Kansas City Royals: Has time run out on Raul Mondesi?
By David Hill
The Kansas City Royals may have sent a signal that Raul Mondesi is no longer considered a part of their future.
On the surface, one has to wonder why the Kansas City Royals brought back Alcides Escobar on a one year deal for the 2018 campaign. He produced a mediocre .250/.272/.357 batting line, and stole only four bases in 11 attempts. A player who is known for his glove, Escobar cost the Royals three runs last year, hardly justifying his presence in the lineup.
And yet, when the Royals take the field on Opening Day in 2018, there Escobar will be, lining up at his familiar spot at short. It sends a message to the fanbase that the Royals are trying to bring back players that have become fan favorites, even if for just one year. With that contract, the Royals may be sending another message as well.
The Royals essentially had a similar player as Escobar already waiting in the wings. Raul Mondesi is another glove first infielder, known for his defense and questions about his bat. However, the 22 year old makes Escobar look like Cal Ripken offensively, with a lifetime .181/.226/.271 batting line in 209 plate appearances.
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Meanwhile, waiting behind Mondesi is one of the true breakout candidates in the Royals system. Nicky Lopez went from a long term project to a player that may be getting ready to knock on the door to the majors. He split his season between the Wilmington Blue Rocks and Northwest Arkansas Naturals, producing a solid .279/.348/.356 batting line with 18 doubles, eight triples, and 21 steals. Even more impressively, in his 577 plate appearances, Lopez drew 52 walks while striking out only 52 times. A Royals player with patience at the plate and the ability to work a walk? That is about as rare as a low and away slider with two strikes that Salvador Perez will lay off of.
With Lopez’s rapid ascension, Mondesi may have already seen his chance disappear before he could seize the position. While he was a former top prospect for the Royals, and was a consensus pick for the top 100 prospect lists from 2014 through 2016, he never developed the offense he was expected to. Mondesi has a lifetime .258/.304/.404 batting line in the minors, with 44 homers and 116 steals, but has not displayed the bat skills that Lopez has since being drafted in 2016.
Lopez also has one real path to the majors. Although he has played second in the minors, Whit Merrifield was a revelation at the position last year. For the first time since the days of Frank White, Kansas City may well have some consistency at second for years to come. With Lopez potentially being a year away, Escobar can serve as that bridge until he is ready.
Next: Royals top ten prospects
The Kansas City Royals may have sent a message with their retaining of Alcides Escobar. It certainly appears as though Nicky Lopez is the future, instead of Raul Mondesi.