RR Royals #1 Prospect

by doublestix on Oct 11, 2008 6:02 PM EDT Comment 30 comments

I know a lot of other sb nation sites do this, so I thought it'd be cool to do it as well. I think we have enough fans here that are informed enough on the minors.

Just give your vote. We'll go to like 10 or 15, after that it might get difficult. Once we get lower in the list, then start to give suggestions of who should be on the voting list.

It will be cool to compare our list to Baseball America and other sites when it is done.

Short scouting reports:

Daniel Cortes | RHP | 21-years-old | 6-foot-6, 225 pounds
-Big workhorse body, fastball sits 93-96 and can peak higher. Already has plus curve. Changeup still lags a bit, as does command of fastball.

Eric Hosmer | 1B | 18-years-old | 6-foot-4, 210 pounds
-Big raw power projection, perhaps biggest from this past draft. Trouble with inside pitch, not different from many young left-handed bats though. Great approach. Projects as plus defender at 1B (insert joke here).

Tim Melville | RHP | 18-years-old | 6-foot-5, 205 pounds
-Extremely projectable with present stuff. Already 91-94 with chance for plus curve and change. Scouts love his long term fastball projection, think he could throw very hard.

Mike Moustakas | 3B | 20-years-old | 6-foot-0, 200 pounds
-Another big power bat, lightning quick bat and wrists. His for good contact for a power bat. Projects as plus defender at 3B, could move to RF with his plus-plus arm.

Carlos Rosa | RHP | 24-years-old | 6-foot-1, 185 pounds
-Smallish righty with great fastball. Ranges 92-95 with a little sink. Plus hard slider, his best pitch. Good change but inconsistent. Might be a bullpen guy long term. Nearly big league ready.

Poll

Who is the Royals #1 prospect? (players listed in alphabetical order)

Daniel Cortes, RHP

27 votes

Eric Hosmer, 1B

30 votes

Tim Melville, RHP

18 votes

Mike Moustakas, 3B

200 votes

Carlos Rosa, RHP

7 votes

Other (Give reason)

4 votes

286 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 30 comments

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Comments

gosh... I have no idea

but voted Moose on TINSTAAP principles

by royalsreview on Oct 11, 2008 8:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is a good thing

When was the last time we had this many good players to choose from?

Don't forget to send your broken maples to the US Forest Service.

by 306008 on Oct 11, 2008 9:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

2006, kinda. We had Gordon, Butler, Hochevar, and even Lubanski and (i’m going to say it) Huber were considered very good prospects then.

anyways, I will probably let these go 3 days or so normally, but this one might be quicker since the Moose is killing.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Oct 11, 2008 9:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good reminders on Lubanski and Huber

probably should make us tember our expectations re: Moustakas, Hosmer, Cortes, Melville, Rosa, etc. ALL panning out

OMG Banny. FWIW I am only crdtng u w/3 runs allwd bc of DDJ OMFG

by devil_fingers on Oct 11, 2008 9:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

what do you mean?

Huber is still the greatest!

The concept of progress acts as a protective mechanism to shield us from the terrors of the future. - Collected sayings of Muad'Dib

by buddyball on Oct 11, 2008 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

2000

Dee Brown, Kyle Snyder, Mike Stodolka, Jimmy Gobble, Ruben Gotay…we were loaded.

Seriously though, those guys were considered hot prospects.

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Oct 11, 2008 11:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

gotay wasn't really

he was a decent prospect, but definitely was not “hot.”

the rest, yes they were at some point. although injuries hurt two of them and that’s impossible to predict. and i still think they didn’t give gobble long enough as a starter before moving him.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Oct 11, 2008 11:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm talking prospects that all of baseball thought were great.

Not just what “we” in Royals camp thought were hot.

Don't forget to send your broken maples to the US Forest Service.

by 306008 on Oct 12, 2008 1:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Justin Huber

FOREVER!!!!

Relive Royals History at royalsretro.blogspot.com

by RoyalsRetro on Oct 11, 2008 11:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No love for

Rowdy Hardy???

by royalsfan03 on Oct 12, 2008 2:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hahaha

I actually about put him in the poll, but took him out right before I clicked submit.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Oct 12, 2008 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rowdy Will Be

A 33 year old rookie and pitch until he’s 50.

I used to be an A's fan until they left town and got good.

by philofthenorth on Oct 12, 2008 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it would be nice

to have that type of job security

by royalsfan03 on Oct 12, 2008 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does Hosmer fail to excite

Simply due to unfamiliarity/untested-ness? Is it about limited position options since he’s already a first baseman, and thus presumably has no place else to go but DH? Is it just because Moose was the first Dayton #1, and thus has more riding on him? My understanding is that Hosmer’s bat is already about major league ready and his power projects higher than Moustakas, thus making him the most likely candidate to hit at least the elusive #37. I guess we’ll see what a pro season does for his stock. I’d like nothing better than after next season to see these two guys in a tie for best prospect simply because they’re both raking like crazy

(An aside…even though steroids played its role, Maris’ single season home run record, Aaron’s career HR record, and even Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games record have fallen since Balboni established the team HR mark. I wonder what the odds are of a Royal hitting 37 HR before someone gets a 57-game hitting streak?)

Sometimes you just gotta roll the potato.

by CentralChamps2009 on Oct 12, 2008 4:40 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hosmer

I think people just like the fact that they’ve seen Moose produce some numbers. Especially with what Moose did in the second half of the season, when he hit roughly .320/.390/.550 in a pitchers league…that is really, really good.

Moose also projects a bit better defensively in terms of position flexibility. I know some scouts think Hosmer could play a corner outfield spot, but the Royals don’t seem to want to do that.

Anyway, I wouldn’t be surprised if Hosmer dominates the poll for #2. Scouting wise, they’re similar. Statistically…well no need to repeat myself.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Oct 12, 2008 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

They both excite and the scouts love both of them. But Moustakas has the edge because he has one very good year of minor league performance on top of that. Hosmer deserves #2.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Oct 12, 2008 5:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Does the fact that Hosmer went #3 and Moustakas went #2 do anything for any voters?

Don't forget to send your broken maples to the US Forest Service.

by 306008 on Oct 13, 2008 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, I chose Moose...

…because we’ve had about 1.5 yrs worth of minor league work to draw from. He’s required adjustment time, but then excelled both years. He’s going to be somebody. – TL

by timlacy on Oct 13, 2008 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is a fun exercise

Moustakas was the obvious choice given not only his second half numbers but the compliments poured all over him by legitimate baseball writers – Kevin Goldstein called him a “monster” I believe.

While Moustakas is poised to create Jay Bruce-esque nationwide excitement next year in AA, my personal second favorite prospect is Danny Duffy.

Well, if he’s able to come ANYWHERE close to what he did this year in AA I’m going to start thinking he’s the second coming of Saberhagen. Check out the stat line:

102 K’s in 81 innings (!!), with a .99 WHIP (!).

I follow the Tao of Steve (Balboni)

by jackie ballgame on Oct 12, 2008 7:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

duffy

Yea he was pretty beastly this year. The scouting reports on him differ a little bit though…some think he is a top of the rotation guy, some think he’s more a #3/#4 type guy. Stats mean a whole lot less in low levels than they do in high levels, let’s see what he does next year. He’ll probably rank in the #4-#6 range for me, not sure exactly yet.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Oct 12, 2008 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

by the way

Don’t let me influence your vote despite what I say. keep voting for who you believe is the next best.

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Oct 12, 2008 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that sentence didn't read right

do in AA (next year) what he did this year in single A….

I follow the Tao of Steve (Balboni)

by jackie ballgame on Oct 12, 2008 7:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think moose and Rosa are the only players even close enough to vote for, even Cortes is pretty unproven.

Space.

It's a problem we face.

So we never go anywhere.

We just stay in one place.

by hazel on Oct 12, 2008 9:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cortes is unproven compared to Moose?

Cortes has put together two back-to-back solid years at levels of the minors that Moose hasn’t even been exposed to yet (high A and AA ball). He was lights out in 2007 for Wilmington and despite having problems with the home run, he put together a decent line in Arkansas this year in his first year of AA ball. His stock may have slid this year, but only slightly.

I’m not saying that Cortes is the better prospect, but I wouldn’t label him as “unproven” relative to Moose.

by DarthYoshi on Oct 12, 2008 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I suppose I downgrade him simply for being a pitcher. Not that that's entirely fair.

Space.

It's a problem we face.

So we never go anywhere.

We just stay in one place.

by hazel on Oct 13, 2008 7:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

really?

If anything, I’d probably upgrade him for being a pitcher. Hosmer is at 1b, which hurts his value (his bat will play anywhere, obviously, but he’d be more valuable at almost any other position), and I still think Moose will probably end up in the outfield, especially if he gets blocked by Gordon at 3b. I still think they are better prospects than Cortes, but Cortes probably plays the more valuable position.

by DarthYoshi on Oct 13, 2008 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Oct 13, 2008 12:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unproven?

He’s just about as proven as a 21-year-old minor leaguer can be. He’s pitched very well at high-A (20) and AA (21) at ages which are young for the level. Cortes is, I think, clearly the Royals best pitching prospect and #3 overall. That is why he was BA’s #57 prospect in all of baseball going into this year and why he should be ranked a bit higher than that next year.

This is just my opinion. I could easily be wrong.

by NYRoyal on Oct 13, 2008 1:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

next poll starting at 12 am CT

would really appreciate if this was taken off the front page or swapped with the new one that’s about to be up. thank you to whoever has the power to do that. :-)

normally i’ll let these go at least 2 days, but this isn’t really a contest…

Rowdy Hardy Fan Club member.

by doublestix on Oct 12, 2008 11:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs