***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.

[Vladimir_Kyrilytch]

That would really piss me off if I was a Royal fan.

[ChiTown]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Vern on 610 just said he asked a question to Matheny about playing Dozier at 1B over Santana or platooning Melendez and Santana at DH.

He said Matheny’s response was “we are paying Santana to be our 1B.”

Santana is hitting .135/.297/.216 over 22 games.

— Tyler Dierking (@TylerDierking) May 17, 2022

Matheny is such an incompetent boob. geezus...........

[WhawhaWhat]

We have recalled RHP Brady Singer to be the 27th man for today's doubleheader.

— Kansas City Royals (@Royals) May 17, 2022

[louie aguiar]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Vern on 610 just said he asked a question to Matheny about playing Dozier at 1B over Santana or platooning Melendez and Santana at DH.

He said Matheny’s response was “we are paying Santana to be our 1B.”

Santana is hitting .135/.297/.216 over 22 games.

— Tyler Dierking (@TylerDierking) May 17, 2022

Reminiscent of “wouldn’t be fair to Dougie” comment from Trey hillman

[GloryDayz]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Last night our lineup hitters 4 through 9 had two hits. Two. Salvy went zip for four with 2 Ks and two hits into double plays. And they still almost won. AL Central just sucks.

But he's so cuddly, cute, and he has a great smile. He's a fan favorite... What more do you want?

[Fansy the Famous Bard]

Originally Posted by GloryDayz

But he's so cuddly, cute, and he has a great smile. He's a fan favorite... What more do you want?

2 fielder's choices, instead.

[PHOG]

Oh, good....we get a double dose of this shit show today starting at 1:10.

Edit: Heasely in the afternoon, and Singer tonight.

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by siberian khatru

Vern on 610 just said he asked a question to Matheny about playing Dozier at 1B over Santana or platooning Melendez and Santana at DH.

He said Matheny’s response was “we are paying Santana to be our 1B.”

Santana is hitting .135/.297/.216 over 22 games.

— Tyler Dierking (@TylerDierking) May 17, 2022

Matheny being overly loyal to a shitty veteran is not anything new.

Not even in Kansas City.

Even I've hit my limit with this group of leaders. I realize that they aren't likely to shake up the front office so soon after shuffling things around, but Moore really annoyed me yesterday.

His defense of Eldred and Matheny is inexcusable.

[cmh6476]

I was talking to a friend that was in from Chicago that went to the game with me last night. I think there is something to a veteran player, with the track record of Santana, and being paid what he is. And how the treatment of such a player might impact others in the clubhouse. But at some point you simply have to realize the dead pull hitter just isn't cutting it.

[WhawhaWhat]

“We are paying Santana to be our 1B.” sounds like a statement that a GM would make. Why would the manager care about how much a guy is making?

Is it possible that management is telling Matheny is play Santana at 1B?

[tyreekthefreak]

Salvy missed strike three by a foot! Good one day...shitty the next. Cease goes 0-2 on O'hearn and throws the next 3 pitches over the plate. Our pitchers would never "attack" a hitter in that manner. Hell, most of the time they work the count to 3-2 beofre walking the batter.

[PHOG]

Salvy just swung at 2 pitches that were at least 6 inches off the plate, the last 1 looked to be a foot off the plate.

And then O'Hearn watches 2 strikes go by before he even decides to swing at anything.

[nychief]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Matheny being overly loyal to a shitty veteran is not anything new.

Not even in Kansas City.

Even I've hit my limit with this group of leaders. I realize that they aren't likely to shake up the front office so soon after shuffling things around, but Moore really annoyed me yesterday.

His defense of Eldred and Matheny is inexcusable.

that quote comes from upstairs. these assholes are need to go.

[WhawhaWhat]

Whit Merrifield vs Dylan Cease#TogetherRoyal

Double 🏃💨

Exit velo: 103 mph
Launch angle: 25 deg
Proj. distance: 391 ft

This would have been a home run in 20/30 MLB ballparks

CWS (0) @ KC (0)
🔻 1st pic.twitter.com/tVAUbhWr0z

— Would it dong? (@would_it_dong) May 17, 2022

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by nychief

that quote comes from upstairs. these assholes are need to go.

I'd believe that if... it wasn't 10000% consistent with Matheny's entire track record.

Ask Cardinals fans about how he handled the late Oscar Taveras when St. Louis finally called him up... jerked him in and out of the lineup, played shitty veterans while Taveras was on the bench.

Sound like the way the Royals are treating... M.J. Melendez?