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The Kansas City Royals have one excellent starting pitcher, a very solid first baseman, and a lights-out closer. That’s about it.
Maybe that’s not entirely fair. The Royals could have a fairly strong starting rotation, and David DeJesus could be an adequate No. 2 hitter. Outside of those aspects, though, the Royals will need a lot of help if they envision competing in 2010.
Judging from their minor-league organization, that help isn’t going to come from within. The Royals have their fair share of top prospects, but almost every one of them is stuck is the lower levels. Here are a few players who could contribute to the Big League squad in 2010:
Jeff Bianchi, SS, 23 years old
Originally a second-round pick of the Royals back in 2005, Bianchi has slowly but surely advanced through the Kansas City organization. His first two years, 2005 and 2006, were spent with the short-season Arizona League Royals. Although he was drafted out of high school, Bianchi looked very advanced for that league and averaged an OPS of 1.216. He played in just 40 games, but Bianchi’s future looked bright.
Bianchi’s first full-season, in 2007, saw a noticeable dip in production. With the Burlington Bees (in the same league as the Beloit Snappers), Bianchi saw his OPS drop to .611 while his power went out the window and his strikeout rate dramatically increased (or rather, his walk rate decreased.)
He spent 2008 in a High-A league, where his power increased but his strikeout rate worsened. Bianchi started last season once again in High-A, but after a quick start was quickly promoted to Double-A, where he hit an impressive .315/.356/.441 while taking more walks.
There’s some concern over whether Bianchi has the defensive mobility required to remain a shortstop, and he could find himself at second base as soon as this year. This should be very motivating for Bianchi, as Kansas City has two good second basemen in Alberto Callaspo and Chris Getz, both of whom are higher on the totem pole.
At shortstop, the Royals are sending out Yuniesky Betancourt, who makes for a much easier target. Bianchi should start 2010 in Triple-A, but if Betancourt struggles or a middle infielder gets injured, the 23-year old prospect could get a promotion.
Twins’ pitchers will need to recognize that Bianchi doesn’t walk much at all, though his power isn’t overly impressive, either. Bianchi will hit for good average and make contact with a lot of pitches.
Kila Ka’aihue, 1B, 25 years old
Ka’aihua was given some playing time at first base and designated hitter in 2008, but the presence of Butler gives him a very difficult obstacle. The Royals’ designated hitter situation (read: mess. Jose Guillen? Really?) gives Ka’aihua a decent chance to make the big league club in 2010.
Ka’aihue’s main weapon is his power. A full season was spent in Triple-A last year, where Ka’aihue hit .252/.392/.433 with 17 home runs and a wOBA of .368. With poor defense, a high strikeout rate, and no speed to speak of, Ka’aihua is a prototype designated hitter.
The 25-year-old has eight years of professional ball under his belt, and his walk rate is very high. PECOTA projects him to hit .244/.361/.429 with 18 home runs and 69 BB/86 K in 2010.
Minnesota pitchers will need to watch out for this slugging Hawaiian coming off the bench late in the game. Ka’aihue could also hit from the designated hitter position, and is very capable of going yard in just about every at-bat. With Soria closing out most tight games for the Royals, their ability to erase a Ka’aihue-induced deficit will be slim.
David Lough, OF, 24 years old
Very few people gave much thought to David Lough, an outfielder drafted out of Mercyhurst College. But an extremely strong 2009 campaign between High-A and Double-A has caught the attention of the Royals.
Drafted out of college in 2007, Lough went directly to the Appalachian League and hit well in small sample size. 2008 was spent in the Midwest League, where Lough hit .268/.329/.455 with 16 home runs and plenty of doubles and triples. The power was there to some extent, and Lough was holding his own on the base paths, but he wasn’t getting on base at a good clip.
Because of the power he showed in 2008, Lough began 2009 in High-A Wilmington, where he exploded for a line of .320/.370/.473. When he was promoted to Double-A Northwest Arkansas mid-season, Lough brought his final 2009 line to .325/.370/.496. This is certainly earn him a promotion to Triple-A in 2010, and he will likely receive some playing time in the major-leagues. He will probably be used primarily as a 4th outfielder because of his limited defensive range and lack of “corner outfield” power.
The Twins should think of Lough as a version of their Rene Tosoni: A left-handed oufielder with “tweener” power and an almost total inability to hit left-handed pitching. Both could certainly contribute to their respective big-league clubs, but are by no means “elite” prospects.
Jordan Parraz, OF, 25 years old
This former 3rd-round pick has flown under the radar in his six years of professional baseball. Drafted by Houston out of the CC of Southern Nevada (where uber-prep talent and the supposed “second-coming of Babe Ruth, Willie Mays, and Johnny Bench,” Bryce Harper is playing), Parraz was a Rule V pick of the Royals in 2008.
Before last year, Parraz posted decent batting averages while showing modest on-base and slugging percentages. Once with the Royals, though, Parraz hit his stride. Starting the 2009 season in Double-A, Parraz was promoted to Triple-A to end the year. Combined, Parraz hit .348/.432/.541 in 81 games. A hamstring injury kept him from playing the entire year.
Parraz has great strike-zone judgment, and his high wake rate drives up his value. He could also get a look in the Kansas City outfield in 2010. PECOTA’s 50th percentile projection for Parraz in 2010 is .266/.337/.397, a decent enough bench bat.
Others to look for: Corey Aldridge, OF, 30 years old; Irving Falu, 2B/SS/OF, 27 years old; John Suomi, C/OF, 29 years old; Cody Clark, C, 28 years old; Ed Lucas, 3B, 27 years old
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