2020 Prospect Depth Chart: Kansas City Royals

It was a really, really interesting year for the Royals system, and I mean that in both a good way and a bad way, but mostly a good way. First off, four different affiliates won their league championships in the Dominican Summer League (complex), the Pioneer League (rookie), the South Atlantic League (Class A), and the Carolina League (High A), so that's great for them. Second off, they had five of the first 58 picks in the 2018 draft, spent all five on pitchers, and all five broke out for exceptional seasons as Brady Singer and Jackson Kowar reached AA and Daniel Lynch, Kris Bubic, and Jonathan Bowlan reached High A, and fifth rounder Austin Cox and sixth rounder Zach Haake even got in on the fun with highly successful seasons of their own. Just the top of that 2018 draft alone leaves this system in a much better spot than it was a year ago and certainly two years ago, as they now have a legitimate handful of impact starting pitching options.

On the flip side, the hitters had a really weird year. Save for Brewer Hicklen, it seems like hitting prospect who touched High A Wilmington just absolutely sucked. I don't think Nick Pratto (.191/.278/.310), MJ Melendez (.163/.260/.311), and Seuly Matias (.148/.259/.307) could have possibly hit any worse, and the injury-slowed Kyle Isbel (.216/.282/.361) and Michael Gigliotti (.184/.268/.230)  didn't fair much better in their brief time there while Marten Gasparini (.122/.140/.163) retired 16 games in. I mean, I have no idea what happened down there, but what an absolute disaster. Wilmington struggles aside, when it comes to position players, the strength of this system is definitely speed, as Nick Heath and Khalil Lee finished first and second in the minors with 60 and 53 stolen bases, respectively, while Hicklen added 39 and Gigliotti tacked on 36.

Affiliates: AAA Omaha Storm Chasers, AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals, High A Wilmington Blue Rocks, Class A Lexington Legends, rookie level Idaho Falls Chukars and Burlington Royals, complex level AZL and DSL Royals

Catcher
- Nick Dini (2020 Age: 26-27): Dini was a 14th round pick out of Wagner College back in 2015, and he's hit everywhere he's gone even if he was really only there for his defense. In 2019, he slashed .296/.370/.565 with 13 home runs and a 29/21 strikeout to walk ratio over 58 games at AAA Omaha, then hit .196/.270/.357 with two home runs in a 20 game call-up to the majors. That major league line probably accurately represents his talent level, as he can make consistent contact but overall doesn't hit for much impact. The Royals are probably pretty set behind the plate with Perez, Meibrys Viloria, and Cam Gallagher, but if somebody gets hurt, Dini should get the call considering the Royals don't have much else going on in terms of upper minors catching.
- MJ Melendez (2020 Age: 21): Melendez was the Royals' second round pick out of a South Florida high school in 2017, then after he improved his stock by slashing .251/.322/.492 with 19 home runs in his first full season in 2018, he slumped hard in 2019 and hit just .163/.260/.311 with nine home runs and a 165/44 strikeout to walk ratio over 110 games at High A Wilmington. Wilmington's pitcher-friendly confines completely swallowed up his power (.133/.248/.243 at home), but he still hit just .189/.271/.374 on the road as Carolina League pitchers continuously exploited the holes in his left handed swing. Melendez draws his fair share of walks and creates good power from his whippy swing, giving him the offensive tools needed for the majors, but he just hasn't figured out higher level pitching yet and will need significant work with his approach. He's turned himself into an excellent defender, so there's just about as little pressure on the bat as their could be and since he's set to play all of 2020 at 21 years old, he still factors in as the Royals' potential heir to Salvador Perez.
- Keep an eye on: Freddy Fermin, Omar Hernandez, Guillermo Quintana

Corner Infield
- Kelvin Gutierrez (2020 Age: 25): The Royals acquired Gutierrez from the Nationals in the Kelvin Herrera trade in 2018, primarily for his glove. In 2019, he slashed .287/.367/.427 with nine home runs, 12 stolen bases, and a 71/35 strikeout to walk ratio over 75 games at AAA Omaha, mixing in some big league playing time and slashing .260/.304/.356 with one home run in 20 games for the Royals. As with Nick Dini, that big league slash line is about an accurate portrayal of his bat, as he can make consistent hard contact but doesn't get the ball off the ground enough to tap into the power in his 6'3" frame. Joining the fly ball revolution could be beneficial for him, but the real value is in his glove, as he's a plus defender at third base. If he can indeed add power by lifting the ball more, the Royals aren't too deep at the corners at the major league level and he could crack the starting lineup at some point in 2020.
- Emmanuel Rivera (2020 Age: 23-24): Rivera is a pretty similar player to Gutierrez, just a year or so behind. In 2019, he slashed .258/.297/.345 with seven home runs and a 77/25 strikeout to walk ratio over 131 games at AA Northwest Arkansas, continuing the trend of his bat losing impact as he's faced better and better pitching up the minor league rungs. He has a bit less raw pop than Gutierrez, and while he's gotten better about about getting off the ground with his launch angle, it hasn't really helped him tap it and he probably doesn't profile for more than ten or so home runs annually at the major league level. He's an aggressive hitter but that doesn't hamper his contact ability, as he makes consistent contact and is tough to strike out. With his good defense at third base, he has a good chance to work his way onto the roster as a bench bat, but he's unlikely to profile as more.
- Nick Pratto (2020 Age: 21): Pratto was drafted in the middle of the first round out of a Southern California high school in 2017, and he and second rounder MJ Melendez have pretty much followed each other step for step. Like Melendez, Pratto hit well at Class A in his first full season (.280/.343/.443, 14 HR), then like Melendez, he slumped hard in High A in 2019. While Melendez hit .163/.260/.311, Pratto was just a hair better at .191/.278/.310 with nine home runs, 17 stolen bases, and a 164/49 strikeout to walk ratio over 124 games for Wilmington. Fortunately, he did pick it up a bit by slashing .218/.295/.401 in the second half, still not what you want to see but at least better. Pratto was drafted on the basis of his advanced hitting ability, but the strike zone management has not been nearly as good as advertised in pro ball and while that didn't hurt him too much in Class A, it really caught up to him in High A. When drafted, he looked like a 15-25 homer bat who could post high on-base percentages, and he'll need to do significant work to get close to that. Like Melendez, he'll play all of 2020 at 21 years old, but there is more pressure on his bat given that he plays first base. On the bright side, he's a very good defender there, so he still provides positive value in the field despite playing a less important position.
- Keep an eye on: Humberto Arteaga, D.J. Burt, Vinnie Pasquantino

Middle Infield
- Gabriel Cancel (2020 Age: 23): Cancel has moved slowly through the minors, one level at a time, and he slashed .246/.308/.427 with 18 home runs, 15 stolen bases, and a 144/34 strikeout to walk ratio over 123 games at AA Northwest Arkansas. He has an explosive right handed swing that's enabled him to hit for solid average power in the minors, and he's also put up three straight seasons with at least 30 doubles. However, the one thing holding him back offensively is his strike zone judgement, as he hasn't been able to make consistent enough to really drive the ball out of the park as often as he'd like. With fringy defense that will probably land him at second or third base, he has to tap that power, but it's also the only thing holding him back from being a very useful bench bat at the major league level. The Royals are not very deep, so he does have a good chance to hit his way onto the team in 2020.
- Bobby Witt Jr. (2020 Age: 19-20): Witt was the consensus best high school prospect available in the 2019 draft, and the Royals picked him second overall out of his Dallas-Fort Worth-area high school and signed him for almost $7.8 million. His pro debut was unremarkable, as he slashed .262/.317/.354 with a home run, nine stolen bases, and a 35/13 strikeout to walk ratio over 37 games in the complex level Arizona League, but there is no denying his talent. He generates a ton of power from the right side with an all-out swing, and while that led to some swing and miss earlier in his high school career, he improved in that regard in his senior season and should have no issues tapping his power in pro ball. Defensively, he's very good at shortstop and should only get better, giving him the chance to be an impact player on both sides of the ball with a ceiling of 25-30 home runs and good on-base percentages. Of course, like any high school prospect, he has a lot of work to do to get there, and there's always the risk that the hit tool doesn't play up. With an athlete like Witt, though, you'd be smart to bet on the ceiling and not on the floor.
- Brady McConnell (2020 Age: 21-22): McConnell was a potential day one pick coming out of a Florida high school in 2017, but he instead opted to attend Florida then barely played as a true freshman in 2018 behind eventual Dodgers tenth round pick Deacon Liput. He then broke out in a huge way as a draft eligible sophomore in 2019, riding that to a second round selection by the Royals and slashing .213/.288/.400 with five home runs and a 68/15 strikeout to walk ratio over 40 games between the complex level Arizona League and rookie level Idaho Falls (though all but two games were at the higher level). Those numbers from his debut were about what was expected given his profile. He finds the barrel very easily and produces good power from the right side, but he's also a very aggressive hitter that loves to take healthy, aggressive hacks at the plate. That helps him make a lot of hard contact from the right side, but it also leads to a fair amount of swing and miss and not a lot of walks. It's kind of a boom/bust profile, as he could produce 20-25 home runs per season with decent on-base percentages if it works out, but he also has more bust risk than the typical college draftee in the second round. He probably won't stick at shortstop, especially with Bobby Witt in the same draft class, so but he could be a solid second or third baseman.
- Michael Massey (2020 Age: 22): Massey was the Royals' fourth round pick out of Illinois in 2019, and while he lacks the ceiling of the Royals' earlier picks in that draft, he also has a higher floor. He was exceptionally steady over three years in Urbana-Champaign, then hit .272/.339/.399 with five home runs and a 28/13 strikeout to walk ratio over 42 games at rookie level Burlington in his pro debut in 2019. Despite popping for five home runs and seven doubles in the Appalachian League this year, Massey is more of a contact hitter who relies on great bat to ball skills and strike zone management rather than trying to smoke the ball. He's also a grinder who plays the game hard, and that should make him a competent defender at shortstop and a good one at second base, adding to his profile as a future utility infielder. There's little question he'll be able to handle higher level pitching, so really the only thing between him and that utility future is proving he can continue to hit for some impact against that higher level pitching.
- Keep an eye on: Erick Mejia, Kevin Merrell, Clay Dungan, Herard Gonzalez, Wilmin Candelario

Outfield
- Khalil Lee (2020 Age: 21-22): Lee was a talented two-way player out of a Northern Virginia high school in 2016, but the Royals picked him up in the third round on the basis of his upside at the plate and so far, it looks like they've been right to do so. In 2019, he slashed .264/.363/.372 with eight home runs, 53 stolen bases, and a 154/65 strikeout to walk ratio over 129 games at AA Northwest Arkansas, numbers which become more impressive when you consider he only turned 21 halfway through the season. Despite standing just 5'10", he stands out for his physical tools, generating a lot of power from an explosive left handed swing, then deploying his speed well both on the bases and in center field. In fact, his 53 stolen bases in 2019 were enough to finish second in all of Minor League Baseball behind, ironically enough, his teammate Nick Heath. Plus, as you'd imagine for a kid who was almost drafted as a pitcher, he has one of the better arms in the organization. Contact has been a bit of an issue, but he's been young for the levels he's played at and the swing and miss hasn't been completely out of control, so I wouldn't be overly worried and I'd focus more on the fact that he was able to walk in 11.9% of his plate appearances in AA this year. Lee obviously still has work to do to get over the hump of upper-level pitching, but he won't turn 22 until June and he's already well on his way to doing so. Eventually, he could hit up to 20-25 home runs per season with solid on-base percentages, some stolen bases, and good defense, giving him one of the higher ceilings in the organization and a good shot to get there.
- Nick Heath (2020 Age: 26): There aren't many Kansas natives in the majors, with perhaps the most notable being Blake Treinen of Osage City, but Nick Heath of Junction City brings the Royals one of their own. Drafted in the 16th round as a senior sign out of Louisiana's Northwestern State in 2016, Heath has ran his way, quite literally, up the Royals' minor league rungs. In 2019, he slashed .255/.345/.387 with eight home runs and a 143/56 strikeout to walk ratio over 105 games at AA Northwest Arkansas and AAA Omaha, and his 60 stolen bases meant he led all of the minors, even his teammate Khalil Lee. While his eight home runs were by far a career high after he began to lift the ball just a bit more, Heath isn't a power hitter and profiles more like Willie Mays Hayes from the movie Major League. He (obviously) has exceptional speed, and his quick swing from the left side helps him spray line drives around and get the most out of that speed, both on the bases and in the outfield. He profiles best as a fourth outfielder in the Jarrod Dyson mold, though he is a bit bigger and might hit for a touch more power.
- Brewer Hicklen (2020 Age: 24): A seventh round pick out of Alabama-Birmingham in 2017, Hicklen has hit everywhere he's gone, and in 2019 he slashed .263/.363/.427 with 14 home runs, 39 stolen bases, and a 140/55 strikeout to walk ratio over 125 games at High A Wilmington, a notorious pitchers' park. He's got some pop in his right handed swing, deriving from his strong 6'2" frame, and he's one of the best runners in a system that has quite a few of them, having stolen 35 and 39 bases over the last two seasons. He does have some swing and miss concerns, and combined with good-not-great power and decent outfield defense, that probably relegates him to more of a fourth outfielder role, but his ability to make things happen on the baseball field makes him a relatively exciting prospect. As a fun fact, only five of his 14 home runs came at home, but all five of those came in one exceptional August series against the Salem Red Sox in which he went 9-13 with five homers, a double, seven RBI, a pair of walks, and nine runs scored in four games – Hicklen hit just .199/.326/.271 in all other home games.
- Kyle Isbel (2020 Age: 23): Isbel is a perfect case study for just how annoying lingering wrist issues can be. After being drafted in the third round out of UNLV in 2018, he slashed .326/.389/.504 in his pro debut, then was slashing .348/.423/.630 with a pair of home runs and an 8/4 strikeout to walk ratio over 13 games at High A Wilmington in 2019 before going down with a wrist injury. When he returned, he was far from the same player, hitting just .176/.236/.277 with three home runs and a 36/11 strikeout to walk ratio over 39 games for Wilmington the rest of the way. When healthy, Isbel stands out for his ability to simply hit the ball hard to all fields as well as anyone in the system. That gives him close to average power, and he seems like the kind of guy who could benefit from the juiced balls at AAA and the major league level and hit 15-20 a year up there. The bulk of his value, though, will come from the ability to drive lots of balls into the gaps and let his good speed do the rest.
- Michael Gigliotti (2020 Age: 24): Gigliotti, a fourth round pick out of Lipscomb University in 2017, has always been talented but has struggled to stay on the field. He slashed .320/.420/.456 in his pro debut but an ACL tear ended his 2018 season six games in, then missed a month of games in 2019 with undisclosed injuries. Still, when he was on the field in 2019, he slashed .282/.369/.368 with one home run, 36 stolen bases, and a 75/38 strikeout to walk ratio over 87 games at Class A Lexington, High A Wilmington, and complex level rehab, and it seems like all he really needs is just consistent time on the field. He has wiry strength in his 6'1" frame, but to this point that hasn't manifested into any power in pro ball, which is fine because he makes a lot of hard line drive contact and manages the strike zone well for someone who keeps getting interrupted by injuries. His legs also showed no signs of injury lag after that ACL tear, as he stole 36 bases in just 87 games, and he covers a lot of ground in center field. He turns 24 at the start of the season and has yet to get any consistent playing time above Class A, so he's well behind in his development, but I still think a healthy Gigliotti could do some special things on the field.
- Erick Pena (2020 Age: 17): Pena hasn't played professionally yet, but after getting $4 million to sign out of the Dominican Republic in 2019, he immediately becomes one of the top outfield prospects in the system. Pena has a ton of wiry strength in his 6'3" frame, and his explosive left handed swing helps him generate a lot of power for a 16 year old kid, which he has gotten to consistently as an amateur. There's a lot going on in that swing, so the Royals will probably need to quiet down his hands a bit to help him catch up to pro pitching, but with his solid plate discipline and feel for the barrel, making those adjustments shouldn't be too much of an issue. He has a tremendous ceiling, but of course as a kid born in 2003, he also comes with a very low floor, so we'll just have to wait and see.
- Keep an eye on: Blake Perkins, Seuly Matias, John Rave, Darryl Collins

Starting Pitching
- Brady Singer (2020 Age: 23-24): Singer had a shot to go first overall out of Florida in 2018, but a combination of a slightly bumpy junior season and high bonus demands dropped him to 18th overall, where the Royals were ecstatic to land him. He was held out of action after a long college season, then skipped completely over rookie ball and Class A for his pro debut and first full season in 2019. Between High A Wilmington and AA Northwest Arkansas, Singer had no problems with the jump in competition and posted a 2.85 ERA, a 1.19 WHIP, and a 138/39 strikeout to walk ratio over 148.1 innings. Standing 6'5", he's your prototypical pitching prospect with a low to mid 90's fastball, a short but sharp slider that misses lots of bats, and a decent changeup, all of which he commands pretty well most of the time. Singer isn't the most consistent pitcher, as he can loose feel for his stuff and his command can waver at times, but he's usually on top of his game and when he is, he looks like an ace. The Royals will hope a bit more pro refinement will help him stay there, and he has the potential to be a top of the rotation starter if he gets more consistent.
- Jackson Kowar (2020 Age: 23): Kowar was Singer's rotation-mate at Florida, and since being a compensation pick in 2018, he was Singer's rotation-mate at both High A Wilmington and AA Northwest Arkansas. In 2019, he had a 3.52 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and a 144/43 strikeout to walk ratio over 148.1 innings between the two levels, showing more consistency but a bit less ceiling. Like Singer, Kowar stands 6'5" and sits in the low to mid 90's with his fastball, but while Singer's slider is his main weapon, Kowar gets outs with his downer changeup. He also adds a curveball that looked a bit soft in college, but he's added power while maintaining its shape in pro ball and it now projects as an average or slightly better pitch. With decent but consistent command, he projects favorably as a #3 starter in the near future.
- Daniel Lynch (2020 Age: 23): One pick after Kowar, the Royals grabbed UVA lefty Daniel Lynch, who took off in his junior season when he finally figured out who he was as a pitcher. That success has carried over into pro ball, and in 2019 he had a 2.99 ERA, a 1.29 WHIP, and a 96/29 strikeout to walk ratio over 96.1 innings between the complex level Arizona League, rookie level Burlington, and High A Wilmington, where he spent most of his time. He's a bit different from Singer and Kowar not only because he's left handed and didn't go to Florida, but because he finds success more by mixing pitches than by having one true out pitch. Like Singer and Kowar, he's tall at 6'6", and he sits in the low to mid 90's with his fastball, then he adds three solid offspeeds in a slider, a curve, and a changeup, all of which can flash above average or plus at times. He also throws strikes with all of his offerings and mixes his pitches very well, and that high baseball IQ should help him tackle higher level hitters and perhaps major leaguers in 2020. Like Kowar, he projects as a mid-rotation starter.
- Kris Bubic (2020 Age: 22): Six picks after taking Lynch, the Royals dipped into the college starter pool yet again and grabbed Bubic out of Stanford in the competitive balance round. He's a 6'3" lefty that's more about deception than anything else, and in 2019 he posted a 2.23 ERA, a 0.97 WHIP, and a 185/42 strikeout to walk ratio over 149.1 innings at Class A Lexington and High A Wilmington, the 185 strikeouts leading all of Minor League Baseball. He only sits in the low 90's and adds a decent curveball that he's improved the consistency of, but the reason he racked up so many strikeouts was his excellent fading changeup that rivals Kowar's for the best in the system. He's usually pretty good about throwing strikes, and he makes his pitches play up with a funky delivery that has a lot of moving parts and makes it hard to pick up the baseball. He doesn't have the highest ceiling in the system, but his successful 2019 means he has a good shot at becoming a #3 or a #4 starter.
- Jonathan Bowlan (2020 Age: 23): Yep, another arm from the 2018 draft. After selecting Singer 18th overall, Kowar 33rd, Lynch 34th, and Bubic 40th, they hopped on Memphis righty Jonathan Bowlan in the second round, 58th overall, and he's yet another arm that exceeded expectations in 2019. This year, he had a 3.14 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, and a 150/23 strikeout to walk ratio over 146 innings at Class A Lexington and High A Wilmington as both his slider and his strike throwing ability took a step forward. He's a really big guy at a listed 6'6" and 260 pounds, and that helps him get good angle on his pitches, most notably a low to mid 90's fastball and a good slider. He still needs to work on his changeup, but with the ability to throw consistent strikes, he's pretty close to a complete pitcher and is well on his way to being a #4 starter with the potential to be more.
- Austin Cox (2020 Age: 23): The Royals finally took a break after Bowlan, selecting college position players Kyle Isbel and Eric Cole with their next two picks, but they returned to the mound in the fifth round in 2018 and took Austin Cox out of Mercer. Like the five pitchers before him, he too had a successful first full season, posting a 2.76 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and a 129/38 strikeout to walk ratio over 130.2 innings at Class A Lexington and High A Wilmington. Here, the difference was the command, as he struggled to repeat his delivery and find the strike zone consistently at Mercer, but the Royals smoothed him out and it did wonders for his command. That helps his four pitch arsenal, led by a low 90's fastball and a hard biting curveball, play up, which was a complete shift from how it played down in college. He's still probably a bit behind the other guys in terms of his overall projection, but the fifth round lefty has given himself a favorable outlook as a #4 or a #5 starter with more possible.
- Alec Marsh (2020 Age: 21-22): Unlike 2018, the Royals began their 2019 draft with back to back shortstops, but they spent their competitive balance pick on Arizona State starter Alec Marsh. Marsh went and had a very successful debut in the hitter-friendly Pioneer League, posting a 4.05 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, and a 38/4 strikeout to walk ratio over 33.1 innings at rookie level Idaho Falls. He stands out more for his total package than for any one flashy attribute, as he sits in the low 90's with his fastball and adds two nice breaking balls and a changeup. His command was pretty good in college but he really locked down the strike zone in his pro debut in 2019, and if he can maintain that sharp command, he should be able to work his way up as a #4 starter. Given the success of the Royals' 2018 draft picks, I wouldn't be surprised if he broke out and ended up as a mid-rotation guy.
- Grant Gambrell (2020 Age: 22): I wasn't a big fan of the Royals taking Gambrell in the third round out of Oregon State in 2019, and his 6.67 ERA, 1.93 WHIP, and 28/11 strikeout to walk ratio over 27 innings at rookie level Idaho Falls in his pro debut don't help, but I wouldn't bet against any college pitchers in this system. Gambrell flashes great stuff, but he hasn't been even remotely consistent, so he'll be a project for the Royals. At his best, he has a low to mid 90's fastball, a slider with good hard break, and a solid changeup, but he tends to lose feel for his pitches and his command comes and goes. He's got the ceiling to match most other arms in this system, but I'll be really interesting to see how if the Royals can get him to where he needs to be.
- Noah Murdock (2020 Age: 21): The Royals knew they were getting a project when they drafted Murdock in the seventh round out of UVA in 2019, as he posted a 6.30 ERA as a junior because his mechanics had a tendency of falling apart. The Royals were able to iron out similar issues for Austin Cox, and so far, it's looking up for Murdock as he posted a 2.17 ERA, a 1.23 WHIP, and a 43/11 strikeout to walk ratio over 37.1 innings for rookie level Burlington. He's a string bean at 6'8", but when he keeps his mechanics in line, he can get really good angle on his low 90's fastball and his inconsistent breaking ball, and that makes both pitches play up. Murdock has an extremely high ceiling for an seventh round college pick, but he's in the right system and could be well on his way a year from now so long as he stays healthy.
- Yohanse Morel (2020 Age: 19): The Royals have a few enigmatic young pitchers down in Class A in Carlos Hernandez, Evan Steele, Yefri Del Rosario, and Yohanse Morel, but as the youngest of the group, Morel will earn the writeup. Acquired from the Nationals in the Kelvin Herrera trade in 2018 just one game into his pro career, the Royals skipped Morel up to Class A Lexington in 2019 and he had a 6.02 ERA, a 1.62 WHIP, and a 57/21 strikeout to walk ratio over 52.1 innings. Those weren't the flashiest numbers, but for an 18 year old with just 47 innings of pro experience coming into the season, it wasn't half bad. He has an easy delivery and an extremely quick arm that helps him hurl low to mid 90's fastballs, solid sliders, and often plus, fading changeups. He's still learning to reign all that in, as he can lose his arm slot and therefore the zone, and he also needs to learn to sequence his pitches better, but the stuff is there for him to be an impact starting pitcher down the road. He's young enough that he should have plenty of time to learn himself as a pitcher, and his upside is tremendous.
- Keep an eye on: Rito Lugo, Daniel Tillo, Carlos Hernandez, Evan Steele, Charlie Neuweiler, Yefri Del Rosario

Relief Pitching
- Josh Staumont (2020 Age: 26): It feels like prospect evaluators have been writing about Staumont's electric arm for all of eternity, though in reality he was drafted out of Azusa Pacific in the second round in 2015. He somehow managed to walk 201 batters in 248 innings between 2016 and 2017, so the Royals finally bumped him to the bullpen in 2018 and the results have been decent. In 2019, Staumont had a 3.16 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP, and a 74/37 strikeout to walk ratio over 51.1 innings at AAA Omaha, then posted a 3.72 ERA and a 15/10 strikeout to walk ratio over 19.1 major league innings. His fastball easily sits in the upper 90's and his hammer curveball can be equally devastating, and while he's improved his command over the last couple of seasons, he still struggles to locate those pitches where he wants them. The stuff is so good that he doesn't even need average command to succeed as a major league reliever, but he does need to at least get the ball in the general area of where the catcher is setting up or else he won't last very long. In 2020, I guess we'll see.
- Zach Haake (2020 Age: 23): Drafted in the sixth round in 2018 out of Kentucky, Haake had a good first full season like all of his counterparts in that draft, but it wasn't quite as good and combined with his profile, it probably makes him a reliever long term. Haake struggled mightily for the Wildcats in 2018 to the tune of an 8.47 ERA, but he turned it around really nicely in pro ball with a 1.76 ERA in his pro debut then in 2019 with a 2.70 ERA, a 1.26 WHIP, and a 94/39 strikeout to walk ratio over 80 innings, mostly at Class A Lexington. Haake has great stuff, highlighted by a mid 90's fastball, a very inconsistent slider that can look great at times, and a changeup that has come along nicely in pro ball, though command and overall inconsistency have held him back. The Royals ironed him out and got him at least throwing strikes in the South Atlantic League, though there's still work to do there with the overall command and his secondary pitches are still very inconsistent. Given the depth of starting pitching talent in this system, he's probably a reliever long term, but the Royals will give him more opportunities to start and break through.
- Drew Parrish (2020 Age: 22): Parrish was an eighth rounder out of Florida State in 2019, and though he followed a dominant sophomore season with an up and down junior year in Tallahassee, he turned it around nicely in his pro debut with a 2.52 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, and a 39/4 strikeout to walk ratio over 25 innings at rookie level Burlington. Parrish stands just 5'11" and sits in the upper 80's with his fastball, adding a great tumbling changeup and a decent breaking ball. The lefty commands everything very well, but the stuff is probably just a bit light to start unless he takes a step forward with his velocity. Kris Bubic did have a similar profile coming out of Stanford a year prior, if with marginally better stuff and marginally less command, and he's pitched extremely well in this system, so there's certainly hope for Parrish as a starter. Still, I think his most likely destination is the bullpen, where he could really pitch off his changeup and perhaps add a tick of velocity to get up into the low 90's.
- Keep an eye on: Conner Greene, Tyler Zuber, Josh Dye, Austin Lambright, Dante Biasi

Reviewing the Kansas City Royals Farm System

Consecutive runs to the 2014 and 2015 World Series, including the big win the second time around, left the farm system completely barren, which is absolutely a tradeoff worth making. In fact, they have actually gotten the farm system back into respectable shape surprisingly quickly, and while at this point I would hesitate to call it anything better than that, "respectable," they deserve credit. The groups of pitchers and hitters are pretty different, with most hitters looking like the toolsy high ceiling/low floor types and most of the pitchers looking like safe bet, low ceiling types. After missing badly on four straight top ten picks in Christian Colon (4th overall, 2010), Bubba Starling (5th overall, 2011), Kyle Zimmer (5th overall, 2012), and Hunter Dozier (8th overall, 2013), in addition to Ashe Russell (21st overall in 2015), the Royals have righted the ship over the last two seasons with eight of their top ten prospects (per MLB.com) having been drafted in the top four rounds of the last two drafts.

Affiliates: AAA Omaha Storm Chasers, AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals, High A Wilmington Blue Rocks, Class A Lexington Legends, Rookie level Idaho Falls Chukars, Rookie level Burlington Royals, complex level AZL/DSL Royals

Pitchers from the 2018 Draft: RHP Brady Singer, RHP Jackson Kowar, LHP Daniel Lynch, LHP Kris Bubic, RHP Jonathan Bowlan, and LHP Austin Cox
The Royals farm system took a step forward when they added a few impact bats in the 2017 draft, but the farm system really took a huge step forward with the 2018 draft as they loaded up on college arms and all have either held their stock or moved forwards. We'll start with 22 year old first round pick (18th overall) Brady Singer, a 6'5" right hander who is the prototypical high upside college pitching prospect. He had a chance to go first overall but slid during a moderately inconsistent junior season at Florida, though he still finished with a 2.55 ERA and a 114/22 strikeout to walk ratio, mostly against tough SEC lineups. He throws a running low to mid 90's fastball with a great slider, and while his command isn't pinpoint, it's pretty good and will allow him time to develop his changeup, which is coming along rapidly. Though his mechanics can get out of sync at times, he has a loose arm and is said to be a hard worker and an even tougher competitor, both of which bode well for his development into a potential #1 or #2 starter. He did not pitch in pro baseball this year, but should move quickly upon making his minor league debut in 2019. Right behind Singer in the draft was fellow Florida Gator and 22 year old Jackson Kowar, who the Royals took in the compensation round with the 33rd overall pick. They dropped him straight into Class A Lexington, where he dominated with a 2.48 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, and a 32/13 strikeout to walk ratio over 36.1 innings, including the postseason. Like Singer, he's a 6'5" righty with a moving low to mid 90's fastball, but instead of having Singer's sharp slider, his go-to secondary pitch is his dropping changeup. His curveball is behind the other two pitches and will need to add power, and his command is a hair behind Singer's, but he looks like a good bet to move quickly and end up a #3 starter. With the very next pick, the Royals took UVA 22 year old Daniel Lynch 34th overall, and he's off to the best start of any of their draftees. The 6'6" lefty dominated in his pro debut, posting a 1.37 ERA, a 1.03 WHIP, and a 68/9 strikeout to walk ratio over 59.1 innings (playoffs included) between rookie level Burlington and Class A Lexington. He has no one standout pitch but mixes his deep arsenal well, and he really took off when he ignored the advice of the UVA pitching program and started throwing his fastball more, now sitting in the low to mid 90's with more velocity possible. I like Lynch as a prospect a lot and while he was the least well known of the first four arms the Royals took this year, he at least has a chance at being the best. Six picks later, with their competitive balance selection, the Royals took now-21 year old Kris Bubic 40th overall out of Stanford, and he got off to a moderately hot start at rookie level Idaho Falls. In 38 innings, he posted a 4.03 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP, and a 53/19 strikeout to walk ratio, not throwing as many strikes as hoped but also racking up more strikeouts than expected. He's a 6'3" lefty known mostly for his excellent changeup, but with marginal low 90's velocity and only a decent curveball, he will have to rely on staying consistent with that command. I liked him less than some other sources before the draft, and it's the one pick the Royals made that I'm not too high on. He has the chance to be a #3 or #4 starter but more likely ends up in the bullpen, in my opinion. 22 year old Jonathan Bowlan, the Royals' second round pick (58th overall) out of Memphis, joined Bubic at Idaho Falls and posted a 6.94 ERA, a 1.71 WHIP, and a 23/9 strikeout to walk ratio over 35 innings. While he was hit hard, it was nice to see the huge 6'6" right hander throwing strikes with his low to mid 90's fastball and good slider, and the poor numbers may have just been a result of Royals pitching coaches easing him into pro ball by just having him throw strikes. He also has reliever risk but the Royals will try to refine his secondary pitches enough to keep him in the rotation. Lastly, 21 year old Austin Cox was their fifth round pick out of Mercer, had a nice start at Burlington by posting a 3.78 ERA, a 1.32 WHIP, and a 51/15 strikeout to walk ratio over 33.1 innings. The 6'4" lefty is still fairly inconsistent with his stuff, but at his best he misses a ton of bats with a low 90's fastball and a hard curveball to go along with a slider and a changeup. The big thing for the Royals will be tightening that stuff and helping him use it more effectively.

Other Pitchers: RHP Josh Staumont, LHP Richard Lovelady, RHP Trevor Oaks, LHP Daniel Tillo, RHP Carlos Hernandez, and RHP Yefri Del Rosario
Most of the top pitching prospects in this system, especially with 18 year old Elvis Luciano being plucked out in the recent Rule 5 Draft, came from that 2018 draft but there are still a few interesting arms that were here beforehand. We'll start with 24 year old Josh Staumont, a flamethrowing 6'3" righty that posted a 3.51 ERA, a 1.49 WHIP, and a 103/52 strikeout to walk ratio over 74.1 innings at AAA Omaha this year. He can hit 102 with that fastball and add movement with his two seamer in the upper 90's, and his curveball has stepped forward to the point where it is a swing and miss pitch in its own right. However, he can't throw strikes to save his life, and major leaguers can lay off 102 if it's not in the zone or hit it if they're ahead in the count and sitting on it. If he wants to stick as a major league reliever, throwing strikes will be important, but he has high upside if he does. 23 year old Richard Lovelady is a more conventional reliever, coming in with good control of a mid 90's fastball and a good slider. At Omaha in 2018, he posted a 2.47 ERA, a 1.01 WHIP, and a 71/21 strikeout to walk ratio over 73 innings, often going multiple innings at a time. He is a safer bet than Staumont with a lower ceiling, and he's a lefty too. 25 year old Trevor Oaks came over from the Dodgers in a three-way trade last winter, then posted a solid 2018 at Omaha with a 3.23 ERA, a 1.36 WHIP, and a 70/44 strikeout to walk ratio over 128.1 innings. He throws in the low to mid 90's but his secondary stuff is just average, leading to low strikeout rates, though he's fairly good at throwing strikes and keeping the ball on the ground. He has a #5 starter projection with the chance to make the Opening Day roster in 2019. 22 year old Daniel Tillo is lower down in the system, having been drafted in the third round (90th overall) in 2017, The 6'5" lefty was just decent in 2018, posting a 4.76 ERA, a 1.50 WHIP, and a 100/65 strikeout to walk ratio over 134.1 innings between Class A Lexington and High A Wilmington. His fastball/slider combination has worked so far for him as a starter in A ball, but with just an average changeup and command, he probably ends up in the bullpen where he could have a similar profile to Lovelady, with the added caveat that he is five inches taller. 21 year old Carlos Hernandez and 19 year old Yefri Del Rosario did everything asked of them in their full season debuts in 2018, both holding down rotation spots with consistency for much of the season. Hernandez posted a 3.29 ERA, a 1.18 WHIP, and an 82/23 strikeout to walk ratio over 79.1 innings, while Del Rosario, a former Braves prospect who was forcibly released due to sleazy contract details on the Braves' end, posted a 3.19 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and a 72/29 strikeout to walk ratio over 79 innings. Both are tall righties that throw reasonably hard, with Hernandez showing the better changeup and Del Rosario having the better slider. Of course, Del Rosario is two years younger, though Hernandez signed late and is progressing quicker than expected.

Lexington Hitters: 1B Nick Pratto, C M.J. Melendez, OF Seuly Matias, OF Brewer Hicklen, OF Michael Gigliotti, OF Kyle Isbel, and SS Jeison Guzman
For a farm system that didn't have a ton of impact talent prior to the 2018 draft, a lot of exciting hitters passed through Class A Lexington this year, many of whom came from a hitting-oriented 2017 draft. The best prospect in that group is 20 year old Nick Pratto, a first baseman who slashed .280/.343/.443 with 14 home runs, 22 stolen bases, and a 150/45 strikeout to walk ratio over 127 games with Lexington. Having played the whole season at just 19 years old, he showed an advanced approach and good power, even if his strikeout rate was a bit high. He also surprisingly stole 22 bases in 27 tries, even with mediocre speed, as he has good instincts for the game all around. While the overall numbers weren't all that exciting for a first baseman, the 2017 first rounder (14th overall) has skills that will translate upwards and he should have no problem handling High A in 2019. 20 year old M.J. Melendez was right there with Pratto in that Lexington lineup all season long, slashing .251/.322/.492 with 19 home runs and a 143/43 strikeout to walk ratio in 111 games. While he has just as much power as Pratto, the 2017 second rounder (52nd overall) isn't as advanced at the plate. That is okay, because he is a good defensive catcher that should be able to stick back there, meaning as long as he keeps hitting for power and getting on base at a reasonable rate, his glove will get him to the majors as at least a back-up catcher. If he can improve his plate discipline, he could be a starting MLB catcher down the road. 20 year old Seuly Matias was yet another exciting hitter in the Lexington lineup, slashing .231/.303/.550 with 31 home runs and a 131/24 strikeout to walk ratio over 94 games. His bat is even less developed than that of Melendez, but he has the best raw power in the system. He really needs to improve that plate discipline, as higher level pitching will eat him up, but if he can cut down on that strikeout rate he has the highest ceiling among this trio of hitters, at least with his bat. 22 year old Brewer Hicklen, a seventh rounder from that same 2017 draft that produced Pratto and Melendez, struggled at High A Wilmington (.211/.263/.310) before being demoted to Lexington, where he was much better (.307/.378/.552). Overall, he slashed .289/.357/.507 with 18 home runs, 35 stolen bases, and a 124/28 strikeout to walk ratio over 104 games, showing both power and speed, but the plate discipline needs a lot of work for someone who was drafted out of college and is older compared to the Class A competition (Pratto and Melendez were drafted out of high school). Because his production came against younger competition, Hicklen is most likely a fourth outfielder at the major league level, but his power and speed could help him contend for a starting spot down the road. Yet another name from that 2017 draft class is 22 year old Michael Gigliotti, a fourth rounder who only made it into six games (and slashed .235/.435/.471) due to an ACL tear. After a down junior season at Lipscomb University in Nashville, he has shown surprisingly advanced plate discipline in the minors, drawing a ton of walks while still spraying line drives all over the field and running the bases well. Once healthy in 2019, he could move quickly and he has a better chance at starting than Hicklen. 21 year old Kyle Isbel was a 2018 third rounder (94th overall), the Royals' first non-college pitcher pick after taking five before him, got to Lexington quickly. Over 64 games between rookie level Idaho Falls and Lexington, he slashed .326/.389/.504 with seven home runs, 24 stolen bases, and a 60/26 strikeout to walk ratio. He's a power hitting corner outfielder who I think could be an impact bat in Kansas City relatively soon, though he'll have to watch his strikeouts. Lastly, 20 year old Jeison Guzman split the season between rookie level Burlington and Lexington, slashing .254/.327/.356 with four home runs, 26 stolen bases, and a 74/30 strikeout to walk ratio over 85 games. His bat is a bit light but he's a good fielding shortstop, which buys the bat time, and he does have a fairly advanced approach for his age. He looks like a utility infielder for now.

Higher Level Hitters: OF Khalil Lee, SS Nicky Lopez, 3B Kelvin Gutierrez, 3B Emmanuel Rivera, and OF Blake Perkins
Most of the system's most hitting exciting talent was in Lexington this year, with the majority of the non-Lexington group looking mostly like future role players. The exception is 20 year old Khalil Lee, an outfielder who was drafted in the third round (103rd overall) out of a northern Virginia high school in 2016. In 100 games between High A Wilmington and AA Northwest Arkansas, Lee slashed .263/.382/.390 with six home runs, 16 stolen bases, and a 103/59 strikeout to walk ratio, showing advanced plate discipline for his age and the levels he was playing at. Skinny and just 5'10", his power is sporadic but there is definitely some thunder in the bat when he gets into one. He's fast, too, and his broad set of tools gives him the highest high ceiling among position players in the system if he can tap into that power a bit more, considering he has improved his plate discipline as he has been promoted. He doesn't turn 21 until June, giving him plenty of time to continue to develop. 23 year old Nicky Lopez is a smooth fielding shortstop who broke out with the bat in 2018, slashing .308/.382/.417 with nine home runs, 15 stolen bases, and a 52/60 strikeout to walk ratio over 130 games between Northwest Arkansas and AAA Omaha. His exceptional control of the strike zone means he will have no trouble hitting at the major league level, with the question being just how much. Right now, he looks like more of a utility infielder than a future regular, but with the Royals' infield situation in a bit of a transition, he has a chance to break through and start. There's not much power, so if he does start at points in 2019 and 2020, I think his long term role is indeed as a utility infielder. 24 year old Kelvin Gutierrez and 22 year old Emmanuel Rivera come with similar profiles, both being third basemen in similar stages of development. Gutierrez, who came over from Washington in the Kelvin Herrera trade, slashed .275/.329/.400 with 11 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and a 108/36 strikeout to walk ratio over 123 games at AA, while Rivera slashed .274/.326/.416 with six home runs and a 65/30 strikeout to walk ratio over 106 games, mostly at High A Wilmington. Both are average hitters across the board, though Rivera has a better feel for the strike zone for his age. Meanwhile, both are great defenders at third base, with Gutierrez generally being considered the better of the two there, and the Royals will hope one of them takes a step forward with the bat so they can compete for a third base job. Lastly, 22 year old Blake Perkins came over with Gutierrez in the Herrera trade, showing well in some areas and lacking in others. At High A in 2018, he slashed .237/.362/.305 with three home runs, 29 stolen bases, and a 134/92 strikeout to walk ratio, showing exceptional patience at the plate to go along with great speed but completely lacking in power. There is hope that he can add some power and hit upwards of ten home runs per season in the majors, but he isn't there yet and the clock is ticking. With no additional power development, he's a fifth outfielder that can draw a walk, steal a base, and hold down center field if asked.

2018 Draft Review: Kansas City Royals

First 5 rounds: Brady Singer (1-18), Jackson Kowar (1-33), Daniel Lynch (1-34), Kris Bubic (CBA-40), Jonathan Bowlan (2-58), Kyle Isbel (3-94), Eric Cole (4-122), Austin Cox (5-152)
Also notable: Zach Haake (6-182), Jackson Lueck (8-242)

The Royals had a very clear strategy here, taking college pitchers with each of their first five picks and waiting until their twelfth pick to take a high school player at all. Their farm system is bare bones empty right now, so they didn't have time to wait around for some high schoolers to develop; they took high schoolers with their first two picks in 2017 and junior college players with their next two. With five of the first 58 picks, you would hope they came away with a good draft, and while I don't like all of their picks, they definitely did a great job replenishing their farm system.

1-18: RHP Brady Singer (my rank: 2)
Brady Singer, long considered a favorite to go first overall until Casey Mize took over that position midway through the spring, had one of the most unexpected falls of this year's draft. The Florida Gators ace won the Dick Howser Trophy as the top player in college baseball this year, going 12-1 with a 2.30 ERA, a 0.88 WHIP, and a 107/21 strikeout to walk ratio in 101.2 innings in the SEC (heading into the College World Series), the toughest conference in college baseball. He's your classic top of the rotation prospect, bringing stuff, command, projectability, a track record, and makeup to the table. He throws his fastball in the low to mid 90's with plenty of run, and his slider can be a wipeout pitch at times. His changeup is advanced as well, and he commands it all with confidence. The 6'5" righty has plenty of room to grow and add good weight, and while his delivery can get a bit out of sync, his arm is very loose and he seems like less of an injury risk than most pitchers. He supposedly is a very hard worker, and anybody who has watched him play know he is a very tough competitor. The only question with Singer is his consistency, as he had some tough starts earlier in the season and his stuff has flattened out at times. I think that it's nothing pro coaching can't smooth out, and the Royals have to be very, very happy to get a talent like Singer with the 18th pick. He hasn't signed yet because he is still playing in the College World Series (I'm actually watching him on the mound against Texas Tech as I write this sentence), with slot value sitting at a little over $3.3 million for this pick.

1-33: RHP Jackson Kowar (my rank: 16)
Another pick, another 6'5" Florida Gator right hander who fell just a little farther than expected. Entering the College World Series, Kowar is 9-5 with a 3.24 ERA, a 1.30 WHIP, and a 102/41 strikeout to walk ratio in 105.2 innings. Like Singer, he throws his fastball in the mid 90's, though it's his changeup that that sets him apart rather than his breaking ball, just dropping off before it gets to the plate. That curve is going to need some work, as it looks good at times but lacks the consistency to be a reliable out pitch in pro ball at this point. Like Singer, he's projectable and should be able to add more velocity to his fastball. Obviously, he's still pitching in the CWS, and slot value is just over $2.1 million.

1-34: LHP Daniel Lynch (my rank: 35)
Lynch put up two mediocre seasons at the University of Virginia in 2016 and 2017, not getting his ERA below 5.00 in either season, but something clicked for him on the Cape over the summer and he held it into the spring. On the Cape, he was 4-0 with a 2.08 ERA, a 0.93 WHIP, and a 25/3 strikeout to walk ratio in 30.1 innings, and with UVA this year, he was 4-4 with a 3.96 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP, and a 105/24 strikeout to walk ratio in 88.2 innings. The numbers weren't excellent in Charlottesville, but his stuff looks miles better than it did during his first two seasons. His fastball is now up into the low 90's, and his curve, slider, and advanced changeup can keep hitters off balance. He commands it all very well, and as a 6'4" lefty with a smooth delivery, it's easy to see him adding velocity without sacrificing command. Apparently, the bump in his stuff came when he shed the typical UVA pitching style for his own, as UVA pitchers have a terrible track record. He looks like a back-end starter now, but don't underestimate him. He has already signed for just under $1.7 million, saving the Royals $369,200 for their bonus pool.

CBA-40: LHP Kris Bubic (my rank: 59)
I'm not a huge fan of this pick, but Bubic is a good player. The Stanford lefty finished up his junior season 8-1 with a 2.62 ERA, a 1.07 WHIP, and a 101/32 strikeout to walk ratio over 86 innings. He's not a power pitcher, throwing his fastball in the low 90's, and he's not projectable, standing at 6'3" with a stocky frame. Instead, he relies on pretty good command and a very good changeup with plenty of run and drop on it. The curveball is mediocre, but he mixes his pitches well enough to get the most out of them. The stuff played up on the Cape Cod League last summer, where he was 4-1 with a 1.65 ERA, a 0.93 WHIP, and a 41/7 strikeout to walk ratio over 32.2 innings, mostly due to his pitchability. Bubic is also young for the class, not turning 21 until August, so together it makes for a very nice second round profile, fitting in the 45-60 range for me. I personally view him a little bit more as a tweener, because he doesn't hide the ball well and his walk rate is just a bit high for a pitchability "high floor" type. His ceiling is that of a #3 or #4 starter but there is a decent shot he ends up in the bullpen, so in my opinion he's not the best value at the #40 pick. He signed for $1.6 million, which is $186,300 under slot.

2-58: RHP Jonathan Bowlan (unranked)
Bowlan is a 6'6" right hander out of the University of Memphis, finishing his junior season 2-9 with a 3.71 ERA, a 1.31 WHIP, and a 104/18 strikeout to walk ratio in 85 innings. Bowlan is a big guy, carrying 262 pounds on his towering frame, and he uses that size to generate a low 90's fastball that can bump into the mid 90's easily if he reaches back for more. His slider is also a very good secondary offering that helped him rack up all those strikeouts (including 18 in one game against a very strong South Florida lineup), and he has a changeup. His problem is consistency, and he also did not finish up the season well. His ERA sat at 2.75 entering his final two starts, but Tulane roughed him up for five runs and Wichita State tacked on seven, bumping his ERA up almost a run. He is a bit of a project for a college arm, especially one in the second round, but he has very high upside and could be a mid-rotation starter. The more likely landing spot, though, is in the bullpen, where he could sit in the mid 90's and use that sharp slider more effectively. He signed for $697,500, which is $470,800 below slot.

3-94: OF Kyle Isbel (my rank: 58)
Isbel, the Royals' sixth pick, is the first player they took that wasn't a college pitcher, and I'm a big fan of his, as you can tell by his ranking ahead of Bowlan and even Bubic. Isbel was the center fielder at UNLV, slashing .357/.441/.643 with 14 home runs and a 43/34 strikeout to walk ratio in 59 games, admittedly in a hitter-friendly environment. His strikeout rate remained in line with his career norms at 15.3%, though his walk rate jumped to 12.1%, showing improved patience to go along with his average strikeout rate. He does a little bit of everything, showing some power to go along with that patience, good contact ability, speed, and good defense in the outfield, and I think the power plays up due to his whippy swing. The only question for him would be how much it plays up, considering he's 5'11" and on the skinnier side, and if he makes enough contact to make up for whatever power doesn't play up. The swing may have to be shortened if contact becomes a problem. Personally, I see a 20 homer bat that can get on base, steal double digit bases, and play good defense. That's a great grab in the third round, and he signed for just $592,300, which is $2,500 below slot.

Others: 4th rounder Eric Cole is out playing for Arkansas in the College World Series, slashing .329/.417/.550 with 14 home runs and a 43/37 strikeout to walk ratio against tough SEC pitching entering the CWS. He's a pretty similar player to Isbel, putting up slightly worse numbers in a better conference, playing the same position, and having a similar height and build. He's a little slower than Isbel and I don't think his swing is quite as projectable, showing less loft and a little more movement, so he's more likely to end up a fourth outfielder. 5th rounder Austin Cox comes from Mercer, where he was 7-4 with a 4.52 ERA, a 1.62 WHIP, and a 124/43 strikeout to walk ratio in 87.2 innings. He's a 6'3" lefty that throws his fastball in the low 90's with movement, and his curveball has some hard, late movement on it, helping him generate tons of strikeouts. He has a slider and a changeup as well, but those need work if he wants to remain a starter. His herky-jerky delivery has caused some command problems and made his stuff play down a little at Mercer, so getting him to throw strikes will be the first order of business for the Royals. 6th rounder Zach Haake entered the season with a chance to go in the top fifty picks after a great sophomore season at John A. Logan Community College in Illinois, but he struggled this year after transferring to Kentucky, finishing 2-4 with an 8.47 ERA, a 1.82 WHIP, and a 36/22 strikeout to walk ratio in 34 innings. The 6'4" righty is probably a reliever at the next level, where his stuff is electric, including a mid 90's fastball and a great slider. He often struggles to throw strikes though, which, like the case with Cox, causes his stuff to play down. He might already be a bust but the Royals are willing to wait it out and see if they can turn him around. 8th rounder Jackson Lueck is a well-known college performer, one who has mashed as a three year starter at Florida State. Unfortunately, he's trending in the wrong direction, as his slash lines have gotten worse from his freshman year (.379/.494/.576) to his sophomore year (.318/.405/.507) to his junior year (.245/.364/.476) while his BABIP, or pseudo-luck-factor, has uncoincidentally dropped like a rock (.495 to .377 to .255). He's not the best fielder out in the outfield, but he does have power, patience, and good contact ability, so when his BABIP bounces back, he should be able to hit his way at least into the upper minors. From there, we'll see, but he could end up bringing a helpful power bat to the major league team down the line.

2018 MLB Draft: Top 10 College RHP's

College right handers are always popular on draft day, as they are often close to finished products and can get to the major leagues pretty quickly. Casey Mize is all but certain to go first overall, and four of these guys will almost certainly go in the first round. Five of the first seven guys on this list come from the SEC, which isn't surprising when you realize that Max Scherzer (Missouri), Sonny Gray (Vanderbilt), Aaron Nola (LSU), Michael Wacha (Texas A&M), Lance Lynn (Ole Miss), and plenty more were all SEC right handers.

1. Casey Mize (Auburn)
Nothing is ever a sure thing with the draft, but all signs point to Mize going first overall to the Tigers and have for a while. A year after one of the most dominant seasons in recent SEC history in 2017 (8-2, 2.04 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 109/9 K/BB), Mize came right back with another huge season in 2018. Across 16 starts, the 6'3" righty went 10-5 with a 2.95 ERA, a 0.83 WHIP, and a 151/12 strikeout to walk ratio across 109.2 innings, showcasing premium stuff and excellent command. He may not be all that projectable, but that is okay when the finished product throws mid 90's with an un-hittable splitter, a good slider, and the ability to command all three pitches wherever he wants them. He has a  track record of success in the SEC and has very few flaws associated with his profile. To nitpick, he was shut down at the end of his sophomore season, but that didn't happen this year, though he did have a couple of so-so starts towards the end of this year.

2. Brady Singer (Florida)
Brady Singer will make it three straight years that a Florida Gator starting pitcher was drafted in the first eighteen picks, following A.J. Puk (6th overall, 2016) and Alex Faedo (18th overall, 2017). Singer dominated the powerful SEC as a sophomore last year (9-5, 3.21 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 129/32 K/BB), then was even better this year, at least statistically, going 11-1 with a 2.27 ERA, a 0.87 WHIP, and a 98/19 strikeout to walk ratio across 95 innings. He is your prototypical top of the draft starting pitcher, bringing in a track record of performance, pitcher's frame (6'5", 180 lbs), a smooth delivery, a fastball in the mid 90's, a slider that is un-hittable at its best, a good changeup, and plenty of control to make it all work together. In addition, he is said to have a good work ethic and a true pitcher's mentality on the mound. Some scouts knock him for his inconsistency and his three quarters arm slot, but he still projects to go anywhere in the top half of the first round.

3. Logan Gilbert (Stetson)
Gilbert is a bit tough to project, having dominated both the Cape Cod League (1.72 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 31/4 K/BB) and the Atlantic Sun Conference in college, but he has been inconsistent at times and has a wide range of projections for a first round college starting pitcher. He turned in a very good season in 2018 (11-1, 2.52 ERA, 0.82 WHIP, 157/23 K/BB), with the strikeout rate (38.1%) in particular standing out. Mid-major college hitters had no chance against Gilbert's stuff, and when he's at his best, it's truly premium. He is 6'5" and projectable, throwing in the mid 90's at his best with a very good slider, a curveball, a good changeup, and enough control to make it work. However, there have been times when he has dipped into the low 90's and his stuff has flattened out a bit, which pushes him out of top ten consideration, but a team confident in their ability to bring his best out of him could take him in the middle of the first round. The combination of strikeout stuff, Cape performance, and projectability is very valuable.

4. Jackson Kowar (Florida)
We're on number four and still haven't made it north of southern Alabama, but that's okay. The 6'5" Kowar pitches in the same Gator rotation as Brady Singer, and at times, he has been better than his more well-known counterpart. Kowar also took a step forward statistically this season, going 9-4 with a 3.21 ERA, a 1.28 WHIP,  and a 91/37 strikeout to walk ratio over 92.2 innings in the tough SEC. He's a different pitcher than Singer, as his breaking ball, a curve, isn't nearly as advanced, and he relies on a changeup as his primary offspeed pitch. That changeup is excellent, generating tons of swings and misses, and will buy his curveball time to develop. Meanwhile, his fastball already sits in the mid 90's, and with his projectable frame, it could get even faster. His control is just average, and improving that could be his key to success even if he doesn't improve the curve. His draft range is the same as Gilbert's, somewhere in the middle of the first round.

5. Tristan Beck (Stanford)
There is a big gap between Gilbert/Kowar and the next best college righty available, Tristan Beck, but Beck still has the upside of a #3 or #4 starter. The 6'4" Stanford ace was eligible last year and could have been a first round pick if he hadn't hurt his back and missed the season, so he's back again this year and figures to go somewhere just outside the first round. Beck hasn't quite taken the step forward scouts were hoping for this year, finishing 8-4 with a 2.98 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, and a 73/31 strikeout to walk ratio over 90.2 innings. His stuff hasn't been quite as sharp as it was his healthy freshman season, though where it is now is still pretty good. He throws in the low 90's without much movement, and his curve is still good despite losing some bite from two years ago. The changeup is his out pitch, and he commands it well, giving him three solid pitches from a clean delivery. His command is pretty good overall, enough to make his stuff play up and get him to the majors, but it's not quite plus and it won't make him an impact starter on its own. His age also is a negative, as he turns 22 just a few weeks after the draft.

6. Sean Hjelle (Kentucky)
The first thing that stands out about Hjelle, and the first thing you'll hear in any scouting report about him, is that he's 6'11". If he makes the majors, he'll tie Jon Rauch as the tallest player in major league history. He's a true string bean, so if he can add some good weight, there is a world of projection. Hjelle currently sits in the low 90's with his fastball and throws a pretty good curveball, and his slider and changeup fill out his arsenal. Despite his exceptional height, he commands his pitches very well, and the downward plane he generates helps all of his pitches play up. There is always injury risk with a player of his size, but so far he has proven durable and his athleticism should help mitigate at least some of those concerns. He finished his junior season 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP, striking out 91 and walking 22 in 99 innings mostly against tough SEC hitting, and he figures to go somewhere in the second round.

7. Blaine Knight (Arkansas)
Like Beck, Knight was eligible as a sophomore last season, but he didn't sign when teams failed to meet his lofty price tag. He improved his stats somewhat this year, going 11-0 with a 2.74 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP, and an 88/22 strikeout to walk ratio over 95.1 innings. There is a little bit of tweener risk here, but Knight does have very good present stuff that includes a low to mid 90's fastball, a pretty good slider, a curve, and a changeup, all of which he can land for strikes. One knock against him is his size, because despite his 6'3" height, he is very skinny and probably won't be able to add much weight, meaning possible durability issues down the line. His drafting team will run him out as a starter at first and see how long he can last, though he may ultimately be destined for the bullpen. Like Beck, he is a little older and will turn 22 shortly after the draft, where he is projected to go in the second round.

8. Griffin Roberts (Wake Forest)
Roberts is definitely an interesting arm. The 6'3" righty was also eligible last season, but obviously didn't sign. That year, he was a lights out reliever, posting a 2.19 ERA, a 1.16 WHIP, and an 80/32 strikeout to walk ratio over 53 innings, showing premium stuff and mediocre command. Wake Forest moved him to the rotation this spring with mixed results, as he finished 5-4 with a 3.82 ERA, a 1.20 WHIP, and a 130/38 strikeout to walk ratio over 96.2 innings. His walk rate actually improved and he continued to strike out an absurd number of hitters, but he was hit a bit harder. There is effort in his delivery and his changeup isn't all that advanced, so there is a very good chance he could end up a reliever, but he'd be excellent there. In short spurts, his fastball sits in the mid 90's and his slider is one of the best breaking balls in the class, though he loses a few MPH off that fastball as a starter and the slider more plus than plus-plus in long outings. He'll probably go in the second or third round, and his drafting team will likely try him out as a starter, but his home is probably in the bullpen, where his fastball/slider combination can be deadly. Like Beck and Knight, he also is old with a June birthday and will be 22 shortly after the draft.

9. Aaron Hernandez (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi)
Of no relation to the deceased ex-football player, Hernandez is a very interesting prospect in his own right. The 6'2" righty throws a sinking low to mid 90's fastball with a curveball, slider, and changeup that all grade out as above average, and he has proven that he can maintain that stuff deep into starts. Those are the pros. On the negative side, he missed his entire sophomore season after being ruled academically ineligible to play, and when he came back for his junior year, he was hit harder than he should have been, going 3-5 with a 4.55 ERA, a 1.37 WHIP, and a 102/41 strikeout to walk ratio over 83 innings in a less competitive Southland Conference. His strikeout rate is promising, but his crouch and drive delivery leads to a favorable angle for hitters to see and attack his pitches. I personally think pro coaching can help him alter that delivery enough to get the most out of his stuff. He did survive the Cape Cod League in a small sample, striking out eleven and walking four in ten innings. He projects anywhere in the second through fourth rounds.

10. Durbin Feltman (Texas Christian)
While Griffin Roberts will probably end up in the bullpen, Durbin Feltman is the only pure relief prospect on this list. His numbers were excellent at TCU, as he put up a 0.74 ERA, a matching 0.74 WHIP, and a 43/6 strikeout to walk ratio over 24 innings out of the bullpen. He had this success with a mid to upper 90's fastball that has hit 99 in the past as well as very good slider, despite coming in at just 6'1". The command is there as well, and he could be the first player in this class to reach the major leagues. He projects to come off the board sometime in the second or third rounds, though college relievers can go earlier than expected if a team wants an impact soon.

Others: Colton Eastman (Cal State Fullerton), Dylan Coleman (Missouri State), Mitchell Kilkenny (Texas A&M), Sean Wymer (TCU), Jonathan Stiever (Indiana)

2018 Draft Preview: Brady Singer

RHP Brady Singer (Florida): 6'5", 180 lbs, born 8/4/1996

Overview

Fastball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 55.

Brady Singer's stock has had a bit of a roller coaster ride this year, as he was the consensus front runner to be picked first overall coming into the season, but his stock slipped considerably early in the season before building itself back up as the season progressed. When he's right, he's your prototypical top of the draft arm, having dominated the SEC for the past two seasons with a clean delivery, three plus pitches, good command, and well-regarded makeup. However, he hasn't always been at his best, leading to questions. At this point, he's most likely set to go pretty much anywhere in the top ten, but he's unlikely to reclaim that first overall spot from Casey Mize. As of May 20th, he is 10-1 with a 2.25 ERA and a 0.88 WHIP over 13 starts, striking out 92 and walking 18 in 88 innings for the Florida Gators.

Strengths

Singer has a lot of strengths. Starting with his build, he stands 6'5" with broad shoulders a lot of room to add good weight, and though he reportedly had some problems with his physical after being drafted in the second round of the 2015 draft out of high school, he has been completely healthy during his time in Gainesville. He sits in the low 90's with his fastball, but he can easily crank it up as high as 96 when he needs to, and its running life makes it very difficult to square up. He plays it off his at-times plus slider very well, as it breaks hard away from right handers and is nearly unhittable when he is at his best. His changeup is very good as well, showing good depth and coming along nicely with the rest of his arsenal. His command isn't quite pinpoint, but he has walked just 5.1% of his opponents this year and walked just 6% last season, showing the ability to fill the strike zone and help all of his pitches play up. Scouts are impressed with his makeup, as he is extremely competitive on the mound and receptive to coaching. That 2.25 ERA and 92/18 strikeout to walk ratio on the season include some very good starts against some very good teams, including Texas A&M (9 IP, 0 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 5 K), Missouri (7 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 3 BB, 6 K), Vanderbilt (7 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 11 K), South Carolina (6 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 7 K), and Kentucky (7 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, 1 BB, 10 K).

Weaknesses

Singer's biggest weakness this season has been his inconsistency. Despite those dominant starts against SEC programs (plus Siena and Rhode Island), he has also had some dud starts, including against Miami (5 IP, 3 ER, 9 H, 0 BB, 4 K), Tennessee (5 IP, 3 ER, 4 H, 3 BB, 7 K), and a exceptionally strong Arkansas offense (7 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 7 K). Though he has righted the ship recently, those starts do exist, and his stuff looked more average than plus in them. Teams are also a little worried about his mechanics, which resemble those of Max Scherzer because of his lower arm slot, and inconsistency in those mechanics may have caused his early season inconsistency. Otherwise, I'm not exactly sure why people seem to be so down on him, and I wouldn't mind him at all as a top five pick

2018 Draft: An Early Top 10 Prospect List (1/5/2018)

Aside from a few rumors, there isn't much going on in the world of baseball, so I'm taking some time during this slow Hot Stove period to look over what looks like, for now, the top of the draft. Things will undoubtedly change between now and June, but here are my top ten prospects for now:

1. RHP Brady Singer (University of Florida). MLB.com rank: #1
Right now, Gator ace Brady Singer checks all of the boxes of a 1-1 pick, and there aren't many publications out there that don't have him in the top slot. The 6'5", 180 pound right hander had a big sophomore year with Florida last year, going 9-5 with a 3.21 ERA, a 1.21 WHIP, and a 129/32 strikeout to walk ratio in 126 innings mostly against tough SEC competition. He has an extremely quick arm that produces a hard running, deceptive, low to mid 90's fastball that only figures to get faster as he fills out his lanky frame. His slider is one of the best breaking pitches in the NCAA, as he can manipulate it's shape and speed at will to give hitters a multitude of different looks. On top of it all, he can command everything well and he is said to have great makeup, and looks to have a very good shot at ending up a number two starter if not more. At worst, I think he still cracks the back of a big league rotation. He originally hails from Eustis, Florida, outside of Orlando.
What he can do this spring: Not much. Singer just needs to stay healthy and keep doing what he has been doing, and he'll remain a frontrunner for 1-1.

2. LHP Matthew Liberatore (Mountain Ridge HS, AZ). MLB.com rank: #3
I am a huge fan of Matthew Liberatore, a 6'5" high school left hander out of the Phoenix area. In my four years of following the draft closely, he is the first pitcher to remind me of Clayton Kershaw right off the bat. Liberatore is currently pitchability over stuff, but I can see him having plus stuff when all is said and done, combining the two traits in a similar way to Kershaw. He throws his fastball in the low 90's and has an excellent, diving changeup well advanced beyond most high schoolers. His curveball isn't quite the pitch his fastball and changeup are, but it has good shape and spin rate, and if he adds power, it will be a third plus pitch. Around it all, like Singer, he has great command. His pitching motion could use some work, as he doesn't quite get all of his momentum going towards the plate, but that's fixable. The similarities with Kershaw are there: handedness, build, stuff (Kershaw throws low 90's as well), command, and even drop and drive pitching mechanics. Kershaw's curve has more power and he also throws an excellent slider, but Liberatore is Kershaw lite. He is committed to the University of Arizona.
What he can do this spring: If he takes a step forward with his curveball while maintaining the rest of his skill set, he could challenge Singer for the 1-1 spot.

3. RHP Ethan Hankins (Forsyth Central HS, GA). MLB.com rank: #2
There aren't many publications that list Ethan Hankins as anything but the top high school pitcher in the country, but his ranking behind Liberatore here speaks more to how much I like Liberatore than anything about Hankins. Hankins is a 6'6" right handed pitcher from high school on the outskirts of the Atlanta suburbs, and he has arguably the most electric arm in this draft. He throws a running mid 90's fastball that hits 98 and could top out at 100 by the time he fills out his frame, and unlike most power high school arms, he can actually control it. Like Liberatore, he also has an advanced changeup, though his biggest area for improvement comes with his two breaking pitches. His curveball and slider both look good at times, and his curveball has especially good shape, but they lack power and are average at this point. All of that together helped him dominate the 18 and Under World Cup this past summer more than any other prospect. If he develops one or both breaking pitches, he could be a top of the rotation starter, but he has a bit of a lower floor should his command unravel, with his realistic floor being that of a power reliever. Hankins is committed to Vanderbilt.
What he can do this spring: Without improving one of his breaking pitches, he probably has a better chance to go in the 3-6 range, but improving either his slider or curveball to plus could make him the first high school right hander ever to go first overall.

4. RHP Casey Mize (Auburn University). MLB.com ranking: #8.
I promise some hitters are coming, but the top of this draft is just filled with great pitchers. Auburn ace Casey Mize lacks the ceiling of those above him on this list, but he has dominated college hitters unlike almost anybody else in the league. In 13 games (12 starts) for the Tigers this past spring, Mize went 8-2 with a 2.04 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP, and a 109/9 strikeout to walk ratio in 83.2 innings, mostly against tough SEC hitters. Aside from Singer, Mize might be the most advanced pitcher in this draft, showing excellent command of a mid 90's fastball, a plus splitter, and a very good slider. The 6'3" right hander is a bulldog on the mound, and though he doesn't figure to gain much velocity,  he's excellent where he is now. His whole arsenal, with his command, could play in the major leagues in the very near future, but he has one flaw that causes teams to take a second look; durability. Mize seemed to run out of gas towards the end of the spring collegiate season and was shut down, and when he tried to ramp it back up over the summer, he strained his forearm and had to be shut down again. An optimist could say that professional conditioning regimens could be just what he needs, but the truth is that Mize has not proven that he can handle a 100 inning workload, let alone a 200 inning workload. He has the makings of a mid rotation starter, and if he stays healthy, he is very likely to reach that potential. Mize comes from Springville, Alabama, outside of Birmingham.
What he can do this spring: All Mize needs to to is stay healthy. I have a hard time seeing him go 1-1 no matter what he does due to his lack of a high ceiling, but a healthy Mize who maintains his stuff and velocity all through the spring has a very good chance of going in the top five.

5. 2B/SS Nick Madrigal (Oregon State University). MLB.com ranking: #11
Finally, we have the first hitter on our list. The first thing anybody notices about Madrigal is his size: at 5'7" and 160 pounds, he always one of the smallest guys on the field, but Astros second baseman Jose Altuve might be the best thing that ever happened to him. With Altuve proving that little guys can rake, Madrigal's draft stock is much higher than it might have been had he come around a few years earlier. Oregon State was the best team in the country for most of the season, and Madrigal played a huge part in that by slashing .380/.449/.532 with 20 doubles, two triples, four home runs, and 16 stolen bases in 60 games. He also proved to have an excellent approach at the plate, walking 27 times while striking out just 16 times, good for 9.6% and 5.7% of his plate appearances, respectively. Despite his small size, he does have nearly average power, coming from a quick bat that he deploys against a stiff front leg. If he wants to improve that power, he could benefit from gaining more ground with his stride, but a guy his size should maximize his ability to spray line drives around the field, something he does very well. In the field, he's a second baseman right now, though his arm may just be strong enough for shortstop. Either way, he's a very valuable asset, one who should at least hit for average in the major leagues due to his excellent approach. He originally comes from Elk Grove, California, just south of Sacramento.
What he can do this spring: Madrigal likely isn't going to grow any more, so aside from a surprise outburst of power, the best thing Madrigal can do for his draft stock is to keep spraying line drives all over the field and maybe add a few more walks, as 9.6% is good but not amazing.

6. 3B Nolan Gorman (O'Connor HS, AZ). MLB.com ranking: #4
The players who in my opinion are the best high school hitter and best high school pitcher, respectively, in the class, go to school just ten minutes apart in the northern Phoenix suburbs. While Matthew Liberatore will draw scouts by the dozens to Mountain Ridge High School, neighboring Sandra Day O'Connor High School will have it's own share of scouts to see power hitting third baseman Nolan Gorman. At 6'1", Gorman is a bit undersized for a pure power hitter, but the MLB All Star Game High School Home Run Derby champion can blast home runs with the best of them. He has extremely quick hands that help him maximize the power coming from his thick build, though he does sometimes appear uncomfortable at the plate. This has led to worries from scouts as to how his power will translate up, and I myself have noticed that he gets his hands back fairly late, something he'll have to fix against advanced pitching. When your bat is as quick as Gorman's it's often easier to make these adjustments, but it is something to watch. If all goes right, he could hit 30-40 home runs annually in the majors. Like Liberatore, Gorman is committed to the University of Arizona.
What he can do this spring: Gorman needs to show a better approach at the plate, so keeping his strikeouts down and drawing lots of walks would be good for him. A home run off rival Matthew Liberatore would be a nice bonus.

7. OF Jarred Kelenic (Waukesha West HS, WI). MLB.com ranking: #12
Wisconsin isn't typically a hotbed for talent, but they've had a nice run with first rounder Gavin Lux and second rounder Ben Rortvedt in 2016, followed by first rounder Jeren Kendall (Wisconsin native playing at Vanderbilt) in 2017, and finally Jarred Kelenic this year. Kelenic may be a bit old for his class with a July birthday, but he's a five tool player who could contribute in multiple categories at the big league level. He's an excellent pure hitter, using a clean swing to spray line drives and extra base hits all over the field while knocking his share of home runs. He doesn't get fooled at the plate, and he won't need as much time adjusting to the low minors as, for example, a Nolan Gorman-type. He's also a very good defensive outfielder, and while he may not stick in center, he could provide plenty of value in right. If it all breaks right, Kelenic could be an annual 20-20 threat while posting on-base percentages approaching .400. He is committed to the University of Louisville.
What he can do this spring: Kelenic is a great all-around player who doesn't shine in any particular place, so I think the best tool for him to improve this spring would be power. Listed at 6'1" and 195 pounds, he has a wiry, athletic frame that could produce more than the average power he has now. Some big moonshots in front of scouts could push him towards the top five.

8. SS Brice Turang (Santiago HS, CA). MLB.com ranking: #7
Southern California native Brice Turang has been a top prospect for years, and he could find himself drafted in the top ten picks in 2018. Like Kelenic, Turang is more of an all-around player than one with standout tools, though he's not exactly the same. First off, he's a shortstop (and a good one at that), and he is faster than Kelenic. On the flip side, his bat isn't quite as developed, as he shows a whippy swing from a lean frame but was up and down over the summer. I like that swing, and I think he could hit for power and average in the majors, but it'll take some work to get there. Turang is committed to Louisiana State.
What he can do this spring: Of primary focus for Turang should be to show more consistency at the plate than he did over the summer. That would solidify his ranking in the top ten. If he does that while adding the power I believe he is capable of adding, he'll jump back into the top five where he was ranked before the summer.

9. SS/3B Nander De Sedas (Montverde Academy, FL). MLB.com ranking: #6
Nander De Sedas is a high school switch hitter with a good balance of above average power and above average contact, and while it's not as certain as with Turang, he could stick at shortstop. De Sedas has a clean swing that enables him to reach that balance, though his mechanics can get a bit inconsistent due to his switch hitting, which is normal for high schoolers. He gets dinged a little bit due to his early birthday, like Kelenic's a July one, but his combination of approach, power, and defensive value isn't easy to come by. If he has to move off shortstop, he does have the arm to stick at third base. De Sedas is committed to Florida State.
What he can do this spring: Two areas where De Sedas could conceivably improve are on defense and with power. If he emerges from the winter having worked hard on improving his range at shortstop, teams can safely draft him as a shortstop and see him as a future Francisco Lindor (who also attended the Montverde Academy), albeit with less speed. Adding power could also help his bat profile better at third base should shortstop not work out, and his plate discipline would make him an attractive alternative to Nolan Gorman.

10. RF Griffin Conine (Duke University). MLB.com ranking: #19
Former Marlins and Orioles star Jeff Conine's son Griffin is looking like one of the top bats in this year's college class. After a forgettable freshman season (0 HR, .205/.306/.247), Conine broke out in a big way by socking 13 home runs and slashing .298/.425/.546 as a sophomore, striking out 45 times while walking 41 times in 58 games. He continued that production over into the prestigious Cape Cod League, where he slashed .329/.406/.537 with nine home runs and a 43/20 strikeout to walk ratio in 42 games, and scouts named him the league's top prospect. I'm personally a huge fan of Conine, as he generates his plus power from a strong 6'1" frame while keeping his bat in the zone for a long time. He could use to add some more loft, but I like the way his swing has come along so far, and doing so could turn him into a legitimate 30+ home run threat. He's a patient hitter, which enabled him to post on-base percentages above .400 in both his predominantly-ACC collegiate season and his Cape Cod season, but he does also swing and miss quite a bit. That's his only flaw on offense. Defensively, he should be a very good right fielder, showcasing more speed than typical for a power hitter as well as a very good arm. To top it off, he's a little younger than the typical college junior, not turning 21 until July. He's originally from the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area.
What he can do this spring: Conine has the power and he's trending in the right direction, so aside from continuing this trend, I think the best thing he can do is to cut down his strikeouts. 16.8% in his collegiate season and 23% in the Cape Cod League aren't astronomically high as they are, but cutting that regular season rate down to 10-15% could do wonders for his draft stock, as teams will be much more confident that he can tap into his raw power.

Just missed: LHP Shane McClanahan (South Florida), LHP Ryan Rolison (Mississippi), RHP Logan Gilbert (Stetson), OF Greyson Jenista (Wichita State), OF Travis Swaggerty (South Alabama)