***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.

[lewdog]

These youtube guys are pimping the Royals. Lots of young talent and they aren't that "far away from turning the corner."

Except that winning does require pitching.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by lewdog

These youtube guys are pimping the Royals. Lots of young talent and they aren't that "far away from turning the corner."

Except that winning does require pitching.

New coaching staff and they would.

[jettio]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

The tide of negativity is because, despite the success of his first 10 years on the job, he has not adjusted well to the changes in the landscape since he got the job.

The draft landscape changed in 2012. The Royals took half a decade to adjust to those changes effectively.

The development landscape has been vastly improved over the past decade, too, and the Royals have been slow to take advantage of everything now available.

Throw in bad messaging from the front office personnel this year, and hiring an unpopular and ineffective coaching staff, and this is what you land with.

I think the organization is in good shape. The MLB coaching staff should be required to take cannabis gummies before being around any of the players.

Team needs to loosen up. maybe set up a card table in the bullpen and have Matheny and the coaches play go fish during the game and let the players coach themselves.

[PHOG]

Way to go Royals. Nice job, keep it up!

[lewdog]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

New coaching staff and they would.

Well yeah, it's a better chance to develop our talent than what we are currently doing.

[Pablo]

Originally Posted by PHOG

Way to go Royals. Nice job, keep it up!

This is the sort of energy we need to get our boys in blue back to .500!!

[PHOG]

Well, now that Cy Pilkington isn't in the game, I expect a rally.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by jettio

I think the organization is in good shape. The MLB coaching staff should be required to take cannabis gummies before being around any of the players.

Team needs to loosen up. maybe set up a card table in the bullpen and have Matheny and the coaches play go fish during the game and let the players coach themselves.

I think that:

Yes, the young talent pool is in good shape. They have fixed the hitting development issues, and it's bearing good fruit. Witt, Melendez, Isbel, Olivares, Pasquantino, Loftin, Massey... some really exciting guys.

They have a lot of raw pitching ability and depth, running from the majors down a few levels.

I also believe strongly that they don't have close to a good organization in place to shepherd and develop that talent at the major league level.

Matheny: Sucks with young players and always has
Eldred: Had no track record before KC as pitching coach, has been a disaster here, and is a dinosaur who distrusts data
Grifol: An absolute FRAUD

Alex Zumwalt is the only member of the major league staff I trust in the slightest.

They've got some nice ingredients. But they're handing them to a chef who history suggests he's going to burn and overprocess all those nice ingredients.

Even prime KC Strip tastes like trash if you overcook it.

[Demonpenz]

Hudler thought this guys walk up music was for "The kids" This player was born right into spongebob mania it gets him hype

[jettio]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I think that:

Yes, the young talent pool is in good shape. They have fixed the hitting development issues, and it's bearing good fruit. Witt, Melendez, Isbel, Olivares, Pasquantino, Loftin, Massey... some really exciting guys.

They have a lot of raw pitching ability and depth, running from the majors down a few levels.

I also believe strongly that they don't have close to a good organization in place to shepherd and develop that talent at the major league level.

Matheny: Sucks with young players and always has
Eldred: Had no track record before KC as pitching coach, has been a disaster here, and is a dinosaur who distrusts data
Grifol: An absolute FRAUD

Alex Zumwalt is the only member of the major league staff I trust in the slightest.

They've got some nice ingredients. But they're handing them to a chef who history suggests he's going to burn and overprocess all those nice ingredients.

Even prime KC Strip tastes like trash if you overcook it.

You make some good points.

[gblowfish]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

Damon and Dye were both way gone before Sweeney got a contract extension you worthless turd.

I think you are confusing me with Mike Sweeney. The Royals dealt Damon to the A's at the start of the 2001 season because ownership wanted to cut payroll and would only pay one "star" position player. They chose Sweeney over Damon and Dye. Beltran was just coming up. They traded Dye to Oakland during the 2001 season for Neifi Perez -which, if you're looking for worthless turds that's you guy. Then when Sweeney's contract had kicked in, they couldn't afford to keep budding superstar Beltran so they traded him to Houston in 2004 for John Buck, Mark Teahen and Mike Wood.

Dye played for Oakland in the 2002 ALDS and Damon went on to win a World Series with Boston in 2004.

Meanwhile, Sweeney never played in a playoff game for the Royals. Not ever. Despite that, over the five year contract Royals paid Sweeney $55 million of the $257 million total payroll during those five years. In 2003 he was 23% of the total team payroll; 2004 30%, 2005 23%, 2006 16% and 2007 19%. In those five years, the Royals were a .400 baseball club.

He kept every dime.

So yeah, the Royals were stupid to pay him, but Sweeney made out like a bandit, only playing in about 40% of the games during that contract.

You can call me names, but the numbers don't lie.

This isn't even the worst contract in MLB from that era. The Mets Bobby Bonilla contract is the "hold my beer" contract!

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...y-every-july-1

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

I think you are confusing me with Mike Sweeney. The Royals dealt Damon to the A's at the start of the 2001 season because ownership wanted to cut payroll and would only pay one "star" position player. They chose Sweeney over Damon and Dye. Beltran was just coming up. They traded Dye to Oakland during the 2001 season for Neifi Perez -which, if you're looking for worthless turds that's you guy. Then when Sweeney's contract had kicked in, they couldn't afford to keep budding superstar Beltran so they traded him to Houston in 2004 for John Buck, Mark Teahen and Mike Wood.

Dye played for Oakland in the 2002 ALDS and Damon went on to win a World Series with Boston in 2004.

Meanwhile, Sweeney never played in a playoff game for the Royals. Not ever. Despite that, over the five year contract Royals paid Sweeney $55 million of the $257 million total payroll during those five years. In 2003 he was 23% of the total team payroll; 2004 30%, 2005 23%, 2006 16% and 2007 19%. In those five years, the Royals were a .400 baseball club.

He kept every dime.

So yeah, the Royals were stupid to pay him, but Sweeney made out like a bandit, only playing in about 40% of the games during that contract.

You can call me names, but the numbers don't lie.

This isn't even the worst contract in MLB from that era. The Mets Bobby Bonilla contract is the "hold my beer" contract!

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...y-every-july-1

You are the dumb ass who thinks they kept Sweeney and didn't want the other guys just because of Sweeney. When two of the guys weren't even on the roster when Sweeney got his contract extension.

[Zhawk]

I am still considering whether or not to go the game on the 12th. Going through KC on way back home so would be an easy stopover Saturday night. I generally get and pay for a really good seat. But you add in the extras (hotel/food/drink) and I wonder “why the hell would I when the team is such hot garbage?”

Would like to see the young talent we have. But clearly being horribly developed and managed just p-sses me off.

[gblowfish]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

You are the dumb ass who thinks they kept Sweeney and didn't want the other guys just because of Sweeney. When two of the guys weren't even on the roster when Sweeney got his contract extension.

They had to clear the roster because they knew they couldn't meet the demands of all three players at the same time. Sorry you can't grasp the team forecasting payroll. They picked the wrong guy. Sweeney did fine in his first contract. When he got his extension he tanked, and never justified the money they paid him. We got five years of baseball siberia because of that deal. Hey, I know he got hurt. Then he got hurt. Then the year after that he was hurt. He was Mondi 15 years before Mondi. At least Mondi saw a World Series.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

They had to clear the roster because they knew they couldn't meet the demands of all three players at the same time. Sorry you can't grasp the team forecasting payroll. They picked the wrong guy. Sweeney did fine in his first contract. When he got his extension he tanked, and never justified the money they paid him. We got five years of baseball siberia because of that deal. Hey, I know he got hurt. Then he got hurt. Then the year after that he was hurt. He was Mondi 15 years before Mondi. At least Mondi saw a World Series.

DJ's nut was right. You are just a worthless troll at this point who can't ****ing get anything right.