*** 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.

[ChiTown]

Hmmm. Can’t say that I have heard of any of those fellows. Anyone know anything about this group of players?

[Al Bundy]

Gutierrez, 23, is Washington’s #10 prospect, Perkins, 21, is #11, according to MLB .com https://t.co/fI1wxb020T

— Josh Vernier (@JoshVernier610) June 19, 2018

[OKchiefs]

Dayton Moore can **** right off. Stats aren't everything, but every single one of these players is entirely unimpressive.

[Al Bundy]

So.. he got what you were going to get for a reliever with one year of control left.

[Al Bundy]

BA rated Gutierrez as having the best infield arm and Perkins as the best defensive OF in the Nate system.

— Craig Brown (@CraigBrown_BP) June 19, 2018

[tk13]

If I'm reading this right Morel is 17 years old. Young pitcher. The other two guys seem like decent prospects. They aren't top guys like Robles or Soto, but I just don't think you're going to get that unless you trade someone with more control.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

Gutierrez, 23, is Washington’s #10 prospect, Perkins, 21, is #11, according to MLB .com https://t.co/fI1wxb020T

— Josh Vernier (@JoshVernier610) June 19, 2018

Well, that sounds reasonably unimpressive. Like tk13 says, it’s hard to get much of a return for a rent a player, even for an elite closer like Herrera.

[SPchief]

Originally Posted by OKchiefs

Dayton Moore can **** right off. Stats aren't everything, but every single one of these players is entirely unimpressive.

Should have held out for Machado straight up

[ChiefsCountry]

Blake Perkins
The Nationals made the most of their two second-round picks in the 2015 Draft by selecting the best defensive outfielders still on the board in Andrew Stevenson and Arizona high school product Perkins. Though Perkins was Washington's second choice, he received the highest bonus in its Draft crop at $800,000 for his five-tool potential. Those tools were on full display during his first full season in the Class A South Atlantic League, as he hit for both average and power, paced the circuit in runs scored (105) and walks (72) and showed impact potential in center field as well as on the basepaths.

The Nationals helped Perkins become a switch-hitter upon entering the pro ranks, and the club is thrilled with his early returns from both sides of the plate. He made huge strides as a lefty in 2017, collecting 25 of his 39 extra-base hits including all eight of his home runs from that side, albeit with some swing-and-miss tendencies. He's more contact-oriented with modest gap power from his natural right side, while his patient approach and discerning eye stands out on both sides of the plate.

Perkins' plus speed translated to 31 steals in his first full season, and he should continue to swipe bags with ease thanks to his strong on-base skills. He gets excellent jumps and has range for days in all directions in center field, with average arm strength that allows him to play all three outfield positions if needed. Perkins has the ceiling of a top-of-the-order center fielder, with a fourth-outfielder floor thanks to his across-the-board tools.

[SPchief]

Originally Posted by OKchiefs

Dayton Moore can **** right off. Stats aren't everything, but every single one of these players is entirely unimpressive.

Should have held out for Antuna straight up

[tk13]

#Royals officials privately had wondered why a team wouldn’t step out for Herrera and pay a slightly higher price to secure him well before the non-waiver deadline. #Nationals did just that, acquiring Herrera for 3 1/2 months as opposed to two. Typical Mike Rizzo aggression.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) June 19, 2018

[ChiefsCountry]

Kelvin Gutierrez
Gutierrez established himself as a prospect during an All-Star campaign in the Class A Short Season New York-Penn League in 2015, when he recorded the circuit's fifth-highest average (.305) and tied for the league lead in doubles (21). He made a smooth transition to full-season ball in the Class A South Atlantic League the following year, earning midseason All-Star honors in the process, and was in the midst of a similarly strong offensive campaign in 2017 before a June ankle injury wiped out much of his second half. Gutierrez did manage to make up for some of that lost time in the Arizona Fall League, and the Nationals added him to their 40-man roster in November.

The Nationals view Gutierrez as one of the better pure hitters in their system. He has a relatively simple inside-out stroke from the right side of the plate that produces hard contact across the whole field and fuels his projection as an above-average hitter. And while he hasn't yet figured out how to apply his raw power during games, club officials do expect him to clear more fences once he becomes more comfortable firing his barrel and turning on the ball.

Primarily a shortstop early in his career before shifting to third base in 2014, Gutierrez moves well for his size at the hot corner, showing athletic actions and plenty of range, with near plus-plus arm strength that is a clean fit at the position. Meanwhile, after committing 25 errors in 2016, Gutierrez was focused and consistent in '17, prompting many evaluators to peg him as a future above-average defender.

[Munson]

Kennedy gives up a homer to the first batter.

I'm shocked!

[Spott]

The bullpen will never be able to finish a game now. Oh well. Probably going to lose 120 games now instead of 110.

[OKchiefs]

Well, I viewed Herrera as easily our best trade chip. Unless we trade Merrifield or Salvy, which I don't think Moore has the balls to do, I don't expect much ammunition to be added by trade with Moose being our only real trade chip now.