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 | G | GS | IP | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||||
47. Greg Billo--RHP--DOB:7/15/90
| Year | Age | Tm ▴ | Lg | Aff | IP | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||||
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 | G | GS | IP | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 19 | Royals | ARIZ | KCR | 4.72 | 19 | 0 | 26.2 | 1.575 | 11.1 | 0.3 | 3.0 | 7.8 | 2.56 |
| 2006 | 20 | Royals | ARIZ | KCR | 5.48 | 16 | 0 | 23.0 | 1.609 | 7.8 | 0.0 | 6.7 | 11.7 | 1.76 |
| 2007 | 21 | Burlington | MIDW | KCR | 4.35 | 30 | 0 | 51.2 | 1.316 | 9.2 | 0.7 | 2.6 | 9.2 | 3.53 |
| 2008 | 22 | Wilmington | CARL | KCR | 2.81 | 42 | 0 | 57.2 | 1.231 | 7.3 | 0.3 | 3.7 | 12.2 | 3.25 |
| 2009 | 23 | Burlington | MIDW | KCR | 12.27 | 4 | 0 | 3.2 | 1.909 | 4.9 | 0.0 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 1.00 |
| 2010 | 24 | 2 Teams | 2 Lgs | KCR | 2.45 | 22 | 0 | 33.0 | 1.091 | 7.1 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 9.5 | 3.50 |
| 2010 | 24 | Wilmington | CARL | KCR | 4.50 | 6 | 0 | 8.0 | 1.500 | 10.1 | 0.0 | 3.4 | 11.2 | 3.33 |
| 2010 | 24 | Northwest Arkansas | TL | KCR | 1.80 | 16 | 0 | 25.0 | 0.960 | 6.1 | 0.4 | 2.5 | 9.0 | 3.57 |
| 6 Seasons | 3.91 | 133 | 0 | 195.2 | 1.334 | 8.3 | 0.4 | 3.7 | 10.3 | 2.80 | ||||
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 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||||
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 | G | GS | IP | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |||
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 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ||||
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.