Top 20 Royals Prospects

by John Sickels on Nov 9, 2025 5:29 PM EST in News

Kansas City Royals Top 20 Prospect List for 2008

All grades are EXTREMELY PRELIMINARY and subject to change.

Mike Moustakas, SS, Grade B+
Luke Hochevar, RHP, Grade B
Billy Buckner, RHP, Grade B
Dan Cortes, RHP, Grade B
Julio Pimentel, RHP, Grade B-
Chris Lubanski, OF, Grade B-
Danny Duffy, LHP, Grade B-
Blake Wood, RHP, Grade C+
Blake Johnson, RHP, Grade C+
Carlos Rosa, RHP, Grade C+
Justin Huber, 1B, Grade C+
Craig Brazell, 1B, Grade C+ (old but I'd love to give him some at-bats)
Jeff Bianchi, SS, Grade C+ (not ready to drop him just yet)
Tyler Lumsden, LHP, Grade C+ (too high? Time to pull the plug?)
Sam Runion, RHP, Grade C+
Jarod Plummer, RHP, Grade C+ (sort of the Brazell of pitchers)
Adrian Ortiz, OF, Grade C+ (might drop to Grade C)
Mitch Maier, OF, Grade C (Looks too low. Might move up to C+)
Matt Mitchell, RHP, Grade C
Derrick Robinson, OF, Grade C

There are 17 other Royals players who will be in the book. Note that these grades are all very flexible at this point, especially the Grade C+/C guys. There is not much difference between them. Note that the grade is JUST SHORTHAND for what I think about the player, and is based on a blending of long-term "upside," 2007 and 2006 performance, stats, scouting, and (yes) instinct on my part. I probably spend more time worrying about how I have the Grade C+/C guys ranked than I do the stronger prospects, who are usually pretty easy.

Newsletter subscribers will be sent some sample player comments tomorrow. And don't forget to order the 2008 Baseball Prospect Book, which will have full written reports and stats on all these players and over 1,000 others.

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Comments

Daniel Cortes

This list looks pretty good to me. I can understand Hoch being the top pitching prospect but I have a hunch Cortes will be the best of the bunch when all is said and done.

Moustakas as a B+ is conservative I think but understandable.

Big Cortes fan!

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Nov 9, 2025 5:38 PM EST 0 recs

Hochevar

John, where do you think Luke Hochevar will be starting the 2008 season?

by Abbath on Nov 9, 2025 5:41 PM EST 0 recs

Interesting List

Can't argue too much with it. Although I'd rank Maier, Mitchell, and Robinson ahead of Ortiz... because of his inability to draw a walk.

The only question I have is why isn't Dickerson on the list?

by Angels and Demons on Nov 9, 2025 5:49 PM EST 0 recs

dickerson

had him at 21. I am thinking about moving him up and dropping Ortiz down.

by John Sickels on Nov 9, 2025 5:56 PM EST up 0 recs

Pimentel

#5 prospect in the system?...Really?

by npurcell on Nov 9, 2025 5:50 PM EST 0 recs

He really improved this year...

I have him at #8...I see him as a Fernando Rodney type if he reaches the bigs. Excellent changeup.

by doublestix on Nov 9, 2025 6:02 PM EST up 0 recs

That said...

His K rate took a huge dip down, but his ground ball rate went way up. Had a good defense behind him as well. Will definitely be interesting to see these two stats look next year in Double-A. Would be nice to see the K rate go back up somewhat. Clearly, he has it in him to strike people out.

by doublestix on Nov 9, 2025 6:08 PM EST up 0 recs

yea but

that was like his 3rd year in A+ and if he is only striking out less than 5 per 9 in A+, how the heck is he going to be successful moving forward?

I know there have been precedents like Wang and whoever but I would be hesitant.

by npurcell on Nov 9, 2025 10:31 PM EST up 0 recs

GB rates are absurd

when you also consider his pure stuff.

by Bowser on Nov 10, 2025 1:56 PM EST up 0 recs

eh

Not bad.

I think Rosa is a B-, I have him ranked 6th. He was rumored to be a candidate for the MLB roster last spring, but that never happened (obviously).

Like Wood A TON. Big time arm on a big frame. Blake "helium" Wood!!

Oh and Joe Dickerson should definitely be on this list, I think. Very toolsy guy that has gap power and is very fast. One of my favorite guys in the system.

by doublestix on Nov 9, 2025 6:01 PM EST 0 recs

Mike Moustakas

Great to see this lists man! I look forward to them and it's obvious you put a lot of thought into them.

One thing ... it just doesn't feel right having Moustakas and Buckner only 1/2 grade away from each other. I understand being conservative about Mike but, I think he warrants an "A" perhaps. Have you considered it? Is he close? Is the B+ more because of percieved ability or is it more because he hasn't had alot of professional playing time yet?

by casejud on Nov 9, 2025 6:15 PM EST 0 recs

Huber

I started rooting against Huber after the Mets dealt him to the Royals for Bautista so they could move him along with Wigginton and Peterson for Benson and Keppinger. For some reason I didn't want the Pirates to look stupid for not just taking Huber.

Now I feel bad.

by haven on Nov 9, 2025 7:31 PM EST 0 recs

Royals Prospects

The Royals depth took a hit after graduating Gordon, Butler and an adjustment year for Hochevar.

Moustakas--from the reports I've seen, a case can be made for an A-

I think Huber is underrated--it seems like the Royals want to get rid of him. Dayton keeps saying he wants a RH bat, he's got one already.

The Royals got 3 good HS arms-Runion, Duffy, Mitchell--hopefully they will gradually rise on this list in the coming years.

by nwroyal on Nov 9, 2025 8:40 PM EST 0 recs

DM effect

Dayton Moore effect-

Mike Moustakas- taken #2 overall in the 2007 MLB draft
Dan Cortes- acquired in the Mike MacDougal trade
Julio Pimentel- acquired in the Elmer Dessens trade
Daniel Duffy- 3rd round of 2007 draft
Blake Johnson- acquired in the Elmer Dessens trade
Tyler Lumsden- acquired in the MacDougal trade
Sam Runion- 2nd round of 2007 MLB draft
Adrian Ortiz- 5th round of 2007 MLB draft
Matt Mitchell- 14th round of 2007 MLB draft

by acr on Nov 9, 2025 10:55 PM EST 0 recs

Hochevar and Buckner

Before John comments on these two, how does everybody else project these two?
I'm not that impressed with Buckner at this point. Even though he debuted in the majors this year, he seems pretty far away from contributing.
I haven't been able to decide on Hochevar yet.

by doubledribble on Nov 10, 2025 12:12 AM EST 0 recs

I have 2 words for you my friend

Daniel Cortes

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Nov 10, 2025 9:27 AM EST up 0 recs

wooo yea...

you could make the argument that he is the #1 prospect in the system...

by doublestix on Nov 10, 2025 1:40 PM EST up 0 recs

So can we get a scouting report on Cortes?

His numbers are good, but not off-charts-great. What's the full story?

"...our commish was set on one very special person. Amazing resume..." -JSCA, showing that Fantasy Baseball has gone big-time. CVs, anyone?

by siddfynch on Nov 12, 2025 1:42 PM EST up 0 recs

Daniel "I'm so filthy" Cortes

So you want the full story do ya?

What's not to like? 20 years old. Smoking the hooch. I kid, I kid. Let's get to the goodies.

Daniel sports a mid to upper 90's explosive fastball. A much improved curve ball and a slider. At 6'5", 205/lbs he is still projectable for his frame.

Overall, a big step forward from his 2006 season as his walk rate and k rate both improved steadily while advancing to A+. He looks to begin in AA next year as a 21 yr. old.

This kid has big potential. The sky is the limit my good man.

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Nov 12, 2025 3:48 PM EST up 0 recs

Buckner...

what's there not to like? he gets more grounders than fly balls, can strike people out, and had a top 10 ERA in the PCL this year. i see him as a #3/#4 type in the mold of jake westbrook. great chance to make the team next year, as a starter OR reliever.

i saw two starts of hochevar live, one where he was hit up a bit, and one where he was lights out. clearly he has very good stuff. i still think he can be a very good pitcher.

by doublestix on Nov 10, 2025 1:39 PM EST up 0 recs

Two Disagreements

Moustakas should be an A-. I realize you're not overly enthused with him, but he has 80 raw power, an 80 arm, and is a middle infielder. Honestly, that's not A- worthy? Hmmm....
Daniel Cortes made a tremendous jump this year, not only in his numbers but in the way he manages a game. I'm not sure if you had the chance to see him pitch this year, but it's apparent that he is a special kid - certainly a B+ at this point.

by Bowser on Nov 10, 2025 1:59 PM EST 0 recs

+1

moustakas based on potential and limited pro experience should be in the A, A- category.

cortes should be a B+ as he is the best pitching prospect in the system right now. period!...

gotta have the exclamation point for the ooomph factor.

GO DANIEL CORTES !!!!!

I heard Tim Lincecum will win 1 Cy Young & 11 Tim Lincecums. Question is, how many Cole Hamels will he win?

by the pinstripes on Nov 12, 2025 11:37 AM EST up 0 recs

moust

I want to see more pro numbers before going higher than B+ for Moustakas.

by John Sickels on Nov 10, 2025 2:34 PM EST 0 recs

Brent Fisher?

by ISC on Nov 10, 2025 3:33 PM EST 0 recs

injured almost all year

by doublestix on Nov 10, 2025 3:37 PM EST up 0 recs

Plummer

How is Plummer anything like Brazell? Plummer is four years younger than Brazell, and is still making his way though the minors. Is a 23 year old in AA really that old? On the other hand, Brazell is a 27 year that is in his third organization in as many years (both times leaving via free agency) who could have a decent career as a PH type player, but really is more of a AAAA hitter.

It should be noted that I don't mind the rankings and have no complaints, I just don't understand the comparison. Admittedly, John did say "sort of," but I'm not sure I see any viable comparison at all.

by kingofthehobos on Nov 10, 2025 5:52 PM EST 0 recs