I know you were desperately wondering and hoping if there would be an August Prospect Pulse--well here it is-a little late but hopefully worth the wait.
Well, it was an busy month for the minors in July. We lost Dan Cortes and Derrick Saito in the "incident". Eric Hosmer, Mike Montgomery and Jordan Parraz were among those promoted and Dan Gutierrez made his 2009 debut. Hosmer's promotion was puzzling. He wasn't exactly tearing up Burlington. Montgomery, on the other hand, was ready for a new challenge and is rapidly becoming a very good prospect. Wilmington is now a loaded ballclub--with 6 of the top 12 Royals prospects (by my rankings) playing in Delaware. Gutierrez has made a handful of appearances and I'm not sure if he is now a reliever or if they are just being careful with his arm. You could do a lot worse following the Royals minor leagues than checking Wilmington's box score.
In August, we have the draft signing deadline--where I think we'll see Chris Dwyer and Will Myers sign. We found out this week that Aaron Crow--since he came from an independant league is not required to sign by August 17--which concievibly means this could drag into the winter. I'm still hopeful Crow will sign around the deadline when Bud starts allowing over slot deals and the market is set by those signing around him.
Finally, if the season, ended today the Royals would draft 2nd overall. They are 5 games back of the Nats at the time I write this and I'm actually starting to believe they could finish with the worst record in baseball--which might allow them to draft Bryce Harper or perhaps Stephen Strasburg--althought it is far from a sure thing that either of those guys will be availible. If either of them are, I'm rooting for us to be the worst (besides there is an outside chance that we might see regime change).
Here is the list. The stats for pitchers: k/9-bb/9--FIP. for hitters: avg/opb/slg
| Rank | Name | Last Month | Age | Level | Month Stats | YTD | Comment |
| 1 | Eric Hosmer-1B | 1 | 19 | High-A |
Low-A 275/356/431 High-A 220/256/244 |
Low-A 255/352/385 High-A 220/256/244 |
Just started to heat up at Burlington and then promoted--they must really want him and Moose together. |
| 2 | Mike Montgomery-LHP | 5 | 20 | High-A |
Low-A 7.4/4.4/3.36 High-A 7.5/7.5/4.33 |
Low-A 7.8/4.2/3.36 High-A 7.5/7.5/4.33 |
The kid is doing great and should continue with a good number or K's and grounders--a winning combo. |
| 3 | Mike Moustakas-3B | 2 | 20 | High-A | 196/244/384 | 253/297/421 | Ugly, ugly month for him. |
| 4 | Aaron Crow-RHP | 3 | 22 | NA | NA | NA | He doesn't have to sign by Aug 17--I'm still hoping it gets done by then--when all the over slot deals come in the final few days. |
| 5 | Dan Duffy-LHP | 4 | 20 | High-A | 9.5/4.4/2.85 | 8.2/3.9/3.39 | Pitching well in the 2nd half |
| 6 | Jeff Bianchi-SS | 6 | 22 | AA | 279/330/365 |
High-A 307/364/437 AA 329/377/454 |
He's one of the streakiest hitters we have in the minors. |
| 7 | Tim Melville-RHP | 8 | 19 | Low-A | 11.0/4.4/3.01 | 8.4/4.1/4.16 | Showing his stuff |
| 8 | Kila Kaaihue-1B | 7 | 25 | AAA | 224/387/329 | 257/401/462 | A down month but still a 387 OBP. how many Royals have that in a good month? |
| 9 | J. Giavotella-2B | 12 | 22 | High-A | 306/387/398 | 259/369/372 | He's right on schedule. |
| 10 | David Lough-CF | 10 | 23 | AA | 343/367/524 |
High-A 323/373/477 AA 330/364/496 |
Just keeps hitting |
| 11 | Jordan Parraz-RF | 13 | 24 | AAA | 292/370/417 |
AA 358/451/553 AAA 292/370/417 |
Has adjusted to AAA and is a darkhourse for 2010 KC RF |
| 12 | Dan Gutierrez-RHP | 11 | 22 | High-A | 6.0/0.0/2.17 | 6.0/0.0/2.17 | He's pitching--it's relief-but at least he's back on the mound. |
| 13 | Will Myers-C? | 14 | 19 | NA | NA | NA | Signing Aug. 17 |
| 14 | John Lamb-LHP | 18 | 19 | SS |
Bur 10.0/4.7/5.58 IDF 8.4/2.8/4.45 |
Bur 8.0/3.5/4.72 IDF 8.4/2.8/4.45 |
Good 08 draftee. |
| 15 | Chris Dwyer-LHP | 28 | 21 | NA | NA | NA | He's signing on Aug 17 |
| 16 | Kelvin Herrera-RHP | 15 | 19 | DL | NA | 1.7/0.0/3.50 | I wish I had an update on this guy |
| 17 | Disco Hayes-RHP | 17 | 26 | AAA | 5.1/1.7/3.52 |
AA 4.0/1.4/3.19 AAA 4.2/1.0/3.52 |
Glad Hayes is still in AAA with our incredible ML bullpen. |
| 18 | Carlos Rosa-RHP | 16 | 24 | AAA | 9.4/2.8/2.31 | 9.3/4.8/4.25 | Glad Rosa is still in AAA with our incredible ML bullpen. |
| 19 | Tyler Sample-RHP | 21 | 20 | SS | 9.4/4.7/2.95 |
AZ11.25/4.5/3.07 BUR 9.4/4.7/2.95 |
Putting it together some |
| 20 | Greg Holland-RHP | 23 | 23 | AAA | 3.0/6.0/9.33 |
AA 9.5/4.8/3.48 AAA 3.0/6.0/9.33 |
Rough start at AAA |
| 21 | Oh Crap | I left | one | space | open and I'm | not going to | reformat the list from 21 on |
| 22 | Juan Abreu-RHP | NR | 24 | AA |
High-A 12.6/1.8/1.30 AA 14.9/10.1/3.72 |
High-A 1.8/6.8/3.73 AA 14.9/10.1/3.72 |
Live arm, tore up High-A, we'll see how he does in AA-obviously control will be key. |
| 23 | Keaton Hayenga-RHP | 36 | 21 | SS | 5.3/3.8/3.55 | 5.5/3.0/3.27 | Recovered from shoulder injury 2 years ago, now needs to improve K rate. |
| 24 | Blaine Hardy-LHP | 33 | 22 | Low-A | 8.7/1.9/2.24 | 8.5/1.6/2.62 | Keeps on with good numbers. |
| 25 | Carlos Fortuna--RHP | 23 | 19 | SS | 5.1/8.0/8.17 | 7.24/6.26/5.85 | Good arm, bad month |
| 26 | Salvador Perez-C | 24 | 19 | SS | 229/290/349 | 283/353/400 | Welcome to a bunch of catchers who have potential but aren't hitting. |
| 27 | Yowil Espinal-SS | 25 | 18 | SS | 160/269/245 | 215/321/348 | Has cooled off considerably, but talent is still there. |
| 28 | Chris Lubanski | 31 | 24 | AAA | AZ 500/563/1000 | 264/358/396 | Back to Omaha from injury |
| 29 | Sean McCauley-C | 26 | 20 | Low-A | 196/245/239 | 226/289/305 | I think he's been hurt |
| 30 | Paulo Orlando-CF | 21 | 23 | High-A | 308/372/410 | 260/306/367 | interesting month but we've seen this before |
| 31 | Jose Bonilla-C | 27 | 21 | Low-A | 189/265/270 | 231/285/338 | The Miguel Olivo of Burlington, Iowa. |
| 32 | Barry Bowden-RHP | 35 | 24 | Low-A | 12.7/5.1/2.12 | 10.6/4.3/3.12 | Non-drafted kid keeps dealin'. |
| 33 | Jason Taylor-3B | 39 | 21 | LowA | 267/330/400 | 261/325/405 | Back from suspension and doing OK, but is repeating low-A |
| 34 | Derrick Robinson |
NR | 22 | High-A | 174/211/239 |
235/282/304 | I thought he was overrated at the start of the season, but I still hold a little bit of hope |
| 35 | Malcolm Culver-3B | 41 | 19 | SS | 231/294/359 | 240/315/420 | Had a down month but I like this kid |
| 36 | Hilton Richardson-CF | 44 | 20 | SS | 304/360/449 | 323/370/411 | inflated average from BABIP, but still very talented. |
| 37 | Brandon Sisk-LHP | 46 | 24 | High-A | 14.4/3.6/2.29 | 12.1/2.4/2.15 | Crazy numbers--watch this guy. |
| 38 | Alex Llanos-CF | NR | 18 | SS | 345/409/560 | 317/370/472 | Speedy CF is supposed to have a good bat--he's starting to show it this year. |
| 39 | Leondy Perez-RHP | NR | 19 | SS | 8.9/1.5/3.70 | 8.9/2.3/4.23 | Good stats from the young RHP--don't know much about him. |
| 40 | Dusty Odenback | NR | 21 | Low-A |
SS 6.4/2.7/2.94 Low-A 8.0/4.0/3.09 |
SS 6.4/2.7/2.94
Low-A 8.0/4.0/3.09 |
09 draftee is already at low-A |
| 41 | Mike Lehman-RHP | 40 | 20 | Low-A | 3.4/4.2/5.69 | 4.5/4.2/4.98 | Tough month for the youngster in Low-A |
| 42 | Ben Theriot-C | NR | 21 | SS | 346/404/404 | 333.408/413 | 09 draftee has gotten on base in limited at bats |
| 43 | Deivy Batista-SS | NR | 21 | SS | 296/298/561 | 309/327/583 | Not very young, doesn't get on base--but loads of power. |
| 44 | Mario Lisson-SS | 43 | 25 | AAA | 242/283/354 |
AA 206/287/279 AAA 246/279/422 |
Best SS in the Royals organization? That's damning with faint praise. |
| 45 | Jerico Blanco--OF | 50 | 17 | DSL | 262.324/338 | 250/339/396 | Numbers are so-so but lots of talent |
| 46 | Brian Paukovits-RHP | 45 | 22 | SS | 6.8/3.7/5.54 | 8.5/4.2/4.51 | Had a rough August. |
| 47 | Nick Van Stratten-OF | 42 | 24 | High-A | 191/283/362 |
Low-A 320/395/449 High-A 191/283/362 |
Finding High-A a challenge. |
| 48 | Henry Barrera-RHP | 29 | 23 | DL | NA | 12.2/14.7/5.71 | Injured. |
| 49 | Jarrod Dyson-CF | NR | 24 | AA | 250/343/293 |
Low-A 343/397/403 AA 275/345/305 |
Typical speedster--no power. |
| 50 | Blake Wood-RHP | 20 | 23 | DL | NA | 5.8/2.9/4.32 | Still injured |
Player of the Month: Mike Montgomery--left handed with good stuff, gets ground balls. He's got a higher ceiling than Dan Duffy and I really like this kid. He got promoted to High-A and it will be interesting to see how he does. Needs to keep his control in check. He's a very good prospect right now and with a strong finish could be a top pitching prospect heading into 2010.