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]
The Braves are having a magical season. Seems like every single day they're getting a walk off hit. Today it's Charlie Culbertson with his 2nd walk off homer in a week. [Reply]
The a’s are set up nicely to have a good 4-5 year run. ChApman, Olson, Barrett, Fowler, Krhis Davis, Semien are a pretty good offensive core. Manaea, Montana, plenty of good arms.
Re: drafting pitchers, I think they generally have done better at maxing out stuff vs developing pitchers. Good for developing bullpen pieces, not as good for developing starters.
If they go pitcher, I’d prefer a college arm. I’m really high on Gilbert - probably my favorite college arm other than Mize - but doubt they go there. [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
The a’s are set up nicely to have a good 4-5 year run. ChApman, Olson, Barrett, Fowler, Krhis Davis, Semien are a pretty good offensive core. Manaea, Montana, plenty of good arms.
Re: drafting pitchers, I think they generally have done better at maxing out stuff vs developing pitchers. Good for developing bullpen pieces, not as good for developing starters.
If they go pitcher, I’d prefer a college arm. I’m really high on Gilbert - probably my favorite college arm other than Mize - but doubt they go there.
Looking forward to you breaking down picks since I'll have no clue [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
The a’s are set up nicely to have a good 4-5 year run. ChApman, Olson, Barrett, Fowler, Krhis Davis, Semien are a pretty good offensive core. Manaea, Montana, plenty of good arms.
Re: drafting pitchers, I think they generally have done better at maxing out stuff vs developing pitchers. Good for developing bullpen pieces, not as good for developing starters.
If they go pitcher, I’d prefer a college arm. I’m really high on Gilbert - probably my favorite college arm other than Mize - but doubt they go there.
Why are they so bad at developing pitchers? I realize that it's hard for any team, but we seem exceptionally bad. Hell, the best pitcher we've developed in a long time is probably Junis, and even he is probably no better than a 3 on a good team. [Reply]
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho:
The a’s are set up nicely to have a good 4-5 year run. ChApman, Olson, Barrett, Fowler, Krhis Davis, Semien are a pretty good offensive core. Manaea, Montana, plenty of good arms.
Re: drafting pitchers, I think they generally have done better at maxing out stuff vs developing pitchers. Good for developing bullpen pieces, not as good for developing starters.
If they go pitcher, I’d prefer a college arm. I’m really high on Gilbert - probably my favorite college arm other than Mize - but doubt they go there.
FWIW — I live in DeLand and attend Stetson games, and have seen Gilbert pitch. Last year, his sophomore year, I saw him pitch one of the best games I’ve ever seen, at any level, in one of the best games I’ve ever seen in my life. [Reply]
Originally Posted by OKchiefs:
Why are they so bad at developing pitchers? I realize that it's hard for any team, but we seem exceptionally bad. Hell, the best pitcher we've developed in a long time is probably Junis, and even he is probably no better than a 3 on a good team.
Originally Posted by OKchiefs:
Why are they so bad at developing pitchers? I realize that it's hard for any team, but we seem exceptionally bad. Hell, the best pitcher we've developed in a long time is probably Junis, and even he is probably no better than a 3 on a good team.
I do think they have improved over the past few years. First half of Moore’s tenure, IMO, they were too rigid in what they were trying to develop (not letting guys throw sliders even if it was their primary pitch, being very old school).
But the old-school approach they took has led to them drafting a lot of projectable arms that they can then develop and max-out as throwers, but with less emphasis on pitchability.
I don’t think they’ve been exceptionally bad - guys like Junis and Duffy and Ventura are nice products.
All indications I’ve received is that they’ve become more flexible over the past 3-4 years (Junis took off when they ditched the previous philosophy and stopped trying to turn him into a FB-curve-changeup guy). That’s a positive trend on the development side.
On the drafting side, I think they need to bet a little less on projectable Hs arms. Those are the biggest boom-bust product in the draft.
Note: I don’t consider Greyson Rodriguez or Kumar Rocker projectability guys. They’re both very advanced physically for HS guys,
Just need the polish. [Reply]
Boston’s among the teams keeping an eye on*Royals*closer*Kelvin Herrera, according to*Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. If acquired, the 28-year-old would return to a setup role with the*Red Sox, thanks to the presence of closer*Craig Kimbrel, and would further bolster a late-game mix that also includes*Joe Kelly*and*Matt Barnes. Herrera, who’s in his last year of team control and making $7.94MM, has allowed just two earned runs and hasn’t issued a walk in 22 2/3 innings this season. [Reply]
Originally Posted by siberian khatru:
FWIW — I live in DeLand and attend Stetson games, and have seen Gilbert pitch. Last year, his sophomore year, I saw him pitch one of the best games I’ve ever seen, at any level, in one of the best games I’ve ever seen in my life.
His stuff backed up a little bit early in the college season, which is why he's likely to be available. He was good in the Cape league last summer and likely still working through the start of his throwing program.
I think he's the best selection for them at 18 but don't expect it.
Boston’s among the teams keeping an eye on*Royals*closer*Kelvin Herrera, according to*Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. If acquired, the 28-year-old would return to a setup role with the*Red Sox, thanks to the presence of closer*Craig Kimbrel, and would further bolster a late-game mix that also includes*Joe Kelly*and*Matt Barnes. Herrera, who’s in his last year of team control and making $7.94MM, has allowed just two earned runs and hasn’t issued a walk in 22 2/3 innings this season.
That's a good team to work with. Dombrowski isn't afraid to move quality prospects for difference makers, even difference makers on 1-year deals.
The headliners of the Boston system entering 2018 - LHP Jay Groome and 3B Michael Chavis - have both seen their stock take major hits. Groome had TJ and is out until mid-2019. Chavis got busted for steroids and is just now getting ready to return from suspension.
I like Chavis a ton, but I'm not sure the Royals would still be interested at this point (They're weird like that). [Reply]
Know nothing about the players available, but Bubba Starling has ruined athletic multi-sport players for me. I'd be fine with staying away from Jordyn Adams. [Reply]
Originally Posted by OKchiefs:
Know nothing about the players available, but Bubba Starling has ruined athletic multi-sport players for me. I'd be fine with staying away from Jordyn Adams.
I have this sinking feeling that's what they're going to do, if he's available.
They have the bonus pool to get Adams out of his football commitment, and he's the type of dynamic, huge upside athlete they drool over in the middle of the diamond. [Reply]
