***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.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

What is the FO doing with all this monkeying around with the positions of Witt, MJ and Pratto? Loftin? What other org does that? These guys should be locked into a position so when they arrive they can step in more seamlessly

MJ is a catcher period. He’s been seeing time at 3B and OF? Salvy has 4 years left on his deal but he’s about ready to be a DH full time. MJ needs to come up after the ASG (so Salvy can start one more time for the AL) and to be the C for the next 6 years

What other organization does that?

I don't know.

How about the Dodgers. And the Padres. And the Braves. And the A's. And the Rays. And many others.

Positional versatility is a good thing and a lot of organizations - including SMART organizations - have worked hard to build it.

The 3x running top prospect in baseball debuted last year playing 3B.

The Padres are moving one top 10 prospect in baseball to the OF at least part of the time because he can help them at MLB now and that gets them a way to get him in the lineup.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

What other organization does that?

I don't know.

How about the Dodgers. And the Padres. And the Braves. And the A's. And the Rays. And many others.

Positional versatility is a good thing and a lot of organizations - including SMART organizations - have worked hard to build it.

The 3x running top prospect in baseball debuted last year playing 3B.

The Padres are moving one top 10 prospect in baseball to the OF at least part of the time because he can help them at MLB now and that gets them a way to get him in the lineup.

But Fan Graphs says different.....

[Prison Bitch]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

What other organization does that?

I don't know.

How about the Dodgers. And the Padres. And the Braves. And the A's. And the Rays. And many others.

Positional versatility is a good thing and a lot of organizations - including SMART organizations - have worked hard to build it.

The 3x running top prospect in baseball debuted last year playing 3B.

The Padres are moving one top 10 prospect in baseball to the OF at least part of the time because he can help them at MLB now and that gets them a way to get him in the lineup.

Name names then. Who are they? I’d bet anything there isn’t a current MLB catcher who played 3B or LF at AAA. If there is I’d be surprised. Or a lifelong 1B going to a corner OF? Who outside of Cody Bellinger did that?

It’s not a huge switch for Loftin to move to the OF but MJ and Pratto moving is extremely rare.

Also, why do you care about “versatility”? Our 14-15 teams had none of that. Just defined roles. The game hasn’t changed much in 7 years.

[RockChalk]

Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry

But Fan Graphs says different.....

Literally the first thing I thought of when reading his post. So glad to have him back.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

Name names then. Who are they? I’d bet anything there isn’t a current MLB catcher who played 3B or LF at AAA. If there is I’d be surprised. Or a lifelong 1B going to a corner OF? Who outside of Cody Bellinger did that?

It’s not a huge switch for Loftin to move to the OF but MJ and Pratto moving is extremely rare.

Also, why do you care about “versatility”? Our 14-15 teams had none of that. Just defined roles. The game hasn’t changed much in 7 years.

I named a few already, if you read between the lines. Wander Franco. C.J. Abrams. But i'll get more explicit/direct.

Daulton Varsho - Diamondbacks. Splitting time between CF and C.

The Padres are going to play C.J. Abrams at SS and RF this season, at least until Tatis is healthy.

The Orioles Ryan Mountcastle has flipped between LF and 1B.

Isaiah Kiner-Falafa started his pro career as a C, then spent time as a 3B/C, and eventually showed so much defensive value as a SS he got moved off the tools full time.

Austin Riley came up as a 3B, then split time between 3B and LF, and then moved back to primarily 3B. All flexing around other pieces in the lineup.

Teams are ALWAYS trying to push athletic 1B to play a corner OF spot, because that versatility gives them more options with the lineup.

The A's traded for Kevin Smith, a top SS prospect, and are playing him at 3B to get him on the field as long as they have Elvis Andrus still around.

For the Royals, being able to play Melendez every day by using him as a 3B/DH/C or as a LF/DH/C lets them keep a potentially big stick in the lineup without reducing the role of another big stick (Perez) or pigeonholing that other big stick at C.

Just a sample lineup for 2023:

On Days Perez catches, Melednez plays 3B, Pratto plays 1B, Pasquantino DHs
On days Melendez catches, Perez DHs, Pratto plays RF, Pasquantino plays 1B

[dlphg9]

Jon Heyman on 610 said Bobby Witt Jr could be Ken Griffey Jr or Alex Rodriguez

JJ Cooper today on 610 said his floor is a Mike Moustakas and that he'd compare his swing to Mike Trout.

That's insane.

[ChiefsCountry]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

Jon Heyman on 610 said Bobby Witt Jr could be Ken Griffey Jr or Alex Rodriguez

JJ Cooper today on 610 said his floor is a Mike Moustakas and that he'd compare his swing to Mike Trout.

That's insane.

I think he is the next A Rod. Which him playing 3B isn't a bad thing for all the idiots out there.

[Bronco_buster2]

I don't know how to imbed but Bobby Witt Jr. tweeting "Nicky Bobby" in reply to Nicky's "Thunder and Lightening" is classic.

[TLO]

Opening Day is tomorrow...

WOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

[Dartgod]

Originally Posted by Bronco_buster2

I don't know how to imbed but Bobby Witt Jr. tweeting "Nicky Bobby" in reply to Nicky's "Thunder and Lightening" is classic.

“Nicky Bobby” https://t.co/bl6eWTBl94

— Bobby Witt Jr (@BwittJr) April 6, 2022

[BWillie]

https://www.royalsreview.com/2022/4/...hit-merrifield

Dayton, Dayton, Dayton. What are you doing? You just gave someone money for no ****ing reason other than to be noble.

Was scheduled to make 2.5M this year and 6.75M next year. Now making 7.25M this year and 6.75M next year. I suspect that would make him more difficult to trade too.

[Archie Bunker]

Originally Posted by BWillie

https://www.royalsreview.com/2022/4/...hit-merrifield

Dayton, Dayton, Dayton. What are you doing? You just gave someone money for no ****ing reason other than to be noble.

Was scheduled to make 2.5M this year and 6.75M next year. Now making 7.25M this year and 6.75M next year. I suspect that would make him more difficult to trade too.

Gives the other team an extra year instead of just a rental I suppose.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by BWillie

https://www.royalsreview.com/2022/4/...hit-merrifield

Dayton, Dayton, Dayton. What are you doing? You just gave someone money for no ****ing reason other than to be noble.

Was scheduled to make 2.5M this year and 6.75M next year. Now making 7.25M this year and 6.75M next year. I suspect that would make him more difficult to trade too.

Did you see what Greinke said about signing with KC?

That he wasn’t into it until he saw them take care of Perez a few years ago.

In an era when a lot of teams - most - are operating purely from a practical, analytical, value-based ledger and are very transactional… there IS value in being seen as a franchise that takes care of its guys.

[Wilson8]

Originally Posted by BWillie

https://www.royalsreview.com/2022/4/...hit-merrifield

Dayton, Dayton, Dayton. What are you doing? You just gave someone money for no ****ing reason other than to be noble.

Was scheduled to make 2.5M this year and 6.75M next year. Now making 7.25M this year and 6.75M next year. I suspect that would make him more difficult to trade too.

I like this move! The Kansas City Royals have had a good player in Whitt Merrifield. Nothing wrong with paying him.

6:58pm: Merrifield’s escalators are based on the number of days he spends on the injured list, MLBTR has learned. So long as he spends fewer than 110 days on the IL this year, he’ll receive the full $6.75MM in 2023.

6:19pm: The Royals announced this evening they’ve agreed to a restructured contract with infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield. The club has preemptively exercised his 2023 team option, and the parties have added a mutual option covering the 2024 season. Merrifield is represented by Warner Sports Management.

Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports the financial breakdown of the deal (on Twitter). Merrifield will make $7MM in 2022 and $2.75MM in 2023 (with an additional $4MM in possible escalators). The deal also contains an $18MM mutual option for 2024 that contains a $500K buyout.

It’s an atypical tack for a team to take, but the Royals and Merrifield have had a very productive 12-year relationship. The Kansas City organization is generally regarded as one of the more loyal in the sport, and the Royals front office was steadfast about keeping Merrifield even as they rebuilt in recent seasons. There’s little question club brass is fond of the University of South Carolina product, and that affinity presumably contributed to their decision to exercise his 2023 option a year early.

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/...-contract.html

In a world with way too many assholes walking around. It is nice to have one, but not to be one.

[PurpleJesus28]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

Jon Heyman on 610 said Bobby Witt Jr could be Ken Griffey Jr or Alex Rodriguez

JJ Cooper today on 610 said his floor is a Mike Moustakas and that he'd compare his swing to Mike Trout.

That's insane.

Hate to be that guy,but there will never be another Griffey Jr. Prime A Rod or Trout like power would be alright though.