***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.

[dallaschiefsfan]

Originally Posted by DeepSouth

We might never know what led up to this but, I can envision Sherman telling DM that Matheny can't return for 2023 and DM refusing to fire him.

This could be true. His loyalty is known to be both a strength and weakness. If JJ said..."hell yeah, I'd fire him" and Dayton said "I won't do it". Well...that made Sherman's decision super easy.

[Sassy Squatch]

Originally Posted by dallaschiefsfan

It can be important and not affect your job or performance. Happens every day and you're not even aware of it. Walk and chew gum.

Uhh. No. It should have absolutely no bearing on what's going on, sans not ****ing up bad enough to get yourself suspended. Especially lame to use it as a tactic to deflect criticism from how poorly the players you've brought into the organization and are overall responsible for developing are faring.

[dallaschiefsfan]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

16 seasons.
3 over .500

Yes. Thus, he was fired. But to the point of your response: A does not = B. Trying to tie it to his personal beliefs is just stupid, if being charitable...stubbornly bigoted at worse.

[dallaschiefsfan]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

Uhh. No. It should have absolutely no bearing on what's going on, sans not ****ing up bad enough to get yourself suspended. Especially lame to use it as a tactic to deflect criticism from how poorly the players you've brought into the organization and are overall responsible for developing are faring.

This isn't an argument. It's a conspiracy theory. No respectable person in baseball will give this religion/porn/etc argument the traction it gets in the online armchair GM social media influencer world.

[Sassy Squatch]

Originally Posted by dallaschiefsfan

This isn't an argument. It's a conspiracy theory. No respectable person in baseball will give this religion/porn/etc argument the traction it gets in the online armchair GM social media influencer world.

The guy blatantly tried to point to it to deflect criticism of his piss poor acquisitions and development of players. You can stick your head in the sand and pretend it's just an invented narrative all you want, but it's been pretty obvious for a long time now.

[poolboy]

Originally Posted by Fansy the Famous Bard

Such an odd question at the end of the season when the whole org is beginning the shakeup process. He's arguably the 25th man on a 25 man roster. I wouldnt be surprised if he never plays another game at the ML level after the conclusion of the season. The Royals have a number of players that could fit the mold of a pinch hitter but also give other value, such as being able to wear a mit and play defense. As well as provide at least average speed on the base paths. For example several players already on the roster. Nate Eaton, Kyle Isbel, Edward Oliveras.

pinch hitters dont normally come back out and play the field

[dallaschiefsfan]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

The guy blatantly tried to point to it to deflect criticism of his piss poor acquisitions and development of players. You can stick your head in the sand and pretend it's just an invented narrative all you want, but it's been pretty obvious for a long time now.

Wait...so the same conspiracy theory that brandished the drafting of Cross and Wallace as exhibits of this? The guys that are RAKING? Again...this is simple. It's performance related. Hitting development = good. Pitching development = bad. Not using metrics and data properly for pitching has ZERO to do with the conspiracy theories you're advocating.

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by dallaschiefsfan

Yes. Thus, he was fired. But to the point of your response: A does not = B. Trying to tie it to his personal beliefs is just stupid, if being charitable...stubbornly bigoted at worse.

This is something HE personally brought up. Many times.
If fans start to believe that he's giving undue weight to (his idea of) the morality of players, that's on him.

And when we are consistent losers and he's STILL touting moral issues...and that at least he's developing good husbands and brothers...

I'm a money-spending fan--I don't want to hear that shit.

[Sassy Squatch]

Originally Posted by dallaschiefsfan

Wait...so the same conspiracy theory that brandished the drafting of Cross and Wallace as exhibits of this? The guys that are RAKING? Again...this is simple. It's performance related. Hitting development = good. Pitching development = bad. Not using metrics and data properly for pitching has ZERO to do with the conspiracy theories you're advocating.

We outright KNOW that Moore had a mandated seminar for minor league players and was strongly suggested for major league players since he couldn't mandate it where he described porn as the root of all evil.

He stressed to his players that he not only believes that pornography is the root of evil, but that it can also become a detriment to a player’s career and destroy his personal life.

“It’s not something truthfully I’ve ever been comfortable discussing for a lot of reasons,’’ Moore tells USA TODAY Sports. “But when you sit down with young men and they open up and talk about their struggles, often times you can trace it back to pornography. It’s been a major issue in their lives. They are being exposed to that at such a young age, and become obsessed with that.


“(Fight The New Drug) has done thousands of hours of research, and there’s scientific evidence what pornography does to the brain, and re-wiring the brain. It’s no different than drugs or alcohol. You start drinking too early, or smoking marijuana, your brain starts craving it.

“So, to me, educating our players about the harmful effects of pornography is similar to the important of honoring women, respecting women and looking at them as human beings and not sexual objects. Most of these young men are going to be husbands and fathers. It’s our job to educate them.’’

If you're naive enough to believe he hasn't forced the issue in other ways in the organization he hasn't been open about then that's on you.

[dallaschiefsfan]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

This is something HE personally brought up. Many times.
If fans start to believe that he's giving undue weight to (his idea of) the morality of players, that's on him.

And when we are consistent losers and he's STILL touting moral issues...and that at least he's developing good husbands and brothers...

I'm a money-spending fan--I don't want to hear that shit.

I don't really care what fans "believe". Conspiracy theories are believed by many.

[poolboy]

data says throw first pitch strikes, which they are terrilble at and dont hit into the shift all the time..learn some bat control and got some power on the field

[poolboy]

but free agency doesnt work you say
Goldy and Nolan beg to differ..ya it can work

[dallaschiefsfan]

Originally Posted by Superturtle

We outright KNOW that Moore had a mandated seminar for minor league players and was strongly suggested for major league players since he couldn't mandate it where he described porn as the root of all evil.



If you're naive enough to believe he hasn't forced the issue in other ways in the organization he hasn't been open about then that's on you.

Literally nobody is connecting these kinds of dots in the accountable and responsible media. Feel free to do so, but you're just doubling down on your ignorance and middle school jokes. As a father of three girls, I don't consider my daughters' sexuality as something that should be "consumed" by boys that can't find a proper outlet via a woman that will actually put up with your shit. That's not really an outlier view in the world of those that have to work and live in the real world where there are real consequences. But keep defending the porn industry and playing your video games. It's possible to demand competence in one's job performance and not equating it with some bigoted, caricature of religion.

[PHOG]

It's about ****ing time............GOOD RIDDANCE!!!!!!!!!!!

[cosmo20002]

Originally Posted by dallaschiefsfan

I don't really care what fans "believe". Conspiracy theories are believed by many.

So when he says all these things are so important to him, and when he keeps harping on them, and when he uses it as a deflection from poor play...we're not supposed to believe it?