Possibly goes top 10 but is a big, physical SP with ace potential. Moore and co. will be all over him if he slips a bit and could offer top 10 money at No. 16
OF Jarred Kelenic, Waukasha West HS, WI
Spoiler!
Kelenic is the top prep bat, toolsy OF. Royals would be ecstatic to have shot at him.
1B Triston Casas, American Heritage HS (FL).
Spoiler!
Tremendous raw power, best in HS bats. Royals typically like HS arms or HS bats with "special" tools. He qualifies.
RHP Carter Stewart, Eau de Gallie HS (Ga).
Spoiler!
Another big, physical specimen with huge upside. More likely to be available mid-first than Rocker.
ANY Any, Any (Any). Any current top projected pick who slides for injury concerns. Includes current top prospect prospect SP Brady Singer, U of Florida.
Current Prospects to Watch:
OF Seuly Matias - Huge tools. Hit 2 HR in Lexington (A) season opener.
1B Nick Pratto - Top pick in 17 has advanced approach and good glove; needs to start tapping into power in first full year in minors. Also at Lexington.
OF Michael Gigliotti - Good defender in CF, good OBP skills, plus baserunner. Next mainstay in CF for KC, IMO. Advanced college bat also starting at Lexington.
OF Khalil Lee - Probably has highest upside in Royals' system. Could hit 30 HR in majors, could steal 30 bases. Plus defensive ability in RF. Nice test at Wilmington this year.
3B Emmanuel Rivera - Really nice approach and good contact skills. Power is still developing. Also getting a good test at Wilmington.
SP Foster Griffin - Made nice strides in 2017. Needs to continue to progress in 2018. Could be a lefty version of Jakob Junis (good breaking ball that he can really manipulate, OK fastball, good command).
1B Samir Duenez - Duenez still is intriguing, hoping for a step forward in his power production this year at Northwest Arkansas, which would turn him into a legit prospect.
Others to keep an eye on:
SP Gerson Garabito (Wilmington), OF Marten Gasparini (Lexington), C MJ Melendez (Lexington), RP Tyler Zuber (lexington), RP Richard Lovelady (Omaha), SP Dan Tillo (Lexington), SS Nicky Lopez (NWA), SP Scott Blewett (NWA), OF Brewer Hicklen (Idaho Falls),
In general, Lexington and Wilmington are the most interesting spots to watch. Nice depth and a lot of interesting pieces at both. [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
Matias’ power display is legitimate and real.
He’s still very young for that level and needs development, but his ability to punish the Baseball is rare. He absolutely needs to make progress with his K rate.
He’s one of many encouraging performances, though. Lee is having a strong campaign in an awful hitters environment. Mondesi and Staumont are having the starts you’d like to see in Omaha.
Pratto is hitting for more power with less average than expected but still good.
And then there’s MJ Melendez, who is exceeding all expectations. He’s showing nearly as much power as Matias, but with plus defense at a key defensive position and better K rate and average.
He’s my no 1 prospect.
Can you tell me why Pratto plays 1B? By all accounts he is above-average athlete, can throw 90 mph, and is decent with the glove. Seems like a completely waste of talent letting him rot at 1B. Kind of like Eric Hosmer. It was always maddening to me that Eric Hosmer was always relegated to 1B. Even more strange someone gave him as big of a contract to a FIRST BASEMAN. GM's still haven't learned. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BWillie:
Can you tell me why Pratto plays 1B? By all accounts he is above-average athlete, can throw 90 mph, and is decent with the glove. Seems like a completely waste of talent letting him rot at 1B. Kind of like Eric Hosmer. It was always maddening to me that Eric Hosmer was always relegated to 1B. Even more strange someone gave him as big of a contract to a FIRST BASEMAN. GM's still haven't learned.
Have you seen pictures of Hos when he was 12-14? There was a reason he was slated at first when he was young. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BWillie:
Can you tell me why Pratto plays 1B? By all accounts he is above-average athlete, can throw 90 mph, and is decent with the glove. Seems like a completely waste of talent letting him rot at 1B. Kind of like Eric Hosmer. It was always maddening to me that Eric Hosmer was always relegated to 1B. Even more strange someone gave him as big of a contract to a FIRST BASEMAN. GM's still haven't learned.
Hosmer is left handed so you couldn't put him at any other infield position. And if you remember they actually did play him in RF on occasion early in his career so Billy Butler could play 1B in interleague. I don't think they thought very highly of his defense out there. [Reply]
Originally Posted by tk13:
Hosmer is left handed so you couldn't put him at any other infield position. And if you remember they actually did play him in RF on occasion early in his career so Billy Butler could play 1B in interleague. I don't think they thought very highly of his defense out there.
Yeah, because he basically borderline pouted that he had to play it. And had a mental block that he just wasn't an outfielder. 1B is where you put the fat guy or the aging slugger. Not an athletic dude with a cannon. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BWillie:
Yeah, because he basically borderline pouted that he had to play it. And had a mental block that he just wasn't an outfielder. 1B is where you put the fat guy or the aging slugger. Not an athletic dude with a cannon.
Originally Posted by BWillie:
Can you tell me why Pratto plays 1B? By all accounts he is above-average athlete, can throw 90 mph, and is decent with the glove. Seems like a completely waste of talent letting him rot at 1B. Kind of like Eric Hosmer. It was always maddening to me that Eric Hosmer was always relegated to 1B. Even more strange someone gave him as big of a contract to a FIRST BASEMAN. GM's still haven't learned.
He plays 1B because he’s left-handed and doesn’t have great foot speed. His speed is average at best, though he does have great instincts, which help his baserunning play up.
I think he’s more capable in the OF than Hosmer was, based on reports, but he’s never going to be more than average out there (and maybe below). [Reply]
Originally Posted by Prison Bitch:
Lost 6/7 on the swing
They're so pathetic
This is a good thing.
I didn’t think they would be this bad, but if you’re going to be bad, be really bad. It’s an unintentional tank (I think?) but it’s still a tank job. [Reply]
