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Royals on midseason prospect lists

What do the experts think of the former "Best System in the History of Whatever"?

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Its midseason prospect list time, with the various prospect hounds putting out their updates. There have been a ton of graduations already this year, with big names like Kris Bryant, Byron Buxton, and Carlos Correa all having been promoted to the Major Leagues. This leaves the top of the crop pretty thin, and these lists don't typically add 2015 draft picks to the list, so guys like Royals first-rounder Ashe Russell could end up on the list by this winter.

Dodgers infielder Corey Seager is the unanimous #1 prospect in the game, followed by some combination of Nationals pitcher Lucas Giolito, Dodgers pitcher Julio Urias, and Phillies shortstop J.P. Crawford. I don't know why lists go to 100 in the off-season, but only up to 50 or 75 in mid-season. I guess it takes half a season to find another 50 prospects to put on the list. In any case, here's how the Royals have fared.

Baseball America ranks shortstop Raul Mondesi 25th, noting:

The tools are still exceptional, but his lack of plate discipline and his lingering back injury are concerns

Baseball Prospects ranks Mondesi even higher, slotting him at 12th:

The Royals have pushed Mondesi up the system in an aggressive fashion, but the wiry shortstop has held his own at all stops. While the numbers are not flashy, peel back the curtain to see that Mondesi is playing a premium position with plus defense and has the makings of a hitter with an above-average hit tool and surprising pop. He's an unfinished product at this stage of development, but Mondesi is one of the youngest players in Double-A and could see the majors in the next year. He is a strong example of numbers failing to tell the entire story, and his tools are too bright to overlook.

John Sickels has him 24th, which is a big improvement from his pre-season ranking of 106th.

Hard to judge given how rapidly he’s been pushed. Strike zone judgment remains poor but power is starting to develop and glove has looked sharper. Personification of high-risk, high-reward.

He also ranks left-handed pitcher Sean Manaea 68th.

Has been hurt so tough to rank, just getting into action now. Strong second half could restore stock into the 30s.

Sickels also guesses that Brandon Finnegan would be in the 50s had he not graduated off the prospect list.

Keith Law of ESPN doesn't have Mondesi or any other Royals on his Top 50 list at all.

In his chat session, he addresses his omission of Mondesi.

When I omit a guy from my top 25/50/100, I'm not saying he's not a prospect. Even if I were never wrong (heh), there are more than 50 good prospects in the minors right now.

He also addresses Kyle Zimmer.

Only pitching in relief. Pure stuff would put him in top 10-15 range but how could I put a guy with no history of staying healthy in the top 50?

How do you feel about the state of the farm system right now? Is it deep enough to withstand a major trade?