyals haven't given up yet.

[Sure-Oz]

https://www.mlb.com/royals/news/roya...re/c-273506874

Per Flanny.

Right-hander Ashe Russell, 21, was Kansas City's first-round pick in 2015, but after an encouraging year of Rookie-level ball that season, he developed some confidence issues which escalated into serious command issues on the mound. He pitched briefly in '16 and then took '17 off as he contemplated his future in baseball. The Royals tell me Russell has resumed a throwing program in Arizona this spring and is working toward throwing some inning in extended spring camp eventually. They have not given up on him.

[duncan_idaho]

If Russell has magically rediscovered what he lost, that’s a potential shot in the arm. His velocity and slider were very good for a HS. Still only 21, so there’s time for him to get it back together.

The slider was viewed as one of the best breaking pitches/out pitches in the draft.

[Titty Meat]

At this point I hope we keep Moose over Salvy