Minor League season is in full swing with the Royals having 7 affiliates (plus their Dominican team) up and running. The short season guys have just a few innings/at bats under their belts so beware sample size. We have a special emphasis on our international players this month. We've invested more resources down there the past couple of years and are starting to see the talent show up in our low minors. I hope to write up a little something about the international signing day--which is today (July 2). Our top two hitters: Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas are scuffling. I still believe in them but they need to start heating up to justify top prospect status. On the flip side many of our pitchers are doing well. For pitchers, I've changed up the stats to K/9--BB/9--FIP and the hitters remain the same. We are still in the midst of moving and have been house shopping--so I haven't had time to incorporate other stats--but I have expanded the list to 50 names. It is very nice to see that even down at the bottom, there is still some very interesting talent.
| Rank | Name |
Last Month |
Age | Level | Month Stats | YTD | Comment |
| 1 | Eric Hosmer-1B | 1 | 19 | Low-A | 211/278/310 | 250/353/373 | Hurt some in June, I'm hoping that what hurt his numbers after a very encouraging May. |
| 2 | Mike Moustakas-3B | 2 | 20 | High-A | 238/278/357 | 261/299/420 | He seems to be heating up but you never like to see OBP % start with a 2. |
| 3 | Aaron Crow-RHP | NA | 22 | NA | NA | NA | Hopefully he'll sign soon, get some innings and perhaps also pitch in the AFL. |
| 4 | Dan Duffy-LHP | 3 | 20 | High-A | 6.7/2.9/3.59 | 7.8/2.5/3.41 | Still cruising along |
| 5 | Mike Montgomery-LHP | 5 | 20 | Low-A | 7.7/1.7/2.38 | 8.0/3.4/2.89 | He's becoming one of my favorite prospects--cruising along in the MWL. |
| 6 | Jeff Bianchi--SS | 8 | 22 | AA |
250/306/364 500/545/700
|
307/364/437(A) 500/545/700(AA) |
About as hot as you can get. Defense is getting good reviews--becoming a very legit prospect. |
| 7 | Kila Kaaihue-1B | 4 | 25 | AAA | 259/360/459 | 269/402/502 | A bad month for him but that still results in 820 OPS |
| 8 | Tim Melville-RHP | 6 | 19 | Low-A | 5.5/4.3/4.88 | 6.1/3.7/4.80 | Scuffling a little bit--too many walks, not enough Ks |
| 9 | Dan Cortes-RHP | 7 | 22 | AA | 5.1/5.7/4.70 | 6.0/5.7/4.51 | Continues to walk more than he K's. Scouts say stuff is still there. |
| 10 | David Lough-CF | 13 | 23 | AA | 278/297/528 | 323/373/477 | Another fast riser. Should be interesting to see how he does in AA. |
| 11 | Dan Gutierrez-RHP | 9 | 22 | NA | NA | NA | The saga continues... |
| 12 | J. Giavotella-2B | 10 | 22 | High-A | 253/364/349 | 236/361/350 | I keep saying this-he's about to bust out. |
| 13 | Jordan Parraz-RF | 23 | 24 | AA | 407/473/704 | 358/451/553 | Forcing us to take him seriously--continues to get on base and now adding power. |
| 14 | Will Myers-C? | NA | 19 | NA | NA | NA | He has signed but it won't be announced until August 17th |
| 15 | Kelvin Herrera-RHP | 11 | 19 | DL | NA | 1.7/0.0/3.50 | I was wrong about him returning in June. Don't know what the issue is--I'm worried. |
| 16 | Carlos Rosa-RHP | 12 | 24 | AAA | 7.2/5.6/5.07 | 9.6/5.0/4.85 | Inconsistent year but still think he could be useful next year on the big club. |
| 17 | Disco Hayes--RHP | 21 | 26 | AAA | 3.3/0.0/3.72 |
4.0/1.4/3.19AA 3.3/0.0/3.72AAA |
Not as dominant at AAA but still very good. |
| 18 | John Lamb-LHP | 19 | 18 | SS | 4.0/1.0/2.91 | 4.0/1.0/2.91 | 2008 draftee finally pitching in pro ball--pretty good in 2 outings so far. |
| 19 | Chris Nicoll--RHP | 14 | 25 | AA | 5.8/6.6/5.12 | 7.5/3.4/3.35 | Rough month--hopefully just a bump in the road. |
| 20 | Blake Wood--RHP | 15 | 23 | AA | 5.2/2.8/3.07 | 5.8/2.9/4.32 | On DL but seemed to be getting a little better. |
| 21 | Tyler Sample--RHP | 17 | 20 | AZ | 11.3/4.5/3.07 | 11.3/4.5/3.07 | Let's see if he can harness that stuff. |
| 22 | Carlos Fortuna--RHP | NR | 19 | SS | 7.2/4.5/4.67 | 7.2/4.5/4.67 | Very good arm, watch out for him. |
| 23 | Greg Holland--RHP | 20 | 23 | AA | 6.8/3.8/3.17 | 8.6/3.2/2.80 | We have some of the deepest minor league bullpens I've ever seen. |
| 24 | Salvador Perez--C | 24 | 19 | SS | 440/517/560 |
189/230/236 (Low-A) 440/517/560 (SS) |
Overmatched in MWL, but feelign at home in Pioneer League--a hiters' league. |
| 25 | Yowil Espinal | NR | 18 | SS | 371/436/629 | 371/436/629 | An International signing two years ago, starting to show his talent--keep an eye on him. |
| 26 | Sean McCauley--C | 28 | 20 | Low-A | 385/467/385 | 237/305/331 | I think he's been hurt this past month--not many at bats. |
| 27 | Jose Bonilla--C | 26 | 20 | Low-A | 268/288/423 | 250/293/372 | Continuing to struggle in Iowa |
| 28 | Chris Dwyer |
NA | 21 | NA |
NA |
NA |
Our 4th round pick, I'm guessing we sign him at the deadline. |
| 29 | Henry Barrera--RHP | 17 | 23 | Low-A | 12.3/12.3/4.89 | 12.3/12.3/4.89 | Fighting injury and ineffectiveness |
| 30 | Nick Francis--OF | 22 | 23 | Low-A | 231/253/359 | 288/34/489 | ...coming back to earth |
| 31 | Chris Lubanski--OF | 24 | 25 | AAA | N/A | 308/388/462 | Still out with a hammy. |
| 32 | Paulo Orlando--CF | 29 | 23 | High-A | 321/328/393 | 240/275/352 | Superficially, a better month. |
| 33 | Blaine Hardy--RHP | 31 | 22 | Low-A | 7.9/1.6/2.12 | 8.5/1.6/2.57 | Continuing to do well, wonder if we will see him at Wilmington soon? |
| 34 | Joe Dickerson--OF | 18 | 22 | AZ | 250/400/250 | 230/338/317AA | Hurt, tough season |
| 35 | Barry Bowden--RHP | 35 | 24 | Low-A | 8.8/6.6/3.77 | 10.0/4.2/3.47 | Lost some control this past month. |
| 36 | Keaton Hayenga--RHP |
NR |
21 |
SS |
6.0/0.0/2.14 |
6.0/0.0/2.14 | 2007 draftee is back from shoulder surgery. We gave him $300,000 knowing he wouldn't pitch for 2 years--has good stuff. |
| 37 | Derrick Saito--LHP | NR | 21 | Low-A | 9.0/2.3/3.35 | 10.5/2.2/3.53 | 2008 draftee coudl be lefty specialist. |
| 38 | Brian McFall--1B | 27 | 25 | AA | 167/308/314 | 252/338/431 | It very close to time to take him off this list. |
| 39 | Jason Taylor--3B | NR | 21 | Low-A | 333/391/667 | 333/391/667 | He's baaack.Started at SS and is now assigned to Burlington, IA. |
| 40 | Mike Lehman--RHP | 32 | 20 | Low-A | 5.4/4.2/4.30 | 5.0/4.0/4.50 | Non-descript month. |
| 41 | Malcolm Culver--3B | NR | 19 | SS | 267/450/800 | 267/450/800 | 2008 draftee is very good athlete--interesting to see how his bat does. |
| 42 | Nick Van Stratten--OF | 37 | 24 | Low-A | 310/408/491 | 325/404/445 | Good numbers but old for league. |
| 43 | Mario Lisson--SS | NR | 25 | AAA | 264/295/505 | 252/276/463 | Had a good month and could see some time with the big club. |
| 44 | Hilton Richardson--CF | NR | 20 | SS | 409/458/455 | 409/458/455 | 2007 draftee is premium athlete in CF, if he can hit, he could be special. |
| 45 | Brian Paukovits--RHP | NR | 22 | SS | 11.0/6.0/3.60 | 11.0/6.0/3.60 | 2006 draftee is a big righthander who has been hurt but still has some upside. |
| 46 | Everett Teaford--LHP | NR | AA | 4.2/2.8/4.42 |
6.8/1.7/3.94(A) 4.2/2.8/4.42(AA) |
Has been flying under the radar--AA has been a little difficult for him so far. | |
| 47 | Brandon Sisk--LHP | NR | 23 | High-A | 14.3/0.8/0.59 | 10.8/1.9/2.17 | With those numbers, he cannot be ignored. |
| 48 | Robinson Yambati--RHP |
NR | 18 | AZ |
9.0/9.0/11.57 |
5.9/3.3/3.57(DSL) 9.0/9.0/11.57(AZ) |
Young Dominican making transition to ball stateside. |
| 49 | Luis Del Rosario--OF | NR | 19 | SS | 389/421/611 | 389/421/611 | Another guy from DR, started strong last year and tailed off. |
| 50 | Jerico Blanco | NR | 17 | DSL | 227/344/400 | 227/344/400 | One of our big international signings from 2008--he's shown some good tools but is miles from the majors. |
Player of the Month:
I've already done Jeff Bianchi who probably deserve this but I'll go with Jordan Parraz. Picked up from the Astros--who messed with his stance--Parraz had some alive in AA. He's been an on base machine and has started hitting for more power recently. He's not young at 24, but not old by any means. He won't be a star but in an organization starved for outfield talent he is a very welcome addition.