Kansas City Royals Top 12 Prospect Rankings

by Dave Gershman on Jan 18, 2012 9:01 AM EST in Prospect Perspective

Tier 1 (4 points): Major League Star -- Number One Starter

Tier 2 (3 points): Stand Out/Above Average Regular -- Number Two/Exceptional Three Starter

Tier 3 (2 points): Solid, Average, Every Day Regular -- Number Three/Solid Four Starter

Tier 4 (1 point): Bench/Below Average Regular -- Borderline Four/Number Five Starter/Relief Pitcher

Possibly one of the more underrated systems in baseball, Kansas City's farm still consists of top tier and semi-impact talent. Despite a combination of injuries and promotions setting the organization back a bit prospect-wise, the Royals quietly possess one of the game's best systems. The Royals have at last found themselves to be a legitimate contender in a weak American League Central and this is largely due to their strong foundation of impact level prospects that have made their way through the system over the past couple of seasons. The Hosmer, Moustakas and Duffy group is already up and now, Royals are expecting to see the likes of Mike Montgomery and Wil Myers make their way to Kansas City.

With a previously strong focus on international prospects and the draft, the Royals' system has continued to not only grow, but to display talent in each of their affiliates. Additionally, like the aforementioned trio of Hosmer, Moustakas and Duffy, the Royals impact is spread thoroughly throughout the system, potentially creating a yearly wave of new four and five-star prospects heading to Kansas City. It's not clear how the new CBA rules will affect the Royals outlook on evaluation, amateur spending and player development, but it's clear that they currently boast a strong foundation that will last the organization many years of impact talent embedded within the system.

Royals -- 28 points

Tier 1

Wil Myers
Bubba Starling

Tier 2

Mike Montgomey
Cheslor Cuthbert
Jake Odorizzi

Tier 3

Yordano Ventura
Elier Hernandez
Brian Brickhouse
Jason Adam

Tier 4

Jorge Bonifacio
John Lamb
Chris Dwyer

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Comments

Kelvin Herrera left off

Should be a setup man this year, possible closer.
Lamb should be higher, but coming of TJ, I can understand being conservative.

This system is deep at the lower levels.

DH: Where's the party!
Danny: David Howard and Mike Sweeney! Go away! Guys, you're gonna wake up my Mom!

by David Howards Legacy on Jan 18, 2012 12:37 PM EST reply actions

If your basically just listing the top 12 KC players, then I'm ok with your list. But...

If your qualifications for “Tier 4” are:
Bench/Below Average Regular — Borderline Four/Number Five Starter/Relief Pitcher

Than, Christian Colon, Brent Eibner, Yordano Ventura and Cliff Robinson MUST be included (in addition to DHL mentioning the obvious omission in Herrera), and I would even throw in:

Noel Arguellas, Will Smith, Kevin Chapman, David Lough, Cam Gallager and Kevin Smith.

Regardless, I appreciate you bringing attention to KC’s farm in your post. It’s still pretty awesome.

by Bronzillo on Jan 18, 2012 12:56 PM EST reply actions

Also,

Everett Teaford is still a prospect and has arguably already justified “Tier 4” status.

44 ip, 3.27 era, 3.95 xFIP mostly out of the pen, but did get 3 late season starts (16 ip, 13K, 3.38 era)

by Bronzillo on Jan 18, 2012 1:13 PM EST up reply actions

From the title

Kansas City Royals Top 12 Prospect Rankings

by MjwW on Jan 18, 2012 3:02 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Ok, but just because there are 4 tiers doesn't mean you have to use them all

Lamb seems especially egregious.
It’s TJ surgery, its not like his elbow exploded.
I think the general consensus was that Lamb was a likely number 2 possibly number 1 before the surgery. and TJ surgery doesn’t have much of an impact on a players performance.

"We don’t have guys with a long history of being effective in the seventh and eighth innings."
~Trey Hillman, master of understatements.

by RoyalPug on Jan 18, 2012 4:41 PM EST up reply actions

Who is Brent Eibner and Cliff Robinson?

And they don’t have to be included. This is a list of the top 12 according to him, or according to BtB. If your opinions differ, then okay, but rephrase it.

by hawkinscm87 on Jan 19, 2012 11:22 AM EST up reply actions

Don't for get about Kevin, I mean Kyle, Smith

There has been a TON of talent drafted the last couple of years. But they are so far away that, it is hard to find their “ceiling”. The Royals farm system is deep, but they don’t have as many of the top tier players as they did last offseason. Either b/c of promotions or down seasons. Lamb, Myers, and Eibner will get back to full speed this season, and this farm system will again be the “Best Farm System EVER”.

by royal_in_cincinnati on Jan 19, 2012 3:37 PM EST up reply actions

Hmm

I feel sad that I barely recognize any of the Tier 3s and know more about the Tier 4s

by sterlingice on Jan 18, 2012 3:05 PM EST reply actions

Most of the tier 3's are really low level guys

Brickhouse and Adams are from the last draft, Elier was just signed this offseason as an IFA and while Ventura has been in the system for a few years, he hasn’t played above A ball.
That said, the Royals have a LOT of interesting arms at A and A+.

"We don’t have guys with a long history of being effective in the seventh and eighth innings."
~Trey Hillman, master of understatements.

by RoyalPug on Jan 18, 2012 4:43 PM EST up reply actions