2023 – A new beginning for the Royals. Matt Quatraro era begins. A year to see which of our young players will make up the core going forward. Can Bobby Witt Jr become a superstar SS or will go to the hot corner? Will Brady Singer take the next step forward? Will Salvy be Salvy? Will Big Vin or Pratto take first base? Will they find a position for MJ? Who else emerges from the youth movement? Not to mention the development of the new downtown stadium.
Free Agents/Trades Acquisitions
Jordan Lyles, RHP
Ryan Yarbrough, LHP
Josh Taylor, LHP
Aroldis Chapman, LHP
Top 10 Prospects from Baseball America
1. Gavin Cross, OF
2. Cayden Wallace, 3B
3. Drew Waters, OF
4. Ben Kudrna, RHP
5. Frank Mozzicato, LHP
6. Maikel Garcia, SS
7. Tyler Gentry, OF
8. Nick Loftin, OF/3B
9. Angel Zerpa, LHP
10. Carter Jensen, C [Reply]
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut:
There's plenty of raw talent in Melendez. If the Royals (or someone else) can unlock it, they'll have a heck of a player on their hands.
His batted ball numbers are good even at the big league level. He strikes the ball well and he does it often. But he has a hole in his zone and he chases too much crap. So he can't put that raw power to use.
I feel like the approach issues may be hard to get around but there has to be a mechanical change that can keep him from swinging through as many hittable pitches as he does. There's a lot to like in there but it's just not working.
Hell, send him to Driveline or something. Have someone outside the organization work with him to see if they can untangle a hitch in his swing or something. That's the kind of guy a team like the Royals should be looking to acquire/repair but it doesn't do them any good if they can't diagnose/develop the guys from within their own system first.
He's a canary in the coalmine to me. If the Royals can't figure out how to make a productive big league hitter out of Melendez, they need to make changes to their staff to address that. He's exactly the kind of player they need to be developing into a difference maker. They just can't afford to let players with his tools plateau and/or regress.
He falls away from the plate!!! Like he's drag bunting or something. He needs to quiet his legs which will steady the rest of the body so he makes solid contact more often. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Ocotillo:
Not a ringing endorsement for former Royals bench coach Pedro Grifol.
Filed to ESPN: Former White Sox reliever Keynan Middleton documents dysfunction as he saw it in Chicago. ‘No rules': Ex-White Sox pitcher rips club's culture https://t.co/Z03bbDpZE8
Cole Ragans is our Ace. Good thing, bad thing, I don’t know but he’s the best we’ve got right now. Yes very small sample size but it is what it is. [Reply]
