Royals Top 60 Prospects; #36-31

 

In this installment, we finish off the bottom half of the Top 60.  Here we have several players who project to be role players in big leagues.  Not big time ceilings but if the Royals are to compete in 2013 and beyond then some of these players (or players similar to them) will need to step up and contribute.  At the same time, the Royals need to avoid overexposing players with limited talents.  I am particularly interested in how the Royals bullpen will develop in the next couple of years.  Bullpen prospects are notoriously fickle but, among the Royals' strengths, are a large group of interesting bullpen pitchers.  If the Royals can put together a good, cheap bullpen that will free up resources to invest in other areas.   

 

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

47. Greg Billo--RHP

46. Henry Barrera--RHP

45. Jose Bonilla-C

44. Edgar Osuna--LHP

43. Rey Navarro--SS

42. Lance Zawadzki--SS

41. Jorge Bonifacio--CF

40. Elisaul Pimentel--RHP

39. Justin Marks--LHP

38. Humberto Arteaga--SS

37. Kelvin Herrera--RHP

36. Michael Antonio--SS--DOB:10/26/91

The Royals took Antonio in the 3rd Round of last year's draft out of HS in New York.  Going into his Senior season, he was a fairly high ranking prospect but he slumped that final year of HS.  The Royals took him higher than he was projected to go.  Antonio is currently a third baseman but there are big questions if he can stay there.  He is not terribly athletic.  His bat is his best tool.  He debuted in the Arizona Rookie League and hit 264/297/429.  He will probably be back at short-season ball in 2011.

35. Blaine Hardy--LHP--DOB:3/14/87

 

Hardy was a 22nd Round pick in the 2008 draft out of a NAIA school.  He had a great 2009 at Burlington and then started off great at Northwest Arkanas in 2010 (helped due to a ridiculously low .155 BABIP).  He struggled going to Omaha.  His K rate dropped and his HR rate went up.  Part of that could be due to the Royals moving him to the rotation for awhile at AAA--he seemed to pitch much better in relief.  I don't know what the plan for him is moving forward; starting or relief.  Hardy doesn't have overpowering stuff so his margin for error is not very big.  He needs to go back to Omaha in 2011 and figure out how to get that K rate back up.  If he does that, he could see KC some time this summer.

34. Lucas May--C--DOB:10/24/84

 

Lucas May was part of the Scott Podsednik deal in July, coming over from the Dodgers.  That stats above don't include about 40 abs in September where he was overwhelmed by big league pitching.  May has been a slow mover (he turned 26 in October).  He was also converted to C a few years back.  His bat has been pretty good the past couple of years but his defense is still not up to par.  May has a chance to break spring training as the back up catcher for 2011.

33. Manny Pina--C--DOB:6/5/87

Manny Pina came over in the Danny Gutierrez trade with the Rangers at the end of 2009.  He hit OK with Northwest Arkansas in 2010 and, while his numbers for his brief stay at Omaha look less impressive, he was basically the same hitter with bad luck on ball in play.  Pina's catch and throw skills are good but there has been some concern with his ability to call a game.  His skills make him a virtual lock to have some kind of big league career--probably as a backup catcher.  He is probably going to be at Omaha in 2011 but he has an outside chance of being the backup catcher for the big league team.

32 Patrick Keating--RHP--DOB:6/9/87

 

Most folks have heard the story of Keating--20th Round pick in 2009 out of U. of Florida. The Royals changed his delivery, his velocity went up and all the sudden the Royals have a very interesting relief prospect.  He has simply been dominant since turning pro striking out 12.8 batter per 9ip.  His BB rate ticked up when he was promoted to AA but other than that was basically the same pitcher (pay no attention to the difference in ERA).  He could go to AAA in 2011 and could help the big league club sometime in 2011.  He is one to watch and I fear I may have him a little low on this list.

31. Jarrod Dyson--CF--DOB:8/15/84

 

Ladies and gentlemen, I present the most divisive Royals prospect.  The KC Star did a piece a month or two ago about Royals prospect and had Dyson in the Top 10.  Some seem him as a late bloomer (he's already 26).  Some people will probably think I'm overrating Dyson by having him at #31.  Dyson hasn't shown the ability to hit but his defense in CF is supposed to be amazing.  He has a strong arm and, of course, steals lots of bases.  There was some talk about him being the CF in 2010 but thankfully, it looks like he will get more time at AAA.  The best case scenario for Dyson is to post an OPS of around 675 in the big leagues with gold-glove CF defense.  That could have value but he could also post an OPS south of 600--in which case no amount of defense can overcome.