Late Night Royals Links - Better Pictures of DiNardo Needed

Dejected late night links are dejected — weren’t they good enough to make the front page?

Eric Hosmer: The third overall pick out of high school in Plantation, Florida, Hosmer was supposed to be a very advanced high school hitter with plus power, excellent strike zone judgment, and the ability to advance rapidly through the farm system. He did show the solid plate discipline in the Midwest League, with a 44/68 BB/K in 280 at-bats, but he hit just .254/.352/.382 overall with very disappointing power. The Royals moved him up to the Carolina League for the last month of the season, for some reason, and he hit just .206/.280/.299 for Wilmington, including .143/.208/.204 in 14 home games. I commented on how he looked at Burlington earlier in the year, his swing sometimes looked quick and smooth and other times appeared mechanical and slow. Hosmer apparently had vision problems most of the year, and had Lasik surgery in late August to correct the issue. Given his youth, it is too early to conclude that this was a busted draft pick, but he has a lot to prove next year.

Looking at the seven corner infielders taken in the first round in 2008 Hosmer does not come out well. David Cooper (17th pick) and Allan Dykstra (23rd pick) have not gotten off to good starts. Hosmer has the worst raw numbers, but he is the only high school pick among the group so in theroy his poor performance is less of a concern at this point. Hopefully Hosmer will maintain his high walk percentage next year and find some power. A .128 isolated power will not cut it as a first baseman. The damning part of the story is that Hosmer was the 3rd overall pick in 2008. Three guys picked after Hosmer, Justin Smoak, Brett Wallace and Ike Davis, probably will all be contributing at the major league level next year. If Hosmer gets right hopefully he will end next season at AA level, which, optimistically, would give him a late 2011 ETA in Kauffman. Of course it is way to early to talk about MLB ETAs in Hosmer’s case. He ended this year still trying to hold his own at Willmington. He will be under a lot of pressure next year. I hope he responds well.

He would have made the Royals this year and would have forced Butts back into the DH role for good. Good decision there Dancing Dayton. I smell a Colt Griffin on our hands. Even Moustaco did not have the banner season one expects out of a #1 choice. Hochy, Mous, Hosey, and the unsigned Crow…. we have to close our eyes and hope it will all work out. If it doesn’t that is a lot of bad drafts to swallow.