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Royals Top 60 Prospects: #54-60

By nwroyal

Well, here we go.  I plan to rank 60--count 'em--60 Royals prospects.  We will start at the bottom and work our way up. I was originally going to do prospects #46-60 in this post but for some reason the SB Nation format starts messing up at a certain point and won't let me squeeze all the reports in.  So we will do #54-60 and the next installment should come at the beginning of next week.  When we get to #30 we will slow down, go more in depth and do just a handful of players at a time.  Some of these bottom guys there is precious little info on.  So bring on your questions/comments/your own rankings.

 

60. Dylan Lindsay--RHP--Age: 17

He's not Mr. Irrelevant-he's Mr. A Long Way Off-literally and figuratively.  As you read this, Lindsay is in South Africa-the country he is from-finishing high school.  This spring is when the Royals scouts/staff (save the guy who signed him) will get their first live look at him.  He is raw-perhaps even more raw than a Latin American talent and I'm guessing you will see Lindsay in the Arizona League in 2010.   

59. Blaine Hardy--LHP--Age: 22

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff ERA G GS IP SO WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB
2009 -- Burlington MIDW A KCR 2.05 36 3 92.1 94 0.953 6.9 0.3 1.7 9.2 5.53
2 Seasons 2.62 57 3 127.0 128 1.024 7.4 0.6 1.8 9.1 5.12
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/21/2009.

Hardy was a 22nd Round Draft Choice in 2008.  A lefty with a below average FB, he makes up with a good curve and a changeup.  He had a great year in Burlington last year and we'll see if he is still able to fool more advanced hitters.

 

58. Barry Bowden--RHP--Age:24

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff ERA G GS SV WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB
2009 24 2 Teams 2 Lgs A-A_adv KCR 2.64 43 0 10 1.011 5.6 0.4 3.5 11.4 3.25
2009 24 Wilmington CARL A_adv KCR 4.50 5 0 0 1.000 7.2 0.9 1.8 12.6 7.00
2009 24 Burlington MIDW A KCR 2.28 38 0 10 1.013 5.3 0.4 3.9 11.2 2.91
2 Seasons 2.26 65 0 17 1.014 5.7 0.5 3.4 11.8 3.47
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/21/2009.
We signed Bowden after he went undrafted coming out of Ole Miss in 2008.  From what I've heard, his stuff isn't overwhelming but he knows how to use it.  You will see me make similar comments with guys like Bowden, Hardy etc--the numbers look good at lower levels but the real test will be AA when they hit more advanced hitters in a more hitting friendly enviorment.

57. Rowdy Hardy--LHP--Age: 26

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff ERA G GS SV IP WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB
2009 26 2 Teams 2 Lgs AA-A_adv KCR 2.74 23 16 0 108.1 1.292 9.2 0.6 2.4 5.6 2.34
2009 26 Wilmington CARL A_adv KCR 1.88 12 6 0 48.0 1.271 9.8 0.4 1.7 5.4 3.22
2009 26 Northwest Arkansas TL AA KCR 3.43 11 10 0 60.1 1.309 8.8 0.7 3.0 5.8 1.95
4 Seasons 3.34 92 80 1 511.1 1.193 9.3 0.5 1.4 5.2 3.68
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/21/2009.
The Royals had Hardy drop his arm slot this year and the results were mostly encouraging.  He increased his K rate and was less hittable, but his walks went up.  I'm guessing the hope is that he will become more comfortable and increase his control.  He is now being groomed as a reliever. The odds are still against him but he's now trying to become the left handed Disco Hayes. 


56. Matt Mitchell--RHP--Age: 20
Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff ERA G GS SV IP WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB
2008 19 Burlington MIDW A KCR 3.47 25 21 0 116.2 1.209 8.9 0.7 1.9 5.9 3.08
2 Seasons 2.94 39 28 1 171.2 1.165 7.9 0.5 2.6 7.8 2.98
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/21/2009.
Mitchell was becoming an intersting prospect before injuring his elbow and undergoing surgery in August of 2008.  He missed the entire 2009 season but is now throwing in Instructional League.  Before surgery his FB hovered around 90 MPH and his offspeed stuff was OK.  Not sure if he will start '10 in Wilmington or Burlington--but the competition for a rotation spot will be fierce at both those places. 



55. Ryan Wood--SS--Age: 22

 

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff PA AB 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS
2009 22 2 Teams 2 Lgs A-Rook KCR 223 189 9 1 2 18 5 3 29 35 .206 .315 .296 .612
2009 22 Burlington APPY Rook KCR 109 92 4 0 0 6 4 3 16 15 .174 .303 .217 .520
2009 22 Burlington MIDW A KCR 114 97 5 1 2 12 1 0 13 20 .237 .327 .371 .699
1 Season 223 189 9 1 2 18 5 3 29 35 .206 .315 .296 .612
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/21/2009.

The Royals drafted Wood this year as a Senior out of U. of EastCarolina.  He had a great Senior season posting an 1112 OPS.  He played 2B in college but the Royals want to give him a shot at SS.  His numbers weren't great at both Burlingtons--but his stats actually improved moving to Low-A and it looks like he was somewhat unlucky.  We'll see how his glove develops at SS but the bat might give him some value. 

54. Eduardo Paulino--RHP--Age: 24

Year Age Tm Lg Lev Aff ERA G GS SV IP WHIP H/9 HR/9 BB/9 SO/9 SO/BB
2009 23 Wilmington CARL A_adv KCR 3.63 26 22 0 138.2 1.212 8.4 1.0 2.5 5.5 2.15
4 Seasons 3.43 74 62 0 362.1 1.148 8.1 0.8 2.2 6.2 2.84
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 10/21/2009.

The Royals signed Paulino out of the Dominican in 2006.  I don't have much info on his stuff.  His numbers have been pretty good--but it is a little alarming to see his K rate dropping as he moves up the system.  Also, his numbers away from Wilmington were not very good.

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