The season is upon us, even if spring is not.
2018 MLB Draft Picks
#18
#33 - Compensation (Eric Hosmer)
#34 - Compensation (Lorenzo Cain)
#40 (Competitive Balance Round A)
018 Draft Names to Watch
RHP Kumar Rocker, N Oconnee HS, Georgia.
OF Jarred Kelenic, Waukasha West HS, WI
1B Triston Casas, American Heritage HS (FL).
RHP Carter Stewart, Eau de Gallie HS (Ga).
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 tk13:
We went to two World Series with Aoki and Rios in RF. They'll definitely play both Soler and Boni, they're both just entering their prime years and have shown talent. Boni was derailed a bit this year by the suspension though. I guess we'll find out next year if he's the same player but both of those guys should be playing everyday.
Bonifacio and Soler are atrocious in the OF, with Boni being probably the better of the two on D. Especially having to play defense in the spacious Kaufman Stadium OF. I think they are both DH's. Whoever ends up not sucking out of the two needs to be our starting DH moving forward. We have way too many options in the OF who can both provide good defense and reasonable projected offense.
Honestly - in the long term - we need to move one of these two at some point.
[Reply]
Originally Posted by BWillie:
Bonifacio and Soler are atrocious in the OF, with Boni being probably the better of the two on D. Especially having to play defense in the spacious Kaufman Stadium OF. I think they are both DH's. Whoever ends up not sucking out of the two needs to be our starting DH moving forward. We have way too many options in the OF who can both provide good defense and reasonable projected offense.
Honestly - in the long term - we need to move one of these two at some point.
I agree with this. The original thinking was, Soler will not be here when the Royals are good again. So he would be traded if he plays well and has some value. But, Bonifacio has been real bad this year. And, I believe he still has options. Bonifiacio could start 2019 in Omaha unless he has an awesome spring training next year.
[Reply]