2017 Kansas City Royals Top 10 Prospects Insider
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SEASON IN A SENTENCE: The Royals followed their World Series championship with a season filled with injuries to top players, an anemic offense that resulted and their worst record since the 2012 season, albeit in their fourth straight .500 or better record—the franchise’s first such streak since 1975-80.
HIGH POINT: The Royals were in first place as late as mid-June and rode their bullpen to a nine-game August winning streak, part of a 20-9 month of August that got the team back into playoff contention. Royals pitchers limited opponents to a .232/.290/.341 line in August led by lefty Danny Duffy, who won five of six decisions and struck out 39 in 43 innings. However, Marlins ace Jose Fernandez ended the win streak with a shutout.
LOW POINT: The Royals entered a Sept. 12-15 four-game series at home against Oakland—which was 20 games under .500—just four games out of the wild-card race with 20 games to go. Four days later, they’d been swept by a combined score of 43-12, and trailed 14-0 in the finale before a five-run ninth. One of the losses included another blown save by Joakim Soria, the free-agent pickup who was on the mound 13 times when the Royals gave up the go-ahead or tying run.
NOTABLE ROOKIES: Injuries provided playing time for rookies all over the roster. Whit Merrifield and Cheslor Cuthbert played fairly regular roles at second and third base, Cuthbert replacing Mike Moustakas, who had knee surgery in May. Raul Adalberto Mondesi struggled in his stint at second base in 47 games. Wichita State alum Brian Flynn emerged as the bullpen’s top lefty for much of the season.
KEY TRANSACTIONS: Signing Soria for a three-year, $25 million as a setup man didn’t pay off, as he went 5-8, 4.05. The Royals missed left fielder Alex Gordon (wrist injury) for a month and tried two pathwork moves in left field, acquiring Billy Burns in July from Oakland and Daniel Nava in August to add outfield depth.
DOWN ON THE FARM: Double-A Northwest Arkansas and Rookie-level Burlington reached their league playoffs, but Royals domestic affiliates struggled overall, with a 342-414 mark. Lefthander Matt Strahm, who provided a September big league spark in the bullpen, and righty Josh Staumont, who finished second in the minors in strikeouts (167 in 123.1 innings), powered the Naturals’ rotation. Meanwhile, 2011 first-round pick Bubba Starling endured a difficult season, hitting just .183/.236/.298 with 145 strikeouts between Northwest Arkansas and Triple-A Omaha.
OPENING DAY PAYROLL: $137.6 million (14th)
| BEST TOOLS | |
| Best Hitter for Average | Hunter Dozier |
| Best Power Hitter | Ryan O’Hearn |
| Best Strike-Zone Discipline | Nicky Lopez |
| Fastest Baserunner | Terrance Gore |
| Best Athlete | Khalil Lee |
| Best Fastball | Josh Staumont |
| Best Curveball | Jake Junis |
| Best Slider | Andrew Edwards |
| Best Changeup | A.J. Puckett |
| Best Control | Eric Skoglund |
| Best Defensive Catcher | Cam Gallagher |
| Best Defensive Infielder | Humberto Arteaga |
| Best Infield Arm | Emmanuel Rivera |
| Best Defensive Outfielder | Bubba Starling |
| Best Outfield Arm | Seuly Matias |
| PROJECTED 2020 LINEUP | |
| Catcher | Salvador Perez |
| First Base | Eric Hosmer |
| Second Base | Raul A. Mondesi |
| Third Base | Mike Moustakas |
| Shortstop | Alcides Escobar |
| Left Field | Hunter Dozier |
| Center Field | Lorenzo Cain |
| Right Field | Jorge Bonifacio |
| Designated Hitter | Cheslor Cuthbert |
| No. 1 Starter | Danny Duffy |
| No. 2 Starter | Yordano Ventura |
| No. 3 Starter | Josh Staumont |
| No. 4 Starter | Matt Strahm |
| No. 5 Starter | A.J. Puckett |
| Closer | Wade Davis |
| TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org |
| 2007 | Alex Gordon, 3b | Royals |
| 2008 | Mike Moustakas, 3b | Royals |
| 2009 | Mike Moustakas, 3b | Royals |
| 2010 | Mike Montgomery, lhp | Cubs |
| 2011 | Eric Hosmer, 1b | Royals |
| 2012 | Mike Montgomery, lhp | Cubs |
| 2013 | Kyle Zimmer, rhp | Royals |
| 2014 | Kyle Zimmer, rhp | Royals |
| 2015 | Raul A. Mondesi, ss | Royals |
| 2016 | Raul A. Mondesi, ss | Royals |
| TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org |
| 2007 | Mike Moustakas, 3b | Royals |
| 2008 | Eric Hosmer, 1b | Royals |
| 2009 | Aaron Crow, rhp | Cubs |
| 2010 | Christian Colon, ss | Royals |
| 2011 | Bubba Starling, of | Royals |
| 2012 | Kyle Zimmer, rhp | Royals |
| 2013 | Hunter Dozier, 3b | Royals |
| 2014 | Brandon Finnegan, lhp | Reds |
| 2015 | Ashe Russell, rhp | Royals |
| 2016 | A.J. Puckett, rhp (2nd round) | Royals |
| LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY | |
| Bubba Starling, 2011 | $7,500,000 |
| Eric Hosmer, 2008 | $6,000,000 |
| Alex Gordon, 2005 | $4,000,000 |
| Mike Moustakas, 2007 | $4,000,000 |
| Sean Manaea, 2013 | $3,550,000 |
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