***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.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by MAHOMO 4 LIFE!

Trade Dozier? He’s one of our few bright spots

Likely the only one to bring any return at this point.

[BWillie]

Originally Posted by MAHOMO 4 LIFE!

Trade Dozier? He’s one of our few bright spots

The goal is not to win right now.

[PurpleJesus28]

Who's a better managerial candidate out there right now ? I'm genuinely curious,or is it just anyone with a pulse.

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by PurpleJesus28

Who's a better managerial candidate out there right now ? I'm genuinely curious,or is it just anyone with a pulse.

How about Jayce Tingler? Local kid that had the Padres in the playoffs very recently.

[cookster50]

Originally Posted by PurpleJesus28

Who's a better managerial candidate out there right now ? I'm genuinely curious,or is it just anyone with a pulse.

Your mom

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by BWillie

The goal is not to win right now.

Success!

The Royals now have the worst record in baseball.


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[KChiefs1]

Here’s how bad Santana is.

I’d pinch hit for him with O’Hearn.




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[cabletech94]

Pretty sure this is already well known but I’ll leave this here.

DRAFT ORDER

The first six picks in each year's draft will be awarded via lottery beginning in 2023. The 18 teams that do not qualify for the postseason will be eligible for the lottery, with odds assigned in reverse order of winning percentage.

The three teams with the worst record will each have a 16.5% chance for the 1st pick. So Royals could have worst record and wind up with the 7th pick.

[MVChiefFan]

Originally Posted by cookster50

Your mom

At first glance, this sounds like an insult. But, it could very well be a factual statement.

[WhawhaWhat]

Zack Greinke heads to the 15-day injured list. pic.twitter.com/irRkWRk5Id

— Sports Radio 810 WHB (@SportsRadio810) May 31, 2022

[TLO]

Them boys aint right

[ChiTown]

I'll be anxiously awaiting our next Title run in 2045. I hope one of you kind souls will help me manage my wheelchair in and out of The K.....

[KChiefs1]

https://intothefountains.substack.co...ments-of-truth

Moments of truth
Three events defined Monday's loss to Cleveland and the Royals' front office continues to twist prospect logic.
By
Craig Brown

There were three moments that defined the game on Monday. These moments could be extrapolated to define the entire season.

Witness

With the game tied at one in the bottom of the fifth, the Guardians had a runner on second with two outs and Jose Ramírez at the plate

The Cleveland offense has been in a bit of the doldrums the last couple of weeks. Sure, they can hang an eight-spot on the Tigers from time to time, but overall, it’s been a bit of a slog for them. They’ve been averaging 3.6 runs per game since May 16—and that includes said eight-run outburst against Detroit last weekend.

The one guy who’s not in the doldrums? Jose Ramírez. The dude rakes. And rakes. And rakes again. Over his last 10 games, he has a 238 wRC+ with four home runs. Slightly hotter than his 192 wRC+ he’s posted this year. Seriously. He’s hitting .292/.388/.634 on the year with 12 dingers. Even more impressive is his 13 percent walk rate against an eight percent strikeout rate. Eight percent strikeout rate! He’s in video game mode.

So with first base open and the game tied, the play is to obviously pitch with extreme caution.

Royals starter Jonathan Heasley opened with a changeup away, well off the plate. Easy take. Great pitch. Seeing that and you think the Royals got the memo that Ramíez is dangerous and not to be trifled with. Junk off the plate is just fine. If Ramírez is going to fish (spoiler alert he has just a 30 percent chase rate…he won’t fish), he won’t be able to do any kind of damage with an outside change.

The next pitch was a four-seamer over the heart of the plate. Seriously middle-middle. Mmmmmmkay. Ramírez, perhaps as surprised as those of us armchair managing, could only foul it off. It was a meaty pitch that he shouldn’t have missed.

The next offering was a curve that caught the outside edge for a called strike. Ahead 1-2, Heasley and the Royals are defying what should be conventional strategy and playing with house money. Although now, ahead in the count, the strategy should shift—with caution. Continue to work outside with the off-speed, but stay the hell out of the nitro zone. Maybe you can get Ramírez to expand with two strikes. But Heasley pushed too far off the dish with back-to-back changeups. The count went full.

Time for another strategy shift. With three balls on Ramírez along with two strikes, there’s really no reason to deliver a pitch anywhere near the zone. Let him go. Cut him loose. Take your chances against Owen Miller where you own the platoon advantage.

Salvador Perez wanted a high fastball. If it’s delivered up and above the zone, it could be a good pitch. It was not delivered up and above the zone.

To rub salt in that wound, facing a similar situation in the top of the eighth after the Royals tied the game, Guardian manager Terry Francona elected to put MJ Melendez on first after the Royals’ DH spit on a couple out of the zone. He wanted the right/righty matchup that would come with Nick Sandlin against Hunter Dozier. Wild!

That move didn’t really pay dividends, either. At least immediately. As you will see, that evolved into our next scenario.

With the game tied at three, Carlos Santana hits with the bases loaded in the eighth

Uncanny, isn’t it? I suppose it had to be Santana. Or Ryan O’Hearn.

The Royals had just tied the game with a Nicky Lopez single followed by doubles from Whit Merrifield and Andrew Benintendi. Perez—who is enduring a miserable stretch, posting a 40 wRC+ in May, hitting .197/.219/.296 in 73 plate appearances—hit into a double play. It wasn’t just any double play, it was a one-five-three…the old pitcher to third to first twin killing.

After that intentional walk to Melendez and the unintentional walk to Hunter Dozier, that brought up Sananta with the bases juiced in the tie game. This, of course, is sort of the reverse Ramírez. After Perez, there probably wasn’t anyone in the lineup the Guardians wanted to see more than Santana. And for those watching in Kansas City, pining for either of the super prospect duo of Vinnie Pasquantino or Nick Pratto, the last person in the world they wanted to see at the plate in that situation (other than O’Hearn, natch) was Santana. However in this case, with the sacks full of Royals, the Guardians had no choice. Not that they needed any convincing.

I will remind you the Royals are paying Santana to be their first baseman.

Santana, on a 2-2 count, popped out to second, ending the rally and keeping the game tied. It remained so until our next pivotal moment…

Cal Eldred visits the mound

Maybe it’s recency bias because this seems to happen a lot lately. Maybe it’s just ordinary bias because the evidence is extremely clear regarding Eldred’s leadership of this pitching staff. It’s just that almost every time he comes out to the mound, something suboptimal follows.

After a one-out walk and a single, Eldred came out for a visit with Collin Snider ahead of the Andres Gimenez at bat. After Snider fell behind 2-0, he crawled back with a pair of strikes on his slider. Another slider missed inside to fill the count.

Gimenez was suddenly faced with a 97 MPH center-cut sinker.

Boom. Three runs. Ballgame.

The latest loss comes after another bizarre meeting with a member of the Royals beat writers to explain the prospect inertia we’re seeing in regards to Pratto and Pasquantino.

Royals general manager J.J. Picollo has the honors.

“We just have to keep in mind, we’ve done this for a long time, young players can come up and certainly help an offense. But it’s really hard to expect a young player to come up and carry an offense. We don’t want them to feel like they have to carry an offense.”

That’s Royals front office quote bingo. The reminder that, hey, this crew knows exactly what they’re doing, gets the ball rolling here. Never mind the Royals are now in the fifth year of a not-rebuild that has seen the team post a .393 winning percentage in that time. Real used car salesman vibe here. “Trust me.”

That’s followed by a jump that, as far as I can tell, no one is counting on. The calls for Pratto and Pasquantino to Kansas City aren’t because they will be expected to salvage a below-average offense. They are coming because 1) they’re both doing really well in the Triple-A level and profile as two of the club’s top prospects and damnit, prospects are exciting, and 2) everyone can see the Royals are carrying offensive dead weight in Santana and O’Hearn.

And 3) Pratto and Pasquantino play the exact positions Santana and O’Hearn play. Crazy!

Nobody is asking for a savior. (That was Nicky Lopez, if you recall.) They’re asking for improvement. They’re asking for playing time for a couple of kids who will be in the mix should this club ever return to contention. If the Royals are looking to 2024 (or ‘25 or whenever) for contention, we know for sure that Santana won’t be on the team. I’m less certain about O’Hearn. Still…

Let’s let Picollo continue.

“The evaluations are very good. Vinnie, in particular, is swinging the bat exceptionally well. Nick continues to get better with his at-bats. Vinnie, I was looking at this the other day, he just hit the 150 at-bat mark in Triple-A. He had 200 at-bats in Double-A. So when you look at upper-level at-bats, he’s had 350 upper-level at-bats. That’s not even a season’s worth, over two levels. You’d like to get, really, a full season at the highest level. That’s not set in stone, but generally you’d like to see 500, 550 plate appearances at the highest level.”

We have plate appearance fatigue in Kansas City. After years of listening to now Royals president Dayton Moore explain that you really need 1,500 or so plate appearances at the major league level before things really click for you (see Moustakas, Mike), we’re now playing the same game in the minors. Except what Picollo said truly does make some sense. He’s speaking truth.

Pasquantino does have very limited experience above High-A. But here’s the rub…the guy is 24 years old and in Triple-A. He’s shown he can handle the pitching at this level, small sample size be damned. What I’m looking at is an advanced feel and approach at the plate along with numbers that back that up. A 13 percent walk rate to go along with a 15 percent strikeout rate. That’s a skill that, if you look at his player page at FanGraphs, carries from level to level. This is who Pasquantino is as a hitter.

Pratto is a different type of hitter in that he brings some swing and miss. He’s striking out 31 percent of the time, which is not what you want to see, really. It makes me wonder how that will translate to the majors.

There’s only one way to find out, isn’t there?

I do think there is reason to be cautious with the prospects. The Royals have to get this correct. They can’t afford to bring up one or both and have them flounder for the rest of the season. The timing is so important on this. But to feed lines about not wanting them to “carry the offense” just reads like an excuse for inertia. We’ve seen this prospect dance before. If anyone, Royals fans know there will be bumps along the road with young players. As Picollo himself notes, we’ve seen it this year with Bobby Witt Jr.

And everyone knows the only way to find out how a player will adapt to the jump to the majors is to actually call them up.

Let the kids play!

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[gblowfish]

Every game they've given up a 1-0 lead in the first inning they've lost. Every game they've gotten behind by 3 runs they've lost. On pace to lose 112 this season, worse than the worst season ever (2005). And Santana is stealing money almost as impressively as Mike Sweeney did in his last three years. All four years of Chris Getz seasons with KC were more productive than this season for Santana aka Oy Como Va!

[Titty Meat]

Guy on 810 speculating they'll trade Salvy. Surprised skubkhead would do that