Revisiting the Royals 2013 Draft

Tonight is the MLB draft, the eighth draft Dayton Moore has officially administered. This organization relies on these drafts as the lifeline to our organization. Let's take a look back at last year's class of 2013 to see how they're doing.

Round 1 (8 overall) - 3B Hunter Dozier, Stephen F. Austin University

Dozier signed quickly and impressed in Idaho Falls, earning a cup of coffee with Lexington in the Sally League. Overall he hit .308/.397/.495 with an impressive 30 doubles in 317 plate appearances. He has been a darkhorse prospect on some lists, and was ranked 96th by Baseball Prospectus. He has followed his strong rookie campaign up with solid start in 2014 for Wilmington, hitting .285/.390/.387, although with just 15 extra-base hits in a tough hitting environment. He is fourth in the league with 29 walks, but has struck out over 21% of the time.

Round 1 (34) - LHP Sean Manaea, Indiana State University

Manaea was a controversial pick as an injury risk who was considered a top ten talent who slid due to a hip injury and signability concerns. The Royals were able to sign him for $3.55 million, but he did not make his debut until this year. He has been hit around a bit for Wilmington, giving up 53 hits in just 40 innings for a 5.09 ERA but has struck out nearly 13 hitters per nine innings. He has had a high BABIP, and has improved as the season has gone along, while drawing very good scouting reports.

Round 2 (46) - LHP Cody Reed, Northwest Mississippi Community College

Reed struggled mightily with command in his rookie season, walking 7 per nine innings for Idaho Falls. He has harnessed that a bit for Lexington this year, but has gotten pummelled, allowing 33 runs in just 28.2 innings.

Round 3 (82) - RHP Carter Hope, The Woodlands HS (Texas)

Hope did not begin pitching until his senior year, so the Royals plan to take things slow with him. He threw in six games for the Arizona Rookie team, with a 6.08 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 13.1 innings, and will likely be on some short-season team later this year.

Round 4 (114) - C Zane Evans, Georgia Tech

Evans got off to a fantastic start for Idaho Falls, hitting .352/.394/.537 with 18 doubles in 175 plate appearances. The club promoted him all the way to Wilmington, where he has struggled, hitting .242/.307/.323. With Cameron Gallagher catching, Evans has served mostly as a designated hitter.

Round 5 (144) - OF Amalani Fukofuka, Logan HS (California)

Fukofuka showed he is capable of controlling the strike zone, hitting .244/.359/.346 for the Royals Arizona Rookie League team last year. Fukofuka is a fleet-footed centerfielder who is a bit raw, and will likely play in a short-season league this summer.

Round 6 (174) - RHP Luke Farrell, Northwestern University

Farrell was considered to be fairly polished when drafted, but has struggled with his control, walking 4.1 per nine innings so far in his career. He posted a 6.65 ERA in ten starts for Idaho Falls last year, and has a 5.84 ERA in 49.1 innings for Lexington this year. Farrell has struck out nearly a hitter per inning, so there is potential.

Round 7 (204) - LHP Kyle Bartsch, University of South Alabama

Bartsch has been a reliever, the same role he played at South Alabama. He has a terrific 2.92 ERA and over 11 strikouts per nine innings in his brief career, although his 3.6 walks per nine innings is a bit of a concern this season at Wilmington.

Round 8 (234) - 1B Cody Stubbs, University of North Carolina

Stubbs held his own in the middle of the Chukars lineup last year, hitting .284/.360/.455, although he had nearly as many strikeouts as games played. He has struggled in Wilmington, like most hitters, hitting .219/.311/.390 with 36 strikeouts in 32 games.

Round 9 (264) - OF Daniel Rockett, University of Texas-San Antonio

Rockett blasted off (GET IT????) in 2013 with a line of .310/.351/.531 and 11 home runs in 247 plate appearances at Idaho Falls. But he has come back to earth in 2014, hitting .221 with no home runs and lousy plate discipline at Wilmington. Originally a centerfielder, Rockett has played the corners in the Carolina League.

Round 10 (294) - CF Alex Newman, Cypress College

Newman is out of a junior college, and struggled mightily for Burlington of the Appalachian League in 2013, hitting .186/.262/.285 with 75 strikeouts in 51 games. He could be headed back there, although he's been nursing an injury lately.

Round 11 (324) - C Xavier Fernandez, Puerto Rico Baseball Academy

Fernandez hit well in the Arizona Rookie League, hitting .316/.375/.354. He'll be assigned to a short-season league this summer.

Round 12 (354) - 1B Brandon Dulin, Longview Community College

The local product hit .269/.332/.409 for the Arizona Rookie League team in 2013 and will likely be assigned to a short-season league this summer.

Round 13 (384) - LHP Jonathan Dziedzic, Lamar University

Dziedzic has pitched well in both Idaho Falls and this year in Wilmington, where he was named a Carolina League All-Star. In 22 professional games, he has an ERA of 2.81 with nearly a strikeout per inning, and a walk rate of 2.8 per nine innings.

Round 14 (414) - RHP Chase Darhower, Northwest Florida State College

Darhower came out of community college, and struggled in the Arizona Rookie League in 2013 with a 6.67 ERA, mostly out of the pen. He will be assigned to a short-season league this year.

Round 15 (444) - OF Dominique Taylor, University of California-Irvine

Taylor was drafted at the age of 20, and has performed very well in his profesional career. Playing at Idaho Falls, and now Lexington, he has hit .318/.367/.497 with 12 HR 58 RBI and 23 steals in 438 plate appearances. The German-born Taylor has played all three outfield positions and was named a South Atlantic League All-Star this year.

Round 16 (474)  - RHP Kevin McCarthy, Marist College

McCarthy performed well for Burlington in the Appalachian League, walking just five hitters in 42.1 innings with a 3.40 ERA. He has been hurt much of this year, just recently activated for the Lexington Legends, where he has tossed four innings.

Round 17 (504) - RHP Kevin Perez, Miami-Dade College

Perez was taken out of junior college and was just 19 when selected. The reliever did well in the Arizona Rookie League last year, but has really struggled with his command this year in Lexington, walking 19 batters in 24.2 innings.

Round 18 (534) - C Frank Schwindel, St. John's University

Schwindel has been a nice sleeper to watch. In 465 plate appearances in his career, the right-hander is hitting .286/.321/.460 with 15 HR, although with just 19 walks. He has been splitting time between catcher and first base.

Round 19 (564) - RHP Andrew Edwards, Western Kentucky University

Edwards is a reliever who did so well in 2013 with Burlington he earned a cup of coffee with Wilmington. Edwards allowed just 13 hits in 23.1 innings, but he struggled with his command with 5 walks per nine innings. This year, its been just the opposite, with much better control, but 53 hits allowed in 41.1 innings.

Round 20 (594) - RHP Glenn Sparkman, Wharton County Junior College

Sparkman has flat out dominated at every level he has pitched thus far. The reliever has a 1.58 ERA with over 10 strikeouts per nine innings and good control. At age 22, the right-hander is already in Wilmington and could rise quickly.

Others of note:

21st round pick Andrew Brockett, a right-handed pitcher, performed well in the Arizona Fall League, but had mixed results in Idaho Falls and will go to short-season league this summer.

Southpaw Javier Reynoso, taken in round 23, strikes out over 10 per nine innings but needs to work on command.