***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.

[kstater]

I'd be surprised if Santana was outright cut this early, but wouldn't surprise me if they took a lotto ticket for him.

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[cosmo20002]

Salvador Perez moved to DH tonight because of blurred vision in his left eye, which is something he dealt with in 2020 and last year. He’s feeling fine now after meeting with a specialist, so #Royals are just taking a precaution by lowering his workload today.

— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) April 19, 2022

This doesn't sound good.

[dallaschiefsfan]

Originally Posted by cosmo20002

Salvador Perez moved to DH tonight because of blurred vision in his left eye, which is something he dealt with in 2020 and last year. He’s feeling fine now after meeting with a specialist, so #Royals are just taking a precaution by lowering his workload today.

— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) April 19, 2022

This doesn't sound good.

Unlike 2020, we have Melendez if Salvy ends up missing time on the IL.

[TomBarndtsTwin]

Originally Posted by Prison Bitch

A quality start is 6ip 3er

For us it’s 4ip 6er

Lynch just gave us 5ip 4hits 0er

That better?

[Coach]

Originally Posted by TomBarndtsTwin

Lynch just gave us 5ip 4hits 0er

That better?

Not speaking for PB as he/she is on it's own.

Lynch was better today. He utilized his sliders more, and that worked to his advantage.

[cabletech94]

Originally Posted by Coach

Not speaking for PB as he/she is on it's own.

Lynch was better today. He utilized his sliders more, and that worked to his advantage.

Also, a ton of first pitch strikes. For these young flamethrowers, I think that is a huge confidence booster.

Besides Lynch, I’d like to see the other youngsters in the bullpen, 1 to 2 innings. To build confidence. Like what they did for Greinke years ago.

[duncan_idaho]

If you've still got an Athletic sub, check out the stuff today from Eno Sarris and Alec Lewis re: the Royals pitchers and why their fastballs are not effective.

Basically, the Royals are still trying to pound the zone DOWN with fastballs, and it is making them suck more than they should.

Yay, Cal Eldred and Mike Matheny!

[Coach]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

If you've still got an Athletic sub, check out the stuff today from Eno Sarris and Alec Lewis re: the Royals pitchers and why their fastballs are not effective.

Basically, the Royals are still trying to pound the zone DOWN with fastballs, and it is making them suck more than they should.

Yay, Cal Eldred and Mike Matheny!

Yeah, that's ass-backwards thinking. They should be able to pound the fastball pretty much anywhere on the corners, not just down. And once in a blue moon, pound it right in the middle when the batter is least expecting it.

[cosmo20002]

.500!

[Great Expectations]

I didn’t think Lynch was better today. He got away with a few more balls over the middle of the plate than he has. He also got some ground balls at people instead of up the middle.

[louie aguiar]

Bobby Witt getting moved down in the lineup today. Hope that helps take some pressure off so he can get going.

[MAHOMO 4 LIFE!]

Finally Witt is moved down to 7 but why the hell is Santana hitting let alone hitting 5th…

[BigCatDaddy]

Let's go!

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by louie aguiar

Bobby Witt getting moved down in the lineup today. Hope that helps take some pressure off so he can get going.

Craig Brown

https://intothefountains.substack.com/

A fifteen-year veteran of the blogs. Co-creator of Royals Authority. Former editor-in-chief of Royals Review and Baseball Prospectus-Kansas City. Contributor and assistant editor to seven Baseball Prospectus annuals.



Stop bunting! Unless you’re going to bunt like that

Friends, I abhor the bunt. You know this. Maybe you dislike the bunt just as much as I do. Perhaps this is the reason you subscribe to this newsletter. Together, we can bemoan the bunt.

Did you see this? [Video]

This is Adalberto Mondesi squaring on a 1-0 pitch with runners on the corners. It wasn’t a squeeze play. It was bunting for a hit and to drive in the run. It is probably the best bunt I’ve ever seen. (I have GIF’d a bunch of dingers and a ton of swings and misses for this newsletter. This has to be my first GIF of a bunt.)

This is not hyperbole. This is not some sort of reverse jinx or whatever in trying to get the Royals to bunt less. I am as serious as Rusty Kuntz on a bicycle…This was the perfect bunt.

This is basically all Mondesi does anymore. It seems like he bunts, or attempts to, at least once a game. The broadcast seems to think he’s good at it. Like really good. I’m skeptical because he seems to lack a certain amount of game awareness as to when to actually utilize the bunt and then, as we saw twice on Monday, tends to overcommit to the point where he is not going to pull back if the pitch isn’t a good one to get the bunt down.

I’m not sure why Chris Paddack threw Mondesi the curve there. He swung through a fastball on the first pitch in the at bat. Maybe the Twins are one of those teams not using advanced scouts or something. If the curve hangs in the zone, as it did, Mondesi is going to have an excellent chance of doing something with that pitch.

That’s what happened here. He let the ball meet the bat, just like they teach you when you first learn to bunt. He was able to direct it and push it, right between the mound and first base. Hell, if there hadn’t been any runners on base, it still would’ve been the perfect bunt.

Sometimes, perfection comes in mysterious forms. I cannot question. Only celebrate.

Lynch controls the game

How about Daniel Lynch? On Wednesday, he utilized almost the exact same mix of pitches as he showed in St. Louis in his 2022 debut: Four-seamers and sliders with a handful of changeups and an occasional knuckle curve to keep hitters honest. He got fewer swings and misses on his fastball and slider than in his first start of the season, Lynch generally avoided the middle of the zone against the Twins, and when he did get a little too close to a batter’s happy spot, they couldn’t do anything with the pitch.

Watch a couple of pitches in this sequence to the ever-dangerous Carlos Correa in the third inning with runners on first and second. After missing on his first pitch, a fastball up and out of the zone, Lynch comes back with a nasty slider.


Having success there, Lynch goes back for more. Same pitch, almost the same location, but it starts on the inner half and runs further inside. Correa takes for ball two.

Behind in the count, Lynch delivers this beauty.


Put yourself in Correa’s shoes for a moment. You’ve seen the fastball and slider from Lynch. He’s working inside on the slider and keeping the fastball up. This pitch comes in as the same location as the slider, but without the spin. It’s not going to break, but it’s not moving at the rate as the typical four-seamer. What is this pitch???

It’s the perfect changeup. And it absolutely flummoxed Correa.

With the count even at 2-2, Lynch makes a mistake.


Cam Gallagher wants the pitch up and in. Lynch delivers it middle-middle. But because Lynch has moved around with the slider and the change, and only showed fastball in his first pitch of the at bat, Correa can only chop it foul. He missed his pitch.

Look at Lynch’s reaction. He knew.

From there, Lynch went back inside with consecutive sliders. Correa fouled off both. To this point, Lynch had thrown seven pitches to Correa. The fastballs were centered, but the sliders and the lone change were inside.

Every pitcher makes mistakes in nearly every appearance. Sometimes they go unpunished and when that happens, it’s almost always because of how the pitches immediately preceding that one are sequenced. Lynch wasn’t what I would call dominant on Wednesday, nor was he necessarily overpowering. Yet he was smart and sharp. When people ask me why I believe in Daniel Lynch as a major league starter in the future, I’ll point to this at bat.



The Bobby Witt Jr. question

Here goes…If the Royals bump Bobby Witt Jr. down in the order, does that signal panic? I don’t think it does. If anything, it shows smarts and recognition that the kid can use a little help. He’s scuffling at the moment.

I’m not going to go full revisionist history here and put the Royals on blast for batting him second to start his major league career. I thought it was a fine idea. Everything we saw from the kid indicated he was ready and could handle that spot in the order. While I still believe that to be true, it’s time for the Royals to have a rethink, get him out of the top third of the order and position the rookie for some kind of success.

Yes, the case can be made that Witt is “making things happen.” He was the guy up in the first inning with Whit Merrifield on third and Nicky Lopez at first. He watched a Paddack curve tail way out of the zone for the first pitch. He offered at the next pitch, another curve.

It’s a pitch that was always going to be a ground ball—if Witt swings. Which he did. This is difficult. It often seems as though Witt is taking some good-looking pitches for strikes and falling behind in the count. Kind of like he did in his next at bat when he watched a fastball down the chute for strike one. He’s simply pressing and you can’t blame him. Expectations are massive and it’s just not happening for him at the moment. It will. It requires patience and a little flexibility.

Rather than giving him a day or two off, drop him in the order for a few games. Get him to relax and understand that good things will eventually happen. But right now his chase rate is an untenable 42 percent and his hard-hit rate is a subpar 37 percent. He has yet to barrel a baseball, per Statcast. He’s going to be fine. As we’ve heard so often, the jump in talent and how the game is played from Triple-A to the majors is massive. Not everyone sets the league on fire from their first day.

A move 10 games into his major league career isn’t about panic. At least it doesn’t need to be if handled correctly. It’s about snapping a kid out of a funk so he can thrive sooner rather than later.

This is the lockdown bullpen you wanted

So this Royals bullpen is decent, isn’t it? Just another dominant night for the relief corps: four innings, one hit, one walk and four strikeouts. The Minnesota offense looks dreadful at the moment, but this bullpen is bringing it.

We should do some sort of reliever roll call.

Collin Snyder - He’s inherited six runners and has yet to allow one to score. Came in after Lynch allowed a leadoff single to Carlos Correa and promptly erased him on a double play. The fireman.

Jake Brentz - Pitched his first clean inning of 2022. The rising four-seamer was overpowering.

Josh Staumont - He didn’t hit triple-digits on the heater, but overall his velocity was up a tick from his previous outings this year. After showing the four-seamer up in the zone for the second strike, he destroyed Correa on this pitch.

Josh Barlow - Last year’s team leader in saves, locked down his first of the year, closing the game out on another double play.

After using those four in back-to-back games, I suspect we’ll see Amir Garrett, Dylan Coleman, Taylor Clarke and Joel Payamps if Wednesday’s matinee is another close one.


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[KChiefs1]

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