***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.

[Pepe Silvia]

I could be mistaken but I think Hader has blown some games for them as of late. Guess they are selling high and cashing in before his complete implosion.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

THERE'S THE BIG ONE

We have acquired LHP Anthony Misiewicz from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for cash considerations. Misiewicz has been added to the 40-man roster and optioned to Omaha (AAA).

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) August 1, 2022

How did that guy even make it to the majors? He wasn't even good coming through their system.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Fansy the Famous Bard

How did that guy even make it to the majors? He wasn't even good coming through their system.

Somebody has to pitch long relief and garbage innings and it really doesn't matter who does it.

[Mecca]

They must think they can fix Hader, at their peaks Hader is better.

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by jd1020

Kevin Acee says they aren't focusing on moving him, probably because what it is going to take to move him is going to be some pieces involved in a Soto deal. Hosmer going to end his career in SD.

Hoz really did a number on those fools. Took em for 144 large. That’s hilarious. If they’d never signed that mutt they’d be able to take on DC contracts and get the Soto deal done much much easier


I’m sure it’s been debated whether DM really offers him 100M+. Rumor at the time was Glass shot it down but no evidence

[Pepe Silvia]

I checked his stats, he has just two blown saves but he’s 1-4 with a 4.24 ERA.

[dlphg9]

I'd say there is a 99% chance that the Royals are done with trading any players away. The ****ing clowns running this team think that we need to keep anyone that will be here next year so that we can be competitive. Dayton just loves his players too much and can't seem to let them go. ****ing Taylor will be the CF for the majority of next year and Whit will be taking ABs from one of our prospects.

Dayton is such a ****ing bitch and a god damn idiot.

[tk13]

I'm the only person who likes Taylor because the guy is an absolute beast in CF. Royals have had some amazing outfielders but Taylor is up there with anyone, he has amazing footwork and he covers so much ground. Just watch him in person, he is really impressive. He's been almost a 5 WAR player in two years. He has more WAR with KC than he did in 7 years with the Nats, because he's the perfect fit for this ballpark. He probably has more value for us than most teams because of that.

But that said they just traded a 1st round pick for a CF who was an elite prospect. I don't expect him to last his whole contract here.

[ChiefsCountry]

One of PB's tired bitching is available

To make room on roster, #Rays will DFA OF Brett Phillips

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 1, 2022

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by tk13

I'm the only person who likes Taylor because the guy is an absolute beast in CF. Royals have had some amazing outfielders but Taylor is up there with anyone, he has amazing footwork and he covers so much ground. Just watch him in person, he is really impressive. He's been almost a 5 WAR player in two years. He has more WAR with KC than he did in 7 years with the Nats, because he's the perfect fit for this ballpark. He probably has more value for us than most teams because of that.

But that said they just traded a 1st round pick for a CF who was an elite prospect. I don't expect him to last his whole contract here.

Me and you are on the same page with MAT. We can also be a little patient with Waters because of him as well.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by PackerinMo

I could be mistaken but I think Hader has blown some games for them as of late. Guess they are selling high and cashing in before his complete implosion.

So their GM is smarter than Dayton Moore…not that that is saying a lot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Sure-Oz]

Uh trade our relievers

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Sure-Oz

Uh trade our relievers

to whom?

[KChiefs1]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[KChiefs1]

Just saw the haul the A’s got from the Yankees.

Prospects:

#5
#10
#20
#21


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk