***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.

[ChiefsCountry]

Got to think with BWJ's speed, he will hit for the cycle on of these times.

[BWillie]

Luke Weaver hilarious pitching vs the team they traded Rivera too, in one of the worst trades in MLB history.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by Halfcan

Sometimes you have to let your eyes tell you the story, not some made-up projections.

He has a chance to break Bob Hamlin's HR record. Did fangraph predict that?

It all depends on what you were expecting of the 3 big time prospects in baseball thar came up this year...Witt, Julio Rodriguez and Rutschman, Witt and Hadley have been somewhat similar...but Rodriguez has far outperformed them.

[BWillie]

And there is Rivera driving it off of Weaver over Waters head.

Luke Weaver. GTFOH. **** you Dayton Moore.

[Valiant]

Originally Posted by Mecca

It's accurate though, the Royals don't seem to be in any hurry to make changes no matter how terrible they are.

No hurry until the downtown stadium referendum.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by BWillie

And there is Rivera driving it off of Weaver over Waters head.

Luke Weaver. GTFOH. **** you Dayton Moore.

That trade is going to look worse and worse every day.

Was watching a Cubs game a few days ago. This caught my attention. pic.twitter.com/xUbDj00Qyt

— Craig Brown (@CraigBrown_KC) August 24, 2022

[dallaschiefsfan]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Luke Weaver hilarious pitching vs the team they traded Rivera too, in one of the worst trades in MLB history.

Hyperbole much? These two players will be largely irrelevant to anyone's chances at the playoffs, let alone a championship. Let it go. If Rivera becomes their Mark Ellis, then we can eat crow. But I bet he regresses to what he is within a season. He's having a nice little run. Good for him while it lasts.

[KChiefs1]

The international pipeline for the Royals has dried up

Overseas talent in the system is lacking

Spoiler!

In discussions of who is the current or future face of baseball, several names are usually brought up: Soto, Vladdy, Acuña, Ohtani, Tatis, Wander, Julio. A common thread emerges from these names. Each of these players entered affiliated baseball as international signings. Players like Ohtani coming from Japan often enter affiliated baseball having already played professional ball in their home country. The same can be said of Cuban stars like José Abreu and Yoenis Cespedes. But the rest of the guys mentioned above all signed as teenagers before working their way up through the minors and blossoming into stars.

Good organizations build their major league roster through every avenue available, which includes the international market. Players that signed from overseas have played key roles on the last several World Series champions:

2021 Atlanta Braves: Starting second baseman and fixture of the top of the order Ozzie Albies signed in 2013 out of Curaçao. World Series MVP Jorge Soler was also an international signing (2012 out of Cuba), but he was signed and developed by the Cubs. Franchise cornerstone Ronald Acuña Jr. signed in 2014 out of Venezuela but did not play in the postseason due to a torn ACL.

2020 Los Angeles Dodgers: Julio Urías, signed out of Mexico in 2012, was a key rotation piece throughout the postseason and recorded the save in the clinching game. Several key bullpen pieces were also international signings, including Pedro Báez (2007 out of the Dominican Republic), Victor González (2012 out of Mexico), and Kenley Jansen (2004 out of Curaçao). The Dodgers also originally signed Yordan Alvarez out of Cuba in 2016, but traded him to Houston in a deal that Andrew Friedman wishes he could have back.

2019 Washington Nationals: Young superstar Juan Soto signed with the organization out of the Dominican in 2015, while starting center fielder Victor Robles had signed out of the same country two years prior.

2018 Boston Red Sox: Their left side of the infield was international between Rafael Devers, signed in 2013 out of the Dominican, and Xander Bogaerts, signed in 2009 out of Aruba.

2017 Houston Astros: The heart and soul of this team, Jose Altuve, was originally signed by the Astros in 2007 out of Venezuela. Starting first baseman Yuli Gurriel was signed out of Cuba in 2016.

The Royals should know all about the importance of international talent. When Dayton Moore took over operations in 2006, the Royals were one of the worst teams in baseball in terms of finding and developing international talent. But the team began investing more resources in the international scene and results soon followed. The last championship Royals team can also have an entry like those above:

2015 Kansas City Royals: Starting catcher and World Series MVP Salvador Perez was one of the first international players signed under the Moore regime in 2006, while reliever Kelvin Herrera (signed later that year out of the Dominican) and starting pitcher Yordano Ventura (signed in 2008 out of the Dominican, rest in peace Yordano) played crucial roles on the pitching staff.

In the years wandering the wilderness since, much has been written about the struggles of the Royals to draft and develop big league talent. But another issue with the organization has flown much more under the radar: the team has been unable to find and develop international talent. This can be very clearly seen by looking at the current roster. Here are the players currently on the 40-man roster or the 60-day IL that were international signings:

Max Castillo: 2015 out of Venezuela (by the Blue Jays)
Carlos Hernández: 2016 out of Venezuela
Angel Zerpa: 2016 out of Venezuela
Salvador Perez: 2006 out of Venezuela
Sebastian Rivero: 2015 out of Venezuela
Maikel Garcia: 2016 out of Venezuela
Adalberto Mondesi: 2011 out of Dominican Republic
Edward Olivares: 2014 out of Venezuela (by the Blue Jays)

The first thing that jumps out is where their international signings are coming from. Good lord the Royals love their Venezuelan ballplayers. The second thing that jumps out is that there are only eight players on this list. About 30% of current players entered affiliated baseball as international free agents, but for the Royals, it’s only 18%. Finally, only one of these players has established themselves as a solid big league regular, and he hit 48 homers last year. But that was far from a recent signing; there are kids driving now that weren’t yet born when Salvy signed with the organization. The rest of these guys either haven’t had an extended look in the majors yet, have had a chance and disappointed (looking at you, Carlos) or have been too injured to get a good grasp on (looking at you, Adalberto). Regardless, none of these guys project as impact players. Fangraphs graded Garcia as a 40+ FV prospect and Zerpa and Castillo as 40s in May. Hernandez was a 40 when he was last on the list in 2021. If you want to know what those numbers mean, you can read a primer here, but the short answer is a 40 FV is projected to be a bench player or backend starter.

The high draft picks of the Royals that have busted - Ashe Russell, Bubba Starling, Christian Colón, etc. - are frequently lamented upon, and for good reason. But how about all the highly regarded international prospects that have flamed out? Ventura was signed 14 years ago, what good international signings have been made since?

Noel Argüelles: Signed out of Cuba in 2009 for an unprecedented $6.9 million, 11th ranked prospect in Royals system in 2012. Never reached the majors.
Jorge Bonifacio: Signed out of the Dominican in 2009, ranked as high as 4th in the system in 2014. Totaled 0.4 fWAR over three seasons for the Royals.
Cheslor Cuthbert: Signed out of Nicaragua in 2009, ranked as high as 5th in the system in 2012. Totaled -0.8 fWAR for the Royals across five seasons.
Humberto Arteaga: Signed out of Venezuela in 2010, ranked as high as 14th in the system in 2013. -0.8 fWAR in 41 games for the Royals.
Orlando Calixte: Signed out of the Dominican in 2010, ranked as high as 4th in the system in 2013. Took only three plate appearances in the majors for Kansas City and went 0-fer.
Miguel Almonte: Signed out of the Dominican in 2010, ranked among the top 6 Royals prospects every year from 2014-2016. Totaled 10.2 innings pitched and -0.4 fWAR for the Royals.
Elier Hernandez: Signed out of the Dominican in 2011, ranked as high as 11th in the system in 2014. Never reached the majors for Kansas City, released after 2019.
Marten Gasparini: Signed out of Italy in 2013, ranked as high as 8th in the system in 2016. Never got past High-A.
Seuly Matias: Signed out of the Dominican in 2015, ranked as high as 3rd in the system in 2018. Currently in AA and, while he’s still only 23, is unlikely to ever make enough contact to stick in the majors.
Erick Peña: Signed out of the Dominican in 2019, ranked 5th in the system in 2020 and 6th in 2021. Currently has a .546 OPS in Low-A with a strikeout rate just shy of 40% and has tumbled in prospect rankings.

That’s ten prospects, aside from those currently on the 40-man, that have ranked in the system’s top ten at some point or were highly rated at the time of signing. Only two of them ever got even semi-regular playing time for the Royals, and they were both around replacement level. Three of them never reached the majors for Kansas City and two of them are trending in that direction.

Forget star players, the Royals haven’t even been able to get average big leaguers out of their international signings. Since the 2015 title, the only players signed internationally by the Royals that produced multiple seasons of at least 2 fWAR are Perez and Mondesi, who both signed over a decade ago. That’s a full decade of signings that have collectively failed to yield even a single starting-caliber major league player.

It doesn’t appear this will change soon. Garcia and Zerpa still have a chance. But beyond them, I believe that Hernández’s future is in the bullpen and Rivero is probably replacement level. Castillo and Olivares have promise, but neither was originally signed by the Royals and even if Olivares is healthy, I doubt this org will ever give him an extended look. Down on the farm, there’s a notable lack of international signings. In the Royals top 30 prospects according to Royals Farm Report, there are only three international players that were originally signed by the Royals. Garcia and Zerpa are the top two. After them is Diego Hernandez, whom RFR ranked 15th in the organization. Hernandez is only 21 and posted good numbers in High-A this season, but he’s at least a couple years away. Beyond him, none of the Royals international signings have impressed.

Perhaps the lack of international talent is yet another symptom of poor player development throughout the system. But if you believe the issue is with talent assessment and acquisition, here are some names to call for firing know in the organization:

Rene Francisco: Sr. Vice President - Major League and International Operations/Assistant GM
Albert Gonzalez: Assistant GM - International Operations
Danny Ontiveros: Director - Scouting
Orlando Estevez: Coordinator - Latin American Scouting
Phil Dale: Coordinator - Pacific Rim
Fabio Herrera: Manager - International Operations

It’s worth noting that the international game is challenging. To quote Francisco: “This process is so difficult.” If the first-year player draft is a crapshoot, signing international players is trying to hit a bullet with a smaller bullet whilst wearing a blindfold, riding a horse. For every Framber Valdez, there’s 100 Yadier Álvarez’s. Regardless, for a team like the Royals that aren’t big players on the free agent market, success in these cheaper markets is paramount for building a sustainable winner.

Perhaps better days are on the horizon. Maybe the hitting gurus in the minors can rebuild Matias and Peña’s prospect status. In last year’s signing period, the Royals signed Daniel Vasquez, a toolsy shortstop that was the 11th-ranked prospect of the international period. In the most recent signing period, the Royals inked 28 players, the largest international class in franchise history. Only time will tell how these signings will work out, but if the Royals are to become a consistently respectable team, the international pipeline needs to flow once again.

https://www.royalsreview.com/royals-...s-has-dried-up


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[siberian khatru]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Luke Weaver hilarious pitching vs the team they traded Rivera too, in one of the worst trades in MLB history.

You heard it here first, folks: Emmanuel Rivera is going to the Hall of Fame.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

The international pipeline for the Royals has dried up

Overseas talent in the system is lacking

Spoiler!

In discussions of who is the current or future face of baseball, several names are usually brought up: Soto, Vladdy, Acuña, Ohtani, Tatis, Wander, Julio. A common thread emerges from these names. Each of these players entered affiliated baseball as international signings. Players like Ohtani coming from Japan often enter affiliated baseball having already played professional ball in their home country. The same can be said of Cuban stars like José Abreu and Yoenis Cespedes. But the rest of the guys mentioned above all signed as teenagers before working their way up through the minors and blossoming into stars.

Good organizations build their major league roster through every avenue available, which includes the international market. Players that signed from overseas have played key roles on the last several World Series champions:

2021 Atlanta Braves: Starting second baseman and fixture of the top of the order Ozzie Albies signed in 2013 out of Curaçao. World Series MVP Jorge Soler was also an international signing (2012 out of Cuba), but he was signed and developed by the Cubs. Franchise cornerstone Ronald Acuña Jr. signed in 2014 out of Venezuela but did not play in the postseason due to a torn ACL.

2020 Los Angeles Dodgers: Julio Urías, signed out of Mexico in 2012, was a key rotation piece throughout the postseason and recorded the save in the clinching game. Several key bullpen pieces were also international signings, including Pedro Báez (2007 out of the Dominican Republic), Victor González (2012 out of Mexico), and Kenley Jansen (2004 out of Curaçao). The Dodgers also originally signed Yordan Alvarez out of Cuba in 2016, but traded him to Houston in a deal that Andrew Friedman wishes he could have back.

2019 Washington Nationals: Young superstar Juan Soto signed with the organization out of the Dominican in 2015, while starting center fielder Victor Robles had signed out of the same country two years prior.

2018 Boston Red Sox: Their left side of the infield was international between Rafael Devers, signed in 2013 out of the Dominican, and Xander Bogaerts, signed in 2009 out of Aruba.

2017 Houston Astros: The heart and soul of this team, Jose Altuve, was originally signed by the Astros in 2007 out of Venezuela. Starting first baseman Yuli Gurriel was signed out of Cuba in 2016.

The Royals should know all about the importance of international talent. When Dayton Moore took over operations in 2006, the Royals were one of the worst teams in baseball in terms of finding and developing international talent. But the team began investing more resources in the international scene and results soon followed. The last championship Royals team can also have an entry like those above:

2015 Kansas City Royals: Starting catcher and World Series MVP Salvador Perez was one of the first international players signed under the Moore regime in 2006, while reliever Kelvin Herrera (signed later that year out of the Dominican) and starting pitcher Yordano Ventura (signed in 2008 out of the Dominican, rest in peace Yordano) played crucial roles on the pitching staff.

In the years wandering the wilderness since, much has been written about the struggles of the Royals to draft and develop big league talent. But another issue with the organization has flown much more under the radar: the team has been unable to find and develop international talent. This can be very clearly seen by looking at the current roster. Here are the players currently on the 40-man roster or the 60-day IL that were international signings:

Max Castillo: 2015 out of Venezuela (by the Blue Jays)
Carlos Hernández: 2016 out of Venezuela
Angel Zerpa: 2016 out of Venezuela
Salvador Perez: 2006 out of Venezuela
Sebastian Rivero: 2015 out of Venezuela
Maikel Garcia: 2016 out of Venezuela
Adalberto Mondesi: 2011 out of Dominican Republic
Edward Olivares: 2014 out of Venezuela (by the Blue Jays)

The first thing that jumps out is where their international signings are coming from. Good lord the Royals love their Venezuelan ballplayers. The second thing that jumps out is that there are only eight players on this list. About 30% of current players entered affiliated baseball as international free agents, but for the Royals, it’s only 18%. Finally, only one of these players has established themselves as a solid big league regular, and he hit 48 homers last year. But that was far from a recent signing; there are kids driving now that weren’t yet born when Salvy signed with the organization. The rest of these guys either haven’t had an extended look in the majors yet, have had a chance and disappointed (looking at you, Carlos) or have been too injured to get a good grasp on (looking at you, Adalberto). Regardless, none of these guys project as impact players. Fangraphs graded Garcia as a 40+ FV prospect and Zerpa and Castillo as 40s in May. Hernandez was a 40 when he was last on the list in 2021. If you want to know what those numbers mean, you can read a primer here, but the short answer is a 40 FV is projected to be a bench player or backend starter.

The high draft picks of the Royals that have busted - Ashe Russell, Bubba Starling, Christian Colón, etc. - are frequently lamented upon, and for good reason. But how about all the highly regarded international prospects that have flamed out? Ventura was signed 14 years ago, what good international signings have been made since?

Noel Argüelles: Signed out of Cuba in 2009 for an unprecedented $6.9 million, 11th ranked prospect in Royals system in 2012. Never reached the majors.
Jorge Bonifacio: Signed out of the Dominican in 2009, ranked as high as 4th in the system in 2014. Totaled 0.4 fWAR over three seasons for the Royals.
Cheslor Cuthbert: Signed out of Nicaragua in 2009, ranked as high as 5th in the system in 2012. Totaled -0.8 fWAR for the Royals across five seasons.
Humberto Arteaga: Signed out of Venezuela in 2010, ranked as high as 14th in the system in 2013. -0.8 fWAR in 41 games for the Royals.
Orlando Calixte: Signed out of the Dominican in 2010, ranked as high as 4th in the system in 2013. Took only three plate appearances in the majors for Kansas City and went 0-fer.
Miguel Almonte: Signed out of the Dominican in 2010, ranked among the top 6 Royals prospects every year from 2014-2016. Totaled 10.2 innings pitched and -0.4 fWAR for the Royals.
Elier Hernandez: Signed out of the Dominican in 2011, ranked as high as 11th in the system in 2014. Never reached the majors for Kansas City, released after 2019.
Marten Gasparini: Signed out of Italy in 2013, ranked as high as 8th in the system in 2016. Never got past High-A.
Seuly Matias: Signed out of the Dominican in 2015, ranked as high as 3rd in the system in 2018. Currently in AA and, while he’s still only 23, is unlikely to ever make enough contact to stick in the majors.
Erick Peña: Signed out of the Dominican in 2019, ranked 5th in the system in 2020 and 6th in 2021. Currently has a .546 OPS in Low-A with a strikeout rate just shy of 40% and has tumbled in prospect rankings.

That’s ten prospects, aside from those currently on the 40-man, that have ranked in the system’s top ten at some point or were highly rated at the time of signing. Only two of them ever got even semi-regular playing time for the Royals, and they were both around replacement level. Three of them never reached the majors for Kansas City and two of them are trending in that direction.

Forget star players, the Royals haven’t even been able to get average big leaguers out of their international signings. Since the 2015 title, the only players signed internationally by the Royals that produced multiple seasons of at least 2 fWAR are Perez and Mondesi, who both signed over a decade ago. That’s a full decade of signings that have collectively failed to yield even a single starting-caliber major league player.

It doesn’t appear this will change soon. Garcia and Zerpa still have a chance. But beyond them, I believe that Hernández’s future is in the bullpen and Rivero is probably replacement level. Castillo and Olivares have promise, but neither was originally signed by the Royals and even if Olivares is healthy, I doubt this org will ever give him an extended look. Down on the farm, there’s a notable lack of international signings. In the Royals top 30 prospects according to Royals Farm Report, there are only three international players that were originally signed by the Royals. Garcia and Zerpa are the top two. After them is Diego Hernandez, whom RFR ranked 15th in the organization. Hernandez is only 21 and posted good numbers in High-A this season, but he’s at least a couple years away. Beyond him, none of the Royals international signings have impressed.

Perhaps the lack of international talent is yet another symptom of poor player development throughout the system. But if you believe the issue is with talent assessment and acquisition, here are some names to call for firing know in the organization:

Rene Francisco: Sr. Vice President - Major League and International Operations/Assistant GM
Albert Gonzalez: Assistant GM - International Operations
Danny Ontiveros: Director - Scouting
Orlando Estevez: Coordinator - Latin American Scouting
Phil Dale: Coordinator - Pacific Rim
Fabio Herrera: Manager - International Operations

It’s worth noting that the international game is challenging. To quote Francisco: “This process is so difficult.” If the first-year player draft is a crapshoot, signing international players is trying to hit a bullet with a smaller bullet whilst wearing a blindfold, riding a horse. For every Framber Valdez, there’s 100 Yadier Álvarez’s. Regardless, for a team like the Royals that aren’t big players on the free agent market, success in these cheaper markets is paramount for building a sustainable winner.

Perhaps better days are on the horizon. Maybe the hitting gurus in the minors can rebuild Matias and Peña’s prospect status. In last year’s signing period, the Royals signed Daniel Vasquez, a toolsy shortstop that was the 11th-ranked prospect of the international period. In the most recent signing period, the Royals inked 28 players, the largest international class in franchise history. Only time will tell how these signings will work out, but if the Royals are to become a consistently respectable team, the international pipeline needs to flow once again.

https://www.royalsreview.com/royals-...s-has-dried-up


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It's pretty simple, it's harder to rebuild a winner that you won with than it is to do it somewhere else. When you have connections to all the people in the organization it's not easy to just be like..these players aren't good enough this guy isn't doing the job good enough etc.

It's easy to make those calls when you didn't hire or draft or sign the guy..when you did, you're connected.

In reality it's probably time for a house cleaning out there.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

You heard it here first, folks: Emmanuel Rivera is going to the Hall of Fame.

So, not even accounting for who the players even are. Why would a team who is selling acquire an MLB reliever for a starting 3B? To do what? You arent going to the playoffs. We arent talking about selling a 3B and getting a AA reliever prospect. Its almost like they were confused they were supposed to be buyers.

[tk13]

They're releasing schedules for next year. A much different look because you play every team at least once now, including the interleague teams. Looks like you only play division teams two series at home and two away.

2023 first look.#TogetherRoyal pic.twitter.com/tuuABzz5ss

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) August 24, 2022

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by BWillie

So, not even accounting for who the players even are. Why would a team who is selling acquire an MLB reliever for a starting 3B? To do what? You arent going to the playoffs. We arent talking about selling a 3B and getting a AA reliever prospect. Its almost like they were confused they were supposed to be buyers.

I think the trade was stupid, but at least he isn't a 1 yr rental. He isn't a FA until 2024.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by BWillie

So, not even accounting for who the players even are. Why would a team who is selling acquire an MLB reliever for a starting 3B? To do what? You arent going to the playoffs. We arent talking about selling a 3B and getting a AA reliever prospect. Its almost like they were confused they were supposed to be buyers.

He answered the god question properly ok.

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by Mecca

He answered the god question properly ok.

He more than answered the question the right way, the mother****er has a Bible Glove!