***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.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

I'm sure there's at least one path in the multiverse where I become the Royals' GM.

But in this one, I turned down the opportunity to go to scout school and pursue a career in baseball. At this point, I don't have the decades of honing my expertise that I'd need to be effective.

Mayock probably said the same thing. Do it.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Tyler Gentry, ladies and gentlemen.

https://www.milb.com/player/tyler-gentry-694355

.978 ops

3rd rd pick

Our next hope

I’ve been keeping an eye on him.

Tyler Gentry has been brilliant at AA so far. He’s only got 50 PA, but his ISO is way up, K% is way down, & he’s got a 130 wRC+ on a .219 BABIP…very impressive.


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[tk13]

Not that he'll do anything but literally no owner is ever going to say anyone is in trouble except for probably George Steinbrenner back in the day maybe. I wouldn't be shocked if he kept Dayton but those comments mean literally zero.

[KChiefs1]

Parker Bates has been on a freaking tear over the last month and some change. Since May 22nd, the 2021 draftee is hitting .320/.433/.587/1.020 with a 0.82 BB/K and 177 wRC+ for the Royals High-A affiliate. He got off to a slow start but he’s been hotter than donut grease of late.

Maikel Garcia is getting on base and doing it by making a ton of contact. Garcia only struck out 16.5% in High-A and 13.9% in Low-A in 2021 and is continuing that trend with a 16.2% strikeout rate in Double-A this year. 62 walks with a 15.2% K rate and 12.9% BB rate in 2021. 129 wRC+ in Low-A and 108 in High-A. Garcia currently grades with an above-average hit and speed and is easily a plus fielder at shortstop. His swing is simple and quiet, and he generates decent gap power with it. He currently leads the entire Royals minor league system in doubles. Garcia also has a great approach at the plate and good feel for the strike zone. He has drawn 36 walks to his 47 strikeouts. With his speed, you leave the fact he can get on base with high contact rates and by drawing walks. While his speed is only about above-average on the base paths, he uses his incredible instincts on the base paths to help him be a threat to steal bags. Defensively, you fall in love with Garcia’s glove. He has an above-average arm to go along with his quick instincts at shortstop. He has excellent, quick hands that pair well with his good footwork. His defensive ability and his high contact skills give you many of Alcides Escobar’s vibes. The best part of that comp is that he is Alcides Escobar’s cousin. The most significant difference between Escobar and Garcia is his ability to get on base and draw walks. As we discussed earlier, Garcia seems to have a great idea of the strike zone at the plate, and this could work to his advantage where Escobar struggled to draw walks.


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[poolboy]

the Royals’ pinpointed approach led to the club displaying its 2022 first-pitch strike results on screens inside the clubhouse. The team also printed the percentages after games and placed them on players’ chairs. Though the Royals identified the first-pitch strikes as important, they rank 30th again this season (57.4 percent) — a 0.1 percentage year-over-year uptick.

[Ron Swanson]

Originally Posted by tk13

Not that he'll do anything but literally no owner is ever going to say anyone is in trouble except for probably George Steinbrenner back in the day maybe. I wouldn't be shocked if he kept Dayton but those comments mean literally zero.

Lol, Steinbrenner use to fire Billy Martin as a hobby.

[WhawhaWhat]

Now Michael Massey hits his 13th HR! Jordan Balazovic is straight up not having a good time tonight. Look at these infielders! pic.twitter.com/6tXIxbq0uu

— Royals Farm Report (@RoyalsFarm) July 1, 2022

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Now Michael Massey hits his 13th HR! Jordan Balazovic is straight up not having a good time tonight. Look at these infielders! pic.twitter.com/6tXIxbq0uu

— Royals Farm Report (@RoyalsFarm) July 1, 2022

Massey should be here in September.


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[WhawhaWhat]

Love it when the fielders don't even bother to move.

Nick Pratto with a no-doubter.

The top @Royals prospect clubs his 13th homer for the @OMAStormChasers. pic.twitter.com/8pgozqwKed

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 1, 2022

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by WhawhaWhat

Love it when the fielders don't even bother to move.

Nick Pratto with a no-doubter.

The top @Royals prospect clubs his 13th homer for the @OMAStormChasers. pic.twitter.com/8pgozqwKed

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 1, 2022

Pratto will be playing LF/1B after Benintendi gets traded.


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[duncan_idaho]

Massey reminds me a little bit of Chase Utley. If you want to dream on him, that's the dream.

I think he'll settle in as an excellent defensive 2B who hits for a nice average and racks up a bunch of 2B and 15 HR or so a year.

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Massey reminds me a little bit of Chase Utley. If you want to dream on him, that's the dream.

I think he'll settle in as an excellent defensive 2B who hits for a nice average and racks up a bunch of 2B and 15 HR or so a year.

Yes, please.

[ChiefsCountry]

We have made the following roster moves: pic.twitter.com/Dq3zJIbCZb

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) July 1, 2022

[KChiefs1]

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[KCUnited]

Nice to see Cecil Fielder pitching for Detroit