Kansas Metropolis Royals High 10 Prospects for 2023 Fantasy Baseball

2022 wasn’t enjoyable within the standings for Kansas Metropolis followers, however within the lengthy arc of time, 2022 was an excellent yr for the group. MJ Melendez, Vinnie Pasquantino and Brady Singer all emerged as first-division starters. Melendez even appears like a useful defensive outfielder. Bobby Witt Jr. can be right here and good. Wants work on the method however who doesn’t. Each season brings them nearer to the post-Dozier period, which is just addition by subtraction as a result of the workforce insists he’s an on a regular basis participant. New Supervisor Matt Quataro figures to come back in like a form wind after years with Mike Matheny. Could be some playing-time surprises in our close to future. 

1. SS Maikel Garcia | 23 | MLB | 2022

Uncommon participant right here. Fantasy-friendly profile. Simple-plus protection. A number of paths to enjoying time. Favorable scouting reviews. Solely actual hiccup is the terrible residence park, however apart from that, I’m struggling to know the overall vibe of disinterest I really feel round Garcia within the echo chamber. In 40 video games at Triple-A, Garcia hit seven residence runs and stole 12 bases. You don’t should be watching Numberblocks on a regular basis to know that may be 28 residence runs and 48 stolen bases over 160 video games. The facility is new, however that’s typically the plan with skinny children with barrel really feel and strike-zone judgment. It’s all coming collectively completely on time for Garcia. 

2. OF Tyler Gentry | 24 | AA | 2023

Tyler Gentry is following the Vinnie-P path, decreasing his strikeouts whereas boosting his energy output. The teaching in Kansas Metropolis has confirmed itself adept at strike-zone administration, and the highest two on this listing are my subsequent two bets on that growth workforce. Gentry is 6’2” 210 lbs however stays fast sufficient to swipe some bases. He stole ten in 108 video games throughout two ranges final yr, slashing .326/.422/.542 with 16 residence runs, 66 strikeouts and 40 walks. 

3. OF Drew Waters | 24 | MLB | 2022

TLC is in my head about not chasing this man if he falls in drafts, however that’ll be simpler mentioned than executed in our difficult outfield panorama. The 6’2” 185 lb switch-hitter was blocked on an Atlanta squad that’s shifting too quick for a high-strikeout slow-burn developer, however he ought to get 500 or extra plate appearances on a Kansas Metropolis workforce on the lookout for a found-money spark. He smelled the chance and performed effectively for the Royals, slashing .240/.324/.479 with 5 residence runs (125 wRC+) in 32 main league video games after posting a 149 wRC+ in 31 Triple-A video games with KC. The strikeouts are scary, however Waters posted 17 residence runs and 18 stolen bases in 122 video games throughout two ranges final yr. You may not get a lot else, however the hope is you’ll get energy, pace and enjoying time for a number of seasons. 

4. OF Gavin Cross | 22 | A | 2024

The membership’s first choose this summer time at ninth general, Cross options plus energy and an above common hit instrument at 6’3” 210 lbs from the left aspect. He set to work instantly as an expert, slashing .293/.423/.596 with seven residence runs in 26 video games at Low-A. Nice match between participant and org given his superior method and near-term alternatives within the lineup. 

5. 2B Lizandro Rodriguez | 20 | A | 2026

Swing will get a bit slashy at occasions, however that’s partly as a result of Rodriguez lets pitches get deep earlier than he fires off a swing. When he triggers early, he can deliver the thunder, as evidenced by his .573 slugging share in 25 complicated league video games. The numbers help this one, particularly the easy-plus plate abilities he’s placed on paper throughout three ranges, however I ought to say that is largely an eyeballs take by me. I haven’t seen Rodriguez talked about a lot elsewhere. He’s a 5’11” 180 lb swap hitter who appears dynamic from either side of the plate, dynamic on the bases, dynamic within the discipline. Get him the place you possibly can match him. We’re early now, however I’ve been seeing these reads get outdated early for a pair years now. Individuals have requested me a number of occasions for my subsequent Vaughn Grissom kind lede, and I’ve been saying Matt Mervis since that began. That window’s closing. Grissom window is likely to be sliding open once more. Rodriguez is likely to be a number of years away, however he’s on this bucket for me the place I couldn’t discover a lot validation for my early ideas on the participant for some time earlier than immediately I used to be swimming in it. 

6. 3B Cayden Wallace | 21 | A | 2026

Seems like a Nascar driver to me. Born right into a household of ballplayers, Wallace was chosen forty ninth general within the 2022 draft and hit effectively in Low-A, slashing .294/.369/.468 with an 18 % strikeout fee and eight stolen bases in 27 video games. He solely acquired caught as soon as. Velocity isn’t the calling card, nevertheless it’s good to see him put it to use in-game at 6’1” 205 lbs. Plus hit with above common energy and an excellent method will carry Wallace by means of the degrees. 

7. OF IF Nate Eaton | 26 | MLB | 2022

Quataro coming from the Rays, I’m desperate to see how he sees Nate Eaton: a Jack of all trades with an 80-grade arm. My principle is that he’ll play greater than Nicky Lopez this yr, so huge wow to that, I suppose, however Eaton does have slightly little bit of energy and loads of pace. He hit 15 residence runs and stole 34 bases in 135 video games throughout three ranges. I’m not saying we should always all be in on this man. I simply assume he’s too attention-grabbing to disregard. 

8. 2B Samad Taylor | 24 | AAA | 2023

In 157 video games throughout Double and Triple A the previous two seasons, Samad Taylor has hit 25 residence runs and stolen 53 bases. He’s in all probability not that kind of participant within the majors, after all, nevertheless it’s a enjoyable have a look at the flashes Taylor can present on a day-to-day foundation. On the one hand, it’s good he acquired out of Toronto as a result of he wasn’t going to play there. On the opposite, he’ll play in a park that’s in all probability too huge for him, assuming he can crack the lineup in some unspecified time in the future. 

9. OF Junior Marin | 19 | CPX | 2027

Marin was a scorching identify about this time final yr on the energy of a loud DSL season and a few scouts-eyes stuff that talked about him right here and there. He struck out 17.1 % of the time over that dominant DSL stretch however scuffled early in complicated ball this yr and wound up with a 30.1 % strikeout fee. He acquired higher over the 30-game pattern and posted a 120 wRC+ regardless of the whiffs. This hitting growth workforce has confirmed a knack for serving to hitters handle the strike zone, so I’m optimistic on Marin. 

10. SS Nick Loftin | 24 | AAA | 2024

I wished to place Dairon Blanco right here, however I’ve acquired sufficient skepticism about how the membership sees him that I’ll go together with Loftin, a strong pace prospect in his personal proper. A flexible defender at 6’1” 190 lbs, Loftin ought to be capable of slide round any form of enjoying time blocks in his path if he’s hitting the ball laborious sufficient. He hit 17 residence runs and stole 29 bases in 128 video games throughout two ranges final yr, however he was a lot much less productive at Triple-A (69 wRC+) than he was at Double-A (100 wRC+). Different names I thought of right here: OF Diego Hernandez, C Carter Jensen, OF Darryl Collins and LHPs Asa Lacy and Frank Mozzicato. May actually assist them to have some new voices within the group. 

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