[존 시켈스] 캔자스시티 로얄즈, 유망주 TOP 20

캔자스시티 로얄즈의 유먕주 랭킹이 올라왔습니다. 근래에 드래프트와 해외 스카우팅에 돈을 많이 투자했기 때문에 뎁스와 질 모두 상당한 느낌입니다. 올해 PCL에서 폭발적인 타격을 보여준 윌 마이어스가 내년 메이저리그에서 어떤 모습을 보여줄지 궁금합니다. 일단 B+과 B등급 사이의 선수들이 대부분 B+등급을 받았는데 추후에 조금 바뀌게 될지도 모르겠습니다. 일단 BA에 비해서 제이크 오도리지에 대한 평가가 떨어지는 편이네요. 플라이볼 투수라고 평가를 하면서....

1) Wil Myers, OF, Grade A: I believe in him. Now we'll see if the Royals do. Love the power and overall package, main concern is strikeouts which could inhibit batting average, at least in the short run. 

2) Kyle Zimmer, RHP, Grade B+: Borderline B due to the bone chip surgery. If healthy, a definite B+ due to combination of command, stuff, and early performance.

3) Bubba Starling, OF, Grade B+: Borderline B. Outstanding package of tools and showed power/speed combo in Appy League, but scouting reports pointing to suboptimal swing mechanics are bothersome. High risk/high reward guy. 

4) Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Grade B+: Borderline B. I've always liked Odo, but I do worry about the fly ball tendency becoming a problem. My guess is that he could struggle in the short run, but long-term I still expect him to be a number three starter.

5) Yordano Ventura, RHP, Grade B: Borderline B+: Love the stuff and I'm not concerned about his size. Command wobbles in Double-A make me hesitate to give him the +, but I may very well do so. Grade under further consideration.

6) Kyle Smith, RHP, Grade B: Athleticism, stuff, and command trump his small size for me. Another guy who can be a mid-rotation starter.

7) Adalberto Mondesi, SS, Grade B: I buy into this one. This may seem like an aggressive grade, but the tools are terrific and he was extremely young for the Pioneer League. This is one tools guy I'll take a chance with.

8) Sam Selman, LHP, Grade B-: Borderline B. I want to see him outside the Pioneer League before going higher, but he racked up strikeouts and ground balls while generating better-than-expected scouting reports, given his inconsistent college record.

9) John Lamb, LHP, Grade B-: I'm always careful with Tommy John grades, since the recovery is not as automatic as people think. Retains mid-rotation upside if health allows.

10) Orlando Calixte, SS, Grade B-: Another high risk/reward guy. I rank him ahead of Bonifacio and Cuthbert due to positional scarcity.

11) Cheslor Cuthbert, 3B, Grade B-: Stock is unavoidably down due to a slump that lasted almost a year. Defensive reports are good and he was the youngest regular in the Carolina League, so it is way too soon to give up.

12) Jorge Bonifacio, OF, Grade B-: Starting to tap into his power but isn't all the way there yet. You could rank him as high as eight due to youth, or at least ahead of Calixte and Cuthbert due to performance, but positional scarcity comes into play. 

13) Jason Adam, RHP, Grade B-: I like him more than some people do, being impressed with his command. Could be a nice inning-eating workhorse.

14) Mike Montgomery, LHP, Grade C+: Tough to rank. The talent is still in there somewhere, but he hasn't pitched well for two years now and I don't know how you fix him.

15) Cameron Gallagher, C, Grade C+: Still rather inexperienced, but has power potential and the tools to stick behind the plate. Transition to full-season ball will be very illuminating.

16) Bryan Brickhouse, RHP Grade C+: B- was his original grade but I decided it was too high. Another ground ball generator who might be a workhorse, if his mechanics come into line.

17) Patrick Leonard, 3B, Grade C+: Sleeper prospect showed power in Appy League, along with solid plate discipline and defense. Has received little attention outside of Royals circles, but that could change in 2013. Breakout candidate.

18) Elier Hernandez, OF, Grade C+: Big bonus guy from the Dominican was terrible in the Pioneer League, but was just 17 years old. Hit zero homers despite bat speed/raw power. Way too soon to give up.

19) Robinson Yambati, RHP, Grade C+: Good strikeout/grounder combination in A-ball, erasing bad taste from awful 2011. Could help in the bullpen by 2014.

20) Miguel Almonte, RHP, Grade C+: Rookie ball sensation shows strong command of fastball and changeup. Need to see how it transitions to higher levels, but could rank much higher next year.

OTHERS: Humberto Arteaga, SS; Christian Binford, RHP; Edwin Carl, RHP; Christian Colon, 2B; Kenny Diekroeger, INF; Chris Dwyer, LHP; Alfredo Escalera, OF; Brett Eibner, OF; Andy Ferguson, RHP; Brian Fletcher, OF; Fred Ford, OF; Chad Johnson, C; Donnie Joseph, LHP (C+): David Lough, OF; Justin Marks, LHP; Alexis Rivera, OF (C+); Colin Rodgers, LHP (C+), Daniel Stumpf, LHP; J.C. Sulbaran, RHP; Andrew Triggs, RHP