***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.

[Prison Bitch]

Where are they now?

1. Eric Hosmer. Don’t hassle the Hoz! Off to a red hot start, batting 376/458/565 for an insane 194 wRC+. 10th best FWAR thus far. After 4 years of delivering 0 total war he might have found that pulling the ball more can make up for his continual worm burners. FG examines his heat streak:

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/after-ye...denly-red-hot/

2. Mike MouSTINKas: after signing a 4/64 deal with Cinci, he delivered 0 war his first two seasons in a reprise of his buddy Hoz. Off to another slow start this year 70 wRC+. Odds are Cinci, who is 3-22, win the price of who funds Moose’s retirement and kids college funds

3. Lorenzo Cain. LoCain is a helluva drug but it wears off over time and he’s no diff. In final year of his 5/80 deal, he delivered an initial monster year (6.1 war) but has delivered 3 total war since. Off to a 50 wRC+ start and worse, is posting his first negative base running season. He projects to return 70 of the 80 he earned which is good value for any FA.

4. AlSHITTYs Escobar. 9-18 DC is so bad they somehow gave AE 82 PA already this season. As expected he’s farted out a 42wRC+ and offers no speed or def anymore. Why teams play these old war horses never ceases to amaze me.

5. Brett Phillips. Has only 47pa for TB, has his usual output: 80 wRC+ with +2.8 defense runs already. It never ceases to amaze why these types DONT get more time

6. Jorge Lopez. 3-14 for Balt last year, 1-4 thus far. xFIPs are so so. He’s about what you get for $1.5m. Better than Kiera and Boobic tho.

7. Mike Minor. Aptly named war horse just pitched a simulated game in the minors vs A ball. Hasn’t thrown a big league pitch and may not this year. Not a bad salary dump by Skunkhead

8. JorGAY Soler. 110 PA with 74 wRC+. So about what he did for us last year. Got a 3/36 deal in offseason by Miami who, apparently wanted to fund his retirement and kids college fund

9. Franchy Cordero. 16pa for Boston. .214 avg. not worth discussing

10. Khalil Lee. AAA player in Syracuse. 71 PA batting .164. Has a tidy 27-9 K-BB. At age 24 prob a good dump by Skunkhead

11. Matt Strahm. 8 bullpen IP for Padres. 2.17 fip. Better than Brentz

12. Martin Maldonado. Looks like he lost his job in Houston. Batting .074 in 64 PA will do that. Still he took them for $5m large in his swan song.

13. Kelvin Gutierrez. Sent to AAA by Balt. Batting .43 in 33pA will do that. If you can’t play for Baltimore who CAN you play for?

[WhawhaWhat]

I figured Escobar was just sticking around to get that 10th year of service time. He got that last year so I'm surprised to see him still in the majors.

[Sassy Squatch]

Interesting. Didn't realize he was playing that well.

[chiefqueen]

Tonight's game postponed DH on Sunday.

[Vladimir_Kyrilytch]

Superturtle's new profile pic or avatar or whatever you call it is trash.

[chiefqueen]

As expected, tonight's game is postponed. Make-up game 11:00 AM CDT on Monday.

[CatinKS]

Three games scheduled in a little over 24 hours. Maybe this will awake the Royals bats.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by CatinKS

Three games scheduled in a little over 24 hours. Maybe this will awake the Royals bats.

3 wins in 24 hours seems nice.

[gblowfish]

I've been in a much better mood the last 48 hours. Wonder why???

[gblowfish]

Did you guys see Boo Bitch schilling for Car Shield Extended Car Warranties on the Royals Broadcast today?
"Car Shield protects your car when it's out of manufacturer's warranty. And you can rack up a LOT of miles driving back and forth from KC to Omaha!"

[Vladimir_Kyrilytch]

True story. One time i was on twitch and im too old for that but I was in there. One of the dudes with a channel was named Brett Philips, which reminded me of the Royal prospect. So i went into his channel and said hey u the failed outfiedler from Omaha?I thought i was being cute with my obscure knowledge. He said yes im brett philips and I still play baseball. It was actually him. That guy is cool.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

I've been in a much better mood the last 48 hours. Wonder why???

Did you get laid?

[gblowfish]

Originally Posted by TLO

Did you get laid?

Let's just say Mrs B loves Mothers' Day...

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by Vladimir_Kyrilytch

True story. One time i was on twitch and im too old for that but I was in there. One of the dudes with a channel was named Brett Philips, which reminded me of the Royal prospect. So i went into his channel and said hey u the failed outfiedler from Omaha?I thought i was being cute with my obscure knowledge. He said yes im brett philips and I still play baseball. It was actually him. That guy is cool.

You're just a completely reeruned mother****er. Maybe you should send some lead through your head.

[TLO]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

You're just a completely reeruned mother****er. Maybe you should send some lead through your head.

??????