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

We have reached the point of the offseason where prospect lists abound. We continue our top 10 prospects for every team with the Kansas City Royals!

Our team top 10 prospect lists at Call to the Pen are spearheaded by Benjamin Chase. Today, he gives us the top ten prospects for the Kansas City Royals.

This season, we will be going through teams by division, in order of 2017 record. The AL East will be first, followed by the AL Central and AL West. Then the focus will shift to the National League in the same order.

The format will be as it was last season for the same lists, with a system review, which will include last season’s list. The top 10 will follow in reverse order, two players per page in order to give adequate space to each player. Major trades or international signings will lead to an updated top 10!

Finally, don’t go away after #1 is revealed as each list will also contain a player either signed in the 2017 international free agent class or drafted in 2017 that isn’t part of the top 10 and should be tracked. Last season’s mentions in that area made over half of the top 10s this season, so this is a great way to get to know a player who could be making a big splash in the organization.

System overview

Last year’s list

In last year’s overview, I estimated that you’d know how the Kansas City Royals were going to address their future by Memorial Day – whether they were in it for 2017 and were going to hold onto their players or if they were going to trade away some of the key pieces that allowed them to make back-to-back World Series appearances.

Instead, the team held onto most of those pieces but never really supplemented them well for a playoff run, not really making a true decision on whether they were going to re-tool or have to go into a full-on rebuild.

In retrospect, their first two selections in the 2017 draft being high school players and focusing other selections early on JuCo players should have given some insight to their direction toward a rebuild.

The Royals will open this season with one of the worst farm systems in the league, with their top 4 prospects in our list here all teenagers. If the Royals allow all of their top free agents to walk away this offseason, it is quite feasible that they would have 5 picks in the top 40 selections in what is considered a very deep draft of talent, even though they do not select until #18 in the first round.

So while this system looks rough now, it’s quite feasible that the system looks significantly better in October after the draft is done.

Let’s take a look at that system….

Next: #9 and #10

10. Michael Gigliotti, OF

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 2/14/1996 (22)
2017 teams/levels played for: advanced rookie Burlington Royals, low-A Lexington Legends
2017 Stats: .320/.420/.456, 291 PA, 4 HR, 22 SB, 40/41 BB/K

Info: Gigliotti was undrafted out of high school and ended up at small school Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he turned heads in the 2016 summer leagues with his blazing speed and his burgeoning power.

Then Gigliotti went through his draft season at Lipscomb and struggled more than any previous season, with his worst batting average and slugging percentage while also having his highest strikeout rate, though it was still only 15.2%.

(Gigliotti) has an elite eye that profiles him as an ideal leadoff hitter that will be on base with elite speed on the bases.

Because of the rough spring, Gigliotti fell to the fourth round, where the Royals got him for roughly $50,000 under slot. He then went about proving that draft slot significantly below his true talent.

When he’s on his game, Gigliotti has double-plus speed, average game power and above-average raw power, plus contact ability, and double-plus raw defensive skills in center field. He has an elite eye that profiles him as an ideal leadoff hitter that will be on base with elite speed on the bases.

Gigliotti only played 22 games with Lexington, but it wouldn’t surprise if the Royals have that be his only time at the level, jumping him to their high-A affiliate at Wilmington.

9. Foster Griffin, LHP

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 7/27/1995 (22)
2017 teams/levels played for: high-A Wilmington Blue Rocks, AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals
2017 Stats: 28 GS, 161 1/3 IP, 3.35 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 8.1% BB, 21.1% K

Info: Griffin was an odd case last season as he lost velocity for two seasons after high school, which would have suggested an injury underlying, but he’s bounced back in 2017 and jumped over multiple other pitchers on this list.

Griffin’s velocity returned to pre-draft points, sitting in the low-90s with tremendous sink and late action low in the zone. Griffin worked his secondary stuff much better with improved control and velocity from his fastball.

Watching Griffin’s four-seam fastball this year, he did seem to add a bit of cut against right-handed hitters and excellent location, especially up in the zone with the four-seam against lefty hitters. His curve has a solid 11-to-5 shape that drew a lot of swing and miss in 2017.

Griffin projects more in the middle to back of a rotation unless his change takes a big step forward from the average projection that it currently shows. However, with an excellent frame and improved location on his pair of fastballs to set up everything else, Griffin could be a guy who carries a heavy inning load in the middle of the rotation from the left side.

The Royals will likely open Griffin in AAA Omaha to start 2018, but with the likely openings in the Royals rotation to open the season and feasibly more by mid-year, Griffin could find his way into the big league rotation by the end of the season.

Next: #7 and #8

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

4. Seuly Matias, OF

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 9/4/1998 (19)
2017 teams/levels played for: advanced rookie Burlington Royals
2017 Stats: .243/.297/.423, 246 PA, 7 HR, 2 SB, 16/72 BB/K

Info: Spending over $2 million, the Kansas City Royals signed Matias out of the Dominican in 2015. He showed very well in rookie ball in Arizona in 2016, leading the league with 8 home runs.

Moving up to advanced rookie ball as an 18 year old in 2017, Matias showed his youth and that he was still plenty raw, but he also flashed incredible raw power and athleticism on the field.

That raw talent is Matias’ calling card, as he has certainly flashed all five tools in pro ball thus far

That raw talent is Matias’ calling card, as he has certainly flashed all five tools in pro ball thus far. His biggest drawback is his polish at the plate, with a 6.5% walk rate and 29.3% strikeout rate.

Matias is still going to be just 19 to open 2018, so he has plenty of time to work on plate discipline, something he’s already made strides in already. His swing has good loft, but he does have a penchant to chase the high hard pitch, which his swing neither can maximize nor reach well. He did do much better in laying off pitches out of the zone in the lower half of the zone in 2017, so there is hope to continue improvement in his discipline at the plate.

Matias is a smooth defender, running excellent routes to balls, whether he is in center field or a corner. His plus arm likely has him ticketed for right field as his frame will likely fill out more, taking his speed from above-average to likely more average and making center field a tough spot to cover as he fills into his frame.

Matias will likely open in 2018 in full-season ball, and it will be a good test to see how he endures through the long season.

3. Khalil Lee, OF

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 6/26/1998 (19)
2017 teams/levels played for: low-A Lexington Legends
2017 Stats: .237/.344/.430, 532 PA, 17 HR, 20 SB, 65/171 BB/K

Info: Lee got notice last season after he really impressed in rookie league after being a 3rd round draftee out of high school in Virginia. The Kansas City Royals pushed Lee to full-season ball as an 18 year old to open 2017, and while he had his times of struggle, he certainly showed well throughout the entirety of the season.

Lee has an excellent set of skills with high-end athleticism that has him easily handling center field and likely to remain there going forward. His biggest issue in 2017 was a high strikeout rate, but many who witnessed him swear that his was a rare sound heard off of the bat on the season, a unique type of sound heard from those players who truly are hitting the ball with unparalleled force.

While his longer swing path may preclude Lee from being a .300 hitter down the road, his power should continue to develop, building to a feasible plus power hitter that can stick in center field with above-average speed. That level of across-the-board skills is rare enough that the Royals will live with some swing-and-miss in the profile, especially when he was walking over 12% of the time.

Lee will take the step to high-A in 2018, and it will be intriguing to watch how he continues to progress his elite bat speed to cut down on his swing and miss and maximize his tools.

Next: #1 and #2

2. MJ Melendez, C

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 11/29/1998 (19)
2017 teams/levels played for: Arizona Rookie League Royals
2017 Stats: .262/.374/.417, 198 PA, 4 HR, 4 SB, 26/60 BB/K

Info: Melendez began to get a lot of note later in the spring for his talent level as many colleges were off of him through typical recruiting with his father coaching at Florida International, making his future college destination if he wasn’t drafted a foregone conclusion.

However, Melendez seemed to fall under the radar of many due to that, and still did so after showing flashes in his time in Arizona with the bat, as many still believe his glove to be the primary carrying tool he possesses.

Melendez is smooth as silk behind the plate, moving with an ease that definitely belies his age. He has a very good arm, though his athletic footwork and explosive core contribute to his arm playing up as well. While he doesn’t have experience framing top-end breaking stuff, he immediately showed well at this in his time in Arizona.

Where Melendez earned this spot in my rankings is watching him swing. I compare his swing to that of Alex Kirilloff in the 2016 draft, an obvious sign of a coach father who has masterfully constructed his son’s swing from the left hand side to both access power to all fields and make consistent contact down the road. Melendez will have some swing and miss in his game, but he does have a good idea of the strike zone, typically missing on a pitch within the zone, not flailing away at pitches he should be avoiding.

That level of maturity both behind the plate and at the plate along with plenty of ceiling at both out of a high school catcher is rare indeed, and while there’s enough in the high school catcher profile in general to keep a significant amount of reservation, Melendez is one that Royals fans should be getting excited about.

I could see the Kansas City Royals push Melendez to their low-A team in Lexington to open the season to get the most reps that he could, but with his youth and position, the team could also choose to have him start in extended spring and open with Burlington or Lexington in June.

1. Nick Pratto, 1B

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): 10/6/1998 (19)
2017 teams/levels played for: Arizona Rookie League Royals
2017 Stats: .247/.330/.414, 230 PA, 4 HR, 10 SB, 24/58 BB/K

Info: While some late mock drafts (including by yours truly) had Pratto with legit interest in the top 5-8 picks in the 2017 draft, the Kansas City Royals were overjoyed to draft the California prep first baseman with the 14th overall selection.

While often high school first baseman struggle to find success, the Royals had one of the better recent success stories in Eric Hosmer, which likely gave them the confidence to select Pratto, who was one of the most decorated players in the 2017 draft, starting from a young age when he delivered the game-winning hit in the Little League World Series championship game.

Pratto has a very natural left-handed swing that generates impressive power to all fields

Pratto has a very natural left-handed swing that generates impressive power to all fields. Though he doesn’t have a “grooved” swing for loft, he generates it off the bat. He didn’t get to focus on his hitting in high school as he was a legit draft prospect as a left-handed pitcher as well, though certainly more of a prospect as a hitter.

Pratto’s power currently shows up naturally, and he doesn’t truly seem to know how to “access” it in game, which will be part of his development process, but his swing would certainly portend a significant ability to drive the ball.

Pratto has advanced feel at the first base bag, arguably a plus defender already at the position, and some think his arm could allow him to handle a corner outfield position if need be, but much like Cody Bellinger, it’d be along the lines of choosing from an elite defender at first to an above-average or even average defender in the outfield.

Whether the Royals feel he can open the season in Lexington or not, it would not surprise if he finished 2018 in the Sally League, spending most of 2019 in the Carolina League and hitting the upper minors in 2020 with a chance to impact the big leagues by 2021.

Next: Newcomers to watch

2017 Acquisitions: Daniel Tillo and Evan Steele, LHPs

Birthday (age on opening day 2018): Tillo: 6/13/1996 (21); Steele: 11/14/1996 (21)
2017 teams/levels played for: Tillo: Arizona Rookie League Royals, advanced rookie Burlington Royals; Steele: Arizona Rookie League Royals
2017 Stats: Tillo: 10 G, 9 GS, 36 2/3 IP, 4.42 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 3.8% BB, 20.4% K; Steele: 5 G, 5 GS, 8 IP, 5.63 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 5% BB, 40% K

Info: This could be viewed as cheating not choosing one or the other, but the paths and backgrounds of Tillo and Steele both are part of the path that the Kansas City Royals chose toward a long-range rebuild that they both fit into this spot.

Tillo was an elite basketball player as well as a lefty pitcher with a 90-MPH coming out of high school, recruited to Kentucky with a chance to play both, but he ended up transferring to Iowa Western Community College. There his stuff ticked up, with his fastball sitting in the low-90s, touching 96-97, and his hard-breaking slider leaving hitters straight flabbergasted at the plate due to its late break.

Tillo did wear down on the season, and the Royals managed his inning load carefully after drafting him, but his easy delivery and projection left in his arm could make Tillo a steal in the 3rd round in the end.

He’s likely a mid-rotation starter projection and could open in Lexington in 2018.

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Steele was a guy who was more-regarded out of high school, though he wasn’t drafted due to his strong commitment to Vanderbilt. Oddly, within a year, he had left Vanderbilt to head to Chipola JuCo, one of the strongest JuCo programs in the country.

Steele has a fastball that works in the low 90s, touching 94-95, but it plays up due to his 6’5″ frame and high extension in his long limbs, making the pitch seem like it’s immediately at the plate to a hitter. His change is above-average with good sink, and he has a breaking pitch that can get slurvy.

Polishing up his breaker and adding on innings after a blood clot cut off much of his 2017 college season and some concerns due to it led to lower usage as a pro will be the focus of his 2018, but his elite deception could allow him to play up beyond his back-rotation “stuff” projection.

Steele likely will open in extended spring, but the Kansas City Royals could send him even to low-A from there, though most likely he will open with Appy League Burlington.

Next: The loss of Bo

So that is the Kansas City Royals top 10 prospects for 2018. Who is too high? Too low? Missing entirely from the list? Comment below!!