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ChiefsCountry · 01-01-2023, 12:02 AM

2023 – A new beginning for the Royals. Matt Quatraro era begins. A year to see which of our young players will make up the core going forward. Can Bobby Witt Jr become a superstar SS or will go to the hot corner? Will Brady Singer take the next step forward? Will Salvy be Salvy? Will Big Vin or Pratto take first base? Will they find a position for MJ? Who else emerges from the youth movement? Not to mention the development of the new downtown stadium.

Free Agents/Trades Acquisitions
Jordan Lyles, RHP
Ryan Yarbrough, LHP
Josh Taylor, LHP
Aroldis Chapman, LHP

Top 10 Prospects from Baseball America
1. Gavin Cross, OF
2. Cayden Wallace, 3B
3. Drew Waters, OF
4. Ben Kudrna, RHP
5. Frank Mozzicato, LHP
6. Maikel Garcia, SS
7. Tyler Gentry, OF
8. Nick Loftin, OF/3B
9. Angel Zerpa, LHP
10. Carter Jensen, C

Mecca · 07-09-2023, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Weird. You always like power guys over a bunch of second baseman types.

The Royals system is so bad it's not the time to go HR or K, they just need some solid ****ing base hits.

Warpaint69 · 07-09-2023, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

I honestly don't care about that. It'd be different if it was a prep pitcher for sure. That's a different beast. There aren't many prep catchers (or major league catchers) with that arm. Unless there's some program specific reason why someone isn't learning baseball or football a certain way, I don't see the logical reason why a HS catcher can't have success. Our player development worries me far more than the prep catcher thing. They obviously went for a guy with tools they want to try and coach up.

That coaching up thing…. well yeah.. anyway. Hope he can develop on his own time.

siberian khatru · 07-09-2023, 07:05 PM

From RoyalsReview:

There hasn't been a 1st-round HS catcher taken since 2001 that has a) remained in the position and b) accrued at least 10 WAR.

The Royals think they are smart enough to overcome that trend.

tk13 · 07-09-2023, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

https://twitter.com/maxrieper/status/1678196386070659072?t=Rer6cuzpD64qQecBe4PS7g&s=09

They don't have this dude's arm. They just don't. I'd have to go look but I'm pretty sure Naylor was considered a bat-first catcher too. Not that we're sure he's even staying at catcher but Mitchell has a 70-grade arm and can throw it almost 100 mph.

They're definitely taking a huge risk here, I agree, but at least they did it with a guy that has elite tools. Amazing arm, really good lefty power and appears to have good plate discipline too. If the Rays did this everybody would be saying how smart they are.

Mecca · 07-09-2023, 07:09 PM

So if you think he's a catcher...does this mean they just gave up on Carter Jensen who was one of those finds from going underslot on Mozzicato?

Al Bundy · 07-09-2023, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

They don't have this dude's arm. They just don't. I'd have to go look but I'm pretty sure Naylor was considered a bat-first catcher too. Not that we're sure he's even staying at catcher but Mitchell has a 70-grade arm and can throw it almost 100 mph.

They're definitely taking a huge risk here, I agree, but at least they did it with a guy that has elite tools. Amazing arm, really good lefty power and appears to have good plate discipline too. If the Rays did this everybody would be saying how smart they are.

Yes because they could give him 5 years. Mitchell is a DH with no athletic ability. He is nothing more than a system filler.

Al Bundy · 07-09-2023, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

So if you think he's a catcher...does this mean they just gave up on Carter Jensen who was one of those finds from going underslot on Mozzicato?

They don't think he's a catcher. They know he is a DH. BTW this is the pick that will get all of these guys fired.

Ocotillo · 07-09-2023, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tk13

They don't have this dude's arm. They just don't. I'd have to go look but I'm pretty sure Naylor was considered a bat-first catcher too. Not that we're sure he's even staying at catcher but Mitchell has a 70-grade arm and can throw it almost 100 mph.

They're definitely taking a huge risk here, I agree, but at least they did it with a guy that has elite tools. Amazing arm, really good lefty power and appears to have good plate discipline too. If the Rays did this everybody would be saying how smart they are.

I don't think teams should ever rule out any type of player (HS pitcher, HS catcher).

His howitzer of an arm is a bigger deal because of the 2023 rules and a potential automated strike zone in the coming years. But there's much more to catching than that. It's a tough position for obvious reasons. Even the high-performing Triple-A catchers bust at probably a 50/50 rate in the majors.

All that being said, the success of this pick is going to come down to whether Mitchell can hit or not, like any other pick.

And even with the polished college position players, we often don't find out if they can hit against pro pitching with the wood bat until they start accruing at-bats in rookie and low Single-A ball.

Mecca · 07-09-2023, 07:15 PM

Also this is the 3rd high picks prep catcher taken recently by the Royals.

Melendez
Jensen
Mitchell

Melendez was a glove first prep catcher that scouts said could defensively play in the majors right away..yet today's he's an OFer because the Royals think he's awful behind the plate..

This is the team we trust to develop Mitchell...

Warpaint69 · 07-09-2023, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

Also this is the 3rd high picks prep catcher taken recently by the Royals.

Melendez
Jensen
Mitchell

Melendez was a glove first prep catcher that scours said could defensively play in the majors right away..yet today's he's an OFer because the Royals think he's awful behind the plate..

This is the team we trust to develop Mitchell...

I have more faith in him developing a bad case of jock itch than this clown franchise developing him

Mecca · 07-09-2023, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Bundy

They don't think he's a catcher. They know he is a DH. BTW this is the pick that will get all of these guys fired.

If everything goes perfectly he's Kyle Schwarber.

jd1020 · 07-09-2023, 07:34 PM

Manfred looked like he was about to blow his top announcing that Astros pick trying to yell over the boos.

Mecca · 07-09-2023, 07:44 PM

I just realized something...

You don't draft Blake Mitchell unless you think you have 100% job security..so even with this terrible MLB team...awful minor leagues..Piccolo and crew feel no heat or pressure.

That's sad and frankly ridiculous, they're on pace to be one of the 5 worst teams ever.

ChiefsCountry · 07-09-2023, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mecca

If everything goes perfectly he's Kyle Schwarber.

Schwarber has 4 seasons in home runs that would be top 12 in Royals history....

Mecca · 07-09-2023, 07:47 PM

Wow Seattle just shit all over the Royals with those last 2 picks...

This is why this strategy is risky.

01-01-2023, 12:02 AM
ChiefsCountry The Insider ChiefsCountry's Avatar Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lake of the Ozarks	*Official 2023 Royals Season Repository Thread* 2023 – A new beginning for the Royals. Matt Quatraro era begins. A year to see which of our young players will make up the core going forward. Can Bobby Witt Jr become a superstar SS or will go to the hot corner? Will Brady Singer take the next step forward? Will Salvy be Salvy? Will Big Vin or Pratto take first base? Will they find a position for MJ? Who else emerges from the youth movement? Not to mention the development of the new downtown stadium. Free Agents/Trades Acquisitions Jordan Lyles, RHP Ryan Yarbrough, LHP Josh Taylor, LHP Aroldis Chapman, LHP Top 10 Prospects from Baseball America 1. Gavin Cross, OF 2. Cayden Wallace, 3B 3. Drew Waters, OF 4. Ben Kudrna, RHP 5. Frank Mozzicato, LHP 6. Maikel Garcia, SS 7. Tyler Gentry, OF 8. Nick Loftin, OF/3B 9. Angel Zerpa, LHP 10. Carter Jensen, C Last edited by ChiefsCountry; 01-24-2023 at 12:29 PM..
Posts: 49,882

07-09-2023, 07:05 PM	#3018
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan siberian khatru's Avatar Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium	From RoyalsReview: There hasn't been a 1st-round HS catcher taken since 2001 that has a) remained in the position and b) accrued at least 10 WAR. The Royals think they are smart enough to overcome that trend.
Posts: 69,368

07-09-2023, 07:09 PM	#3020
Mecca Hockey Town Mecca's Avatar Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri	So if you think he's a catcher...does this mean they just gave up on Carter Jensen who was one of those finds from going underslot on Mozzicato?
Posts: 111,269

07-09-2023, 07:15 PM	#3024
Mecca Hockey Town Mecca's Avatar Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri	Also this is the 3rd high picks prep catcher taken recently by the Royals. Melendez Jensen Mitchell Melendez was a glove first prep catcher that scouts said could defensively play in the majors right away..yet today's he's an OFer because the Royals think he's awful behind the plate.. This is the team we trust to develop Mitchell...
Posts: 111,269

07-09-2023, 07:34 PM	#3027
jd1020 In Search of a Life Join Date: Nov 2010	Manfred looked like he was about to blow his top announcing that Astros pick trying to yell over the boos.
Posts: 24,341

07-09-2023, 07:44 PM	#3028
Mecca Hockey Town Mecca's Avatar Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri	I just realized something... You don't draft Blake Mitchell unless you think you have 100% job security..so even with this terrible MLB team...awful minor leagues..Piccolo and crew feel no heat or pressure. That's sad and frankly ridiculous, they're on pace to be one of the 5 worst teams ever.
Posts: 111,269

07-09-2023, 07:47 PM	#3030
Mecca Hockey Town Mecca's Avatar Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri	Wow Seattle just shit all over the Royals with those last 2 picks... This is why this strategy is risky.
Posts: 111,269