***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.

[Eleazar]

Originally Posted by DeepSouth

I just realized the Athletics record ( 21 - 43 ) is worse than the Royals ( 21 - 41 ). Who is pitching for the Royals today ?

I would laugh but they had to have a fire sale to get there

[Vladimir_Kyrilytch]

You Royals fans don't realize how good you have it. I'm a fan of a team with truly no hope. I still wake up in the morning, wash the vulva excretions off my goattee, and hope for better that night. As an Angels fan, this Royals suppository depresses me.

[ChiefsCountry]

Can't wait till the A's move out of that dump in Oakland and go to Las Vegas.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Can't wait till the A's move out of that dump in Oakland and go to Las Vegas.

They better put the stadium inside. Ain't nobody gonna be watching baseball outside in vegas during almost any part of the baseball season

[BWillie]

Andrew Benintendi is having the worst season he's ever had. Last season was the 2nd worst season he's ever had.

2016. .835 ops
2017. .776 ops
2018. .830 ops
2019 .774 ops
2020 hurt
2021. .766 ops
2022. .761 ops

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Andrew Benintendi is having the worst season he's ever had. Last season was the 2nd worst season he's ever had.

2016. .835 ops
2017. .776 ops
2018. .830 ops
2019 .774 ops
2020 hurt
2021. .766 ops
2022. .761 ops

****ing idiotic to not have traded him earlier.

[KChiefs1]

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[KChiefs1]

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...nnect-uniforms

Ranking MLB's City Connect uniforms

Major League Baseball and Nike introduced the City Connect series during the 2021 season to shake up uniform design across the sport in the most dramatic fashion since the league introduced the Turn Ahead the Clock alternates in the late 1990s.

Nike has worked with each MLB team to craft a uniform that expresses the personality and communities of the team's home city. Last year saw the launch of seven City Connect uniforms: for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins and San Francisco Giants. The unveilings have continued this season with the Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels and Milwaukee Brewers so far, and those will be followed by the San Diego Padres on July 8.

After taking over as the uniform supplier for the NFL and the NBA, Nike pushed for radical uniform-design changes in those leagues, a move that is now making its way into the baseball world. While some MLB traditionalists have scoffed, many of the designs have sold out quickly after their unveiling.

With some of the designs more polarizing than others, here's our breakdown of the uniforms that have dropped to date -- and how we rank them.

1. Colorado Rockies
2. Chicago White Sox
3. Miami Marlins
4. Washington Nationals
5. Boston Red Sox
6. Arizona Diamondbacks
7. Houston Astros
8. Los Angeles Angels
9. Milwaukee Brewers
10. San Francisco Giants
11. Kansas City Royals

Debut: April 30, 2022, vs. New York Yankees

Design inspiration: Nike presented the Royals with multiple themes, including barbecue and jazz, and the team went with a theme inspired by the city's fountains and art deco architecture. The navy blue pays homage to the city's baseball past with the Monarchs, Blue Sox, Athletics, Packers and Blues, while the design detailing is a nod to the team's past uniform history.

Fan reception: The uniforms received a mixed reception on social media. Some fans criticized the safe approach to the City Connect design while others praised the team's approach with its fountain-inspired logo.

Verdict: While the Royals created a strong, modern logo, the team fell short in creating a look that differentiated itself from the rest of the team's uniform set by going with safe colors. These uniforms fell short, similar to the Cubs' uniforms, which played things slightly too safe when presented with an opportunity to go bold


12. Chicago Cubs
13. Los Angeles Dodgers


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[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...nnect-uniforms

Ranking MLB's City Connect uniforms

Major League Baseball and Nike introduced the City Connect series during the 2021 season to shake up uniform design across the sport in the most dramatic fashion since the league introduced the Turn Ahead the Clock alternates in the late 1990s.

Nike has worked with each MLB team to craft a uniform that expresses the personality and communities of the team's home city. Last year saw the launch of seven City Connect uniforms: for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins and San Francisco Giants. The unveilings have continued this season with the Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels and Milwaukee Brewers so far, and those will be followed by the San Diego Padres on July 8.

After taking over as the uniform supplier for the NFL and the NBA, Nike pushed for radical uniform-design changes in those leagues, a move that is now making its way into the baseball world. While some MLB traditionalists have scoffed, many of the designs have sold out quickly after their unveiling.

With some of the designs more polarizing than others, here's our breakdown of the uniforms that have dropped to date -- and how we rank them.

1. Colorado Rockies
2. Chicago White Sox
3. Miami Marlins
4. Washington Nationals
5. Boston Red Sox
6. Arizona Diamondbacks
7. Houston Astros
8. Los Angeles Angels
9. Milwaukee Brewers
10. San Francisco Giants
11. Kansas City Royals

Debut: April 30, 2022, vs. New York Yankees

Design inspiration: Nike presented the Royals with multiple themes, including barbecue and jazz, and the team went with a theme inspired by the city's fountains and art deco architecture. The navy blue pays homage to the city's baseball past with the Monarchs, Blue Sox, Athletics, Packers and Blues, while the design detailing is a nod to the team's past uniform history.

Fan reception: The uniforms received a mixed reception on social media. Some fans criticized the safe approach to the City Connect design while others praised the team's approach with its fountain-inspired logo.

Verdict: While the Royals created a strong, modern logo, the team fell short in creating a look that differentiated itself from the rest of the team's uniform set by going with safe colors. These uniforms fell short, similar to the Cubs' uniforms, which played things slightly too safe when presented with an opportunity to go bold


12. Chicago Cubs
13. Los Angeles Dodgers


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I'm biased, but I personally like KCs over every other City Connect.

**** ESPN

[Vladimir_Kyrilytch]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

I'm biased, but I personally like KCs over every other City Connect.

**** ESPN

I agree. The Royal city connect unis were the best. The Rockies are #2. This link is questionable.

Did you read that copy? The Royals played it safe by rolling out blue uniforms, thats the thesis. Guy was hoping for rainbow colors.

[ChiefsCountry]

Lorenzo Cain showed up to his first baseball practice in 10th grade wearing a collared shirt, jean shorts and basketball shoes. Then he played 10 years in the Majors, made two All-Star Games, won a Gold Glove and a World Series.

Today, he was DFA’d by the Brewers. pic.twitter.com/HOe5EJuXEc

— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) June 18, 2022

[cabletech94]

Loved LoCain. He was instrumental for our run. I’ll be honest, I haven’t kept up since he’s been gone. Hope he has a place to work in our organization in some capacity.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by cabletech94

Loved LoCain. He was instrumental for our run. I’ll be honest, I haven’t kept up since he’s been gone. Hope he has a place to work in our organization in some capacity.

He had a great 2018 and it went down hill

[cosmo20002]

Sad to go out like this with a nutshot.

Cup check for Lorenzo Cain pic.twitter.com/MiINq3hTaw

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 17, 2022

[KChiefs1]

Whit Merrifield is the Royals’ worst every day player


Carlos Santana barely edges out Whit in fWAR, -0.1 to -0.2. The real difference between them comes from bWAR where Santana leads 0.4 to -0.9. You might be tempted to cry foul and point out that Carlos Santana has been hot lately and without that stretch he wouldn’t be better than Whit. However, Whit Merrifield has also had a hot stretch in there. Additionally, WAR is a cumulative stat which means that the player who plays more has a greater opportunity to improve their WAR than one who does not.

Carlos has been getting days off as the Royals prepare to give in to the inevitable and let him go while they continue to send Whit out to do his faux-Iron Man schtick because it’s about all the team can celebrate, right now.

There’s no escaping it at this point; Merrifield’s time as a productive major league player is at an end. He had an atrocious start to the season that all but guaranteed it, but everyone rightfully insisted he wasn’t going to be that bad over a full season. And he did improve. But the improvement stopped and it didn’t get him to where he needs to be. The most damning part is that Nicky Lopez has been seeing less and less playing time of late because of the decline of his offensive performance, despite the fact that everyone admits his defense is still quite good. Merrifield, who again has not had a single day off this season, is carrying a 61 wRC+ to Nicky’s 58. Obviously, neither is good, but one of them is providing high-quality defense and is still relatively young. The other is well on the wrong side of 30 and has shown declining offensive skills for four straight years, now.


What should the Royals do?


While the case for cutting Santana is pretty clear, it’s less clear with Merrifield. He still offers value in terms of both speed and defensive flexibility. He’s always shown a knack for stealing bases that rivaled even that of noted Royals speedster Jarrod Dyson. Keeping him on the team as a pinch-runner and to give guys the occasional day off isn’t a bad plan. But allowing him to play every day while guys like Nick Pratto and Vinnie Pasquantino languish in AAA is just as unconscionable as playing Santana over them. You might think to yourself that Whit plays positions they don’t but so far this season he has started less than half of his games at second base. He’s started more games in the outfield plus a handful of DH games. Nick Pratto can play in the outfield. Both can DH. If Whit is in the outfield that also means Hunter Dozier or MJ Melendez are probably playing the infield or at DH, further precluding opportunities for either player to play at first or to DH themselves.

The Royals need to cut Carlos Santana. They should probably cut Ryan O’Hearn while they’re at it. They don’t need to cut Whit Merrifield, but they do need to play him much less often and Pasquantino and Pratto continue to need to be promoted in order to find out if their AAA success can translate to the big league level or not.


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