*** 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.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Rumor mill is swirling that expansion is on the horizon for MLB. Portland and Montreal are the lead cities for that. I've also heard that the A's are looking into moving to Nashville.

Couple of expansion franchises would have another influx of cash into the payroll.

I’ve heard the A’s to Portland also, in lieu of expansion in that city.

Not sure how well a “carpetbagger” franchise would do in the south. Seems li a new one might be better.

Also think Charlotte makes a ton of sense. Large city that is growing and has a big Baseball fan base. Less
Competition from college football for money and attendance, too.

[Dunit35]

Is the game on TV today? Or only Facebook watch?

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by Dunit35

Is the game on TV today? Or only Facebook watch?

I was thinking the same thing. Not on FSKC, not on MLB, not on ESPN obviously. Must be one of the few games a year they do not televise.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I’ve heard the A’s to Portland also, in lieu of expansion in that city.

Not sure how well a “carpetbagger” franchise would do in the south. Seems li a new one might be better.

Also think Charlotte makes a ton of sense. Large city that is growing and has a big Baseball fan base. Less
Competition from college football for money and attendance, too.

I've heard Portland in the mix for the A's as well, but MLB would rather have the expansion team since they have a potential ownership group in place.

Charlotte the problem is the city just built a new minor league park and funds aren't available for a new stadium.

Nashville has the same problem as Charlotte in that regard but the A's ownership group likes the city. It's the reason they put their Triple A team there instead of closer options.

Be interesting to see what takes place.

[BWillie]

I would like the Royals to acquire the minor league team the Richmond Flying Squirrels. I bought there hat the other day, cuz it is awesome. Make the Dodgers give the Oklahoma City minor league team to us and rebrand them the Oklahoma City Flying Squirrels. Best mascot in all of sports. Ridiculous that OKC is a Dodgers affiliation. Need to get them more on board with Royals fandom before it's too late.

[KCUnited]

Moose staying hot.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I would like the Royals to acquire the minor league team the Richmond Flying Squirrels. I bought there hat the other day, cuz it is awesome. Make the Dodgers give the Oklahoma City minor league team to us and rebrand them the Oklahoma City Flying Squirrels. Best mascot in all of sports. Ridiculous that OKC is a Dodgers affiliation. Need to get them more on board with Royals fandom before it's too late.

Omaha is more important city and it's closer.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Omaha is more important city and it's closer.

It is, but I feel like there is great opportunity to get most of Oklahoma on board as Royals fans after our World Series run and we didn't make the most of it. There is no reason Oklahoma City should be affiliated with the Dodgers. Either, Rangers or Kansas City.

Pull out of NW Arkansas, put them in OKC. Bet most of the people on NW Arkansas are Cards or Braves fans anyway.

[KCUnited]

Kennedy throwing BP.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Pull out of NW Arkansas, put them in OKC. Bet most of the people on NW Arkansas are Cards or Braves fans anyway.

That's not how it works there champ.

Oklahoma City is owned by one of the Dodgers ownership partners. That's why they have the affiliation and they have Tulsa as their Double A for ease of movement between the two.

Royals aren't going to pull out of Northwest Arkansas either with the Glass family ties and the ease to Omaha along with the corporate headquarters in that region.

[petegz28]

We are on pace to win like 25 games or so...

[OKchiefs]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

Keep them all together & bring all up at the same time so they have chemistry.

So they can all leave at the same time again? I'd rather we don't follow that plan again.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by OKchiefs

I believe the Dodgers minor league affiliate is the Tulsa Drillers, not OKC.

The Oklahoma City Dodgers are a Minor League Baseball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club.

How ridiculous. Two minor league affiliates in OKLAHOMA that are LA based.

[siberian khatru]

This is the worst bullpen in major league history

[ping2000]

Unwatchable.