Royals *** Official 2018 Royals Repository *** - Page 137

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.

Spoiler!

OF Jarred Kelenic, Waukasha West HS, WI

Spoiler!

1B Triston Casas, American Heritage HS (FL).

Spoiler!

RHP Carter Stewart, Eau de Gallie HS (Ga).

Spoiler!

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 Sure-Oz:
Ya I don't want the pedo on my team who seems to have no remorse and his brother doesn't talk to him either over this. The guy can try to have a job but not in MLB imo...that should be a privilege and kids look up to players. Even if he had remorse I'd rather another team sign him

So how sure are you that he actually did it? I honestly don't know one way or another, but IF we did sign him I'd take that as a sign that they did their homework and determined he was innocent like he claimed.
[Reply]

Originally Posted by Chiefspants:
He actually claimed he was guilty. Pleaded it, in fact

And now he's saying that he pleaded guilty to avoid an expensive trial and stress on his family and that he is in fact innocent. I honestly don't know what's true. My point is IF, and it's a big IF, the Royals do their due diligence and after a thorough investigation determine that he's innocent, then I'd be willing to trust that he is in fact innocent. If not, then by all means don't sign him. I really don't know what the truth is here, and I doubt anyone else does either. But I'll trust a multi-million dollar franchise to have the power to hire investigators and get to the bottom of things.

And, perhaps just to play devils advocate, what if he was guilty to some degree? I'm not sure they should sign him in that case, but one big knock on the American criminal justice system is that it punishes people instead of rehabilitating them. Perhaps his crime (if he's guilty) is too heinous, but I would think it's possible that giving someone a chance to be a productive member of society is a better option that casting them out for life and leaving them with no other options.
[Reply]