***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.

[WhawhaWhat]

Originally Posted by Titty Meat

I saw someone on Facebook saying

[KChiefs1]

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[cabletech94]

Yup, I just may take the fam to Arkansas for a double A Naturals game!! Seems like the right time to.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by cabletech94

Yup, I just may take the fam to Arkansas for a double A Naturals game!! Seems like the right time to.

I’m thinking BWJ, Pratto & Melendez will all be in Omaha playing.


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[dlphg9]

Gonna hit up an Omaha Storm Chasers game for sure!

[cabletech94]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

I’m thinking BWJ, Pratto & Melendez will all be in Omaha playing.


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Wrong direction for me, would love to see those guys in their early careers. I like the storm chasers hats!!!

[duncan_idaho]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

I’m thinking BWJ, Pratto & Melendez will all be in Omaha playing.


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Anyone on the 40 man is locked out, too. Just a heads up.

[KChiefs1]

How the lockout could affect the Minor Leagues.


1. Will the minor leagues still play without MLB baseball?

Yes.

As best they can without offending MLB, minor league teams will be making clear over and over that this lockout will not affect their ability to play games.

The regular season of Triple-A baseball begins on April 5. The rest of the full-season minors (Double-A and the Class A levels) begins on April 8.

The minors will not have players currently on 40-man rosters, but otherwise the minors will roll along somewhat as normal. In 1994, the minor leagues got some additional attention from baseball-starved fans.

Don’t expect any teams to tap into the anger towards MLB with their promotions, however. MLB has to approve all promotions, so don’t expect to see any “Mad At Manfred” promotions.


2. What happens to prospects on the 40-man rosters?

They’re stuck. While their minor league teammates who aren’t on 40-man rosters can continue to play and develop, they are locked out.

Even if the lockout just stretches for a few more weeks, they will lose development time in the minors while they get into game shape. And if the lockout stretches for a while, those prospects could lose several months of games. For many of them, that would be a second interrupted season in three years, joining the 2020 pandemic-canceled season.

3. What happens when spring training (eventually/hopefully) begins?

No one really knows. It depends a lot on how long it takes for the two sides to come to a deal. A deal next week means there’s very little impact. Spring training will start later than normal, a week of games will be lost, but otherwise normalcy will largely resume.

But come April, the Low-A Southeast teams could find themselves kicked to the backfields (probably) if MLB spring training arrives in Florida and Arizona at that time. After all, every Low-A Southeast team other than Daytona shares its park with an MLB team’s spring training site. In the case of Jupiter, it could have two spring training teams (Marlins and Cardinals), two Low-A teams (Jupiter and Palm Beach) and two extended spring teams (Marlins and Cardinals) trying to share one oversized complex.

If the lockout stretches to May, the problem becomes the weather in Arizona. The weather in Arizona in March is wonderful. By late May, temperatures touching 100 degrees are possible. By June, the highs can reach 115-120 degrees, which makes it a little unpleasant to do the morning work that is part of spring training, even if the games themselves are moved to the evening.

No matter when it happens, spring training becomes very different. To ease players into action, teams usually rely heavily on bringing up players from minor league camp (and bringing minor leaguers to big league camp) for spring training. If those players are already playing around the minors, MLB teams will have to rely on 40-man roster players, potentially non-roster invitees (see the next question) and extended spring players.

4. What happens to players who signed minor league deals with MLB spring training invites?

Again, we don’t know.

Those players can go out and play minor league games since they signed minor league contracts, but what happens if spring training begins? Do they stay in Triple-A or do they then head to spring training to compete for big league jobs?

Also, while it makes some sense to be in spring training to compete for a job, the downside is players get paid for Triple-A games, but they don’t get paid for spring training games.

5. What happens to the Rule 5 draft?

When the lockout stretched into January and February, the expectation was that the Rule 5 draft would happen soon after the CBA deal was reached.

But if the lockout stretches for another month, it becomes hard to see how a Rule 5 draft could work. The minute minor league games are played, it becomes much more complicated. Protection lists were made in November 2021. MLB teams will dread the idea of having players show they have taken a big step forward and then be made available for an in-season Rule 5 draft.

A shortened season also makes the supposed penalty of picking a Rule 5 pick (carrying them on the active roster all year) a smaller one.

If this happened last year, Astros outfielder Jake Meyers, Twins infielder Jose Miranda and Cubs first baseman Frank Schwindel would have been among the players who could have quickly pushed themselves into Rule 5 consideration.

6. What is the MLB lockout about?

Perhaps the biggest sticking point is the league's Competitive Balance Tax, which levies fines on teams whose payrolls exceed a pre-determined figure. That number was $210 million in 2021, with only the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres paying the tax.

Players argue that the luxury tax serves as a soft salary cap, thereby stifling wages and discouraging teams from spending money to be competitive.

The players asked the CBT be $238 million in 2022, increasing to $263 million by the end of the five-year CBA. The owners' final offer before Tuesday's deadline had the 2022 threshold at $220 million – and staying there for three years – ultimately rising to $230 million by 2026.

7. How much money will the players, owners forfeit?

For players, the cost is clear: Each earns 1/186th of his base salary each day

Max Scherzer and Gerrit Cole, both members of the union’s eight-man executive subcommittee, would forfeit the most. Scherzer would lose $232,975 for each regular-season day lost and Cole $193,548.

Based on last year’s base salaries that totaled just over $3.8 billion, major league players would combine to lose $20.5 million for each day wiped off the 186-day regular-season schedule.

However, chief union negotiator Bruce Meyer said Tuesday he expects players will be paid for games missed, and figures to include that in ongoing CBA bargaining.

8. What happens to the the remaining free agents on the market?

The lockout stopped all business including trades and free-agent signings. There are currently 100's of remaining free agents, including shortstop Carlos Correa, first baseman Freddie Freeman and shortstop Trevor Story remaining on the market. Before the lockout began, teams committed $1.7 billion to free agents in a flurry of signings.

9. Are spring training camps open now?

Yes, but for minor league players only and those not on the 40-man roster. Pitchers and catchers for some teams were to report to preseason camps on Feb. 15, with full squads beginning a week later. But with the lockout, MLB players are not allowed on the premises.

This has created a bit of a purgatory situation for some minor league players who have never reached the majors, but are on 40-man rosters

10. Is minor league baseball affected by the lockout?

No, the minor league season will begin as scheduled in April. Players who are not on a 40-man roster or signed to a big-league deal reported to spring training in February. Minor leaguers are not part of the MLB Players Association.

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[KChiefs1]

Royals 40 man roster:

Pitchers:
Scott Barlow
Scott Barlow 58
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 3"Wt: 210DOB: 12/18/1992
Ronald Bolaños
Ronald Bolaños 57
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 2"Wt: 230DOB: 08/23/1996
Jonathan Bowlan
Jonathan Bowlan
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 6"Wt: 240DOB: 12/01/1996
Jake Brentz
Jake Brentz 59
B/T: L/LHt: 6' 1"Wt: 205DOB: 09/14/1994
Kris Bubic
Kris Bubic 50
B/T: L/LHt: 6' 3"Wt: 225DOB: 08/19/1997
Taylor Clarke
Taylor Clarke 45
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 4"Wt: 217DOB: 05/13/1993
Dylan Coleman
Dylan Coleman 65
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 5"Wt: 230DOB: 09/16/1996
Jon Heasley
Jon Heasley 85
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 3"Wt: 225DOB: 01/27/1997
Carlos Hernández
Carlos Hernández 43
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 4"Wt: 245DOB: 03/11/1997
Brad Keller
Brad Keller 56
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 5"Wt: 255DOB: 07/27/1995
Jackson Kowar
Jackson Kowar 37
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 5"Wt: 200DOB: 10/04/1996
Daniel Lynch
Daniel Lynch 52
B/T: L/LHt: 6' 6"Wt: 200DOB: 11/17/1996
Mike Minor
Mike Minor 23
B/T: R/LHt: 6' 4"Wt: 210DOB: 12/26/1987
Joel Payamps
Joel Payamps 38
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 2"Wt: 225DOB: 04/07/1994
Brady Singer
Brady Singer 51
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 5"Wt: 215DOB: 08/04/1996
Collin Snider
Collin Snider
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 4"Wt: 195DOB: 10/10/1995
Gabe Speier
Gabe Speier 67
B/T: L/LHt: 5' 11"Wt: 200DOB: 04/12/1995
Josh Staumont
Josh Staumont 63
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 3"Wt: 200DOB: 12/21/1993
Domingo Tapia
Domingo Tapia 31
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 3"Wt: 263DOB: 08/04/1991
Daniel Tillo
Daniel Tillo 46
B/T: L/LHt: 6' 5"Wt: 215DOB: 06/13/1996
Nathan Webb
Nathan Webb
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 2"Wt: 215DOB: 08/20/1997
Angel Zerpa
Angel Zerpa 61
B/T: L/LHt: 6' 0"Wt: 220DOB: 09/27/1999
Tyler Zuber
Tyler Zuber 53
B/T: R/RHt: 5' 11"Wt: 195DOB: 06/16/1995

Catchers:
Cam Gallagher
Cam Gallagher 36
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 3"Wt: 230DOB: 12/06/1992
MJ Melendez
MJ Melendez
B/T: L/RHt: 6' 1"Wt: 190DOB: 11/29/1998
Salvador Perez
Salvador Perez 13
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 3"Wt: 255DOB: 05/10/1990
Sebastian Rivero
Sebastian Rivero 48
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 1"Wt: 210DOB: 11/16/1998

Infielders:
Hunter Dozier
Hunter Dozier 17
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 4"Wt: 220DOB: 08/22/1991
Maikel Garcia
Maikel Garcia
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 0"Wt: 145DOB: 03/03/2000
Nicky Lopez
Nicky Lopez 8
B/T: L/RHt: 5' 11"Wt: 180DOB: 03/13/1995
Whit Merrifield
Whit Merrifield 15
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 1"Wt: 195DOB: 01/24/1989
Adalberto Mondesi
Adalberto Mondesi 27
B/T: S/RHt: 6' 1"Wt: 200DOB: 07/27/1995
Ryan O'Hearn
Ryan O'Hearn 66
B/T: L/LHt: 6' 3"Wt: 220DOB: 07/26/1993
Nick Pratto
Nick Pratto
B/T: L/LHt: 6' 1"Wt: 215DOB: 10/06/1998
Emmanuel Rivera
Emmanuel Rivera 26
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 2"Wt: 225DOB: 06/29/1996
Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana 41
B/T: S/RHt: 5' 11"Wt: 215DOB: 04/08/1986

Outfielders:
Andrew Benintendi
Andrew Benintendi 16
B/T: L/LHt: 5' 9"Wt: 180DOB: 07/06/1994
Kyle Isbel
Kyle Isbel 28
B/T: L/RHt: 5' 11"Wt: 190DOB: 03/03/1997
Edward Olivares
Edward Olivares 14
B/T: R/RHt: 6' 2"Wt: 190DOB: 03/06/1996
Michael A. Taylor
Michael A. Taylor 2


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[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by duncan_idaho

Anyone on the 40 man is locked out, too. Just a heads up.

So only Witt will be playing in Omaha out of the big 3.

[teedubya]

If they have no season this year, after two shitty COVID seasons... just stick a fork in baseball.

[KChiefs1]

Originally Posted by teedubya

If they have no season this year, after two shitty COVID seasons... just stick a fork in baseball.

Yeah, I won’t be attending anymore games. l’ll still watch on tv but only until football season starts. Baseball just isn’t an entertaining sport & I’m saying this as someone who has followed the Royals since 1969 & attended games regularly at Municipal Stadium.

I’m tired of the bullshit.


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[BWillie]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

So only Witt will be playing in Omaha out of the big 3.

Vinnie is big 4. How dare you leave his name out.

[dlphg9]

Originally Posted by BWillie

Vinnie is big 4. How dare you leave his name out.

Huge Vinnie fan and your right. I feel ashamed.

[WhawhaWhat]

MLB & MLBPA agreed to ban shifts, implement a pitch clock & make the bases larger in 2023, per @JonHeyman pic.twitter.com/06YTlai8Qa

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 7, 2022