Will most definitely have butterflies on Sunday. Surely he’ll make the cut, it’s a damn shame he couldn’t experience while he was still here with us.
Really excited to see what the 3 big rookies do this year. No clue where/how they see the field but they all seem ready.
Especially during the labor strife. We will extend an olive branch to the vets by signing Duda and Kendall off of the VA scrap heap. It’s only right, what with all the owners have done for baseball.
there are still too many infielders though. whit can’t play OF well and they still aren’t moving mondesi out there
and we’ll probably see some regression for lopez and whit (who needs to be traded for the fourth season in a row)
I always say with Whit, when you can take a guys bat from a spot where he’d be one of the best in the league (second) to middle of the pack at best (outfield), ya gotta do it.
Man, seeing the tweets roll in that morning was stunning. So much flair and joy in that little frame.
And I have no idea what to do with the infield. It’s why I questioned the Santana signing. Love the walks but we don’t need them at that position.
We don't have anyone who can play first though unless you think Pratto is ready. Salvy goes from a multiple WAR player to below average if you move him to first. Whit's bat won't play there. O'Hearn is useless. Dozier is on the precipice of useless. Gotta have somebody.
My goodness. I just want to watch him hit dongs. Steal bags. Win gold gloves. Is that too much to ask?
Spoiler One morning this past fall, a couple of scouts were moseying around the Royals’ complex in Surprise, Ariz. A game was scheduled but not for a few hours. The scouts had shown up early, hoping to see some Royals prospects taking batting practice. The field, to the scouts’ dismay, was empty. No coach stood on the mound, lobbing in pitches. No player stood in the box, swinging as hard as they could to power the ball over the fence. Yet there were sounds of bats hitting balls. The thwacks were coming from a nearby cage against high-velocity and high-spin machines. A scout, realizing this, nodded his head as if to say, “I now understand how their hitting development department operates.” That development staff, which relies on insight and communication from numerous Royals departments, has garnered intrigue throughout the industry, mostly because of the strides that have been made in on-field performance. That brings us to the second story reviewing the club’s farm system. Earlier this week, we ranked the pitchers into tiers. Now we break down the hitters. We consulted numerous scouts for this story, so if the language comes across as overly critical, it’s largely a byproduct of scouts’ dialect. Their comments also provide a deeper understanding of realistic expectations. Notable recent debuts: Kyle Isbel, OF; Sebastian Rivero, C; Emmanuel Rivera, IF, Edward Olivares OF Tier 1: The you-already-know-what’s-coming tier Bobby Witt Jr., SS: This was as obvious as ordering a Z-man sandwich when you eat Joe’s in Kansas City. Not a scout in the world will question Witt’s potential. He has plus speed, plus power and a plus arm. He plays the most premium position on a baseball diamond. He’s the son of a big-leaguer whose opponents respect him enough to marvel from the other side. This past season, after one game at Triple A, a group of opponents huddled around a visitor who works in the equipment business and said with amazement of the 21-year-old: “Have you seen what he’s done to us?” Analyzing Witt’s swing, one scout compared his high finish to that of a Los Angeles Angels center fielder named Michael Nelson Trout. If anything, the questions revolving around Witt are about his contact ability. His 24 percent strikeout rate in 2021 at Double-A Northwest Arkansas worries some. But not enough to prevent evaluators from agreeing on this: Witt is a budding superstar. Tier 2: Hiccups may happen, but there’s big-time potential with these three MJ Melendez, C: It would be easy to start with Melendez’s bat, given he hit more home runs in 2021 than any other minor leaguer. But he’s a catcher and catching defense matters, so it makes sense to start there. In previous offseasons, Melendez has worked with Royals bench coach Pedro Grifol, who specializes in catching tutelage. Their reps helped refine Melendez’s glovework, which some scouts see as an ever-evolving tool. What’s obvious now is his arm strength. That, combined with his acumen behind the plate, is why one scout strongly believed Melendez could remain at catcher. The issue is, the Royals currently have Salvador Perez back there. Though he is 31 years old and has undergone Tommy John surgery, it’s hard to imagine him moving from the position. That’s where Melendez’s bat comes into play. Similar to Witt, some scouts question how his leg kick might affect his contact rates at the big-league level. Still, if that contact tradeoff results in 41-home run power similar to his 2021 performance, he should debut and perform fairly soon. Nick Pratto, 1B: Continuing with the defense-first theme, one scout wondered aloud: “Have I ever seen a better defensive first baseman?” He struggled to come up with an answer, highlighting the glovework. The Royals have long believed a stellar first baseman elevates an entire infield. Pratto could do that on day No. 1 of the 2022 season. The questions lie with his bat. His strikeout rates (29.1 percent at Double-A Northwest Arkansas and 28.5 percent at Triple-A Omaha) worry some evaluators. But similar to Melendez, if Pratto’s power output remains at the big-league level, there’s a strong belief in his ability to make an impact in The Show. Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B: One scout calls Pasquantino, “Vinnie Ballgame,” and here’s why: The dude can simply hit. At 6-foot-4, 245-pounds, it’s easy to poke holes in what Pasquantino might be capable of defensively. It’s impossibly difficult, as one scout put it, to question what Pasquantino is capable of at the plate. He doesn’t strike out (an 11 percent strikeout rate in 55 games at Double-A Northwest Arkansas). He walks (a 13.1 percent walk rate at Double-A Northwest Arkansas). And he hits balls hard. One evaluator said: “He has big-league regular potential.” Tier 3: Impact upside, but too early (and risky) to make any distinct evaluations Erick Peña, OF: Scouts have shown interest in Peña from the beginning, and it’s easy to understand why. Peña stands 6-foot-3. He weighs 205 pounds. He’s long and lean. The body, in the words of one scout, screams impact big-leaguer. This is why the Royals paid him a reported $3.8 million to sign out of the Dominican Republic in the international free-agent market. Problem is, Peña’s talent has not translated into games. In 137 at-bats last season in the Arizona Complex League, the 18-year-old struck out 57 times and posted a .570 OPS. Handling the struggles wasn’t easy; it forced Peña to tweak certain elements of his routine in search of answers. The Royals, though, had some serious conversations with Peña about what might be possible if he stays the course. A scout provided his state of the union: “Longer-levered guys often need a swing adjustment after a growth spurt. I’m still a big fan.” Daniel Vazquez, SS: Given the wacky nature of 2020, the international signings flew somewhat under the radar. Vazquez was the Royals’ most interesting addition — evidenced by their paying him a reported near $1.5 million. The right-handed-hitting shortstop is listed at 6-foot and 150 pounds, but he glides across the field and naturally picks the ball defensively. Few scouts have gotten good looks, but watching an instructional game last fall as the 18-year-old stepped up to the plate, one high-ranking Royals coach said softly: “I really like this dude.” Tier 4: College-aged selections who possess interesting skill sets Nick Loftin, IF/OF: One scout is somewhat fascinated with Loftin, whom the Royals selected with the No. 32 pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. He slashed .289/.373/.463 at High-A Quad Cities in 2021, but the scout noted that the performance eclipsed his expected statistics. That said, looking at the fine data, the scout added: “But he controls the zone.” Power output is a question mark. Defensive versatility, the scout said, should help him out, as should Loftin’s joy for the game and work ethic. If this sounds similar to a player who could continue to outperform the class scouting evaluation — a la Whit Merrifield — that’s because Loftin has carried a tinge of that quality for some time. Michael Massey, 2B: Maybe the fact that the Royals selected him in the fourth round keeps Massey under the radar. Or maybe it’s the idea that the left-handed-hitting second baseman dominated High-A Quad Cities at 23, which some may consider older. Whatever the case, the reality is that Massey did, in fact, dominate — both at the plate and in the field. Throughout the season, scouts raved about his defensive range in the middle of the infield. Their assessments made Massey’s minor-league Gold Glove award fitting. Then there’s his hitting ability. In 99 games, he hit 21 home runs and drove in 87 runs with a fairly small 15.5 percent strikeout rate, which should earn him an assignment in 2022 at Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Tier 5: Players with potential big-league tools but also elements that could hold them back Darryl Collins, OF: In 2019, Collins debuted in the Arizona Complex League and produced at age 17 with a minuscule 14.4 percent strikeout rate. This past season, Collins played at Low-A Columbia and produced at age 20 … with the exact same 14.4 percent strikeout rate. That bat-to-ball ability has caught the attention of many scouts. That said, there are questions about Collins’ defensive potential, specifically with his arm. All in all, if the Netherlands native can add power, he could potentially vie for a big-league opportunity. Maikel Garcia, SS: A relative of Ronald Acuña Jr. and Alcides Escobar, Garcia stands 6-foot and weighs 145 pounds. The stature leads to skepticism among some scouts, but his hitting ability eases their questions. In 2021 at Low-A Columbia and High-A Quad Cities, Garcia nearly walked (62 times) as much as he struck out (73 times). His hit tool led to a .785 OPS for the season and contributed to the Royals’ decision to add him to the 40-man this fall to protect him ahead of the Rule 5 draft. Garcia’s upright swing setup forces some evaluators to wonder if his consistency can translate at the big-league level. But he’s still quite young at age 22. And he can play shortstop. All of those positive qualities give him a chance. Carter Jensen, C: Ahead of the 2021 MLB Draft, here’s what The Athletic’s Keith Law wrote about Jensen’s catching defense: “He has arm strength but his technique and set up behind the plate both need work, and he’ll be a project for someone’s catching instructor once he signs.” The Royals, however, were willing to select the 18-year-old left-handed hitter and live with the need for catching progression, because of Jensen’s ability with the bat. This fall, competing against much older talent in the Arizona Complex League, Jensen posted a .792 OPS. His rise may not be meteoric, especially considering the catching talent the Royals have in their system, but one scout believes that is a positive: It will allow Jensen to continue to refine his catching ability on his own time. Omar Hernandez, C: The Royals have spoken highly about Hernandez for more than a year now. “He’s a really impressive kid,” Royals general manager J.J. Picollo said in 2020. Hernandez, a Cuba native, turned 20 years old in December. He struggled in 2021 at the plate, posting a .507 OPS at Low-A Columbia. His catching ability, however, had a couple scouts interested last spring. One, in particular, thinks Hernandez could potentially serve as an up-and-down catcher. Tier 6: Highly drafted college talent that has yet to prove their potential Peyton Wilson, 2B: The Royals selected the switch-hitting second baseman in the second round of the 2021 MLB Draft. He’s a 5-foot-9, 180-pound Alabama product whom Law wrote of before the draft: “(Has) good bat speed and some pull power, although he’s overly aggressive and is a fringy defender at second.” Few scouts have seen him to this point, but in 11 games at Low-A Columbia in 2021, Wilson posted a .685 OPS with 10 strikeouts and four walks. Where he starts and how he performs with some time around the Royals’ hitting development department will be a focal point for some evaluators this spring. Tyler Gentry, OF: Another Alabama product, Gentry sprang out of the gates in 2021 for High-A Quad Cities. The right-handed power-hitting outfielder posted an .844 OPS in 44 games at High-A Quad Cities before an injury shut him down in July. One scout, who lauded Gentry’s arm strength to the point they thought it could play consistently in right field, is interested in seeing how Gentry’s toe-tap timing mechanism might fare against higher-level pitching. Luca Tresh, C: Here’s what Law wrote before the 2021 draft: “Tresh is a solid receiver with enough arm strength to stay behind the plate, though needing some work on his throwing mechanics. At the plate, he has the strength for power, but a very wide stance gives him no stride and has held him to a .267 average this year with twice as many strikeouts as walks.” A few scouts who watched him in brief instances this fall — after the Royals surprisingly selected the North Carolina State product in the 17th round — reiterated questions relating to Tresh’s hitting ability. He posted a .402 OPS in 10 games at Low-A Columbia. Tier 7: Under-the-radar potential contributors Nathan Eaton, IF: This fall, the Royals tabbed Eaton to play in the Arizona Fall League for a reason. They believed he could not only compete against high-end competition but also excel. And that he did. “A good little utility guy,” one scout said, mentioning Eaton’s speed, hit ability and especially his actions with the glove in the infield. Eaton, whom the Royals selected with a 21st-round pick in the 2018 MLB draft, posted an .816 OPS in 20 games in the Fall League. He’s primed for an opportunity at Double-A Northwest Arkansas or higher in 2022. Brewer Hicklen, OF: Hicklen, 25, was a 7th-round pick in 2017. He glides in the infield, earning him plus nods both in his defensive ability and speed. The combination makes him a big-league bench option, depending on the potential of his bat. Hicklen has never posted a minor-league OPS below .780 but he’s also navigated many peaks and valleys. His near-30 percent strikeout rates help explain that. Whether he can cut them down or not may go a long way as to determining his true potential. Tucker Bradley, OF: One of the highlights of the Royals’ 2020 undrafted free-agent class, the Royals signed Bradley out of the University of Georgia. The 6-foot, 206-pound 23-year-old hasn’t stopped hitting since. In 86 games at High-A Quad Cities in 2021, he posted an .800 OPS and .370 on-base percentage. Scouts have noted Bradley’s on-base ability, and how much it translates back to college. Will he have enough power and defensive ability to produce in the big leagues? It’s a fair question, but one Bradley might someday earn an opportunity to answer. Tier 8: The raw Royals’ raw power trio Seuly Matias, OF: Two things have stood in Matias’ way these past few years: Injuries and strikeouts. Eliminating those detracting elements would unveil power similar to the likes of Nelson Cruz. Matias, though, hasn’t been able to shake the strikeout bug in part because he hasn’t been able to stay on the field. Until he does, he’ll remain a ways away from reaching The Show. Juan Carlos Negret, OF: Nobody hit more home runs in the Low-A East division in 2021 than Negret. The La Habana, Cuba, native stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 190 pounds. And he mashes baseballs, earning raw power and game power grades that compare with few others. Issue is, he strikes out a ton: 36 percent in 2021. If he could trim that number, he could be a potential weapon. But he has a long way to go. Kale Emshoff, C: Emshoff was another one of the highlights of the Royals’ 2020 undrafted free-agent class. Relationships fueled his signing out of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and Emshoff’s power ignited the Royals’ interest. In 55 games at Low-A Columbia in 2021, Emshoff hit 10 home runs. Injuries plagued the rest of his season. He’s already undergone Tommy John surgery — a rarity for catchers — so his potential may lie mostly in the bat. How he handles High-A Quad Cities or Double-A Northwest Arkansas in 2022 will be telling. Other names to remember: Dairon Blanco, OF; Clay Dungan, IF; Jake Means, IF; John Rave, OF; Eric Cole, OF; Wilmin Candelario, SS; Jimmy Govern, Dayton Dooney, 2B; Brennon McNair, SS; IF/OF; Juan David Olmos, C; Henry Ramos, CF; Erick Torres, CF; Josi Novas, SS; Manuel German, 1B; Charles Nova, SS