Royals 2011 Top 60 Prospects: #48-43

by nwroyal on Nov 23, 2010 1:23 PM EST in Kansas City Royals Minor Leagues

A littler later than expected, here is the latest installment of our trip through the amusement park that is the Royals' Minor League System. This installment closes out what I look at as organization filler or guys who you have to do a lot of dreaming on. Most of the players featured this week I can see making an appearance at some point in the big leagues but probably will always be the 24th/25th player on a roster. Starting with the next installment, we'll begin to see some players who are, in my opinion, somewhat exciting.

60. Pat White--OF

59. Brain Fletcher--OF

58. Murray Watts--1B

57. Leonel Santiago--RHP

56. Justin Trapp--SS

55. Brandon Sisk--LHP

54. Mike Mariot--RHP

53. Wilian Avinazar--RHP

52. Shin Jin-Ho--C

51.Keaton Hayenga--RHP

50. Orlando Calixte--SS

49. Yowil Espinal--SS

48. Kevin Pucetas--RHP--DOB:12/27/84

Year	Age	Lg	Lev	Aff	ERA	G	GS	IP	WHIP	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9	SO/BB
2006	21	NORW	A-	SFG	2.17	15	15	70.2	1.075	7.3	0.3	2.4	7.6	3.16
2007	22	SALL	A	SFG	1.86	27	23	145.1	0.998	7.7	0.4	1.3	6.4	4.95
2008	23	CALL	A+	SFG	3.02	24	24	125.1	1.133	8.3	0.4	1.9	7.3	3.78
2009	24	PCL	AAA	SFG	5.04	28	28	159.0	1.403	9.8	0.8	2.8	5.4	1.92
2010	25	PCL	AAA	SFG	5.69	26	26	136.0	1.713	11.4	1.1	4.0	6.3	1.56
5 Seasons					3.73	120	116	636.1	1.287	9.1	0.7	2.5	6.5	2.57

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/23/2010.

Pucetas was the player to be named later for Jose Guillen. For that reason, he will have a soft spot in my (and many other Royals fans) heart. Pucetas has OK velocity on his fastball but he doesn't really do anything well. He was battling in spring training for the 5th starter position for the Giants but lost out to Todd Wellermeyer. He has a ceiling of a #5 starter and I suppose they could try him in the bullpen to see if his stuff plays up better there. He'll go to Omaha for 2011.

47. Greg Billo--RHP--DOB:7/15/90

Year	Age	Tm ▴	Lg	Aff	ERA	IP	WHIP	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9	SO/BB
2009	18	Burlington	APPY	KCR	1.81	54.2	1.024	6.6	0.7	2.6	8.4	3.19
2010	19	Idaho Falls	PION	KCR	5.17	78.1	1.468	10.6	1.3	2.6	9.1	3.43
2008	17	Royals	ARIZ	KCR	5.65	14.1	2.023	13.2	0.6	5.0	8.2	1.63
3 Seasons					3.97	147.1	1.357	9.3	1.0	2.9	8.7	3.04

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/23/2010.

The Royals drafted Billo as an Illinois HS pitcher in the 28th Round of the 2008 draft. He doesn't have overpowering stuff but he knows how to use his fastball with a change and curve. He had a great 2009 in the Appalachian League but struggled in the Pioneer League in 2010--although part of that was due to bad luck. He will be in the mix to start at Kane County in 2011 and could put up some good numbers in the more pitcher friendly Midwest League.

46. Henry Barrera--RHP--DOB:11/25/85

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Aff	ERA	G	IP	WHIP	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9	SO/BB
2005	19	Royals	ARIZ	KCR	4.72	19	26.2	1.575	11.1	0.3	3.0	7.8	2.56
2006	20	Royals	ARIZ	KCR	5.48	16	23.0	1.609	7.8	0.0	6.7	11.7	1.76
2007	21	Burlington	MIDW	KCR	4.35	30	51.2	1.316	9.2	0.7	2.6	9.2	3.53
2008	22	Wilmington	CARL	KCR	2.81	42	57.2	1.231	7.3	0.3	3.7	12.2	3.25
2009	23	Burlington	MIDW	KCR	12.27	4	3.2	1.909	4.9	0.0	12.3	12.3	1.00
2010	24	2 Teams	2 Lgs	KCR	2.45	22	33.0	1.091	7.1	0.3	2.7	9.5	3.50
2010	24	Wilmington	CARL	KCR	4.50	6	8.0	1.500	10.1	0.0	3.4	11.2	3.33
2010	24	Northwest Arkansas	TL	KCR	1.80	16	25.0	0.960	6.1	0.4	2.5	9.0	3.57
6 Seasons					3.91	133	195.2	1.334	8.3	0.4	3.7	10.3	2.80

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/23/2010.

Barrera seems like he's been around forever. He was a 5th Round pick in 2004 (the Billy Butler draft). He had a funky delivery coming out of high school that had to be reworked and the Royals moved him to relief. The Royals thought enough of him to put him on the 40 man roster a couple of years ago. He missed most of 2009 and part of 2010 with injury. He came back in the 2nd half and pitched pretty well in relief at AA. He's got good stuff, pretty good control but gives up a lot of fly balls. He hasn't yet had a big problem with HRs but that could change as he faces more advanced hitters. He will probably start 2011 at AAA but could see time with the big club.

45. Jose Bonilla--C--DOB:8/4/88

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	Aff	PA	AB	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2007	18	Royals	ARIZ	KCR	5	5	0	0	0	2	.000	.000	.000	.000
2008	19	Royals	ARIZ	KCR	121	112	5	0	5	22	.357	.405	.625	1.030
2009	20	Burlington	MIDW	KCR	387	351	6	4	29	92	.217	.281	.311	.591
2010	21	2 Teams	2 Lgs	KCR	333	285	3	3	38	70	.242	.346	.340	.687
2010	21	Burlington	MIDW	KCR	332	284	3	3	38	70	.239	.344	.338	.682
2010	21	Omaha	PCL	KCR	1	1	0	0	0	0	1.000	1.000	1.000	2.000
4 Seasons					846	753	14	7	72	186	.246	.323	.367	.689

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/23/2010.

Bonilla is one of the many young catching prospects in the Royals system. He had a somewhat disappointing 2010 in Burlington. He did improve his OPS from the previous year by about 90 points but that only brought it to 682. He is supposed to be pretty good defensively so if he can put some offense together, he has a very good shot at a major league career. The question will be where he can get playing time. Lucas May, Manny Pina, Sal Perez, and Wil Myers are all going to need to play everyday but keeping Bonilla at Low-A for a third year seems self-defeating.

44. Edgar Osuna--LHP--DOB:11/25/87

Year	Age	Lg	Aff	ERA	G	GS	IP	WHIP	H/9	HR/9	BB/9	SO/9	SO/BB
2006	18	GULF	ATL	0.92	6	2	19.2	0.814	6.9	0.0	0.5	8.2	18.00
2007	19	APPY	ATL	2.47	13	6	54.2	1.207	9.1	0.7	1.8	10.9	6.00
2008	20	SALL	ATL	3.38	30	14	125.1	1.221	8.8	0.6	2.2	9.7	4.35
2009	21	2 Lgs	ATL	4.02	27	26	150.0	1.273	9.4	0.7	2.1	6.3	3.00
2009	21	CARL	ATL	4.33	14	14	72.2	1.321	10.2	0.5	1.7	6.9	4.00
2009	21	SOUL	ATL	3.72	13	12	77.1	1.228	8.6	0.8	2.4	5.7	2.33
2010	22	3 Lgs	KCR	4.41	25	23	126.2	1.358	10.3	1.6	1.9	6.2	3.22
2010	22	ARIZ	KCR	0.00	1	1	3.0	1.000	9.0	0.0	0.0	12.0
2010	22	TL	KCR	2.95	17	17	94.2	1.162	9.4	1.0	1.0	6.1	5.82
2010	22	PCL	KCR	9.62	7	5	29.0	2.034	13.3	3.7	5.0	5.9	1.19
5 Seasons				3.65	101	71	476.1	1.255	9.3	0.9	2.0	7.8	3.91

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/23/2010.

Osuna was last year's Rule V pick for the Royals. At the end of Spring Training, the Royals offered him back to the Braves who basically said "you can keep him". Not exactly a ringing endorsement. Osuna looked like he make the Braves regret that decision by going out and dominating the Texas League. But then he went to AAA and got absolutely torched. Osuna's game is based on a very good change and very good control. There are big questions about how well he will fare against more advanced hitters. He doesn't strike out many hitters and gives up a lot of flyballs so his margin for error is very, very thin. He will look for a little redemption at AAA in 2011.

43. Rey Navarro--SS--DOB:12/22/89

Year	Age	Tm	Lev	Aff	PA	AB	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
2007	17	Missoula	Rk	ARI	225	212	6	3	6	41	.250	.274	.283	.557
2008	18	Missoula	Rk	ARI	323	291	17	9	25	77	.258	.323	.385	.708
2009	19	South Bend	A	ARI	493	451	12	4	27	85	.262	.308	.339	.647
2010	20	2 Teams	A+	KCR,ARI	510	472	7	7	19	62	.237	.268	.331	.599
2010	20	Wilmington	A+	KCR	421	393	5	5	11	44	.237	.260	.331	.590
2010	20	Visalia	A+	ARI	89	79	2	2	8	18	.241	.307	.329	.636
4 Seasons					1551	1426	42	23	77	265	.251	.293	.337	.630

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/23/2010.

The Royals acquired Navarro from the Diamondbacks for Carlos Rosa early in the 2010 season. Navarro had been a 3rd Round pick for the D-Backs out of Puerto Rico and was their 12th rated Prospect going into 2010 by Baseball America. He had a rough year with the bat but part of that was due to bad luck (and another part was due to his ability to take a walk all but vanishing. After the Royals drafted Christian Colon, he mainly played 2B. I'm assuming he still has the defensive chops that he was reported to have coming into 2010. He is still just 20 so there is some time for things to come together. He may go back to Wilmington in 2011.

Tweet Comment 29 comments | 1 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

its gotta be a good sign that prospects in the 40s are guys I'm already familiar with

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Nov 23, 2010 2:20 PM EST reply actions

Rey Navarro

part was due to his ability to take a walk all but vanishing

Looks like the Royals are grooming him to be Yuni’s replacement.

8 walks in 89 PA with AZ
11 walk in 421 PA with KC

I expect to see great reviews of him as he continues in the system.

- .-. ..- … – / – …. . / .—. .-. - .. . … …

by Jeff Zimmerman on Nov 23, 2010 2:28 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

He's already got the plus hands, great range, a good arm and plus hands the Royals love

And don’t forget his plus hands. If he ever manages even a .300 wOBA in the majors, I’ll eat my favorite Royals cap. Quite frankly I’ll be shocked if he ever plays a single game in the majors.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Nov 23, 2010 2:35 PM EST up reply actions

it may not have been a good trade....

but rosa’s 26 and walking 5 guys per 9 in AAA, so it probably isnt gonna hurt us too badly.

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Nov 23, 2010 3:12 PM EST up reply actions

if navarro becomes a AAA utility guy

who can be called up if necessary, it’s probably a slight win

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Nov 23, 2010 3:12 PM EST up reply actions

I doubt it

I’d much rather have Rosa and his stuff and the hope that he can moderate his control a bit. With his ability to make batters swing and miss, I’m ok with him walking 3.5-4 batters per 9 inn. I don’t know if he’ll ever manage that in the majors, but it isn’t an unrealistic goal. I’d bet a fair amount that Rosa ends up with considerably more career WAR than Rey-Rey.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Nov 23, 2010 3:24 PM EST up reply actions

something has to have changed with rosa….he didnt have problems with walks before 2009. pitchers dont generally become more wild when they move to the pen, do they?

Fire Everyone

by billybeingbilly on Nov 23, 2010 3:31 PM EST up reply actions

This is the Royals keen ability to dump players

at the peak of their abilities!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Boots 58 on Nov 23, 2010 3:39 PM EST up reply actions

He could have been injured; I don’t know. But at least in the majors, he didn’t lose any velocity as compared to prior years. He did throw his ineffective change more in the majors in 2010. He’d do better just throwing his fastball and slider.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Nov 23, 2010 3:39 PM EST up reply actions

Pucetas.

Interesting.

Scouting the Royals
Royals Prospects

by 306008 on Nov 23, 2010 3:46 PM EST reply actions

why would the braves not take Osuna back?

how can a free player not be worth taking? or was this an unofficial trade that will be completed at some time later

by Freneau on Nov 23, 2010 4:54 PM EST reply actions

He cost 25K for the Braves to take him back.

Rule 5 picks cost 50K for the selecting team. The team who held the player’s rights can get him back for 25K.

by WURoyal on Nov 23, 2010 4:56 PM EST up reply actions

It is kind of bizarre that they wouldn’t take back a lefty pitching prospect for 25K.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Nov 23, 2010 5:04 PM EST up reply actions

Just simplicity sake?

They’d set up their farm teams, assigned roles etc and Osuna simply isn’t good enough to bother making room for again.

by kcbottom9th on Nov 23, 2010 5:11 PM EST up reply actions

I guess that would be it

but 25 K is nothing for a live arm… and theres little chance that less than 10 of their pitchers get injured over the course of the year…

anyway, he’s OURS now

by Freneau on Nov 23, 2010 5:14 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, it seems like a legit shot at a future LOOGY is worth $25K and adjusting minor league rosters a little

It’s not like the Braves system is so loaded with great arms that they couldn’t use another LHP in A-ball some where at least.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Nov 23, 2010 5:52 PM EST up reply actions

i can count the amount of loogy's without plus breaking pitches without using any fingers or toes

i’d be stunned if he did anything in the majors.

R.I.P. cwhitman412, Frederick0220, & Mets2k9
http://twitter.com/doublestix

by doublestix on Nov 23, 2010 7:50 PM EST up reply actions

It was the Braves feeling pity for Dayton.

Go Royals!

by BabyBlues on Nov 23, 2010 7:55 PM EST up reply actions

Or sending him a tough love message:

“Look here, dumbass, we left this guy unprotected for a REASON. If you’re dumb enough to pay $50k for him, we’re not letting you off the hook by giving you a single cent to take him back.”

The whole problem with the world is that fools & fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts. ~ Bertrand Russell

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Nov 23, 2010 8:02 PM EST up reply actions

Maybe... poker game winnings at the meetings?

Go Royals!

by BabyBlues on Nov 23, 2010 9:03 PM EST up reply actions

lets just trust osuna

by Freneau on Nov 23, 2010 10:00 PM EST up reply actions

Seriously, It's Keeping

Them on the MLB roster all year that makes the Rule 5 Draft such a crapshoot. I think a lot of teams would have grabbed Osuna for 50K if they could stash him in the minors.

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

by philofthenorth on Nov 23, 2010 11:29 PM EST up reply actions