2013 MLB Mock Draft 3.0

2013 College Report Week 3

1.) Mark Appel
Appel has always had the stuff to be an ace but there have always been three major question marks surrounding his game; his ability to throw all three of his pitches for strikes at the same time, his passive demeanor on the mound, and the unusual success that hitters have had making contact off him given his stuff. None of those were issues for the 6" 5' righty during his Friday start against Texas. He tossed a complete game shutout, struck out 14, and walked just one. His fastball sat in the mid to upper 90's and he located it well throughout most of the game. His curve was a real weapon for him and had a lot of hard tilting break. His change up was also impressive which he threw with very good arm speed and had some fade. Appel is probably the best pitcher in the country right now, and he sure pitched like it against a very good opponent on Friday.
2.) Kris Bryant
Kris Bryant looked like he was starting to hit his stride for San Diego during the UNC Wilmington tournament last weekend. Bryant collected six hits in twelve at bats for the Toreros and flashed his plus power by connecting for a pair of doubles and two home runs. Bryant is one of the premium college bats in this years class, so look for him to be taken in the top 10 picks.
3.) Kevin Ziomek
No stat-line was more impressive than Ziomek's this past weekend; he pitched all nine innings, allowed only one hit, fanned 15 batters, and did not yield a run. The only reason Appel ranks ahead of him here is because Appel dominated over the Longhorns, while Ziomek faced a lesser opponent in Illinois Chicago. Ziomeks "Bugs Bunny" curve ball was really working for him on Friday. The pitch had tremendous two-plane  break and the Flame hitters looked frozen every time he threw it. No pun intended.
4.) Phil Ervin
Ervin had a tremendous summer on the Cape, and is carrying his success into this season so far. He is really raking right now, hitting .340 on the year and has hit six home runs already, two of which came against Purdue this weekend. Ervin is also a threat on the base pads and a potential 20/20 player down the road. If he continues to hit he should see his name called early on the first day of the draft this June.
5.) Dylan Covey
Bryant wasn't the only Torero to have a big weekend. On the mound the former first round pick turned in one of his most dominant starts to date. Covey pitched six innings of shutout baseball and notched 12 strikeouts while yielding just two free passes. If Covey continues to pitch like this he could easily reestablish himself as one of the top college arms and shoot up draft boards.

Toolshed: Speed

2013 was the year of the stolen base in the minor leagues, highlighted by Billy Hamilton breaking Vince Coleman's record with 155 stolen bases. Just like how Hamilton shattered Coleman's record, his speed shatters the 20-80 scouting scale. Hamilton's speed and stolen base ability is probably a full two grades better than any other players, so that would make it around an 100. Hamilton was not the only burner to break the 100 stolen base barrier, as Delino Deshields reached that plateau by swiping 101 bags. Look for Roman Quinn to break out the next year, I think he will be the next player to accomplish that feat.

When comparing this list to my others in the Toolshed series, remember that because of the nature of the scouting scale it is easier to earn a plus-plus grade for speed than for any other tool. That is not to take anything away from the burners, but there will always be more players with an 80 speed tool than an 80 power tool.
1.)Billy Hamilton          80
2.)Roman Quinn            80
3.)D.J. Davis                  80
4.)Mallex Smith             80
5.)Delino DeShields Jr. 80
6.)Billy Buns                 80
7.)Eury Perez                 80
8.)Edgardo Rivera         70
9.)Jeff Kobernus            70
10.)Matt Szuzur              70
11.)CJ McElroy               70
12.)Keenyn Walker          70
13.)Byron Buxton            70
14.)Rey Fuentes               70
15.)Mason Williams         70
16.)Leury Garcia               70
17.)Gary Brown                 70
18.)Jose Peraza                  70
19.)Travis Jankowski         65
20.)Austin Schotts             65
21.)Tzu Wei Lin                 65
22.)Travis Jankowski          65
23.)Franklin Barreto           65
24.)Slade Heathcott            65
25.)Bubba Starling             65
26.)Luis Sardinas               65
27.)Adam Eaton                 65
28.)Gregory Polanco          65
29.)Glyn Davis                   65
30.)Andrew Toles              65
31.)Manuel Margot           65
32.)Kyrell Hudson             65
33.)Eric Stamets                65
34.)James Ramsey             65
35.)James Baldwin            65
36.)George Springer          65
37.)Johnathan Reynoso     65
38.)Nick Ahmed                65

39.)Max White                  65
40.)Anthony Alford           65


Billy Hamilton-How could I show someone else here?

The Toolshed: Power Bats

Inspired by receiving my BA prospect handbook last week, I have decided to work on this new series called the Toolshed. I admit that I am usually a tools guy; I really am a sucker for a player who can hit the ball 500 feet or get down the line in 3.7 seconds. To kick things off I am going to start with the power tool, because let's be honest, chicks dig the long ball. To compile this list I ranked them into tiers using the 20-80 scouting scale, and then narrowed the list down to 30. The grade 60 is considered a plus tool, and I handed all of these I grade of 65 or more, needless to say they can mash. This does not mean that they will though. Remember this list is not the best power hitting prospects, or even who I think will hit the most home runs. Instead it is a ranking of who has the most raw power potential.

1.) Miguel Sano     80
2.) Joey Gallo         80
3.) Jairo Beras        80
4.) Jorge Soler        70    
5.) Wil Myers         70
6.) Marcell Ozuna   70
7.) Bubba Starling   70
8.) Xander Bogaerts 70
9.) Michael Choice  70
10.) Yasiel Puig       70
11.) Josh Bell           65
12.) Javier Baez        65
13.) Darin Ruff         65
14.) Victor Roache   65
15.) Matt Adams       65
16.) Trayce Thromspson 65
17.) Dan Vogelbach  65
18.) Bryce Brentz      65
19.) Oscar Taveras     65
20.) C.J Cron             65
21.) Adam Duvall      65
22.) Lewis Brinson    65
23.) Courtney Hawkins 65
24.) Carlos Correa     65
25.) Kyle Jepsen        65
26.) Gary Sanchez     65
27.) Mike Zunino      65
28.) Hunter Morris    65
29.) Jonathan Singleton 65
30.) Yorman Rodriguez  65

The guy who probably sticks out on this list the most is Jairo Beras because he is a 17 year old international free agent who has proved absolutely nothing. Furthermore, he was suspended by the MLB for faulty paperwork last year and his career is getting off to a late start. However his upside, especially with the bat, is simply off the charts. Beras is a hulking 6'6" and his power tool is not loud, it is sonic. I have repeatedly heard that he was not only the best player in Latin America last year, but that he could have also gone first overall if he were eligible for the First Year Player Draft. Some scouts have even gone so fat to say that he possesses more raw pop than the guy who tops this list, Miguel Sano, but I will have to hold off until he starts backing his potential here in the states.




Joey Gallo was considered to have the most raw power in the 2011 draft class. 

25 Predictions for 2013

1.) Xander Bogaerts is the number one hitting prospect in baseball at end of year
2.) Miguel Sano will have a huge slump to begin the year in the Florida State League. But don't give up on "The Beast". This challenge will be force him to make adjustments that will help him in the long term. He will still develop into a middle of the line-up masher, this will just be a detour.
3.) Jairo Beras will be this years version of Joey Gallo. After his suspension is lifted in July he will report to the Arizona League, and for the second time in as many years, a Ranger's farmhand will hit 15+ home runs in rookie ball.
4.) Not so bold on this one, but Wil Myers will be your 2013 AL Rookie of the Year.
5.) A little more risky on this one. Trevor Rosenthall will break camp as a starter and will run away with ROY in the Senior Circuit.
6.) Bryce Harper is better than Mike Trout in 2013.
7.) Kyle Gibson has a huge rebound year.
8.) Adalberto Mondesi is a top 50 prospect by years end. He will be even higher in 2014. See Jurickson Profar
9.) Robert Osuna is a huge climber on next years Top 100's.
10.) The best pitching prospect in baseball will be Taijuan Walker.
11.) Trevor Bauer becomes the ace of Cleveland's staff.
12.) Carlos Santana has a breakout year.
13.) Evan Gattis is for real. Darin Ruff is not.
14.) Despite the graduation of Profar and Olt, the Rangers have one of the best systems in all of baseball at end of year. The power potential of Beras, Brinson, Guzman, Gallo, and Mazara is nothing short of frightening.
15.) Billy Hamilton leads the International League in stolen bases despite playing less than 60 games. His big league debut however, is less than stellar.
16.) Bruce Rondon is one of best closers in American League.
17.) Blue Jays win the AL East.
18.) Brett Lawrie contends for a batting title.
19.) Yankees and Red Sox finish in 4th and 5th in division, respectively.
20.) Carlos Rodon is too good for College ranks once again. He starts to get Strasburg-level hype.
21.) Clint Frazier gets drafted before Austin Meadows.
22.) Just like last year, Mark Appel is not drafted in top 5 picks.
23.) Stanton will hit 50 bombs this year.
24.) Gerrit Cole gets torched in his debut season.
25.) The Nationals will win the World Series.

For any one who is reading this, I wish you a Happy New Year. Good luck with all your resolutions. I am looking forward to a great year of baseball. Please comment with your own boldest predictions.

2015 Toronto Blue Jays Top 15 Prospects

   
1.) Aaron Sanchez RHP                                                 B+
In an off season where a number of highly touted Jay's prospects have been dealt away for the likes of Jose Reyes, Josh Johnson, and R.A. Dickey, Sanchez is the last man standing. While Travis D' Arnuad was the clear cut top prospect in the Jays system before the blockbusters, and one could also argue that Marisnick, Nicolino, and Syndergaard were equal to or better prospects than Sanchez, he takes the top spot in their system by default. With that said, having Aaron Sanchez as the top prospect in your farm system is nothing to be ashamed of. He truly does have ace type stuff, he just has not learned how to harness it yet. In his first full season he was assigned to Low A Lansing and teamed up with  Nicolino and Syndergaard to create a formidable trio of young arms that became known as "The Lansing Three". Scouts who followed the team clearly labeled Sanchez as having the highest upside of the three. His delivery looks effortless, yet he continuously generates velocities in the upper 90's, even reaching 99 mph at times. His lanky frame is ideal for a starting pitcher and his arms are extremely long, giving him even more projection. He uses the same arm speed for both his change up as he does for his fastball, and it is also an effective pitch. His curve ball could also be graded a 70 pitch on a good day. It has a tight 12-6 break. Low A hitters had very little success hitting the pitch last year. The only thing stopping Sanchez from being an elite pitcher is his aforementioned control problems. In fact he averaged over 5 free passes per nine last year. However with his athleticism and arm action their is hope that his control will improve as he learns to pitch.
2.)Roberto Osuna                                                                                B+
Osuna pitched professionally in Mexico at the ripe age of 16. His rights were then purchased by the Blue Jays for 1.5 million dollars. As an amateur, scouts were worried that their was a little too much meat on his bones. But he has done a good job conditioning himself since signing, and has worked hard to shed fat and add muscle. Still at 230 lbs. as a 17 teen year old, he is still a pretty big kid. Despite his youth, Osuna impresses evaluators with the ability to add and subtract velocity from his fastball. He can hit as 96 on the gun. His command and feel for pitching are well beyond that of his peers. His change up has great arm speed and some nice late movement. His curveball needs a lot of work however, and it is slurvy at time. He throws it fairly frequently though, so he must have some confidence in it. As a 17-teen year old he showed the ability to miss a lot of bats too. He averaged over 10 K's per nine while pitching for Vancouver.
3.) Marcus Stroman                                                                           B+
For me it does not matter whether or not Stroman winds up in the pen or rotation, his stuff is so electric that he is a potential all star in either role. Stroman was hands down my favorite college pitcher in the 2012 draft. I found myself continuously hitting the replay button on his scouting reports on YouTube. I also had the pleasure of watching him as Team USA's closer in a few games a summer ago. He could have not have pitched better in that niche, going just over 8 innings of work without yielding a single hit. He also struck out 17 batters, an average of over 2 an inning, and saved 4 games for the Collegiate National Team. Stroman has also been effective as a starter. In his 2012 campaign, he was the ace of a terrible Duke team, and recorded an ERA of 2.39 while posting high strike out totals. Stroman certainly has the stuff and athleticism to be a starter too. Stroman's first love was hoops, but he found more success on the diamond. When starting, his fastball operates in the 92-95 range, but out of the pen he can notch it all the way up to 98. The life on his fastball is electric, and it explodes towards batters just before it reaches the plate. However his slider is an even better pitch. He throws the pitch in the mid-80's with late tilt and a wipe-out break. Scouts have thrown grades as high as 70 on it. Stroman also mixes in a high-80's cutter and an effective change up. The two biggest knocks on Stroman are his size and command. He is well undersized for a starting pitcher, listed at just 5' 9". The obvious comparison is to Sonny Gray, but Stroman has longer more powerful legs that help compensate for his height. Furthermore, Stroman's command has come in gone at times during his career. In addition, Stroman also suffered a setback after being drafted when he was suspended for  testing positive for performance enhancing drugs. However, he did not test positive for PED's, he actually was caught for a stimulant known as methylhexaneamine. Frankly, i do not think that this should warrant the same penalty as steroids, because it has a considerably different impact on the body and can often be consumed by mistake in other stimulants that may be perceived as legal. Stroman will be banned until late May, where he will return to AA probably in a relief role. For the Jays it will be intriguing option to let Stroman come out of the pen so he can accelerate quickly to the big leagues. For a Jays team that looks to be in the hunt for the pennant next season, he could prove to be a vary valuable asset next October. 

4.) DJ Davis                                                                                        B
Missouri Prep Schools have a terrible track record of producing quality big league players. In fact, there has not been a player drafted out of a Mississippian High School to reach the show in well over a decade. Furthermore, the stereotype for African American prospects out of Southern High Schools are that they are ladened with tools but have hardly any polish. Davis is more polished than his stereotype may indicate and appears to always have a plan at the plate. Speed is his calling card, which grades as a true 80 on the scouting scale. In fact out of any one not named Billy Hamilton, he may have a faster pair of legs than anyone in all of the minor leagues. His sub 3.9 second times down the line blew scouts away as an amateur. However Davis is much more than just a burner. Their is some pop in his bat, with the potential to hit for a boatload of doubles and triples and also put up 10-15+ home run totals. Davis has a whipy swing that can catch up to almost any fastball. Breaking balls do plague him though and led to high strikeouts in his professional debut. With more reps and exposure to off speed  pitches he should develop into a plus hitter. His only below average tool would be his arm, which could be labeled as "fringy". While it make take Davis a while to reach the big leagues, he could have a lot of value for fantasy owner and for the Blue Jays.
5.) Daniel Norris                                                                                  B-
After top prospects Dylan Bundy and Archie Bradley, Norris was arguably the best prep pitcher in the 2011 class. A strong commitment to Clemson University caused him to last a lot longer on the draft boards then he had originally expected. The Blue Jays snagged him with the 76th overall pick and lured him away from campus with a 2 million dollar signing bonus. Norris has a plus fastball that sits in the low 90's and can reach 96. Their is still a lot of projectablitiy in his frame and he could add even more velocity as he matures. Despite his lofty expectations, Norris suffered a rude awakening to professional ball.  He also can mix in a curve, slider, and change up that all grade as average or better.Although his performance was not nearly as bad as his stats may indicate. His inflated ERA can partially be chalked up to that fact that only 45% of batters who reached base against Norris did not score. According to Baseball America, this was worst in the North West League. One concerning part of Norris' game is his mechanics. He struggles to repeat his delivery and his arm has a tendency to drag behind the rest of body. Norris was the starting quarterback on his high school football team since he is an exceptional athlete he should not have to much difficulty ironing out his mechanics. If he is able to rebound in 2013, he could be among the top pitching prospects in the game a year from now.
6.) John Stilson                                                                                   B-
Stilson was the Ace of the Aggies staff in 2010 and 2011, and was slated to be a high pick before a shoulder injury in may of 2011 bounced him out of the first round. The Jays couped him up in the third, and in 2012 he showed scouts the excellent stuff that made him so coveted in college. He is widely viewed as more of a bullpen arm because of his lack of durability and command, although he has pitched well as a starter up until now. He has the ceiling of a high leverage reliever and some believe that his demeanour suits that of a big league closer. The Blue Jays also appear to see him as a reliever, because they stuck him in the pen at the end of last season. There is no denying that his already excellent stuff would play up in the bullpen as well. His fastball peaks at 96 and he throws he throws a change up with superb sink that scouts drool over. He can also spin in 2 variation of a breaking ball, a slider and a curve. I prefer, the curve which has a powerful hammer break.

7.) Matt Smoral                                                                                  B-
Smoral entered 2012 with a lot of helium, but a broken foot sidelined him for almost all of the season. That did not stop the Jays from taking him in the second round and shelling out a 2 million dollar bonus to him. He is a physical presence on the mound, towering over competition at 6' 8". His fastball has been clocked in the mid 90's and he could add more if he fills out his lanky frame. With his size his heater also plays up because the length of his stride makes the release of his pitches that much closer to batters. Smoral's next best offering is his slider, which sits in the low 80's and I have heard it has been graded as a plus pitch. He rarely threw his change up as an amateur, and developing a third pitch will essential if he wishes to remain a starter. Like most Goliaths, Smoral struggles to repeat his delivery. This makes it hard for him to stay on top of the ball at times, leading to command problems. However, he is very athletic and not as awkward as one may expect, so he has a good shot at correcting this issue.
8.) Ty Gonzales                                                                               B-
Gonzales is yet another electric high school arm that the Jays drafted in 2012. If nothing else, Gonzales has one of the best 1-2 punches in his fastball and slider than any other prep arm from last years amateur draft. Gonzales is undersized, but when he rears back he can get his fastball all the way up to 97. He can keep his fastball in the 91-93 range even in the late innings of starts. His slider is a wipeout pitch that he had a lot of success with as an amateur at Madison High in Texas. The most concerning part of Gonzales game is his max-effort delivery. There are so many moving parts for every pitch, including a violent head bob. While this hurts his command, the scarier thing is that I feel their is a Tommy John Surgery waiting to happen for him. He has not thrown a change up yet, and unless that changes I feel that he is destined for the bullpen.

9.) Alberto Tirado                                                                          C+
Toronto made several big splashes when they signed Jario Labourt, Jesus Gonzalez, and Dawel Lugo in July of 2011. But they also signed Alberto Tirado, a skinny pitching prospect who slipped under the radar amidst all the big names. Tirado has seen a huge spike in velocity since signing, and now he looks to be the best of the bunch. He has a quality three four pitch mix, with his fastball being his best offering. His heater sits in the mid 90's and can peek at 96. He commands his fastball very well and keeps it low in the zone. The Jays lowered his arm slot, which added a lot of depth to his power slider and generated a lot of swings and misses for him. He also throws a curve and change up which are a step behind his other two offerings at this point.

10.) Sean Nolin                                                                                 C+
If you have not heard of Sean Nolin yet, put him on your sleeper alert for 2013. He burst onto the prospect scene in 2012 with a strong season where he dominated High A and earned a late season promotion to AA New Hampshire. Nolin has a solid 6' 5" frame and a bulldog approach on the mound. He attacks batters with 92-93 mph fastball. His change up and hook are also average pitches. Nolin won't anchor a rotation for anyone, but if you're looking for a big, sturdy innings eater to fill up the 4 or 5 slot, he is your man. Nolin will be 23 next year and probably will again in New Hampshire. A September call to the bigs, however, is not out of the question.
11.) Dwight Smith                                                                          C+
Dwight Smith is another guy who had a bad year, but don't let that fool you. While he probably would not have made the cut for this list before the trades, he is still a good prospect who could hit near the top of a big league lineup. He is more polished than one might expect from a guy recently drafted out of high school. Smith is a pure hitter with a pretty swing and he manages to keep his bat on the ball all the way through the zone. Smith has only average power, but he has quick hands that may lead to more down the road. He is not a burner, but he moves well on the diamond and may get the chance to stay in center. If not he could slide over to left, where he has the arm strength to still be valuable.
12.) Matt Dean                                                                              C+
Matt Dean fits the bill for a big league third baseman perfectly. He was considered the best third base prospect in all of the 2011 class, but since he was being recruited heavily by the University of Texas, he slid to the 13th round. His plus raw power is adequate to profile well at the hot corner or any other position. Dean possesses a strong arm and makes crisp and accurate throws across the diamond. He played short stop in high school and is athletic enough to make most plays at third. Dean is a pretty big guy, 6' 3" and still growing, so speed is not really part of his game. He did not really get off to a great start in his professional career, but since he was held back in extended Spring Training, 49 games is not a large enough sample size to gather any long term conclusions.
13.) Franklin Barreto                                                                    C+
Barreto was the top player of on almost every clubs' board for the 2012 International Signing Period, and the Blue Jays were fortunate enough to be the winning bidder for his services. Barreto has put up monster numbers for every Venezuelan National Team in international competition since turning 10, and has one a slew of MVP awards for his performances. He hit two home runs off Team USA in the  16-U World Championship last year as well. Since he is so young, it is really hard to project what kind of player he might become, but with his short swing and quick hands some scouts predict that he could hit .300 in the big leagues. Barreto could pose as a future threat on the basepads as well, with speed being a plus-plus tool for him. He lead the world with 8 steals in as many attempts in international competition in 2011. Because of his small stature, Barreto does not really profile as a slugger. He has excellent bat speed that should allow him to get the most out of his body. I would not be surprised to see him hit 15 home runs annually. Defensively, second base and centerfield both appear to be good fits for Barreto in the long term.
14.) Santiago Nessy C                                                                 C+
As an amateur Nessy's defense was heavily scrutinized, but now their is now doubt that he will be able to remain behind the plate. He has a cannon from behind the plate, and he threw out a third of the runners who ran on him last year. His blocking and receiving skills have also improved since signing with Toronto. In addition, he is bilingual and communicates well with both American and Latino players. Offensively, I wouldn't expect Nessy to hit for a very high average. In split time between the Appalachian and the Northwest League he stuck out at a 30% clip and compiled just a .236 average between the two stops. However, Nessy has some intriguing power potential. He has very quick hands that translated into a .456 slugging percentage in his time with Bluefield. He also launched 8 homers in just 160 at bats. For me, Jarrod Saltalamacchia comes to mind as a comp for Nessy.

15.) Kevin Pillar OF                                                                 C+
In a year where a lot of Blue Jays prospects didn't put up numbers to match their prospect statuses, Kevin Pillar probably had the best year of any player on this list. Pillar doesn't exactly fit the ideal prospect mold, he is maxed out physically and already 23 and still in A ball. He flat out raked in 2012, hitting .323 between Lansing and Dunedin. He also stole 51 bags. Don't expect Pillar to put up those monster numbers as a big leaguer, but he could be a really good 4th outfielder or even a second division starter if everything breaks right. He is not a slugger, but both his hit and speed tools are above average and he has a great feel for the game that allows all of his tools to play up.


Next Five: Adonys Cardona RHP, Mitch Nay 3B, Deck McGuire 3B, Christian Lopes 2B, Anthony Alford OF

2013 Kansas City Royals Top 15 Pospects

                   

1.) Wil Myers OF                                                   A
With his combination of eye-popping numbers and elite prospect status, Myers earned my Minor League Player of the Years honors. Myers was drafted as a catcher in the third-round of 2009. He was considered a top-tier high school talent, but his sky high asking price forced him to slide out of the first round. Myers really burst on to the scene when he hit .313 in his debut season. After struggling in 2011, he altered his approach at the plate and put up monster numbers in his 2012 campaign. While he made a lot less contact (he fanned 140 times) he put up off the charts power numbers. As a 21 year old he posted a gaudy .316/.389/.602 with 37 home runs slash line between AA and AAA. When Myers made a cameo in Kansas City for the Sirius XM Futures Game, he was nearly ready for the show. But the Royals were far from contention, so they left him in the minors to demolish Pacific Coast League pitching. However, their is still no guarantee that Royals will break camp with the Myers in the starting line up. At least, not with the Royals. According to numerous sources, Myers is being actively shopped in exchange for a frontline starter. The Royals are in desperate need for pitching, so the Athletics, Rays, and Red Sox all represent possible fits. While Myers has not found a permanent home in the field, with the bat he is the best pure hitter in all of the minor leagues. His light-tower power and great eye-hand coordination make him a likely future 3-4 hitter in almost any big league line up.
2.) Kyle Zimmer RHP                                            B+
Zimmer came to San Francisco as a third baseman, where he played almost exclusively for the Dons in his freshman campaign. However he was converted to a pitcher in his sophomore season where he became a truly elite prospect. He still lay under the radar going into his Junior year, where a breakout season propelled him up draft boards and he was apparently even in the consideration to go 1-1 for the Astros. Zimmer is a tremendous athlete, has the stuff to be an ace, and considering his lack of experience, has pretty good command. He was paired with Mark Appel and Kevin Gausman to form the "Big Three" college arms in the 2012 draft. The Royals were ecstatic to land him at #5 where they finally got the elite pitcher that they had so long coveted in the draft. His stock took a hit after being drafted, where a physical revealed bone chips in his elbow. He made 9 starts before his surgery where he flashed a fastball that sits in the mid 90's and peaks at 98 mph. Zimmer also showed a curve and slider that have swing and miss potential. His change up needs the most work but has a lot of late movement.
3.) Derek "Bubba" Starling                                      B+
Bubba Starling is about as gifted of a natural athlete that you will ever find. At Gardner-Edgertown High he starred in baseball, basketball, football, and track. He was one the mostly highly touted college football prospects and the nation and he committed to play quarterback for Nebraska. The Royals drafted him out of their own back yard and gave him an offer he couldn't refuse. Starling never found his way onto campus, instead signing a $7.5 million bonus with Kansas City. The Royals pumped the breaks on his 2011 season-he didn't debut until the middle of 2012 in the short-season Appalachian League. He had mixed results in his first year. While he slugged at an impressive .485 clip, Starling fanned in close to 35% of his at bats. Starling is such a raw talent that he is the near definition of a high risk, high reward prospect. While he is still only 20, time is not exactly on his side because he is old for his draft class and has yet to play full-season ball. He is definitely a player who will need a lot of minor league reps to add polish before reaching the show. If he does not improve his mechanics and pitch recognition he is a player who could be in danger of flaming out before he reaches AA. Despite all of the red flags, Starling has five-tool potential that could make him a super star. If he reaches his ceiling he could steal 20-25 bags a year with the potential to hit 30 homers annually. Starling shows a lot more polish in the outfield as he possesses the speed and instincts to play center field at an elite level. Starling also has a rocket for an arm so he could be a fit in right too.
4.) Yordano Ventura RHP                                       B+
It seems like every organization has their own "Pedro". The Pedro Martinez comp is often given to every Latino pitcher with a small stature and an electric fastball. But in reality it is a terrible comparison, because how many Pedro's have we really scene in the last 15 years? In fact, according to baseball reference in the last 30 years their has not been a single starting pitcher under 6'0" and 175 lbs. to make over 100 appearances predominately as a stater. So where the odds appear to be stacked against the little guys, enter Yordano Ventura. The Dominican flamethrower is listed at just 5'11" and 140 lbs, and if there was ever a Pedro comparison that was justified, it would be with him. While he is slightly more than his listed weight, he is one of the smallest pitchers in professional baseball and he generates easy velocity that has been recorded as high 102 MPH. To go along with his triple-digit heat Ventura has a hammer curve and an effective change up offering. Ventura blew away hitters in the Carolina League before meriting a promotion to AA where he struggled to command his pitches in 6 outings. As a 22 year old next season, Ventura will likely return to AA to work on his location. Ventura's command will likely be the deciding factor on weather or not he will end up in the pen or not. Durability is not as much of a concern for him as it is with other undersized starters as he is usually able to maintain his velocity deep into games. If Ventura is able to stick as a starter, he has the ceiling of a top of the rotation starter.
5.) Jake Odorizzi RHP                                           B
Odorizzi does not have anything left to prove in the minors as he now mastered every level. The Illinois native began the season in AA but earned a promotion to Omaha early in the season. In 18 starts he posted a 2.93 ERA, which is especially impressive for the Pacific Coast League. He even earned a cup of coffee with the Royals in September.  Depending on the moves Dayton Moore makes this off season, Odorizzi  may get a chance to crack the rotation with the club out of Spring Training. If not he will wait for an opening in AAA. Odorozzi throws an average fastball that tops out at 94 with some movement, but he has a tendency to leave it up. His off speed pitches include a change up, curveball, and a slider that are all average to slightly above average. One red flag that stands out in his game is his increasing fly ball rates. If he continues to throw so many fastballs up in the zone, don't be shocked if a lot of his pitches leave the park-especially in his first few seasons. Odorozzi was the blue chip prospect in the Zack Grienke deal so the Royals are really counting on to fill a slot in their rotation for several years to come. He has the upside of a 3 starter, with a floor of being a back of the rotation guy if he allows too many home runs.
6.) Adalberto Mondesi                                            B
With Mondesi's bloodlines, tool set, and premium position if you were to tell me that he would rank among the top prospects in the game a few years down the road, I would be hardly surprised. However, Mondesi is so young that everything is mostly projection at this point. At age of just a high school sophomore Mondesi more than held his own in an advanced rookie league. As a 16 year old he hit .290 against pitchers more than 5 years his senior. If Mondesi continues to develop at a similar trajectory, his career path could be similar to that of Rangers' shortstop Jurickson Profar. Mondesi is a near lock to stay at shortstop. He has phenomenal range, good speed, and a solid arm to go along with strong instincts. Offensively the Royals hope that he could develop into the same kind of player as his father Raul Mondesi, the former NL Rookie of the Year. Mondesi isn't very tall, but if he fills out his wiry frame he should be bigger than his dad. When signed Mondesi didn't show much pop, but his bat speed is quicker than expected. According to Baseball America, one opposing coach said that "He might have the highest ceiling in the league because of his youth. This guy may show up in three years hitting 30 bombs in the big leagues." Mondesi also possesses plus speed and he managed to steel 11 bags in 13 attempts for Idaho Falls. Like most players his age he really needs to work on his plate discipline. Improving his ability to recognize pitches could be an invaluable skill for him and help him unlock some power.
7.) Jorge Bonifacio OF                                            B-
The polar opposite of his light-hitting brother, Emilio, Jorge is a pure-hitting outfielder who's true value lies in his bat. Bonifacio is not a speedster like his brother, but with his plus arm and the potential to hit for both power and average and should profile well as a right fielder. As a teenager in the Midwest League, Bonifacio performed well hitting .282. He has a lot of raw power, but he has not really tapped into it yet. Scouts have also been impressed with his approach and power will come if he continues to wait for his pitch to drive. Bonifacio has all the tools to become an offensive threat at the plate.
8.) Orlando Calixte SS                                            B-
As an elite defender at a premium position with solid pop, Calixte has a highly desirable profile. The Royals scouted Calixte from his boyhood and after handing him a seven-figure bonus, he is developing into exactly the kind of player they had wished for. Calixte's range at short really stands out and he possesses a pretty good arm there too. Calixte is far from a "glove only" prospect-he could easily develop into an above average hitter for both contact and power. Calixte hit 15 home runs in 2012 despite playing a good portion of his games at Wilmington's pitcher-friendly ball park. Calixte desperately needs to improve his eye at the plate and draw more walks. He should have a lot of time to figure things out as the Royal's appear to have the slick-fielding Alcides Escobar penciled in at short for the foreseeable future.
9.) Sam Selman LHP                                              B-
Injuries derailed Selman's  collegiate career at Vanderbelt, and even when he did manage to stay on the field his performance was inconsistent. Selman bounced around from the rotation to the pen but the Royals intend to let him start. Selman finally performed up to level that scouts had been expecting in his pro debut. Selman posted a ridiculous 13.28 K/9 rate and topped the circuit in almost every other major category. A second round pick in 2012, Selman's fastball opertates in the 91-95 range. Pioneer league batters struggled to make contact with his slider too, which is also an above average offering. Of all of his pitches his change up needs the most work. Selman could reach the majors quickly as a reliever, but he will probably require more development if he sticks in the rotation.
10.) Cheslor Cuthbert 3B                                        B-
After hitting well as the youngest player in the Midwest League, their was a lot of hype surrounding Cuthbert entering 2012. The bonus baby from Nicaragua signed for $1.35 million in 2009- shattering the record for his homeland. Cuthbert took a step back, at least offensively, in 2012. He his just .240 with out much power for Wilmington. However, keep in mind that he was facing pitching that is superior to that of which most prospects his age were seeing. Wilmington's home field isn't exactly a great environment to hit home runs in either. Cuthbert will probably take a second stab at High-A next year. It is certainly far too early to give up on Cuthbert. He drives pitches to all parts of the field and has plus raw power. There are some questions about his ability to remain at third though, as many scouts wonder if he has enough foot speed to remain at the hot corner. He is a very steady defender when balls are hit right at him, but he doesn't nearly have enough range to make some of the bigger plays. Worst case scenario would be that he would have to slide across the diamond to play first base.
11.) John Lamb LHP                                              B-
Lamb was ranked the top pitching prospect in the Royals loaded 2010 system, but injuries have slowed down his progress. Lamb was on the fast track to the majors in 2011 before a shoulder injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. The injury led to Tommy John surgery which sidelined him for nearly all of 2012. Lamb's stuff has not been as crisp and his velocity has been way down since his surgery, but people in the Royals organization seem to believe it will improve with more time away from the surgery. Prior to the injury Lamb was noted for having pinpoint command, a plus fastball, and an even better change up. He also mixes in an average to above average curveball. The southpaws frame is also ideal for a starting pitcher. If he is able to return to his form prior to the injury, he has the ceiling of a # 3 starter or better.
12.) Kyle Smith RHP                                              B-
Despite Smith's undersized frame, the Royals went over slot to sign him to highest bonus in the 4th round of 2012. Smith rewarded Kansas City with a season nothing short of dominant. Many scouts were impressed with his control but he also showed the potential to miss bats by averaging 12.19 K's per 9 innings. Smith's fastball is only average, it sits between 89-91 MPH, but his curve is his best offering and projects as a true out pitch for him. Smith's change up needs the most work as he struggled to command it at times during the season. Smith has plus athleticism which helps compensate for his lack of size. Because of his frame their will always be concerns about his durability, but if he remains a starting pitcher he could develop in a solid 3-4 starter for the Royals.
13.) Jason Adam LHP                                          B-              
Adam doesn't really generate enough punch outs  to profile as a frontline starter, but he has a good feel for pitching and could be a workhorse in the big leagues. Before signing,  Adam was noted as a guy who lit up radar guns with a high 90's fastball, but so far  in his professional career he has sat more in the 90-92 range. Recovering his velocity is key to Adam's success because his change up and curve are still developing. Despite his lack of flash Adam has been fairly successful so far. In a 158 innings of work for Wilmington, he recorded just a 3.53 ERA while allowing only 35 free passes. Adam should begin the year in AA next year and could be able to help the Royals rotation in the not so distant future.
14.) Christian Colon 2B                                      C+            
When the Royals took Colon with the 4th overall pick in 2011 after Bryce Harper, Jameson Taillon, and Manny Machado, he was considered a "safe pick" because his only plus tool was his bat. When Colon failed to hit well in 2012, he posted just a .257 average in AA, his prospect stock took a major hit. He also moved off short stop to second base. Despite his struggles, he was still ranked the #11 prospect in the Royals organization by Baseball America. After this season, Colon has failed to make the cut in many of the top prospects lists at all. This is puzzling to me because Colon actually hit a lot more than he did in 2011. He raised his average to .301 and slugged at a .413 clip. Reports also suggested that Colon was developing into a plus defender at his new position. Colon has great plate discipline and I could see him hitting in the #2 slot if he continues to get on base. By the end of 2013 he could be battling Johnny Giavotella for the starting spot in Kansas City.
15.) Elier Hernandez OF                                      C+        
Hernandez was considered the consensus top Latin American player in the 2012 class, and maybe the best hitting prospect from the Dominican Republic since Miguel Sano. He is a quick-twitch athlete with tremendous power projection. He looks the part getting of the bus too, his 6' 4" 210 Lb. frame is already major league ready. But all other aspects of Hernandez's game need serious work. He looked helpless in his major league debut in the Pioneer League. Despite his plus raw power, he did not connect for a single home run in 250 at bats. He did not make much contact either, and needs to work on his pitch recognition. However, Hernandez has one of the highest ceilings of any player in the Royals system. He was only 17 last year, as far as we know, and there is a lot of time for him to refine his approach and tap into his raw power.


Next 5: Bryan Brickhouse RHP, Cam Gallagher C, Mike Montgomery LHP, Pat Leonard 3B, JC Sulbaran RHP