6) coming via international signing. 20. Maikel Garcia, SS Cox has mid-rotation upside with a very nice fastball/curveball combination. Age: 25 Acquired: 2018 Draft, Rd 13 44. The versatile fielder isnt a glove-only prospect; he has a good feel to hit with 10-15 homers at peak. Where the Rays' Top 30 prospects are starting season. Ive been writing my series covering 2022 Kansas City Royals prospects to watch from each level this morning and I cant get over how nasty Ben Hernandezs change up is. His upside is limited given his advanced age, however his ability to play outfield and infield is something the Royals covet. Still, I like his power potential and his plate discipline, and the 23-year-old could be one to watch this year. Eligibility restrictions apply. Rivero remains on the backup catcher path, as hes not forcing Salvador Perez off of the position. Highest Level: Low A Age: 23 2 on the Royals Top 30 list this year -- and hopes to graduate off the prospect list sometime in 2021 with his debut looming. 46. Peyton Wilson hit his 11th home run of the season earlier today. March 24, 2023. 35. The Royals got Hoffman in the Drew Waters trade with Atlanta, but he really struggled after changing organizations and getting bumped up to Double-A. Age: 22 He has some good raw power, but hasnt faced top competition much. Jonathan Bowlan, RHP 21. Recovery from Tommy John surgery is always an exercise in patience; Tillo has just resumed his rehab assignment. Chicago native & @UICBaseball commit Ben Hernandez struck out the side in a perfect 9th in yesterdays #UAALLAMERICA Game in front of his hometown crowd at Wrigley Field. The 23-year-old struck out 72 in 56 innings in Double-A last year, but had a high walk rate and a 5.14 ERA. Current Level: Low-A. 12. Its understandable for the cupboards to be bare immediately following the successful journey up the mountain to baseballs best. 49. A wide range of outcomes is still probable for Del Rosario, however the stuff is present. He was ranked too low in January and is rocketing up organizational rankings thus far in 2021. Shane Panzini, RHP (January rank N/A) Seuly continues to fall down prospect rankings, due to his inability to make enough contact. Highest Level: High A All 10 of the prospects ranked in the Royals Top 10 are homegrown players, with nine coming via the Draft and one (Erick Pena, No. But to get to where they want to be, the Royals will have to rely on their young talent, just like they did in their 2014-15 run to the World Series. I think he still has starter potential with his big frame, but hes already 26 years old and his window is closing. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 | WordPress Theme by MH Themes, https://www.prospects1500.com/author/royals004/. Age: 21 Jeison Guzman, SS Erick Mejia, SS Gabriel Cancel, 1B Jensen is a lefty bat with a mature approach to the plate and power potential, and while I think he moves to the outfield eventually due to his offensive upside, Ive read good things about his defense behind the plate. If the Royals need a late-inning, double play, this is the guy to call upon. The results were not good, with nearly 14 H/9 given up in those starts. The 2020 #MLBDraft prospect is among @jimcallisMLBs top performers from the game: https://t.co/LyvbjCEPtg pic.twitter.com/n4ulSX01Y7, MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) July 23, 2019. Hes the Royals No. Will Klein, RHP (January rank #41) Look for him to continue to lock down the 8th inning in front of Greg Holland. Speaking of redemption, Pratto has mashed the baseball throughout 2021, earning a nod in this years Futures Game. Current Level: High-A. As we get into the rankings, heres a quick breakdown of how the Tier system works here at Prospects1500: Tier 1: Players with high expectations of both making the majors and playing at an All-Star level for a number of years Its been a bumpy and injury-prone road since. The Royals got Taylor from the Blue Jays for Whit Merrifield, and in some respects hes a poor mans Whit - good speed with positional versatility. Blewett finds himself surrounded by plenty of other capable relievers, so this season is pivotal for him to carve out a role. A former buzzy catching prospect, the hype surrounding Melendez has subsided. Hes not quite the free-swinger Whit was in the minors, and he did smack 16 home runs in 2021, although Im a bit skeptical of his power. But I thought Id at least take a stab ranking Royals prospects, and Im curious about what you think about the state of the Royals farm system. Where applicable, youll see a players name hyperlinked. Florentino is all about projection. Wilmin Candelario, SS (January rank #24) Gambling Problem? While its clear there is a great amount of talent-building ahead of them to become viable, the Royals are still in great position at the minor league levels. Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Like a lot of pitchers, health stands in the way of progression. Call (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelpline.ma.org (MA), Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). If you're into fantasy baseball, this tier also gets you the dynasty show, the FYPD list, and the MiLB Daily Sheet during the regular season. Panzini was part of that 2021 high school pitcher class, befriending Kudrna and Mozzicato. 25. 2021 Kansas City Royals Midseason Top 30 Prospects Update By Bill Mitchell on July 29, 2021 An early run in which the Royals finished April with a 15-9 record didn't last long, but it was. 26. I like the sinking action on Zerpas low-90s fastball and he seems to induce a lot of groundballs with his breaking ball and change. Players in parentheses have the same grade. A new grip on his high-spin curveball makes the pitch a different-looking pitch than what it was in 2020. Hes back to throwing this spring but on a rehab progression. Tier 3: Players with an average expectation of making the majors and being a solid contributor Waters should get a shot at a lot of playing time in Kansas City this year, likely in right field. Should flash 20 HR power as well. Top 30s:ALW: HOU | LAA | OAK | SEA | TEXALC: CLE | CWS | DET | KC | MINALE: BAL | BOS | NYY | TB | TORNLW: ARI | COL | LAD | SD | SFNLC: CHC | CIN | MIL | PIT | STLNLE: ATL | MIA | NYM | PHI | WSH. Kansas City Royals Top 50 Prospects (2023) January 28, 2023 Adam Halpin AL Central, General, MiLB, Royals, Top 50 Lists 8 Kansas City Royals Top 50 graphic design by Michael Packard, @CollectingPack on Twitter In a couple of fairly significant moves, the Royals traded two projected regulars in Michael A. Taylor and Adalberto Mondesi. Scott Blewett, RHP 32. He has a plus glove in center and a strong arm, so he can at least provide some defensive utility, but the upside with his bat is likely pretty limited. This Lizandro Rodriguez kid can swing it. Highest Level: Rookie His control improved significantly last year, although it could still be an issue. If he becomes a lefty fifth starter who throws strikes and gets grounders, the Royals would take that to the bank. Age: 20 Acquired: 2015 Amateur Free Agency Playing at an age-appropriate level in Quad Cities, Vinnie is looking more and more like a valuable bench bat at the highest level. Highest Level: Rookie He has one of the strongest arms in the Royals system, profiling best in right field. 44. 4. Highest Level: Double A 21+ (18+ NH/WY). I lean heavily on other lists from those that have actually seen these players. 30 on Top 100)4. Maikel Garcia, SS4. Current Level: Rookie. Erick Pena, OF 3 pitch mix with the ability to remain a starter. Add in his good plate discipline and youre looking at a solid big leaguer, if not more. Kelvin Gutierrez, 3B The curret crop of prospects is impressive, with the farm system ranked No. Bullpens require flamethrowers and Hernandez certainly fits that bill with his premium velocity fastball and high strikeout rate. Age: 19 Age: 26 Age: 23 April 5, 2023. Who is Andrew Painter? Potential 2021 Graduates: Jackson Kowar, Bobby Witt Jr., Nick Pratto, Kyle Isbel, Emmanuel Rivera Honorable Mentions: Anderson Paulino I just haven't seen enough from Paulino to keep him in the top 50 at the moment. 3 big questions come into focus at Blue Jays camp. 2. Acquired: 2017 Draft, Rd 1, Pick 14 Strictly a bullpen arm, the lefty is knocking on the door for another shot in the big league bullpen after previously unsuccessful auditions in 2019 and 2020. Acquired: 2019 Amateur Free Agency He has pitched just eight innings in the pros, but has still yet to allow a hit. When Im not writing about baseball or purchasing my next baseball card, I can be seen coasting down the highway to yet another travel baseball tournament with my wife and son. Highest Level: MLB pic.twitter.com/Uns5DEEYu7. But the Royals added him to the 40-man roster for a reason, he won MVP in the Venezuelan Winter League, and he hit a solid .270/.365/.480 with 15 home runs in 87 games for Omaha. The Royals acquired the former Mizzou star and first-round pick from the Yankees last summer for Benintendi, but left him unprotected for the Rule 5 draft this past winter. The clock is ticking on Guzman, as he enters his 5th season in the Royals system. He has excellent control , which will allow him to continue to develop as a starter. Acquired: 2020 Draft, Rd 4, Pick 105 He hit just 11 home runs in 113 games, but again, he was an 18-year-old kid, and he seemed to get better as the season went along. Top 100. Current Level: AA. Age: 21 I still see a platoon catcher with some pop, as his calling card. Emilio Marquez, LHP (January unranked) He has a nice deceptive delivery and a low-to-mid-90s fastball, so if he can get back to throwing strikes, he could be a candidate for the rotation next spring, although his ceiling seems rather limited. Age: 21 Still in need of more seasoning, Isbel still profiles as a high-floor solid contributor for a 5 year stretch in the majors. He possesses excellent control, as evidenced by 4 BB in 33.1 IP. Highest Level: Rookie After thoroughly dominating Double-A Northwest Arkansas for two and a half months, the Royals have finally promoted top prospects Bobby Witt Jr., age 21, and Nick Pratto, age 22, to Triple-A. The first professional season has been a good one for the outfielder from the University of Alabama. The college lefty could force his way into a late season call-up in 2021. Long on athleticism, the former football player, displayed good power and well above average speed in the Carolina League. Hes a fastball/slider pitcher who can get his heater in the mid-to-high-90s. Age: 22 Nick Loftin, UTIL 5. You can also read Prospects Live, David Leskys top Royals prospect list and Royals Farm Report still has good analysis of Royals prospects. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. An ERA under 1.5 with a K:BB ratio of nearly 8.5 to 1 will get my attention. Baseball Prospectus ranked Witt #2 on their mid-season top 50 update . He had a patient eye at Virginia Tech with good power, and Keith Law reports that his power potential has only increased since joining the Royals. But there are still plenty of rising prospects to know. Age: 22 We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. Royals fans have gotten a glimpse of the Venezuelan lefty and he has been impressive as hell with a 1.13 ERA in 16 innings, aggressively throwing strikes without fear. Acquired: 2018 Trade (Washington) Age: 23 A third-round pick of the Royals in 2021 and one-time LSU commit, the 19-year-old Kansas City native hit .226 over 113 games last season at low-A Columbia and batted .281 at the rookie level in. April 6, 2023. While the Royals have drafted well, Im sure the fan base would trade every single prospect on this list for another World Championship. Age: 24 Big, strong and physical, Gentry has raw power that hes still unlocking. Rays prospect duo enjoying taste of the big leagues. 2 overall in 2019, despite not having any Minor League games last year. If he sticks as a regular, that will be a huge feather in the cap of J.J. Picollo - who acquired him from the Braves in a creative trade for a draft pick - and the hitting development team led by Alec Zumwalt. His breaking ball has been a work in progress, but overall he still has some good potential and could move quickly if he improves his command. Acquired: 2018 Amateur Free Agency He still has a long way to go, but fans shouldnt write him off just because of his draft position. Lower? Where the Royals' Top 30 prospects are starting season April 4, 2023 Royals' farm gets boost from Draft bats March 20, 2023 No. Little bit of power in the morning pic.twitter.com/WUNMEWXbEe, Erick Pea (@erickpena20_) December 28, 2020. Jensen was able to draw his free passes without striking out that much - a 21 percent whiff rate. Hes a long ways away, so I cant project him on the 40 man as of now, but that could change with continued growth in 2021. Easily a top 5 prospect, early struggles at AA have given way to Witt displaying all of the exciting tools he possesses. Acquired: 2020 Trade (San Diego) Your email address will not be published. Garcia is the cousin of former Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar, and while they are both above-average defenders, that is probably where the comparisons end. 29. He was one of the youngest pitchers in the Carolina League last year, but struck out 11.61 hitters-per-nine-innings, one of the highest rates in the league. Wilson is your prototypical scrappy gamer who can play all over the field and profiles as a utility infielder. Highest Level: AA. Players in parentheses have the same grade. He has a fastball and slider that play well off each other. How did Jimmy Govern not make the list? Organizational depth at this point. Bobby Witt Jr., SS (January rank #1) Current Level: Low-A. Current Level: AA. Nick Loftin, 2B/SS (January rank #8) On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & resort (KS). Current Level: AA. The cousin of Alcides Escobar, Garcia has a present solid hit tool, speed, and good defense. Daniel Tillo, LHP (January rank #19) Age: 17 22. Age: 24 Age: 20 5 prospect Wallace thriving in Royals' 'family environment' March 17, 2023 Gordon gets a surprise as KC honors Minor Leaguers March 6, 2023 Royals top prospect tumbles his way to debut triple March 4, 2023 'Who are you?' Edward Olivares, OF He didn't play much his. 5. The Royals farm teams love to run. Its Nick Prattos 15th of the season too, he and Bobby Witt Jr. hit consecutive homers for the 4TH time this season! Maikel Garcia, SS (January rank #28) The right-hander can now touch 100 mph with his fastball while sitting comfortably in the mid-90s, and his extension gives him added deception on the pitch. Here are the Royals' 2021 Top 30 Prospects March 16th, 2021 Anne Rogers @ anne__rogers SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Royals saw the first two of their loaded 2018 Draft class reach the Major Leagues in 2020, with right-hander Brady Singer and left-hander Kris Bubic graduating from MLB Pipeline's Top 30 Prospects list in their rookie seasons. Highest Level: Rookie Now that hes another year removed from his injury, perhaps he can get back to being a strike-thrower with a solid 93-95 mph fastball and curve. Hernandez was a bit of a surprise addition to the 40-man roster, but he can absolutely fly, and he held his own as a 21-year-old in Double-A last year. These list wont have updated reports on the players, were saving that for the offseason. 45. Where the Royals' Top 30 prospects are starting season April 4, 2023 Royals' farm gets boost from Draft bats March 20, 2023 No. As with most teams, if not all, some drafts have been better than others. SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The Royals saw the first two of their loaded 2018 Draft class reach the Major Leagues in 2020, with right-hander Brady Singer and left-hander Kris Bubic graduating from MLB Pipelines Top 30 Prospects list in their rookie seasons. Certainly a surprise to many with Rocker on the board, dont look past the lefty prepster from Connecticut; his statistical output is off the chart at nearly 22 K/9! Nick Pratto, 1B The system focus wont be on Isbel due to some of the names listed above, but I have no reservations that hell be a solid player for a decade for the Royals. 4. Highest Level: High-A. Mejia currently plays the role of part-time Utility player for the Royals. Highest Level: MLB Age: 23 Strikeouts (14.3 K/9) and walks (6.8 K/9) have both been plentiful in his debut season, however the ace-level potential still remains. A couple spots down at No. When we released our top 50 Royals prospects list last week, I briefly recapped some of the players on our list, but I wanted to go a little further in-depth and remind everyone how our boys were doing on the farm last time there was MiLB: in the fall of 2019. Physically present in AZ/CO/CT/IL/IN/IA/KS/LA (select parishes)/MA/MD/MI/NH/NJ/NY/OH/OR/PA/TN/VA/WV/WY only. Gabriel Cancel, 2B/3B (January rank #35) Ben Kudrna, RHP 3. 19. In an increasingly crowded minor league bullpen group, Gavin has improved his K/BB ratio, which could spring him above the pack as next in line for a shot in KC. Current Level: High-A. Entering the Top 30 this year are 17-year-old shortstop Daniel Vasquez, whom the Royals signed during the international signing period this year; right-hander Will Klein, who was drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 Draft; and right-hander Samuel Valerio, who burst onto the scene at fall instructional camp with a 102-mph fastball. Lee tends to see a lot of pitches in his at-bats, which I was able to witness in-person in 2019. Tyler Gentry, OF (January rank #26) Age: 22 Current Level: High-A The first professional season has been a good one for the outfielder from the University of Alabama. Miller knocking on MLB door after duel with deGrom. Thats probably why the Royals targeted the right-hander in their trade with the Twins for Michael A. Taylor. Acquired: 2020 Draft, Rd 3, Pick 76 Current Level: High-A. He will have to get more whiffs, or at least improve his command, but Kudrna has the physical upside to improve. Nick Pratto, 1B (January rank #43) Brewer Hicklen, OF (January rank #34) Local Kansas City product Ben Kudrna is the Royals top pitching prospect at No. Daniel Lynch, LHP (January rank #4) After playing in the Arizona Fall League last year, Gentry could move quickly this season. Age: 23 He needs to stay healthy and pitch a complete season to set his pathway. Acquired: 2020 Draft Rd 1, Pick 4 Highest Level: Rookie 10 is catcher Carter Jensen, who went to Park Hill HS in Kansas City before the Royals drafted him in the third round in 2021. Isbel is more a high-floor type of prospect, but should be a serviceable corner OF (likely LF) at the MLB level. Ben Kudrna, RHP3. His results have been mixed with decent strikeout numbers but high walk totals in Low-A. Current Level: High-A. Age: 21 When J.J. Picollo says that minor league pitching development isnt the problem, Marsh and Lacy are the two pitchers I think of as a point against that. Best toolsPlayers are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Hell never be confused with fellow Royal, Salvador Perez, from a hitting standpoint, but hell play well enough behind the dish to be a big league backup. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for 2021 Bowman Sterling Prospect Autographs AUSTIN COX #BSPA-AC K.C. 30. April 5, 2023. Control is often the last skill that young hurlers develop, with Hernandez being no different. Look for Heath to get some playing time as a platoon outfielder this year in Kansas City. Highest Level: Low A Projected ranking in 2022: 20-25. Armed with a high 90s fastball, he induces a ton of swings and misses from opponents, racking up 13.0 K/9 in 2020. Ben Hernandez, RHP (January rank #14) Barnett was the Royals third-round pick out of Auburn last year. Matias is a former Top 100 prospect and arguably a cautionary tale about lower-level strikeout rates, as he hasn't K'd less than 35% of the time since 2017, though his 70-grade power should enable the 23-year-old to play upper-level pro baseball, or abroad, for many years. Highest Level: Low A Cancels ceiling is a utility bench player, with an average hit tool and average power. He has moved slowly through the system, and had a good showing recently in the Venezuelan Winter League. Current Level: High-A. Who should be higher? The Storm Chasers dont play in high-altitude bandboxes in the Pacific Coast League anymore, so was this some newfound power or just a fluke? His first Low-A triple, featuring Ben Kudrna and Frank Mozzicato. Age: 22 But I made some tweaks based on things I like to see from prospects, and your personal preferences may differ. The Crimson Tide product has a nice blend of power, speed, and hit. He hit .293/.382/.455 with 12 home runs and 19 steals in 110 games for Double-A Northwest Arkansas. Age: 21 This Carter Jensen HR is our ABC Quality Play of the Game presented by the South Carolina Department of Social Services! Jensen started the 2022 season in Columbia, a good sign for a very young prospect. Nate Handy Prospect Rankings 1/22/2021 As we prepare for the season ahead, the Pitcher List staff will be creating profiles for every fantasy-relevant player for 2021. So uhh.this Alec Marsh kid is pretty good. Age: 20 Bubic remains barely prospect eligible after a decent rookie showing in the Bigs during the 2020 season. Organizations love players like him because they know what they have and arent fully dependent on guys to hit lofty ceilings. GRAND SLAM. 28. 38. Highest Level: Double A Age: 24 If he can cut that down without sacrificing too much power, he could stick as a plus defender in the corners who can cover center if need be, or at worst, a fourth outfielder. 30. See More Details about "2021 Bowman Sapphire Edition - Chrome Prospects Autogr." Return to top. The arsenal of pitches doesnt possess a standout, at lower levels Heasley is able to mix his pitches to get effective results. It was exactly the kind of low-risk, high-reward pick to take late in a draft. He didnt play much his first season after signing, and while he mashed with 14 home runs for Quad Cities in 2022, he was a bit old for High-A. There are experts out there who know a lot more about these players than I do - Baseball America has their Royals prospect list, MLB Pipeline does a top 30 list, and Keith Law will be out with his Royals list tomorrow. Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2022 preseason list to the 2023 preseason list: Jump: Tyler Gentry, OF (2022: 29 | 2023: 8)No Royals prospect took a bigger step forward than Gentry in 2022. Arrow still points up, though. Current Level: 2021 2nd Rd Draft Selection (#43 Overall). Acquired: 2019 Draft, Rd 2, Pick 44 The Royals need Bobby, MJ, and Vinnie to step up and be stars, Being good wont bring back playoff glory, Baseball America has their Royals prospect list, Keith Law will be out with his Royals list tomorrow, power potential has only increased since joining the Royals. Current Level: AA. Age: 21 Highest Level: Rookie #Royals Bobby Witt Jr. hasnt even played above Rookie ball and hes out here making it look easy! 26. 5 at the start of 22 -- now hes a mainstay in the middle of the Royals lineup. Control, and an excellent changeup allow him to rack up the strikeouts. Zach Haake, RHP Austin Cox, LHP (January rank #11) Where the Astros' Top 30 prospects are starting the season April 5, 2023 Talented outfield prospects plentiful for Astros March 24, 2023 Sara Goodrum breaks down Astros' prospects in Q&A March 15, 2023 More Prospects News Astros Prospect Highlights More Prospects Highlights Highest Level: College 37. The speed hasnt faded, however, the clock is dwindling on Hicklens ability to make an impact for the Royals. 6. March 19, 2023. While some scouts compare him to another former Royal, Carlos Beltran, I see Pena getting a heavy dose of right field. Raised in the Midwest, and with lots of baseball. At first, he made the trade look good for the Royals, hitting .304 . Asa Lacy, LHP (January rank #2) That leads to our brand new scouting report pages that contains their reports from the preseason. The Royals traded Trevor Rosenthal to the Padres for Olivares. MJ Melendez began last year as the Royals No. Age: 27 @n_pratto do you think youre funny or something? The ceiling is sky-high for Morel, with a high variance of outcomes still in play. The full rankings and reports on all top 30 prospects per team will be available on our Patreon at the 55-tier ($5 level) as we publish them. Acquired: 2018 Trade (Washington) Acquired: 2019 Draft, Rd 11 13 prospect MJ Melendez sends this screamer to right-center to extend his league lead with 17 homers and 44 RBIs with @ARTravs. Current Level: 2021 1st Rd Draft Selection #7 Overall. 24. Born in Arizona. Darryl Collins, OF Hell need to bring his walk rate down, but hes a guy that could have some helium with a good season. Top 30sNLE: ATL | MIA | NYM | PHI | WSHALE: BAL | BOS | NYY | TB | TORNLC: CIN | CHC | MIL | PIT | STLALC: CWS | CLE | DET | KC | MINNLW: AZ | COL | LAD | SD | SFALW: HOU | LAA | OAK | SEA | TEX. Maikel Garcia, SS 4. He made nine starts in Double-A last year, but the strikeouts werent there and his walk rate spiked. Where the Blue Jays' Top 30 prospects are starting season. Seuly Matias, OF (January rank #25) I dont really see this guy very high on prospect lists and I have to wonder why. Vinnie Pasquantino knocks one out of the park and puts @ODUBaseball on the board early in the 1st. So far, the production hasnt met the expectations when they signed him in 2015. 42. Current Level: High-A. Age: 25 Omar Florentino, SS This feels like a make or break year for Matias. From the Top 100: Brady Singer and Kris Bubic saw the majors in 2020, but Lynch was and still is their best pitching prospect, a lefty who's up to 99 mph with three off-speed pitches that can. 19. 11. Eaton missed a chunk of the 2021 season due to an injury, and between the injury and the lack of power (.127 ISO) he showed as a 24-year old in High-A, I admittedly forgot to rank him in our mid-season list last year. Biggest jump/fallHere are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2019 preseason list to the 2020 preseason list: Jump: Noah Murdock, RHP (2020: NR | 2020: No.16) -- An imposing presence on the mound at 6-foot-8, Murdock showed significant strides in his strength, arsenal and control when he got to the Royals fall instructional program in Kansas City last year. He shouldnt need much time to make it to a bench role, and possibly more. Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B (January rank #40) MJ Melendez, C He's got a big fastball and that's about it in terms of high-profile stuff. April 3, 2023. Heres a look at the Royals top prospect: 1. Garcia didnt have much power in 2021, or in 2022 in Northwest Arkansas, but he suddenly smacked seven home runs in 40 games for Omaha after his mid-season promotion. 3. Hes already being tagged with potential Ace label. Highest Level: High A Acquired: 2018 Draft, Rd 6 Kyle Isbel, OF The flamethrower out of Eastern Illinois possesses a 4 pitch mix, with the changeup still in development. Bobby Witt Jr., SS Hes very thin and wiry and is never going to become a power hitter, but pitchers wont be knocking the bat out of his hands either - he did smack nine home runs last year. Carlos Hernandez, RHP (January rank #12) He could be a lefty reliever who brings a different look, but with his deep arsenal with a variety of arm angles, I think he still has potential as a starter. And now, in July of 2021, we will have the fifth edition of our mid-season rankings here at Royals Farm Report. Scott Blewett, RHP (January rank #39) Carter Jensen (2021 MO) lines this one for a double to the opposite field.