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 TomBarndtsTwin:
Considering the Royals don't seem inclined to ever deal Salvy and they've also got Melendez coming up in the system, I'll pass on the college catcher who will be big league ready in 2-3 years, probably.
Go with Witt Jr. or whatever elite college arm emerges between now and next June . . . . .
Well I don't think you really want to draft for need. Of the Oregon State kid is the best available player you take him. He'll still need a couple of years at least in the minors, so Salvy will likely be done by the time he'd arrive (2021-2022). Melendez is still a ways away, and having two top catching prospects isn't a bad thing. One could move to first or you could potentially make a trade. [Reply]
Yeah especially when you're drafting that high. You just take the guy you think will be a superstar and let it ride. You never know what will happen with injuries or player development 4 years from now. If Salvy or Melendez is still around and playing at a high level, then great. Somebody can move to another position or be traded to fill other holes on the team. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Prison Bitch:
Last year at this time, on MLB.com #1 college player for the 2018 draft was Brady Singer. 3 was Mize.
Great example.
And Singer was good this year. But because he wasn't as flashy as Kowar (and Kowar wasn't as steady as Singer) somehow they both ended up knocking each other about and Singer ends up dropping down the ranks. Why? Who the fuck knows?
Seth Beer was the no-doubt 2018 #1 overall pick 2 seasons ago and he just barely stayed in the first round because he struggled one summer in the Cape.
Scouts just KILL college draft prospects.
Unless Rutschman wins the Golden Spikes (and hell, even if he does so in less than convincing fashion), I'd be surprised if he holds a #1 overall draft slot. If my memory serves, Appel did. I'm pretty sure Strasburg did.
Otherwise I can't think of any 'wire to wire' #1 overall picks out of college lately. Scouts will hunt for reasons to knock him down. [Reply]
I've come to terms with not getting the first pick, I feel like there's less pressure for us to make the right pick. We should still get a stud. [Reply]
Pitchers:
Scott Blewett
Grant Gavin
Walker Sheller
No IFers y'all wanted to get a look at down there, I guess? A little surprised Lopez didn't get a look unless they wanted him to get some rest. That or they're just comfortable with what they have there. [Reply]
FanGraphs rates Hosmer at minus-0.7 WAR -- though that doesn't factor in the clubhouse leadership he has provided to a team that might lose 100 games. [Reply]
Re: Witt and Rutschman, saying something like “we already have Melendez, don’t need Rutschman” is how you end up with Christian Colon instead of Chris Sale (we don’t need Sale. We already have Lamb, Montgomery, Duffy, and Dwyer).
If you’ve got the top pick, you take the guy you rate best regardless of position. Same thing with second and really any pick.
Time will tell which it should be.
If a HS arm or college arm jumps forward, I could see Baltimore going that route at No. 1.
I think I like Witt more just because Rutschman’s bat development is fairly recent, but I could be persuaded otherwise. They both offer plus offense at a key defensive spot. Witt probably has higher upside offensively because his tools are more diverse. But a switch-hitting Posey, which is the upside of the other choice, is also pretty enticing.
I think KC will evaluate Witt higher if give. The choice. [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
Re: Witt and Rutschman, saying something like “we already have Melendez, don’t need Rutschman” is how you end up with Christian Colon instead of Chris Sale (we don’t need Sale. We already have Lamb, Montgomery, Duffy, and Dwyer).
It's still a better justification than "I don't like our player development system so I'll let a college program take care of the first 3 years for us..."
I think y'all have a few undesirables in this thread... [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
It's still a better justification than "I don't like our player development system so I'll let a college program take care of the first 3 years for us..."...
That makes sense from a Cards perspective but from a Royals one, you can see the logic. [Reply]