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