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KC Royals: Prospects to watch from each minor league team in 2019

By Leigh Oleszczak

SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 15: Terrance Gore #0 of the Kansas City Royals bag and Rawlings glove in the dugout during the Spring Training game against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 15, 2019 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images)
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - MARCH 15: Terrance Gore #0 of the Kansas City Royals bag and Rawlings glove in the dugout during the Spring Training game against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on March 15, 2019 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images) /
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KC Royals pitcher Josh Staumont (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images)
KC Royals pitcher Josh Staumont (John Sleezer/Kansas City Star/TNS via Getty Images) /

Minor League Baseball is underway and that means we can officially start tracking the future stars of the Kansas City Royals!

In rebuilding seasons like 2019 will be, Kansas City Royals fans are going to find themselves checking in on the minor league affiliates quite frequently. These players will be the ones hopefully leading the boys in blue to the promise land again in the coming years.

We all went through this for years and years, but we saw it pay off in the end in 2015 with a World Series title. While the Royals won’t be poised for a World Series appearance, or even a postseason appearance, for several more years, the farm system is what we can start fixating on in the mean time.

So who are the prospects fans should be keeping a close eye on in 2019? Let’s take a look.

OMAHA STORM CHASERS (AAA)

The Storm Chasers, the Triple-A affiliate for the Royals, is the stop for minor leaguers before they make it to Kansas City. The roster isn’t the most impressive right now, but there are some decent names on the list.

Kelvin Gutierrez and Nicky Lopez are probably the two most exciting names on this list. Gutierrez was acquired in a trade last season and if Hunter Dozier doesn’t pan out at third base, Gutierrez will be the answer there. That’s the plan at least.

Lopez should get a call-up in September, if not sooner, and could be the answer at second base if Whit Merrifield ends up being in right field permanently. Lopez is the eighth best prospect in the farm system, so his time in the big leagues is definitely coming.

As for the pitchers, Arnaldo Hernandez spent some time in the majors last year. Richard Lovelady and Josh Staumont are waiting for their call-up and Lovelady’s will probably come sooner due to the Royals bullpen being SO bad. Staumont might get a call-up this year, but would be put in the bullpen more than likely.

In the outfield, there aren’t any top prospects, but Brett Phillips and Bubba Starling could be candidates to take over in either center or right field later this season. Billy Hamilton could get traded as a pinch runner for a contending team and Whit Merrifield might eventually be back at second base again. Alex Gordon is also in his final year in left field, so plugging either guy in left next year and beyond is a possibility as well.

While the Triple-A roster isn’t loaded with major league talent, there are guys that fans can get excited about. If they do well enough at any point, it could very well mean they get promoted and get to start their major league career.

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