Kansas City Royals: Top 10 Rookie-Eligible Prospects for 2018

8. Yefri Del Rosario, RHP

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 9/23/1999 (18)
2017 teams/levels played for: Dominican Summer League Braves, Gulf Coast League Braves
2017 Stats: 13 G, 8 GS, 37 1/3 IP, 3.62 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 8.4% BB, 21.7% K

Info: Like most live-armed Dominican July 2nd pitchers, Del Rosario was signed by the Braves hoping on projectable velocity, but unlike most Latin teenagers, he already had present command of his pitches.

Del Rosario has grown into his 6’2″ frame and sits in the low-90s with his fastball, topping out at 96-97 with excellent sink and tail. He has a hard breaker that he gets excellent depth on and can control well as well. His change made big strides over the course of his first full year.

As Del Rosario continued through his first pro season in 2017, he continually improved in his body control and, thus, his location on all of his pitches even further. With plus command and control, especially as he’s continued to improve his delivery, Del Rosario has a very bright future.

Many considered Del Rosario the top prospect let go by the Braves punishment in November outside of former elite signee Kevin Maitan, and the Royals acted quickly to lock him up, and they actually signed a Cuban outfielder by the name of Juan Carlos Negret, and both will inject some exciting youth into a system without ceiling players like either currently possess.

Del Rosario will likely open in extended spring and start his season with Burlington in the Appy League, but it wouldn’t surprise if he finds his way to low-A Lexington by the end of 2018 with continued progression.

7. Hunter Dozier, 3B/OF

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 8/22/1991 (26)
2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Wilmington Blue Rocks, AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals, AAA Omaha Storm Chasers
2017 Stats: .243/.341/.464, 129 PA, 4 HR, 1 SB, 14/50 BB/K

Info: In 2016, Dozier finally had the breakthrough the Kansas City Royals have been waiting for since making him the 8th overall selection in the 2013 draft. He hit 23 home runs and 44 doubles between AA and AAA.

He then suffered through a 2017 from hell as he opened the season on the 60-day DL with a strained oblique, then broke his hamate bone in June, then broke his nose in August. In all, Dozier played just 33 games and couldn’t quite access the power he’d shown in 2016.

(Dozier then suffered through a 2017 from hell as he (…) played just 33 games and couldn’t quite access the power he’d shown in 2016

His power that had him ranked as the top prospect in the system in last year’s list for me simply wasn’t there in his return from the hamate injury, which is not uncommon, but going into his age 26 season, Dozier is going to have to produce now in order to capitalize on his talent.

The other issue with Dozier’s skill set is that he is certainly not a third baseman long term in his reactions or range, with really his arm being the only thing that was worthy of third at the big league level. Interestingly, after transitioning Dozier off the position in 2016, the Royals played him evenly at third and the outfield in 2017 in the few games he did play, also tossing in some games at first base.

Depending on whether the Royals bring in someone else and how he recovers (though his numbers weren’t great in his limited time in the Mexican League, many said his bat speed was back to previous levels), Dozier could be a guy that takes an opening day roster spot for a rebuilding Kansas City Royals club. Otherwise, he’ll try to re-establish himself at AAA in order to quickly jump to the big league club.

Next: #5 and #6