[心得] Scoles Royals Top 10 Prospects
1. Wil Myers 6’3 205 lbs –
The former 2 million dollar man zipped through Single A and High A putting up
a .315 combined average in his first year of pro ball but then struggled at
AA with injury and a position switch that could have hurt his offensive
output. Myers appears to be putting that tough season behind him while
currently leading the Arizona Fall League in OPS and looking much more
comfortable in rightfield. If he stays in the Royals organization he should
be ready for a move to AAA and a possible September callup.
2. Bubba Starling 6’5 200 lbs-
The 1st round draftpick from last year is a physical freak with size and
speed that are unmatched by most minor leaguers. If he can translate the god
given tools he has been blessed with he’ll surely be a 5 tool dynamo in
centerfield who could make the four teams picking in front of Kansas City
last season jealous. A lack of top notch competition and a minor injury
during instructs has left plenty of mystery on the Kansas high school product
but a likely assignment to the usually difficult Midwest league and Kane
County will answer plenty of questions. Starling flashed above average
movement in center as well as a ridiculous arm. He appeared to have moved
his hands up and opened his stance ever so slightly since high school which
should help him make solid contact in his first season in the minors.
3. Mike Montgomery 6’4 190 lbs-
It was a difficult introduction to AAA for Montgomery but there were glimmers
of progress that one could see if you happen to see him as much as I did.
Mike maintained velocity throughout games regularly throwing in the 90-94
range while touching 96 as well as improving his changeup to his best pitch.
The big lefties biggest problems at this point is finding consistency with
his looping curveball and with the strikezone throughout an entire start as
he tended to lose it at times. He started to work with a cutter late in the
season which combined with his change could keep righthanders off of his
fastball. Montgomery can flash the stuff that makes him look like a
potential #1 but he’ll need to find consistency with his curve to achieve
that goal.
4. John Lamb 6’4 200 lbs-
Lamb by some was the best Royals pitching prospect headed into last season
and while he missed most of the year with Tommy John I believe that will be a
learning experience that will only make him better. Lamb’s knack for
pitching combined with three solid pitches (90-94 fastball, curve and change)
can help him get through lineups even when he doesn’t have his best stuff.
Last seasons adversity should only make the talented lefty better showing
him that he should never take his conditioning for granted. While at
instructs I heard he was working as hard as ever and should be ready to go by
midseason.
5. Jake Odorizzi 6’2 180 lbs-
Odorizzi acquired from the Brewers in the Zack Greinke trade dominated the
Carolina league with over 11 K’s per 9 innings while only walking 2.5 per 9
in his 15 starts there including a couple career high 13 K performances.
Those type of results are impressive but will be hard to duplicate as he
climbs levels considering he works mostly with a low 90s fastball that he
tends to elevate at times leading to over a home run per 9 innings when he
was promoted to AA midseason. Odorizzi’s five pitch mix (fastball, slider,
cutter, curve and change up) is the deepest in the system but he’ll need to
concentrate and refine all of his offspeed offerings as well as staying on
top of his fastball to reach is 2-3 ceiling. Look for Jake to start the
season at AA where he’ll need to work on keeping the ball down to achieve at
the AA/AAA levels.
6. Cheslor Cuthbert 6’1 190 lbs –
the young third baseman is probably the least physically impressive player
you will find on this list but he mixes a solid group of average to above
tools to help him achieve despite being one of the youngest players in the
Midwest league last season. At 18 he carried a .900 OPS through July until
an injury and fatigue slowed him down and put him into a major August slump
decreasing his numbers. Cheslor has shown above average defense with good
agility and a good arm that will make him a above average defender in the
future. He’ll be challenged next season in the tough righthanded hitting
environment of Wilmington(High A) but his above average patience and hitting
ability teamed with average power should give him the tools to hold his own.
7. Kelvin Herrera 5’10 190 lbs-
the most electric group of pitches in the Royals system may come out of the
right hand of this Dominican born reliever who sped from High A to the majors
last season. Herrera mixed his fastball that touches triple digits at times
with a low 80s change up which might be his best pitch as well as a low to
mid 80s curve. You won’t fine many relievers with this type of arsenal but
arm problems have relegated him to the pen where he could have the stuff to
replace Joakim Soria in time. Herrera should start the season in Kansas City
pen working as a setup man.
8. Elier Hernandez 6’3 195 lbs-
Hernandez earned the Royals franchise biggest international bonus ever this
July inking a 3.1 million contract. Elier was ranked as the IPL’s top
prospect as well as being one of the top international free agents available
this last July and should combine with Starling to give the Royals two legit
5 tool talents. During instructs he showed projectable power and an already
strong arm with good movement in center. I would project a season in
Burlington (NC) rookie ball to work with Royals manager Nelson Liriano
similar to Jorge Bonifacio last season.
9. Chris Dwyer 6’2 210 lbs-
the best curveball in the organization belongs to Dwyer who can flash
superior stuff at times but far too often can’t find the strikezone. Dwyer’
s knee buckling curveball teams with a low 90s fastball and a below average
changeup that he will need to lean on more in the future to reach his
ceiling. When controlling the zone Dwyer has the appearance of a middle of
the rotation type but he struggled mightily last season looking more like
that of a lefty relief specialist in the future. This season will be huge as
to what role he will play in the future if he can bring the changeup along he
’ll have the three pitches necessary to be a big league starter if not his
fastball-curve combo should be good enough in a relief role.
10. Jorge Bonifacio 6’1 192 lbs –
the brother of Marlins infielder Emilio had a solid season in the Appy league
holding his own as the second youngest player in the league while putting
together a .825 OPS. Bonifacio has a good five tool mix while being much
bigger than his older brother and has the appearance of a frame that will add
more strength. He’ll likely move to rightfield with more athletically
gifted outfielders in the system with him but Bonifacio shows good pop,
ability to make contact and decent speed that should team with Bubba and
Elier to make the Royals future outfield prospects something special to watch
in the future. Look for a Midwest league assignment for Jorge.
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