***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]

Originally Posted by Vladimir_Kyrilytch

yeah you're a super intelligent fan, you just can't figure out how to spell Hunter Dozier. Other than that, super invested, super knowledgeable.

Bro what you suggested would cause a players union grievance. If the Royals stopped playing Witt in a year he has a real shot at the ROY, in the first year of the new CBA that holds that the ROY gets 1 year off their service time to become a FA 1 year sooner, that would be cause for lawsuits.

Do you know who Bobby Witt Jr.'s dad is? Do you think he would allow the Royals to destroy his son's career? Do you think his agent would allow that? Do you think BWJ himself would allow that? Mike Witt would not allow that my friend.

Good one, Vlad. You have me on a spelling error on a bulletin board. Really proves you are the superior fan. Now show me where I said to sit Witt Jr the rest of the season?

Stop being an Internet bully and learn to read and interpret what people say. We are both allowed to be Royals fans and have different viewpoints. When you go above and beyond to argue things I didn’t say, it makes you look like a fool debating yourself.

Now if you want to have a conversation, I’ll ask a few questions:

1. Do you think Matheny has the support of the players still?

2. Do you think Raul Mondesi (I assume you know who he is since you obviously know who Witt Jr’s father is), controls the Royals decisions on his son (despite a somewhat estranged relationship)? Is this why the Royals spent all off season saying Mondesi would have to prove himself, not be the starting everyday SS, and would have plenty of off days to stay healthy? Yet the season comes along and he’s back to SS and playing plenty only to get hurt yet again? Do the Royals bend to a player’s dad, especially if they are ex-major leaguers? If so, as your comments about if Witt Jr’s dad seem to indicate, do you think this is beneficial to the organization? (Note: I would be open to Bobby Witt Sr replacing Eldred at any point even though I have no idea what he’s been doing the past 20 years)

3. Do the Royals make decisions based on what an individual player may want and not what is best for the team, if so, is this problematic?

4. What exactly makes you a superior fan to the rest of us, or at least myself?

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by Vladimir_Kyrilytch

Do you know who Bobby Witt Jr.'s dad is?

Bobby Witt?

[Pablo]

Didn't watch but I read here on CP we had our best lineup out there today so I'm sure it was a good one!

[Vladimir_Kyrilytch]

Originally Posted by myselff77

Good one, Vlad. You have me on a spelling error on a bulletin board. Really proves you are the superior fan. Now show me where I said to sit Witt Jr the rest of the season?

Stop being an Internet bully and learn to read and interpret what people say. We are both allowed to be Royals fans and have different viewpoints. When you go above and beyond to argue things I didn’t say, it makes you look like a fool debating yourself.

Now if you want to have a conversation, I’ll ask a few questions:

1. Do you think Matheny has the support of the players still?

2. Do you think Raul Mondesi (I assume you know who he is since you obviously know who Witt Jr’s father is), controls the Royals decisions on his son (despite a somewhat estranged relationship)? Is this why the Royals spent all off season saying Mondesi would have to prove himself, not be the starting everyday SS, and would have plenty of off days to stay healthy? Yet the season comes along and he’s back to SS and playing plenty only to get hurt yet again? Do the Royals bend to a player’s dad, especially if they are ex-major leaguers? If so, as your comments about if Witt Jr’s dad seem to indicate, do you think this is beneficial to the organization? (Note: I would be open to Bobby Witt Sr replacing Eldred at any point even though I have no idea what he’s been doing the past 20 years)

3. Do the Royals make decisions based on what an individual player may want and not what is best for the team, if so, is this problematic?

4. What exactly makes you a superior fan to the rest of us, or at least myself?

1) good question. I dont know but I will be watching to see.

2) I thought BWJ was Mike Witt's son lol but I think bearcat sniffed that one out. He must be Mike's newphew.

Not sure what Raul Mondesi's influence on the team is. But with his latest injury, the Adalberto era might already be over.

Regarding 4, Honestly you are the bigger Royal fan than me. So is everyone else here. Thats mostly because I'm an Angels fan. I like the Royals for weird reasons like they are the KC team, BWJ's blood relation to Angel great Mike Witt, and I thought Vince Coleman was a boss in his day. I might be the biggest Gregg Jefferies fan here. When I pitched at the Babe Ruth level (14-15 yo) I modeled my windup after Dan Quisinberry. So I dig the Royals and particularly their intriguing prospects, Melendez, Vinnie, BWJ, Pratto, and a couple more. I'm particularly invested in BWJ and VP, and I do mean invested - couple bets, couple high buy-in fantasy leagues, etc.

But I'm an Angel fan my friend so you and everyone else has me beat on Royals fandom.

And bro I didnt mean to bully you. You clearly are also a fan. I just love how CP is the last place on the internet still left where you can speak freely and controversially. Its the culture here and it is spectacular.

But yeah my main thesis would be play BWJ and Melendez and Vinnie every day all season long.

No hard feelings mate.

[Vladimir_Kyrilytch]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Bobby Witt?

You would make a good auditor Mr. Cat. I had it in my mind that BWJ is Mike Witt's son, but that makes no sense as you astutely point out lol. BWJ must be Mike's nephew, cause i have heard they are related.

[cabletech94]

Matheny fired yet?
/Asking for a friend.

[Prison Bitch]

We make fun of Skunkhead and the staff but a lot of you morons also thought this team was good and would win 84-90 games. So joke is on you too

[Vladimir_Kyrilytch]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

We make fun of Skunkhead and the staff but a lot of you morons also thought this team was good and would win 84-90 games. So joke is on you too

I thought the team could be good, but all the young pitchers needed to come through. Instead, the exact opposite happened. They all imploded!

[Al Bundy]

The Royals have placed Jonathan Heasley on the 15-day IL with right shoulder tendinitis. Foster Griffin recalled.

— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) July 10, 2022

[DJJasonp]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

We make fun of Skunkhead and the staff but a lot of you morons also thought this team was good and would win 84-90 games. So joke is on you too

i thought .500 was doable.

i still think it was, if you take the coaches out of the equation.

[PHOG]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

We make fun of Skunkhead and the staff but a lot of you morons also thought this team was good and would win 84-90 games. So joke is on you too

I'm guilty of an overly optimistic prediction, but when you read articles quoting opposing teams scouts stating that they are just waiting for the Royals to give up on these pitchers, because they think they know what the problem is with them, it really makes one wonder about the coaching?

The hitting has improved (for the most part), but the pitching is still a puzzle at best for them.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

We make fun of Skunkhead and the staff but a lot of you morons also thought this team was good and would win 84-90 games. So joke is on you too

I said 74 wins at the beginning of the season. Now I feel we'll be lucky to get to 60.

[Vladimir_Kyrilytch]

Before I knew this Royals thread was a thing, I made a thread in the Romper Room entitled "I think the Royals will win the world series this very year." It did not age well. But it's Sunday so it is the proper time for confessions.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

The Royals have placed Jonathan Heasley on the 15-day IL with right shoulder tendinitis. Foster Griffin recalled.

— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) July 10, 2022

Rofl

Dis gon be good

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

We make fun of Skunkhead and the staff but a lot of you morons also thought this team was good and would win 84-90 games. So joke is on you too

How's the joke on us? We didn't pick this loser coaching staff or the idiot running the operation. All it would take is a middle of the pack rotation and wed be much better, but instead we get one of the worst ever.