Royals promote top prospect Raul Mondesi to AAA Omaha

The Royals have promoted shortstop Raul Mondesi to AAA Omaha, according to Naturals beat writer Paul Boyd. Mondesi is the consensus top prospect in the Royals' farm system. He was hitting .267/.338/.457 in 29 games for the AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals with 5 HR 17 RBI. Mondesi was activated on Monday from a 50 game suspension for Clenbuterol, a banned substance. He was 5-for-12 with six stolen bases since returning.

Mondesi had played 81 games in AA Northwest Arkansas last year, where he hit .243/.279/.372. He made his Major League debut as a pinch-hitter in the 2015 World Series against the Mets. Mondesi is primarily a shortstop but has started a few games at second base as well this year. His glove is generally considered to be Major League ready and he shows plus speed, but he has had trouble with plate recognition with a career strikeout rate of 24.8% and a walk rate of 6.2%. The 20-year old switch-hitter has shown plus power at times and has generally been very young for each level of baseball he has played in.

Raul Mondesi with a lonnnggg home run to right centerfield. Wolff knew it immediately. pic.twitter.com/cuakXaVVrF

— Shaun Newkirk (@Shauncore) April 9, 2016

Mondesi was the only Royals prospect to appear on mid-season prospect lists for either Baseball America or Baseball Prospectus.