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]
Royals deal with Hosmer was just the opposite of the Padres. He would be making less per year the first few years of the deal with a higher salary later on. [Reply]
Originally Posted by OKchiefs:
How close were we to actually doing that? It's been a while, but I seem to remember we made a fairly competitive offer? I can't imagine having that contract along with Gordon and Kennedy.
The report was we offered 5 years, $100 million. Which is still a ton of money but not exactly what the Padres offered. That's why it looks so rough, they gave him the same deal, but he holds the options to make it an 8 year deal. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bufkin:
And another stolen base. I’ve always been a huge Mondesi fan, but even I would have told you this type of season would be highly unrealistic starting out. He’s doing in 2018 what I would have wanted in year 4.
Oh I've always thought Mondesi would do this. I just thought the org was fucking brain dead by bringing him up way to early in the World Series and way to early in general. I said hew as 3 years away back then and Royals fans would flip out at me. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bufkin:
O’Hearn with another moonshot last night. Absolutely possessed since being called up. Between him, Keller, and Mondesi, its been fun.
1st HR that lefty gave up to a lefty batter in like 150 innings. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Bufkin:
O’Hearn with another moonshot last night. Absolutely possessed since being called up. Between him, Keller, and Mondesi, its been fun.
We also can't forget Soler's start this year. I'm also very intrigued by Phillips' D.
A Rotation of...
Keller
Duffy
Junis
Lopez
Kennedy/Fillmyer,
And a lineup of...
Whit/Cutty (2B/3B) (Depending on if Whit is traded)
Mondesi (SS)
Soler (RF)
O'Hearn (1B)
Salvy (C)
Gordo (LF)
Boni (DH)
Phillips (CF)
Nicky Lopez (2B)
Could be a lot of fun to watch...
Goodwin, Herrera, Gallagher and Cutty, (if Whit isn't traded) are solid reserves to round things out as well. And if we have another Boni or Soler situation, they could step into the starting lineup right away. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Chiefspants:
We also can't forget Soler's start this year. I'm also very intrigued by Phillips' D.
A Rotation of...
Keller
Duffy
Junis
Lopez
Kennedy/Fillmyer,
And a lineup of...
Whit/Cutty (2B/3B) (Depending on if Whit is traded)
Mondesi (SS)
Soler (RF)
O'Hearn (1B)
Salvy (C)
Gordo (LF)
Boni (DH)
Phillips (CF)
Nicky Lopez (2B)
Could be a lot of fun to watch...
Goodwin, Herrera, Gallagher and Cutty, (if Whit isn't traded) are solid reserves to round things out as well. And if we have another Boni or Soler situation, they could step into the starting lineup right away.
Dozier has come on as well as of late.
I would say
CF Whit
LF Gordon
SS Mondesi
1st O'hearn
C Salvy
RF Soler
DH Boni
3rd Dozier
2nd Lopez
I think you can clean up the pen but the SR is still shit overall [Reply]
Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy:
Dozier has come on as well as of late.
I would say
CF Whit
LF Gordon
SS Mondesi
1st O'hearn
C Salvy
RF Soler
DH Boni
3rd Dozier
2nd Lopez
I think you can clean up the pen but the SR is still shit overall
I think you have to have an open competition for 3B next spring.... between Dozier, Cuthbert, Gutierrez, Whit(?).... and at first, i think we should let Ohearn have first shot, but he shouldn't be handed the job...I still think Schwindel deserves a look - I love Ohearn but I loved Mark Quinn, Phil Hiatt et al... [Reply]
Originally Posted by ChiefsCountry:
I would kick the tires again on Moose for 3B.
Do we really think Moose's market and/or his asking price will be significantly different than last year? Also, with Glass still being in cost cutting mode I'm not sure how much he'd authorize to spend. [Reply]
Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy:
Dozier has come on as well as of late.
I would say
CF Whit
LF Gordon
SS Mondesi
1st O'hearn
C Salvy
RF Soler
DH Boni
3rd Dozier
2nd Lopez
I think you can clean up the pen but the SR is still shit overall
Good call! I knew there was someone I was forgetting. I do think we need to find a way to get Phillips 4 AB's a day. There's no other way for a player to finally "click". We watched Mondesi do it after some time, Moose in the same way, and Gordo too. [Reply]