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 Mecca:
He didn't even get hurt playing....just another one of the bad draft picks in that time frame.
From Christian Colon through what Ashe Russell just a number of years of wasted picks.
The 2013 and 2014 picks led directly to two AL pennants and a World Series title.
I wouldn’t call those wasted.
Starling is the worst of all of them in hindsight... but that’s also with hindsight. It hasn’t worked for various reasons. But there was nothing wrong with the pick when made.
Originally Posted by OKchiefs:
Sorry, one more quick question. Matias, Melendez, and Pratto seem to all have alot to work on and prove, although they all have shown promise of varying degrees. Do you promote them next year, or keep them at the same level until they prove that they can make consistent contact? All 3 seem to have horrible averages for their level.
Could go either way. Depends on what they’re seeing from those guy eyewitness and on how they do next spring.
Matias absolutely needs to make more contact. He slumped over the past several weeks. A strong finish wouldn’t certainly answer some questions about him. [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
The 2013 and 2014 picks led directly to two AL pennants and a World Series title.
I wouldn’t call those wasted.
Starling is the worst of all of them in hindsight... but that’s also with hindsight. It hasn’t worked for various reasons. But there was nothing wrong with the pick when made.
Moore was put in an impossible situation with Starling. Starling appears to not care enough to get better and I would be ok with him getting released immediately. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Al Bundy:
Moore was put in an impossible situation with Starling. Starling appears to not care enough to get better and I would be ok with him getting released immediately.
It has nothing to do with putting in work. He’s an incredibly hard worker.
He just can’t recognize pitches and can’t hit breaking stuff. All the try hard in the world isn’t any guarantee you’ll figure out making contact.
In actual prospect news, Brewer Hicklen is someone to watch. He was a multi sport guy at UAB. Big-time tools, nabbed in round 5 or so. They’ve moved him to Wilmington after a Strong first half at Lexington. Speed/power guy. [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
It has nothing to do with putting in work. He’s an incredibly hard worker.
He just can’t recognize pitches and can’t hit breaking stuff. All the try hard in the world isn’t any guarantee you’ll figure out making contact.
In actual prospect news, Brewer Hicklen is someone to watch. He was a multi sport guy at UAB. Big-time tools, nabbed in round 5 or so. They’ve moved him to Wilmington after a Strong first half at Lexington. Speed/power guy.
Well that stinks.. they wasted a premium pick on a guy that flat out couldn't hit and gave him a pile of cash to suck and not get better. [Reply]
Originally Posted by gblowfish:
Heard GMDM on 610 on the way home. He said he was embarrassed by the way the team played in the first half, and he feels bad for our fans.
Originally Posted by Al Bundy:
Well that stinks.. they wasted a premium pick on a guy that flat out couldn't hit and gave him a pile of cash to suck and not get better.
That’s the MLb draft. Success rate once you get out of the first 3 picks plummets sharply.
Starling was one of the five best athletes drafted in the past 20 years, just on raw skills.
But hitting that round ball with that round bat, square... that’s not just about athleticism and effort. [Reply]
