Kansas City Royals Top 20 Prospects

by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2005 12:48 PM EST in News

Denny Bautista, RHP, B+
Billy Butler, 1B-3B, B+
J.P. Howell, LHP, B+
Justin Huber, 1B-C, B
Mark Teahen, 3B, B
Billy Buckner, RHP, B
Ambiorix Burgos, RHP, B-
Shane Costa, OF, B-
Matt Campbell, LHP, B-
Don Murphy, 2B, B-
Mike Aviles, SS, B-
Andy Sisco, LHP, C+
Mitch Maier, OF-3B, C+ (grade change)
Andres Blanco, SS, C+
Ryan Braun, RHP, C+
Leo Nunez, RHP, C+
Chris Lubanski, OF, C+
Brian McFall, OF, C+
Josh Johnson, 2B, C+
Justin Huisman, RHP, C

An improving farm system, though it still has a long way to go before matching the Minnesota or Cleveland systems. Rip-off-the-other-team trades for Bautista and Huber helped a lot last summer.

I don't think that Teahen will ever be the power hitter that the Royals dream of, but he should hit .280, with walks, doubles, 10-15 homers, and good defense. He'll be a reasonable replacement for Joe Randa. Pitchers Bautista and Ambiorix Burgos have awesome arms, but have to show better command. 2004 college draftee pitcher J.P. Howell, Billy Buckner, and Matt Campbell should make short work of A-ball, but we need to see what they do in Double-A. I'm very optimistic about Howell in particular. Rule 5 pick Andy Sisco looks good in early camp and will probably stick on the roster. First-round pick Billy Butler annihilated the Pioneer League, combining power production with a high batting average and excellent strike zone judgment. His main problem is defense, and he will end up at first base.

I'm changing Mitch Maier's grade from a slightly overoptimistic B- to C+. He's no longer a third baseman, but as an outfielder he'll need to show more power. Andres Blanco has an awesome glove and is young enough to still improve his hitting. Watch Josh Johnson, a third-round pick last year who drew 56 walks in his first 57 pro games.

Reliever Ryan Braun has a great slider. Leo Nunez, acquired from the Pirates for Benito Santiago, owns a 95 MPH fastball and decent control, but has had elbow problems and needs to work on his breaking stuff.

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Comments

Gotay?

Where does Gotay rank on the list? Is he better than Murphy?

by lfeyh on Mar 1, 2005 1:03 PM EST 0 recs

Lubanski

Does Lubanski have the tools to improve his grade and turn into a player?

by pieman1121 on Mar 1, 2005 1:06 PM EST 0 recs

yes

Yes. I saw him in April and I saw him in August...he looked a lot better in August, better swing and stronger plate discipline. He still has time to move beyond where he is now.

by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2005 1:08 PM EST up 0 recs

High-A

it will be interesting to see how our players at High Desert respond to being in one of the best hitters' parks in the minors. I think Lubanski could have a big year. At the same time, I'm afraid of what our pitchers' ERA is going to look like.

it will take some getting used to--mentally adjusting numbers that we have expected to be low for hitters in Wilmington.

by nwroyal on Mar 1, 2005 5:11 PM EST up 0 recs

High Desert

ERA will be higher, but it should teach pitchers to be more selective with pitches.

If anything the effect is more mental than anything.

by vandalmann on Mar 1, 2005 5:14 PM EST up 0 recs

gotay

I'd rate Gotay about equal with Murphy, though their profiles are different. Gotay has a better bat, Murphy is better with the glove. I didn't put Gotay in the book due to the number of games he played in the majors, but if I had he'd be probably a Grade B- or B.

by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2005 1:07 PM EST 0 recs

huber

how is huber developing as a 1b, now since Buck basically is guarenteed the catching job of the future?

by mrmetaa on Mar 1, 2005 1:10 PM EST 0 recs

huber

Early reports are positive, but we need to see some game action. Huber is reasonably athletic and I think he'll be fine at 1B with experience.

by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2005 1:16 PM EST 0 recs

Buck

Too much major league time, but what was his grade?

by ohad on Mar 1, 2005 1:17 PM EST 0 recs

buck

Buck bounced back and forth between B+ a few years ago to Grade C...due to his erratic offense. Last year he got healthy again and did pretty well. I think he's a .250-.260 hitter with 15-20 homer power, good glove (though he will never be great at throwing out runners). Solid regular catcher, not a star.

by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2005 1:36 PM EST up 0 recs

Thanks

I have him on my major league fantasy team as a backup. Haha.

by ohad on Mar 1, 2005 3:27 PM EST up 0 recs

Sisco

I hope he is given back to the Cubs. He reminds me a bit of the Santana Rule V a few years ago. I have a feeling it might bite the Cubs in a few years.

by Ienpw on Mar 1, 2005 1:32 PM EST 0 recs

Aviles

His name never seems to come up. Clearly not offering much besides BA right now, but all those doubles (~40, I think) make me think he's primed for a breakout in AA.

Thoughts?

by nabengt on Mar 1, 2005 1:47 PM EST 0 recs

aviles

I like Aviles...remember, Wilmington is a tough place to hit. A breakout at Wichita is quite possible.

by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2005 1:51 PM EST 0 recs

Re: Aviles

Will he have to find another position eventually?

by nabengt on Mar 1, 2005 5:22 PM EST up 0 recs

range

He may have to move to 2B, not sure yet. Looking forward to seeing him in Wichita.

by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2005 5:25 PM EST up 0 recs

Gary Perez

John, love these lists-

Gary Perez: I know we only have his DSL numbers, but they were excellent. any thoughts on him?

also, early thoughts on who we should take with #2 pick (assuming upton is gone)?

by nwroyal on Mar 1, 2005 4:05 PM EST 0 recs

perez

Too early to tell on Perez. Can't be more honest than that...:)

Too early to tell on the draft, too. Alex Gordon of Nebraska is an obvious candidate. Mike Pelfrey of Wichita State would be another, although there is a Boras Factor there, plus Wichita State pitchers have a bad injury track record. The high school class hasn't really shaken out yet other than Upton.

by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2005 4:16 PM EST 0 recs

Billy Buckner

Is this prospect related to the other Billy Buckner or is the name just a coincidence?

by smokhaus on Mar 1, 2005 4:21 PM EST 0 recs

coincidence

Coincidence.

by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2005 4:25 PM EST 0 recs

Billy Butler

Is moving Butler to first inevitable, or do you see the Royals working with him on his defense? How soon do you see him in Kansas City? 2007? I was wondering if perhaps he would work in a corner outfield spot (I have not seen him so I don't know if his body would work out there or not).

Sickels, this site rules!!!

by count sutton on Mar 1, 2005 4:45 PM EST 0 recs

butler

Well, if Teahen develops as expected, then there's no reason not to move Butler to first. I don't know if he runs well enough for the outfield...I am planning an early trip to Burlington to check it out.

by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2005 4:52 PM EST 0 recs

Just hitting

If you were ranking prospects on hitting alone how high might you rank Butler?

by AaronMullen on Mar 2, 2005 8:47 AM EST up 0 recs

Lubanski & Baldelli

I'm a fan of Lubanski and liked the way he developed over the course of last season.

It seems he has similar tools to Baldelli? Baldelli struggled his first couple years as well.

Am I reaching on this one?

by Trader J on Mar 1, 2005 5:06 PM EST 0 recs

reach

Yeah, you're reaching a little. Lubanski is a good athlete and has some tools, but he's not as good of an athlete as Baldelli.

by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2005 5:07 PM EST 0 recs

Kaanoi and Bass

First, great site and the profiles are awesome, thanks. I noticed that Jason Kaanoi and Brian Bass didn't make the list. Kaanoi is supposed to be a groundball pitcher with upside while Bass was a hot pitching prospect before injury woes last season due to some added ticks to his fastball. I'd have rated Kaanoi 20th instead of Huisman. Thoughts?

by dyehardfan on Mar 1, 2005 5:21 PM EST 0 recs

kaanoi

I've seen Kaanoi a lot the last two years. He's got the arm, no question, but his command is pretty rough, although it was better last year than the year before. I have him as a Grade C guy. I put Huisman ahead because he is closer to being ready, but Kaanoi does have a higher ceiling.

Bass, eh....want to see if he's healthy.

by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2005 5:24 PM EST 0 recs

Hughes

what do you think of Dusty? I was a little surprised he didn't make the handbook.

by nwroyal on Mar 1, 2005 5:34 PM EST 0 recs

hughes

I saw Hughes pitch in Burlington. Grade C guy. I could have put him in but at 447 pages I was already pushing the envelope and some Grade C guys for each team got dropped.

by John Sickels on Mar 1, 2005 5:35 PM EST 0 recs

Hughes

I've heard that Scouting Director Deric Ladnier is very high on Hughes because of his ability to pitch inside.. Take scoutspeak for what it's worth.

by dyehardfan on Mar 1, 2005 5:40 PM EST 0 recs

Damn

I hope he is given back to the Cubs. He reminds me a bit of the Santana Rule V a few years ago. I have a feeling it might bite the Cubs in a few years.>>>>

That would suck so much.

by SenorGato88 on Mar 1, 2005 9:47 PM EST 0 recs

Leo Nunez

I haven't personally seen Nunez play, but ignoring his statistics is very difficult to do. 10-4, 3.13 ERA, 140K's and only 46 walks. I understand he's had some injury issues in the past, but it looks like he had it figured out last year. I guess I'll just sit back and keep hoping he'll be the sleeper that I believe he is.

Jeremiah 29:11

by BowmanChromeAddict on Mar 1, 2005 11:17 PM EST 0 recs