Well here we go. We begin our countdown of the 2011 Royals Top 60 Prospects. I would dare say the Royals have never had a group of prospects with these kind of expectations (perhaps Royals fans have had high expectations in the past but the expectations from outside the organization/fans are astronomical). Hopefully, I'll be able to crank out one of these a week. I plan to do six prospects at a time, so consider this Part 1 of my 10 part series: Better Know a Royals Prospect.
60. Pat White--OF--DOB:2/25/86--B:? T:L
The former 2nd round pick of the Dolphins signed with the Royals back in September after his football career fizzled. White had been drafted in the 4th round of the baseball draft by the Angels back in 2004 and turned down a six figure bonus to go to West Virginia. He is obviously a great athlete but not playing baseball for 6 years and turning 25 in February doesn't bode well for his future. The reports out of Instructional League were positive but he's got an uphill climb. I'm guessing he'll be at short season ball in 2011 but they might try to challenge him by sending him to Kane County.
59. Brian Fletcher--LF--DOB:10/26-88--B:R T:R
The Royals drafted Fletcher, son of former MLB player Scott Fletcher, in the 18th Round out of Auburn in 2010. He raked while at Auburn posting an OPS 1019 as a Freshman, 1048 as a sophomore and 1124 as a Junior. I haven't been able to find what he signed for but I'm guessing it was above slot. He only got 16 ABs in short-season Burlington but managed to smash 2 HR and steal a couple of bases before getting hurt. I don't have any information on his defense. He should be at Kane County in 2011.
58. Murray Watts--1B--DOB:10/9/87--B:L T:R
Murray is a big boy at 6'7" and 260lbs but it turn out he is surprisingly nimble at SS--well, maybe not. He's a 1B/DH. He went to Arkansas State where he posted an 1106 OPS his junior year. The Royals took him in the 28th Round of this year's draft. He was then sent to Idaho Falls where he hit 279/389/506. In 300 plate appearances he walked 45 times and struck out 75. He will probably go to Kane County in 2011.
Here is an interview Greg Schaum did with him.
57. Leonel Santiago--RHP--DOB:12/23/89
| Year | Age | Tm | Lg | Aff | G | GS | IP | H | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 17 | Royals | DOSL | KCR | 2.80 | 12 | 5 | 35.1 | 30 | 1.075 | 7.6 | 0.5 | 2.0 | 7.6 | 3.75 |
| 2008 | 18 | Royals | DOSL | KCR | 2.97 | 13 | 11 | 57.2 | 52 | 1.335 | 8.1 | 0.0 | 3.9 | 5.8 | 1.48 |
| 2009 | 19 | Royals | ARIZ | KCR | 5.40 | 13 | 10 | 58.1 | 81 | 1.663 | 12.5 | 0.5 | 2.5 | 10.2 | 4.13 |
| 2010 | 20 | Burlington | APPY | KCR | 2.78 | 14 | 14 | 81.0 | 73 | 1.111 | 8.1 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 7.3 | 3.88 |
| 4 Seasons | 3.49 | 52 | 40 | 232.1 | 236 | 1.300 | 9.1 | 0.4 | 2.6 | 7.7 | 3.02 | ||||
A young pitcher I don't have a ton of information on. But his performance has been very good marked by a decent number of strikeouts and very few walks and home runs. His stuff isn't overpowering but he knows how to get the most out of it. Look for him at Kane County in 2011.
56. Justin Trapp--SS--DOB:10/7/90--B:R T:R
| Year | Age | Tm | Lg | G | PA | SB | CS | BB | SO | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 18 | Royals | ARIZ | 32 | 142 | 12 | 4 | 11 | 36 | .262 | .329 | .310 | .638 |
| 2010 | 19 | Idaho Falls | PION | 67 | 305 | 21 | 6 | 26 | 71 | .269 | .346 | .323 | .669 |
| 2 Seasons | 99 | 447 | 33 | 10 | 37 | 107 | .267 | .340 | .319 | .659 | |||
The Royals drafted Trapp in the 34th Round of the 2009 draft out of a South Carolina HS. Last year Baseball America had him as their "31st" ranked prospect for the Royals and he was generating some buzz as a toolsy raw sleeper. I've never been as high on him. He struggled at Idaho Falls. The Royals have several young, toolsy shortstops but I see Trapp as lagging behind the others. I think I've covered most of the projected Kane County lineup as that is probably where Trapp will be next year.
55. Brandon Sisk--LHP--DOB:7/13/85
| Year | Age | Tm | Lg | Lev | G | GS | IP | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 22 | 3 Teams | 3 Lgs | Ind-A-Rk | 1.63 | 22 | 9 | 82.2 | 1.113 | 6.3 | 0.2 | 3.7 | 11.3 | 3.06 |
| 2008 | 22 | Idaho Falls | PION | Rk | 2.45 | 4 | 2 | 11.0 | 1.091 | 6.5 | 0.8 | 3.3 | 7.4 | 2.25 |
| 2008 | 22 | Burlington | MIDW | A | 1.19 | 10 | 0 | 22.2 | 1.015 | 5.6 | 0.0 | 3.6 | 14.3 | 4.00 |
| 2008 | 22 | Bay Area | CNTL | Ind | 1.65 | 8 | 7 | 49.0 | 1.163 | 6.6 | 0.2 | 3.9 | 10.8 | 2.81 |
| 2009 | 23 | Wilmington | CARL | A+ | 1.92 | 45 | 0 | 61.0 | 0.787 | 4.4 | 0.3 | 2.7 | 11.5 | 4.33 |
| 2010 | 24 | Northwest Arkansas | TL | AA | 4.46 | 40 | 0 | 68.2 | 1.471 | 9.6 | 0.9 | 3.7 | 8.3 | 2.25 |
| 3 Seasons | 2.63 | 107 | 9 | 212.1 | 1.135 | 6.8 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 10.4 | 3.06 | ||||
Sisk signed with the Royals out of the Independent League in 2008. He had been tremendously effective until this past year. At AA he was more hittable, walked more people, struck out fewer people, and gave up more home runs. He wasn't horrible by any means, he had just been so good up until then. He actually started the year strong but the second half was a disaster. I'm guessing he will go back to AA this year but they could try him at Omaha--and if he can step it up, could see KC by mid-summer.
There is part 1. Feel free to critique and/or ask questions. Some of these players on the bottom end of the list, it can be hard to find information on--so if you have something to add, pass it on.